Chapter 85: A DAY LIKE A FAMILY
Noriko opened her eyes slowly.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.
Then she remembered.
Today.
She sat up so quickly that her hair fell over her face.
"Today…"
A small smile appeared on her lips.
She looked at the clock beside her bed.
Still early.
Good.
She climbed out of bed and walked toward her closet. She stared at the dresses hanging neatly inside, most of them chosen by her mother.
Too formal.
Too elegant.
Too much like the Noriko everyone expected her to be.
She reached for something simple instead.
A comfortable blouse.
A skirt.
Nothing expensive-looking.
Nothing that made her look like someone's future wife.
Just Noriko.
She changed quickly and stood in front of the mirror.
She looked at herself.
For some reason, she felt nervous.
She touched her hair.
"Why am I nervous?"
She smiled at herself.
"You're just meeting Max and Kota."
She paused.
Then her smile became smaller.
"Just…"
She knew it wasn't just that.
She hadn't seen them like this in a long time.
Not through photographs.
Not through memories.
Not through stories.
Today, she would actually be with them.
Noriko quietly opened her bedroom door.
The hallway was silent.
She looked left.
Then right.
Nobody.
She slowly walked down the stairs.
Every small sound made her freeze.
A floorboard creaked.
Noriko immediately stopped breathing.
She waited.
Nothing.
She continued.
When she finally reached the entrance, she looked back at the quiet house.
Her eyes landed on the phone sitting on the table.
She stared at it.
Her mother's calls.
James's calls.
Messages.
Questions.
She didn't want any of it today.
Noriko picked up her bag.
Then she deliberately left the phone where it was.
"Just for today…"
She whispered.
"I don't want anyone to find me."
She opened the door and slipped outside.
For the first time in a long time, she felt free.
---
Max stood at the meeting place with his hands in his pockets.
He looked at his watch.
Then toward the road.
Then at his watch again.
Kota stood beside him, eating something from a small plastic bag.
"Dad."
"What?"
"You've checked your watch six times."
"I have not."
"You did."
Max looked at his watch.
Kota smiled.
"You're nervous."
"I'm not nervous."
"You're nervous."
"I am not."
Kota shoved another snack into his mouth.
"You're acting like you're waiting for your girlfriend."
Max immediately looked at him.
"She's not my girlfriend."
"I didn't say who."
"Kota."
"What?"
"You know exactly what you're doing."
Kota smiled.
Then he suddenly stopped chewing.
"Dad."
"Hm?"
"She's here."
Max turned around.
Noriko was walking toward them.
She wasn't wearing the formal clothes he remembered.
She looked simple.
Comfortable.
And somehow, that made her look even more beautiful.
Max froze.
Noriko slowed down when she saw him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kota suddenly ran forward.
"Noriko!"
Noriko's face immediately lit up.
"Kota!"
She opened her arms.
Kota jumped into her hug.
Noriko hugged him tightly.
"You got so big!"
Kota proudly puffed out his chest.
"Of course."
Noriko laughed.
"You're still the same."
"I grew."
"Your head definitely got bigger."
"That's because I'm smarter now."
Max laughed.
"Don't encourage him."
Noriko looked at Max.
Their eyes met.
The laughter slowly faded.
There was a small silence.
Max smiled.
"You came."
Noriko nodded.
"I said I would."
Neither of them knew what else to say.
Kota looked between them.
He sighed dramatically.
"Adults are weird."
Max looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Noriko laughed.
"Let's go."
Kota grabbed her hand.
Then he grabbed Max's hand with his other hand.
"There."
Max looked down.
Noriko looked down.
Kota looked at both of them.
"Now we're together."
Max sighed.
Noriko smiled.
And the three of them started walking.
---
Noriko took them around places she used to visit.
A small park.
A shopping street.
A little dessert shop.
A bookstore.
Everywhere they went, Kota had something to say.
"This place is nice."
"This place is expensive."
"This place smells good."
"This place looks boring."
Noriko eventually laughed.
"You have an opinion about everything."
"I'm very knowledgeable."
Max looked at him.
"You're nine."
"Exactly. Nine years of experience."
Noriko covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Max shook his head.
"He learned that from somewhere."
Kota looked offended.
"I learned it from life."
"You learned it from television."
"That too."
Noriko laughed again.
Max watched her.
He hadn't realized how much he missed that sound.
Her laugh had always been different.
Not loud.
Not forced.
Just warm.
For a while, he forgot everything.
The past.
His family.
Her wedding.
All of it.
He was simply walking beside her.
And Kota was between them.
Like they had always done this.
Like nothing had ever separated them.
---
At lunch, Noriko brought them to a family restaurant.
They sat around a small table.
Kota immediately picked up the menu.
"I want this."
Max looked at the menu.
"No."
"This."
"No."
"This one?"
"You can't eat all of that."
"I can."
Noriko looked at the menu.
"He can probably eat that."
Max stared at her.
"Don't encourage him."
Kota pointed at Noriko.
"See? She understands me."
Noriko smiled.
"I know what you like."
Kota suddenly became quiet.
Max noticed.
Noriko noticed too.
Kota looked at her.
"You remember?"
Noriko smiled.
"Of course I remember."
Kota smiled back.
"Then I want that."
Max sighed.
"Fine."
When the food arrived, Kota attacked his meal as if he hadn't eaten for three days.
Noriko laughed.
"Slow down."
"I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry."
"Growing boys need food."
Max looked at him.
"You're going to regret saying that when you see the bill."
A clerk came by the table.
She smiled warmly.
"Everything okay?"
Noriko nodded.
"Yes, thank you."
The clerk looked at the three of them.
Then she smiled.
"You have such a lovely family."
Max and Noriko froze.
Kota slowly looked up from his food.
The clerk continued.
"You two make such a cute couple."
"WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!"
Max and Noriko said it at exactly the same time.
The clerk blinked.
Kota burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
The clerk looked embarrassed.
"Oh! I'm sorry."
Noriko's face was bright red.
Max scratched the back of his head.
The clerk smiled awkwardly.
"Then… siblings?"
"No!"
Again, Max and Noriko answered together.
Kota nearly fell off his chair laughing.
The clerk finally looked confused.
"So…"
She looked at Kota.
"Are they your relatives?"
Kota calmly took another bite.
Then he pointed at Max.
"That's my dad."
He pointed at Noriko.
"And she's my mom."
Max choked on his drink.
"KOTA!"
Noriko covered her face.
"Kota!"
"What?"
The clerk stared at them.
Kota smiled innocently.
"They are my parents."
Max coughed.
"We're not—"
Kota interrupted.
"They just don't know it yet."
Noriko's face became even redder.
"Kota!"
The clerk laughed.
"You have a very funny son."
Max looked at him.
"He's going to be the death of me."
Kota smiled proudly.
Noriko couldn't stop laughing.
But after the clerk left, she became quiet.
She looked at Kota.
Her smile remained.
But her eyes softened.
"Mom…"
She quietly repeated the word in her mind.
She knew Kota didn't mean it literally.
But hearing him say it still touched something deep inside her.
Something she had been trying very hard not to feel.
Kota continued eating.
Max noticed Noriko's expression.
He didn't say anything.
He simply smiled.
---
After lunch, they went to the amusement park.
Kota's eyes practically sparkled.
"THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!"
Max immediately knew he was in trouble.
"No."
Kota turned around.
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask."
"Yes, I do."
"I want to ride that."
He pointed toward a roller coaster.
Max looked up.
"No."
Noriko looked at the roller coaster.
Then at Max.
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous."
Kota crossed his arms.
"Dad."
"What?"
"You're scared."
Max's eyes widened.
"I'm not scared."
Noriko smiled.
"Then let's go."
Max stared at her.
"You too?"
She shrugged.
"I'm curious."
Kota grabbed both of their hands.
"Let's go!"
---
Several minutes later…
Max regretted every decision he had made that morning.
The roller coaster climbed higher.
Higher.
Higher.
Kota was smiling.
Noriko was smiling.
Max was gripping the safety bar.
Kota looked at him.
"Dad."
"What?"
"Your face is white."
"It's the sunlight."
"We're indoors."
"Shut up."
The roller coaster dropped.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Kota screamed.
Noriko screamed.
Max screamed louder than both of them.
When the ride finally ended, Kota stumbled out laughing.
Noriko was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.
Max stood there, completely exhausted.
Kota pointed at him.
"You screamed the loudest!"
"I did not!"
"You did!"
Noriko wiped her eyes.
"You definitely did."
Max looked betrayed.
"You too?"
Noriko nodded.
"You screamed like a little girl."
Max stared at her.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
She laughed again.
"I am."
Kota put his arm around Max.
"It's okay, Dad."
"Don't touch me."
"I'll protect you next time."
"There will be no next time."
"There is definitely a next time."
---
They played games.
They ate sweets.
Kota tried to win a stuffed animal.
He failed.
He tried again.
Failed.
Again.
Failed.
Max sighed.
"Let's just buy one."
"No!"
Kota looked determined.
"I will win it myself."
Noriko stood beside him.
"Don't give up."
Max looked at her.
"You're making him worse."
Kota finally won.
He jumped in excitement.
"I WON!"
Noriko clapped.
"You did it!"
Kota grabbed the stuffed animal.
Then he turned around and handed it to Noriko.
She blinked.
"For me?"
Kota nodded.
"You wanted it."
Noriko looked at the stuffed animal.
Then at Kota.
"You noticed?"
Kota shrugged.
"You kept looking at it."
Noriko smiled.
She hugged him.
"Thank you."
Kota smiled against her.
Max watched them.
For some reason, his chest felt warm.
He looked away for a moment.
He didn't want Noriko to see his expression.
Because for a second…
This really did feel like a family.
Not a perfect family.
Not one without problems.
Just three people walking together.
Laughing together.
Eating together.
Arguing over rides.
It was simple.
And maybe that's why it hurt.
---
As evening came, they sat together on a bench.
Kota was tired.
He leaned against Max's shoulder.
Noriko sat beside them.
The lights of the amusement park began to shine.
Noriko looked at them quietly.
Max looked tired.
Kota was almost asleep.
She smiled.
"Today was nice."
Max nodded.
"Yeah."
Noriko looked ahead.
"I haven't had a day like this in a long time."
Max turned toward her.
"Me neither."
She smiled.
Then she almost said something.
"I wish…"
She stopped.
Max looked at her.
"What?"
Noriko shook her head.
"Nothing."
Kota suddenly spoke without opening his eyes.
"You should come with us."
Noriko froze.
Kota continued.
"Then we can do this again tomorrow."
Noriko looked at him.
Her smile slowly became sad.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
Kota opened one eye.
"We can go somewhere else."
Max smiled faintly.
"Let her rest."
"No."
Kota closed his eyes again.
"She has to come."
Noriko looked at him.
She wanted to say yes.
She wanted to promise him.
But she couldn't.
So instead, she gently touched his hair.
"I'll see."
Kota smiled sleepily.
"Okay…"
---
The sun had already disappeared when Noriko finally stood.
"I should go."
Kota immediately opened his eyes.
"Already?"
Noriko nodded.
"It's getting late."
Kota stood and hugged her.
"See you again."
Noriko hugged him tightly.
"Yeah."
She closed her eyes.
For a moment, she allowed herself to hold him like she had always wanted to.
Then she slowly let go.
Max stood in front of her.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Max smiled.
"Thank you."
Noriko looked at him.
"For what?"
"For today."
Her eyes softened.
"I should be thanking you."
Max shook his head.
"No. You gave us the day."
Noriko smiled.
"Then…"
She looked at Kota.
"And you gave me something too."
Max understood.
He didn't ask what.
Noriko stepped backward.
"Take care of him."
Max smiled.
"Always."
Noriko nodded.
Then she turned around.
Kota waved.
"Bye, Noriko!"
She waved back.
"Bye, Kota."
She walked away.
Max and Kota watched her disappear into the crowd.
Kota suddenly looked at Max.
"Dad."
"Hm?"
"You should've asked her to stay."
Max didn't answer.
Kota looked at him.
"Dad?"
Max smiled faintly.
"Let's go home."
---
Noriko arrived at the house later that evening.
Her smile disappeared the moment she saw someone standing outside.
James.
He was waiting.
Noriko stopped.
James looked at her.
"Where were you?"
She didn't answer.
"Noriko."
She walked past him.
"I'm talking to you."
She continued walking.
James turned around.
"Noriko!"
She opened the door.
Her mother was already inside.
Her mother's eyes immediately narrowed.
"Where have you been?"
Noriko didn't answer.
She walked past her.
"Noriko."
Nothing.
"I'm asking you a question."
Noriko continued walking.
Her mother followed her with her eyes.
"Noriko!"
Noriko reached the stairs.
She stopped for half a second.
But she didn't turn around.
She continued upstairs.
Her bedroom door closed.
Her mother stood there silently.
For once, Noriko had nothing to say to her.
And she didn't want to.
Inside her room, Noriko leaned against the door.
She closed her eyes.
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
She remembered Kota laughing.
Max's embarrassed face.
The stuffed animal.
The roller coaster.
The restaurant.
The three of them walking together.
Her smile slowly faded.
She opened her eyes.
Tomorrow.
She knew what tomorrow meant.
---
The next morning, Noriko sat in front of a large mirror.
Bright lights surrounded her reflection.
A makeup artist carefully applied makeup to her face.
Another woman worked on her hair.
People moved around the room.
Someone talked about the wedding dress.
Someone talked about the flowers.
Someone talked about the ceremony.
Everyone sounded excited.
Noriko heard every word.
But none of it felt real.
She stared at herself.
Her face slowly became more beautiful.
Perfect makeup.
Perfect hair.
Perfect bride.
The makeup artist smiled.
"You're going to look beautiful."
Noriko didn't answer.
She looked at her reflection.
She remembered yesterday.
Max.
Kota.
The laughter.
The warmth.
The feeling of belonging.
The feeling of being home.
The makeup artist continued working.
Noriko's eyes slowly became wet.
She blinked.
She refused to let the tears fall.
Then she whispered so quietly that nobody heard her.
"I already knew what being a bride felt like."
She looked at herself.
Her lips trembled.
"For one day…"
A tear finally slipped down her cheek.
"…I remembered what it felt like to be home."
And the mirror showed a bride who looked perfect.
But behind the perfect makeup…
Noriko looked completely heartbroken.
CHAPTER ENDS