Chapter Text
"So..." The man paused, searching for the right words to ask his question. "Are you from a family of thieves?"
Obanai nodded, not daring to look at him because of the shame he felt at being part of such a horrible family. The man sitting across from him nodded slowly and ate from his bowl of ramen.
He didn't understand how he had ended up there. He was supposed to be running away from that city, not eating ramen with a stranger. There was no other way to refer to him; after all, he didn't even know his name. He had only approached him after seeing him suffer one of his many attacks.
The man had been kind, helping him calm down and even offering to take him out to eat to make sure he didn't go through the same thing again. At first, he wanted to refuse the offer, as he had wasted too much time and didn't want his mother or cousins to find him, but the man had been too generous to him to turn down his invitation.
Now he was sitting at a ramen stand next to that stranger. At first he felt uncomfortable, but the calmness that emanated from that man managed to reassure him. The peace and confidence he felt were such that he couldn't help but tell him about all the atrocities committed by the women of his line age.
The apathy he felt when recounting all those events he had learned about had taken away his appetite, and no matter how delicious his dish looked, he didn't dare eat it.
"I don't know what to say about that, Iguro-san," the man replied sincerely, unable to lie to the boy. "I understand that you want to get away from your family as soon as possible, but you're a child" it was true, he wasn't even 10 years old and already knew all the darkness that came with his blood ties. "you have nowhere to go, and even if you did, how would you get food? You're young, no one would give you a job, no matter how much you wanted one."
"But I need to leave now. I can't stay with them any longer. I'm not part of the Iguro family. I'm just an intruder in that family."
"Why do you say that? They are your family. You are anything but an intruder."
"My family doesn't think so," said the boy, seeing the older man's confusion. "Especially my grandmother."
"What does your mother say about it?"
"She doesn't care what they say about me, it's not like she's concerned," he replied with a cold stare at the table.
The young man with the surname Iguro knew that his mother did not appreciate him, much less love him, but he was not disappointed by that, much less saddened, for it was something he knew just by looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
The mysterious man placed his plate beside him. He knew he shouldn't get too involved in the boy's problems because he had already noticed how uncomfortable he felt, but if Iguro didn't stop him with his questions, that meant he could continue investigating.
After all, the boy could leave whenever he wanted, and he wouldn't stop him.
"What else do they say to you?" he asked cautiously, hoping his recent question wouldn't make the child uncomfortable.
The younger boy sighed deeply, but replied,
"My cousins always tell me I'm a monster..."
"A monster?" he repeated, obvious confusion in his voice. "Why a monster? Don't they realize you're just a child?"
"They always say that because of how I look and my..."
Suddenly, he fell silent, with no intention of finishing the sentence. The man stared at him, but said nothing. Fortunately, for a moment he thought the man would force him to speak, but as soon as he saw the stranger resume his meal, he was able to remain calm.
"Because of my eyes, sir," he finally said after a long pause.
"What's wrong with your eyes?" the adult asked calmly.
"They're different... And that's scary."
"Why?"
"Can't you see?" Obanai asked, slightly annoyed. "They're not like everyone else's, they're weird."
"You'll be surprised by what I'm about to say, but..." The man motioned for him to come closer, and Iguro obeyed, somewhat curious to know what the stranger wanted to tell him. "I can't see you."
The dark-haired man was confused. He couldn't see? It was a joke, right? That man knew where to walk and hadn't stumbled along the way as they headed to the food stall.
"Is this a joke?" he asked again, after analyzing what the man had said.
"Of course not, Iguro-san. Why would I lie to you?"
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked defensively, crossing his arms.
He thought that would be enough to stop the man from mocking him, but as soon as the loud laughter coming from the stranger's mouth reached his ears, Obanai couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
"What's so funny?" he asked seriously, hoping that would cover up the embarrassment he was beginning to feel.
"I'm sorry, it just struck me as funny, please forgive me," he exclaimed as his laughter slowly subsided. "But what I'm telling you is no joke. I can see, but only until the person allows me to see their eyes."
Obanai remained silent, still incredulous at the explanation the older man had given him. It definitely had to be a joke.
"You don't believe me, do you?" the stranger continued, adding, "I can sense your distrust."
"So you really can't see me?" asked the one with the two-colored eyes slowly, and the older one beside him nodded with a bright smile. "That's so strange..."
"Maybe so," he replied, "but it's something I've lived with since I was young, and it doesn't bother me. On the contrary, I'm happy to be the way I am."
"No matter what they say to you?"
"No matter what they say to me."
"That must be great," murmured the younger man slowly, his sadness clearly perceived by the adult. "I wish I could feel the way you do."
"Your family can't stop you, Iguro," replied the stranger, to Obanai's surprise. "You're still young. Maybe when you grow up and are older, you'll find the right people who will help you feel at home."
"Do you really think I'll be able to have that someday?" he asked, almost sadly. "Even with my appearance?"
"The right people will love you for who you are, no matter what you look like. Everyone is unique in their own way, and that's what makes them special. That's why I don't think your eyes are strange."
"But you haven't even seen them," he exclaimed, trying to ignore the rest. "When you see them, you'll regret what you said."
"Then can I show them to you?"
The younger man remained silent, not knowing how to answer the man's question. He could refuse and perhaps leave once and for all and continue with his escape plan, but no, he didn't want to do that anymore, at least not at that moment.
"Yes, you can see my eyes."
I couldn't tell if he was really looking at me because as soon as he said those words, he looked anywhere but at his companion.
And it was worse that the stranger didn't say anything at the time; he had also remained silent.
"Just say you regret what you said, I won't be upset, really," he insisted a little, as he could no longer bear the silence that surrounded them.
But even so, the man next to him didn't respond. Instead, he put one of his large hands on his shoulder, and only then did he say something.
"I'll tell you something, Iguro. But I need you to look me in the eyes so I can tell you.
He didn't want to do it, of course he didn't want to. Looking at him would mean having to look him in the eyes again, and that was the last thing he wanted to do at that moment.
"I don't want you to see my eyes."
"I won't, Iguro. I just want you to look at me so I can tell you something, okay?"
"You won't see my eyes?"
"I won't see your eyes without your permission."
Feeling calmer, he looked at him, and just as the stranger had said, he didn't open his eyes when he looked at him.
"Are you looking at me now?"
"Yes."
"Well, Iguro, even if you don't believe it, I have to admit that you have very beautiful eyes," he said suddenly, surprising the boy. "I know you won't believe it right now, and I understand that, but you have to..."
"And why should I?" he suddenly interrupted. "What if you're just lying to me to make me feel better? You don't have to. I'm strong. I don't care if you think I'm a monster too. After all, everyone has always made me feel that way..."
There was always someone who bothered to make an annoying comment about his eyes, his family always reminded him of it, especially his cousins, people would look at him with disdain or simply look at him with disgust at his mere presence. That man could do the same, he had no reason to hesitate.
"Because I mean it, I'm not lying to you, I would never lie to a child like you," Obanai looked at him, "I know it's hard for you to believe these things, you've been through a lot and I'm truly sorry, but what I have to tell you is not an offense to you, I mean it."
He closed his eyes for a moment as he crossed his arms, in an attempt to look bigger, and reflected on his words.
"Fine, but after this I'll leave..."
The man beside him smiled, an expression that reflected his joy that Obanai believed his words.
I'm not one to tell you these things, but please, Iguro, don't let people make you feel bad about your appearance and who you are. You are perfect just the way you are. You are not a monster. You are more than what they have told you you are. You're more than those eyes that others see. Maybe right now people don't realize it, but when you find the right people, love yourself. Be yourself. That's the first step toward happiness." His smile widened, and for the first time, Iguro could see the man's eyes. They were brown. "The check, please!"
At first, he stood still, not looking away from the table, taking in the words spoken to him by this man who didn't know him. He didn't judge him, he didn't call him a monster like he was used to hearing.
His eyes moistened, a warm, relaxing feeling filled his heart, and his small hands, like his whole body, trembled like leaves in the wind. He had never felt this way before.
And certainly not with a stranger.
He didn't feel like he used to, like a child with a horrible past and a terrible family, a child who seemed strange to others and who was always judged.
For the first time, he felt free, happy with himself, at peace with who he was.
He ran his hands over his face, suppressing the urge to cry at what he had heard, got up from the bench where he had been sitting all this time, and waited for the stranger outside the store.
"I'd like to stay and chat with you some more, Iguro. But I have to go now, my wife is waiting for me, I'm going home."
"So you're not from here?" asked Obanai, sincerely believing that he also lived in Hachijojima.
"I don't live here," he replied. "I've just come on vacation, today I'm going home with my family."
"I see. Well then... Have a safe trip, sir..."
"Kanji, Kanji Kanroji," the man repeated, extending his hand cordially. Iguro slowly accepted it. I hope we meet again. I know you'll make the best decision, Igu..."
"It's Obanai, sir," he interrupted suddenly, smiling slightly as he looked at him in surprise. "My name is Obanai Iguro."
Mr. Kanji laughed, but not to mock him. He was happy. In the end, he had earned the boy's trust.
"Well then, Obanai," he said with a smile, "I know you will make the right decision about whether to stay with your family or leave. Don't forget yourself; you are important too."
"Thank you, Kanji-san," he said, clasping his hands together and bowing. "I promise I will never forget your words."
"You don't have to thank me, I really enjoyed spending time with you, you're a great kid. If you ever want to see me again, come find me, maybe someday I can introduce you to my daughter," Kanroji said with a mischievous smile, making the poor boy blush profusely. "Relax, Obanai, I'm just teasing you, there's no need to get so nervous."
"You're right," he managed to mumble nervously, covering his face with his hands because it still felt hot.
"IGURO! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
The boy froze for a few minutes, the redness in his face disappearing completely, his skin almost turning pale.
"Obanai, are you okay? You look worried," the adult murmured with concern, placing his hand on the boy's shoulder to remind him that he was still there.
But the boy barely dared to glance at him, his eyes darting quickly around the crowd of people passing by, hoping not to see the girl who had called him.
Until he recognized her in the distance, it was her, she always wore those strange scarves with leaf decorations on her head.
"Mr. Kanji, please help me," Obanai pleaded fearfully, his forehead beginning to be covered with beads of sweat. "They're looking for me, she's looking for me, I have to get out of here quickly before she finds me."
"But who is looking for you? Please tell me."
"It's her, it's my cousin..."
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Finally, fearfully, Iguro looked at the girl who had been searching for him for a long time.
His cousin, Natsuko Iguro.
A girl almost his age, just one year younger than him, they were almost identical, with only the girl's long hair and blue eyes setting them apart.
With threatening steps, she positioned herself in front of her relative, who avoided looking at her at all costs.
"Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?!" her cousin reproached her to her face. Obanai closed his eyes at the force of her voice. "Not only is your mother angry with you, they all are! You'll be in serious trouble when we get home!"
"Natsuko, please, don't say anything! I promise this will be the last time I...!"
"I don't want any more excuses, Obanai!" the girl interrupted, silencing her cousin. "I've done a lot for you, I told you I wouldn't help you anymore! And what do you come up with now? YOU WERE PLANNING TO LEAVE!"
People passing by stopped to look at them, murmurs began to be heard, and a vein began to stand out on Natsuko's forehead.
"AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!" the girl roared furiously, and more than one person began to walk away upon hearing the shout. "GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!"
People resumed their walk as if nothing had happened, and the young Iguro sighed calmly, at least until she saw the man standing next to her cousin.
"And who is he?" Natsuko asked without raising her voice. She was calmer now, but that didn't stop her from judging the man in front of her with her gaze.
"Well, he's Mr. Kanji Kanroji, and he was..." She tried to make up a lie, but only inaudible murmurs came out of her throat.
The girl looked at him confused, crossing her arms.
"Well?"
"Obanai was lost," the two Iguros watched him as he began to speak. "I approached him to help him, I was about to take him home when we saw you in the distance. It's good that you came to pick up your cousin, so you can go home together."
Natsuko looked at them both, scrutinizing their faces to see if what they were saying was true or false. She found nothing, so she just shrugged.
"So you weren't planning on leaving?" Natsuko asked. Obanai slowly shook his head. "Okay, but you should have at least told us you were leaving. You're going to be in serious trouble with your aunt. We have to leave now before she gets even angrier..."
She started walking and waited for him at a safe distance. The boy watched her from afar, wondering if he could still run away. He wasn't quite sure.
"I'm sorry I can't help you any further, Obanai," Mr. Kanroji apologized regretfully, with obvious sadness in his expression.
"It's okay, I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer," he sighed wearily. He didn't want to see his family again, and he had to stay there longer. The worst part was that he would still have to face his mother's punishment for running away.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to come find me."
"Thanks... And bye."
Neither of them responded. Obanai began to run toward his cousin, who was looking at him with a frown because of his tardiness. He glanced sideways at the man he had talked to that morning. He was also leaving, but he looked back one last time, waved his hand in the air, and shook it from side to side, saying goodbye.
Kanji did the same until he finally lost sight of him, hoping to visit him one day.
His eyes suddenly turned white and he brought a hand to his face. Natsuko looked at him in confusion.
"He didn't tell me where he lives..."
"What's wrong with you now?"