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“I’m not going with you.”
Hiroto forgot to blink. This wasn’t the reaction he wanted. Even after seeing Hiroto’s bewildered expression, Haruya doesn’t elaborate further on his refusal. Beside Haruya’s left, Fuusuke silently combs through his hair with his fingers. The other Sun Garden children are watching the scene unfold in the middle of the living room with bated breath. Next to Hiroto’s right, “Why not?” Ryuuji steps up, arms outstretched in confusion. Instead of a proper answer, Fuusuke stops his motion and gazes at Hiroto with a blazing, cold expression. “We'll visit Father the day after.” Fuusuke answers.
Next to Hiroto's left, Reina crosses her arms. Reina doesn’t get where Haruya and Fuusuke’s words have come from. “We should all go visit Father together.” Reina said. After everything that happened in Aliea Academy, she and Hiroto had been trying their best to recover everyone’s relationships. From Fuusuke’s right, Haruya’s brows twitch in displeasure. “You can't be that naive.” Haruya sneers. Hiroto doesn't understand how he's naive for wanting everyone to see their Father with him. “Haruya.” Haruya internally frowns at Hiroto’s casual use of his name.
To a slight extent, Haruya feels uneasy hearing Hiroto calling everybody's name without the undertone of authority that was known to everybody but Hiroto. It's also strange to see genuine confusion in Hiroto after all his self-assured behavior during their duty at Aliea Academy. Regardless of those feelings, Haruya takes a step forward. “I'm going to say what I want since you're not above us anymore.” Something in Hiroto's heart spikes at Haruya's sentence, because weren't they always equal? The alien ranks were only distributed by their Father for the sake of convenience. That’s what Hiroto knows, anyway.
“I'll say this to get through your arrogant head.” Haruya said, his right index finger pointed directly towards Hiroto's forehead. “Father will only pay attention to you if we visit him.” Haruya said, narrowing his eyes when he saw Hiroto frown back. Understanding slowly settles in Reina. But it doesn't in Hiroto. “Haruya, you’re not making any sense.” Hiroto said, taking a step forward. Haruya almost stepped aside out of, not fear, but pure instinct.
Fuusuke lightly pushes Haruya out of the way with his right arm. Haruya scowls, but he lets Fuusuke step up. “Don't pretend you're dumb. Father favors you the most.” Fuusuke specifically says ‘favor’ instead of ‘love’ because the thought of Father loving them unequally makes his gut twist.
Reina knows Fuusuke’s feelings well. Even if she was the strongest amongst the Sun Garden kids, deep down in her heart, she knew that Hiroto had more potential. Unlike her, Hiroto had every possible advantage to be favored by Father. Which pushed her to disregard mental and physical health in order to meet their Father's expectations.
“No, that's wrong.” Hiroto immediately refutes. “Father loves all of us equally.” Hiroto said. Because their father said that they were all his lovable children.
Haruya's expression wrinkles in distaste. An ugly emotion was boiling inside Haruya. Whether it was ignorance or arrogance that pushed Hiroto to say those words, Haruya doesn't care. Jealousy had been stirring inside Fuusuke, Haruya, and very few others in Sun Garden for so long. And Hiroto’s response is infuriating. Easy for you to say when you're the spitting image of his dead son, Haruya almost spat out. But no matter how much jealousy engulfs him as the Sun, Haruya won’t dare cross that line. Because deep down, he knows how unfair it is to say that to Hiroto.
Their Father took an interest in Hiroto before he was given the name. Everybody has forgotten the name Hiroto had when he first arrived in Sun Garden, but that doesn't matter. What mattered was that their Father saw his dead son in Hiroto. And even if Father ensured that he loved all of them equally, everybody in Sun Garden grew up to quickly realize Kiyama Hiroto was the child he favored most. The Aliea Academy experience showed that.
Haruya clenches his fists. If Haruya had said those words out loud, the atmosphere in this living room would’ve gone cold. Besides, Haruya doesn’t want to explain his ugly feelings to someone who’ll never understand. So Haruya simply scowls back at Hiroto. “Hiroto, let's not dwell on this any further.” Reina said, trying to de-escalate the situation. But Hiroto can't ignore what Haruya and Fuusuke had just implied. The accusation that their Father didn't make Haruya, or potentially some others, feel equal love, felt more insulting to Hiroto than the others accusing him of anything.
Father has made plenty of mistakes, Hiroto can begrudgingly admit. But that was not one of them. Hiroto needs Haruya and Fuusuke to take that back. “You have no right to take it that far.” Hiroto doesn't blink as he says this. Ryuuji and some of the other kids anxiously look back and forth between everyone. Seeing this, Reina gathers herself. “Hiroto. Let them be.” Reina said, voice stern. Hiroto slightly shifts his head to his left. “But those two are speaking ill about our father.” Hiroto retorts.
Fuusuke is one kick away from blasting Hiroto with icy wind and the glow of the Northern Lights. But Fuusuke holds back that thought because Hiroto is family. “Stop twisting words. That's not what we mean at all.” Even if it's a little embarrassing to say, Fuusuke loves their father like everybody else in Sun Garden. “Drop it, Hiroto. They made their choice.” Reina's ice-cold voice completely snaps Hiroto out of his stance.
Hiroto stares at the floor beneath, a bit lost. Everyone grew up together. They played soccer together, laughed, and had fun. They could all become like that again, Hiroto is sure of that. Because it's always been that way.
(Well, until their father found that meteorite.)
Ryuuji's darting eyes meet Osamu's. Osamu gives Ryuuji an unnoticeable hand sign code they made when they were kids. Even after years of not using it, Ryuuji understood it immediately. “You haven't said anything this whole time.” Ryuuji quickly shifts everyone's attention to them. Osamu sees everybody staring at him. “I'm not going as well.” Osamu declares. Ryuuji mentally sputters. That was not how Ryuuji thought Osamu would gravitate everyone's attention.
Hiroto looks slightly deflated. Like a meteor shrinking after passing through the Earth's atmosphere to the point at which they are virtually imperceptible. “You too?” Hiroto reacts. Osamu nods. “After much thought and reconsideration, I've decided I should apologize to everyone first before visiting our Father.” Osamu explains, crossing his arms.
Apologize? “Apologize to who?” Hiroto asks as everybody goes silent. “To everyone. I’m thinking of sending letters to Raimon first.” Osamu said, nodding to himself for coming up with a spectacular plan. Osamu thinks he needs a whole section dedicated to Goeunji and Fubuki.
Ryuuji stares at Osamu, wide-eyed. Apology letters wouldn't atone for everything Aliea Academy had done, but Osamu's idea wasn't so bad. They needed to start somewhere. Ryuuji needed to start somewhere, even if he didn’t remember much from the Aliea Academy fiasco. “I'm not going as well.” Ryuuji agrees with Osamu. Hiroto’s gaze towards Ryuuji could be felt from a mile away.
“Father is atoning for our mistakes, so I want to do something to atone for mine.” Ryuuji said, placing his right hand on his chest. Even if Ryuuji visited their Father tomorrow, he wasn't sure if he could say anything.
Hiroto looks back and forth between each member of his friends and family. Fuusuke, Nagumo, Osamu, and Ryuuji's reasons varied, but the conclusion was the same. Those four won't visit their father together with Hiroto tomorrow. “But Father is definitely missing all of us.” Hiroto mutters, looking a bit distraught. Hiroto whips his head to Reina. “Reina, you'll come with me, right?” Hiroto locks his gaze onto Reina's slightly wide ones.
Reina, the ice-cold warrior princess, doesn’t have the heart to refuse Hiroto over her personal feelings that are covered in ice. Nor would Reina be able to verbally or nonverbally apologize properly because she doesn't know where to start. Father taught her to be strong, but not how to be vulnerable. “Of course I will.” Reina responds. There’s another thing. A very simple reason. Reina misses their father.
Hearing Reina's agreement, Hiroto internally sighs in relief. Then, Hiroto turns to the rest of his friends and family. “How about everyone else?” Hiroto asks.
The next Saturday morning, after breakfast. Ryuuji, Osamu, and the former members of Gemini Storm and Epsilon are sitting around a large table. On the table are letter papers, envelopes, other types of papers, pens, pencils, and drinks.
Ryuuji, who was sitting somewhere in the middle of the table, had been staring at his letter paper for half an hour. How were you supposed to do this? It would be kind of diabolical to write along the lines of ‘sorry for destroying your school to pieces, our father said so’ or something. Ryuuji is one step away from smacking his head on the table. Hypothetically, of course. Ryuuji needs his head intact if he's going to write anything.
Suddenly, Osamu stands up from his chair. “Behold,” Osamu declares. For a split second, Ryuuji saw Desarm, the captain of Epsilon. Ryuuji blinks, and the vision is gone. Everybody else stares at Osamu’s letter written on a scroll which looks about a meter long.
The pen held in Ryuuji's right hand nearly slips out in surprise. Ryuuji was staring so hard at his paper that he hadn't noticed what others were doing. Saginuma-san, where, where did you get that? Ryuuji thought. Ryuuji looked around the table, but there were no signs of scrolls anywhere.
Unlike Ryuuji and the former members of Gemini Storm, the former members of Epsilon don't seem too surprised. “What did you write?” Maki asks, eyebrows raised at the sheer amount of words on paper. Curious about the contents of Osamu’s letter, Satoshi takes the scroll from Osamu’s hands.
Ryuuji and everyone else gather around Satoshi.
Turns out, the scroll wasn't about a meter long. That was only the amount of words Osamu had written so far.
When I was young, I liked to play in the sand , Ryuuji began to read. After reading a few more sentences, Ryuuji switches to paragraph reading and quickly skims through the letter. The supposed apology letter consisted of many formal sentences and an old person's way of speech. “These are just what we did as kids.” Ryuuji peeked up from the paper to see Osamu nodding.
Nozomi glances between the letter and Osamu. “Aren’t we supposed to write apology letters?” Nozomi asks. Osamu nods once more. “I decided it would be a great idea to explain where I come from, what thoughts I have, so that when I write the apology, the receiver will see my sincerity.” Osamu said, completely serious.
The truth was Osamu, like Ryuuji, had no idea how to write an apology letter. After all, Osamu had never needed to apologize for anything before. However, unlike Ryuuji, Osamu has written as much as he could instead of leaving it unwritten.
Everybody else murmurs to themselves. Sincerity? Ryuuji thinks, glancing at the still blank paper beside his left. How could Ryuuji show sincerity when nearly all of his feelings were washed away with the broken meteorite? Watching videos of Aliea Academy could only do so much.
Suddenly, a hand is placed on Ryuuji’s right shoulder, and Ryuuji snaps out of his thoughts. Ryuuji follows the hand on his shoulder, to the owner's arm, and face. Osamu is also looking at Ryuuji’s blank paper. “I know this isn’t easy, but remember this, Ryuuji. Just write what you want and need to say.” Osamu said.
While the former members of Gemini Storm and Epsilon are writing letters, the former members of Diamond Dust, Prominence, and Chaos have decided to go to a random park. A park that was considerably far away from Sun Garden. Haruya and Fuusuke have left the others to their devices and are currently sitting on a bench.
“This was a terrible idea .” Fuusuke said, his arms hanging behind the bench. Yesterday, Haruya decided it would be a good idea for their former teammates on a nice stroll around the park today. Fuusuke agreed, thinking it would be just fine. What Fuusuke didn't know was just how hot the temperature was today. The water bottle Haruya had brought had gone too warm to drink.
“It could be worse.” Haruya shrugs. Fuusuke glares at Haruya, who seems to be doing just fine instead of melting like Fuusuke is.
A plastic water bottle containing ice water suddenly appears between Haruya and Fuusuke. “You look like you're on the verge of dehydration.” A smooth voice comes from behind the bench. Haruya and Fuusuke simultaneously whip their heads to see a person with long golden-blonde hair.
“You!” Haruya exclaims, immediately standing up from his bench with Fuusuke.
“Yes, me.” The one and only Aphrodi said, walking around the bench. Aphrodi is now standing in front of the bench with Haruya and Fuusuke. “How are you two doing?” Aphrodi naturally said.
Fuusuke defensively crosses his arms. “We’re not friends.” Fuusuke said. After getting injured during the match between Chaos and Raimon, Fuusuke doesn’t understand why Aphrodi was greeting them as if they were old acquaintances.
Aphrodi gives Haruya and Fuusuke a mysterious smile. “We’re not friends, yet.” Aphrodi said. Haruya and Fuusuke stare at each other, then at Aphrodi, who’s still holding a water bottle in his right hand.
Hands twitching, Fuusuke subconsciously tries reaching for the water bottle. Aphrodi, who notices the slight movements from Fuusuke, plops the water bottle in his right hand before Fuusuke could even register the motion.
“You two look a bit lost. Are you feeling guilty about your past actions?” Aphrodi asks. The question was so sudden and personal that Haruya almost sputtered in surprise. “What we feel has nothing to do with you.” Haruya said, a bit irritated by Aphordi's all-knowing behavior.
Aphrodi is still smiling. “Have you guys heard of the FFI?” Aphrodi asks, changing topics again. The constant topic changes was strange, but regardless, Haruya feels strangely compelled to answer. “Of course we did.” Haruya answers. Almost everyone in Sun Garden dreamed of rising to the top of the world with everyone's soccer when they were young. But like the others, Haruya and Fuusuke abandoned that dream when their Father came up to tell the Sun Garden children his goals.
As if knowing what Haruya and Fuusuke was thinking, “I heard a neighboring country is scouting a large variety of players to play in their team's FFI.” Aphrodi continues. “And since it’s not Japan, nobody has to worry about their past actions affecting how others perceive them.” Aphrodi explains, placing his right hand on his heart. These words he had just spoken were from experience. Aphrodi knows the feeling of being lost with yourself after following orders you thought were in your interests. Aphrodi feels a similar feeling from these two.
Haruya meets Aphrodi’s gaze head on with blazing emotions. Beside his right, Fuusuke has downed half the water bottle and screwed the plastic bottle cap back on. Aphrodi observes both their reactions.
“Are you offering us to play in the FFI for a different country?” Haruya asks after a brief moment of thinking. Aphordi nods once, confirming Haruya's question. Fuusuke looks skeptic. “Why?” Fuusuke asks.
Aphrodi has Haruya and Fuusuke's full attention. “I could feel it. You two are just the people I want in our team.” Aphrodi answers Fuusuke’s question.
Aphrodi just said ‘our team’, implying that he will certainly play for a different country's team. Though that information goes over Haruya and Fuusuke's head. For there are more pressing issues at hand.
Fuusuke narrows his eyes. Even though his team had lost, Fuusuke had never once doubted his skills. But, “Even if we could, we don’t have money to fly and stay in a different country.” Fuusuke answers. “And we don't have passports.” Haruya adds.
Aphrodi internally hums in thought. “Perhaps we could ask Coach Hitomiko.” Aphrodi suggests. Haruya and Fuusuke stare at Aphrodi in disbelief. “No, we can't bother nee-san.” Haruya said, eyebrows twitching. Hitomiko has been working too much lately. And nobody in Sun Garden wanted to give her more workload over her current ones.
“Your skill sets are strong enough for playing in a national team.” Aphrodi said. “Besides, even at the off chance you don’t get in,” Aphrodi pauses to look at Haruya and Fuusuke's pensive expressions, “Aren't you guys interested in traveling to a different country?” Aphrodi said.
Nobody in Sun Garden wants to bother their Hitomiko-neesan with anything after what she went through to save everyone. But at the same time the former members of Prominence, Diamond Dust, and Chaos who were eavesdropping on Aphrodi's conversation had a collective agreement that Haruya and Fuusuke needed a huge change to get them out of their bitter states.
“Not a bad idea.” Natsuhiko said, popping out next to the tree behind the bench. The other former members of Promience dust off their clothes. “You two need a change of pace anyways.” Kurara pops out from the bushes. The other former members of Diamond Dust brush bush leaves from their heads.
Haruya and Fuusuke fail to form words. They were all listening!? Haruya and Fuusuke simultaneously thought.
Aphrodi nods in approval as he sees the conflicted emotions on Haruya and Fuusuke's face. Those two need one more push, and Aphrodi will give it. “I will go see Coach Hitomiko.” Aphrodi said, walking away.
Haruya snaps his head towards Aphrodi. “She’s not even-” Haruya’s words are cut off when he hears fingers snapping. Haruya blinks, and Aphrodi is far ahead and running away. Fuusuke realizes what had happened pretty quickly. “He used his stupid time stopper hissatsu technique!” Fuusuke exclaimed in disbelief.
Haruya and Fuusuke start running to chase Aphrodi down as the others wave their hands before turning away to enjoy the rest of their picnic.
While the former members of Diamond Dust, Prominence, and Chaos have decided to go to a random park without their captains, the former members of The Genesis are riding in a limousine. Their limousine's destination is the jail cell their Father, Kira Seijirou, is staying at.
The scenery outside the limousine is beautiful. The sun is shining brightly above, the trees are green and full of life. Hiroto looks away from the window and glances beside his right. Reina's head is against the van window, her lifeless eyes staring out. Hiroto then turns his head to see his teammates.
The scene Hiroto was seeing was oddly similar to when everyone rode in the police van after Aliea Acadeny's fall. Hiroto still can't forget how Reina apologized for kicking an Aliea meteorite-powered soccer ball to his shin, immediately followed by a comment on how Hiroto probably shouldn't have blocked that if he didn't want to get winded.
Hiroto doesn't regret blocking that ball. Unlike their Father who was an old and ordinary human being, Hiroto was a high soldier trained to take over the world. If that ball hit their Father, he wouldn't have survived. Or at the very least be heavily injured.
“Hiroto, we're here.” Reina said, lifting her head to glance at her left. Hiroto looks outside the window. The limousine has arrived at the police station. Hitomiko had left the limousine first to greet Detective Onigawara- Hiroto remembered the detective’s name when they were first taken here -who was waiting for them all outside the police station.
Hiroto exits the limousine and catches some lines from the conversation between Hitomiko and detective Onigawara. “...finished checking through the documents you sent us yesterday. Nothing was amiss, so the children can all meet him right away if they want.” Detective Onigawara explains. “Thank you, Onigawara-san.” Hitomiko shows her gratitude with a small nod.
Hitomiko turns around to face the other children. “We will enter the police station when everyone is ready.” Hitomiko said. Hiroto takes an internal deep breath, and looks up at Hitomiko. “Nee-san, I'm ready.” Hiroto answers. Everyone else answers similarly to Hiroto or slightly nods in like Reina.
Nobody makes a sound as Hitomiko and detective Onigawara lead the children along. And after a few walks, they have their destination.
Hiroto had expected to see their Father behind bars. And everyone would have to converse with their Father between glass. Instead, Hiroto and the others were led to a room. The room was about the size of Sun Garden's living room.
Beside Hiroto's left, Reina looks equally surprised. The wallpapers in this room have a similar color to Sun Garden's. There are cushion chairs arranged in a half circle. And in front of the cushion chairs was a single wooden chair.
“Father.” Hiroto calls out, slowly walking towards their Father who's sitting on the wooden chair. “You've all arrived safely.” Their father, Kira Seijirou, said while showing a small smile
Behind the children, detective Onigawara quietly leaves the room so as to not disturb them. And Hitomiko closes the door just as quietly before turning to see Hiroto, Reina, and the rest of the former members of The Genesis rush to their Father.
Reina looks at her Father, and her ice cold heart is shaking like the first time she had cried in front of everyone. “Father, we missed you.” Reina said. Their Father calls Reina the prettiest star in the universe. What their Father didn't know was that Reina considered the universe as their Father.
Hiroto watches their Father nod. “And I've missed you all dearly as well.” Their Father said. Their Father looks around the room. “Not everybody had the time to come visit I presume.” Their Father smiles as he says this.
Hiroto's eyes widened. Their Father shouldn't know what the others really said. So instead, Hiroto gazes softly at their Father and nods. “Everyone’s busy these days.” Hiroto begins to explain. Hiroto sees Reina side-eyeing him from beside. “They all want to surprise you by working hard and showing what they've achieved.” Hiroto said. All the others nod at Hiroto's words, supporting his explanation.
When everyone in Sun Garden was younger, their Father once told them that they should find what they want to do in life. Their Father encouraged every single one of them to find their own unique talents supported with whatever they needed. It's one of the many things Hiroto had taken to heart. Which is why Hiroto had decided to repeat those words right now.
Everybody remembers, Seijirou thought, looking at his children in front of him and Hitomiko silently standing near the door. Seijirou had made many mistakes in his life but his children weren't one of them. Whether or not his children resent him, or still look up despite his actions, Seijirou will accept them all the same. And Seijirou is glad to hear from Hiroto that most of them have decided to live for their own sake.
Hiroto watches as their Father gives a small smile. “That's good to hear.” Their Father said. “And thank you all for coming to visit me.” Their Father said, sounding truly grateful. For a moment, Hiroto is standing under the ceiling of the crumbling Aliea Academy, tears falling from his eyes. “Of course we would. I wanted to talk with you again.” Hiroto said, smiling. This time, Hiroto doesn't cry.
The children all make themselves comfortable on the chair cushions and begin talking about what they've been doing lately. Everybody left out the struggles they've experienced, and instead told how Hitomiko got them a few teachers so they could study again. Like the students they should've been.
The teachers came to Sun Garden every day to teach the children on the subjects they have fallen behind. Ryuuji's top subject was English. Osamu's was Literature. Haruya and Fuusuke's were Math and Science. Reina was at the top of every subject but her best was Arts. Hiroto was at the top of every subject as well but his best was Social studies.
Hitomiko, still standing next to the door, watches all the children excitedly talk about what they've been doing. Hitomiko wishes this moment could last longer.
A few days after Kira Seijirou’s arrest, he and the children were taken to court. Kira Seijirou's trail went on first. Hitomiko was in the courtroom, not to lessen his punishment, but to let him have someone he knew in the suffocating room. And to ensure Kira Seijirou would be able to return to the children without any problems after his time in jail.
After the judge sealed away Kira Seijirou's fate, and an intermission, the children were next. Hitomiko was in the courtroom to ensure that none of the children would not stay behind bars like their Father. Hitomiko wanted to steer the children to an environment where they could learn to live in the world again.
And after a longer trial than their Father's Hitomiko was able to take all the children back home with her as their legal guardian.
That trial was relatively easier than what Hitomiko had to go through the next few weeks. Inheriting Kira conglomerates with her own name, getting education for the children, restoring the country's faith in the Kira name, and everything else. Documents piled up just as quickly as she finished them.
Hitomoko remembers a day. It was the same as any other day. Except, Hitomiko was sitting at the kitchen tables in Sun Garden instead of her office at about 5 AM. Face buried in her hands, Hitomiko was taking the time to cool her brain. But then Hiroto had stepped into the kitchen, called out to her, took a seat next to her, and suddenly every single emotion hit Hitomiko at once.
Hitomiko cried for the first time in forever. And after taking the fresh cup of tea Hiroto had made for her, Hitomiko avoided staying the night at Sun Garden when she had work to do.
Hitomiko stops reminiscing about her struggles for the past few weeks and listens to the children's voices again.
Sitting comfortably on the couch, Hiroto felt like a small child again. When he was young, he and the others at Sun Garden would gather around their Father to hear his stories. Everyone would drag floor cushions from the corner as their Father handed gifts while he did.
The feelings disappear when everyone in the room runs out of things to say. And Hiroto has to come back to the reality that no, this isn't Sun Garden. They're in the police station and this colorful room was probably arranged by Hitomiko. “You've all been learning so much. I'm proud of everyone.” Hiroto hears their Father's words come out of his mouth.
Proud. Everybody in Sun Garden has heard that word whenever they successfully managed to finish their training in Aliea Academy. “I'm sorry that I wrapped everyone up in my terrible plans. I deeply regret hurting my children that I love so much.” Their Father said, looking between the children and Hitomiko.
Love. Nobody in Sun Garden has heard that word for quite some time.
Once again, Hiroto feels tears threatening to form in his eyes.
Perhaps even if the very Earth they were standing on were to rotate backward, the love everyone has received since they were a child would never be reversed.
After everyone leaves the police station, Hiroto's cell phone buzzes loudly from his right pocket. Everybody stares at Hiroto as he quickly opens his flip phone, and answers the call.
“Hiroto! Is Neesan with you?” Ryuuji’s voice loudly calls out from the other side. “What's the matter?” Hiroto asks.
From the other side, Ryuuji glances next to him. Osamu was excitedly conversing with another person about learning their hissatsu technique while Haruya and Fuusuke looked ever so slightly terrified.
“Someone from Raimon wants to privately talk with Neesan about something that I don't know- wait no don't throw that at the guest-” “He's not a guest!” Hiroto hears Haruya cutting off Ryuuji's words.
The phone call ends with an object hitting Ryuuji's phone.
Hiroto shuts his flip phone and turns to everyone. "We should probably get to back to Sun Garden." Hiroto suggests.