Chapter Twenty-Three: Hitomi’s Truth:

I turned my walkman in my hand as I sat on the bus stop bench. What did I not know about Hitomi? First the relationship with Dan Toshio, her pregnancy, and now this? Who the hell was she? I’m almost scared to hit play again. What else has she been hiding from me?

I have questions for her mother as well. Did she really have a relationship with her daughter’s therapist? I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone. I’m lucky that I charged it up last night. I think I still have Hitomi’s house number in here. It’s good that I have a strong reception here. I scrolled through the contact list until I came to Hitomi’s number. Ah, here you are, I thought. I hit dial and waited. My eyes trailed up to the sky while I waited.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Chiziwa-san?” I asked.

“Who is this?” the woman asked. I leaned back against the bench.

“I’m Kichiro,” I said. “I was friends with your daughter, Hitomi.” The pause on the other line made me worry that she didn’t know who this was.

“Oh, Kichiro-kun!” she said. “It’s you. How have you been?”

“Good,” I said. “Listen, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?” Chiziwa-san asked. I tried to think of the right way to put this. What if Hitomi was lying out of spite for her mother? I would be putting Chiziwa-san through unneeded turmoil. However, I just had to know.

“I was just listening to Hitomi-chan’s tapes,” I began. “And I came across something rather odd.”

“What do you mean?” her mother asked.

“Who was Fujioka-sensei?” I asked.

“Oh,” she said in a quiet voice.

“Is he a family friend or something?” I asked.

“No…” she said.

“Then, who is he?” I asked.

“This really isn’t a good time,” Chiziwa-san mumbled over the phone.

“Please,” I said. “I have to know the truth.”

“Why?!” she cried. “Why are you bringing this up now?” A puzzled look came over my face.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I made a mistake!” Hitomi-chan’s mom shouted. “It was only one night and we ended up talking a lot!”

“What?!” I shouted.

“Don’t call this number again!” Chiziwa-san yelled. She hung up before I could say another word. I stared at my phone. What was all of that about? I began to think, what if Hitomi was telling the truth about Fujioka-sensei? Innocent people don’t blurt out things like that and hang up. I turned back to my walkman and hit play.

-Hitomi’s Tape-

I loved my mother. When she betrayed me, nothing felt right anymore. I wondered what other secrets she kept from me. What else had she lied about? Who else has she been sleeping with behind my back?

-She sighs-

I don’t know anything anymore. I haven’t heard from Kichiro-kun in years. He’s probably the top of his class in his high school. Toshio is probably with another new girlfriend. I feel adrift and alone. I don’t where to turn. I can feel myself slipping away. I want to cry, but who will hear me? My mother has betrayed me. Kichiro-kun has his own life. Toshio doesn’t care about me. Fujioka-sensei betrayed me too. I just… I just…

-She sobs-

I am tired of living. I am just… tired.

-Kichiro-

My heart ached for her. Hitomi-chan, why didn’t you say anything? She could’ve said something that day by the creek. Why didn’t I push her to talk to me? Even if it was a lie, I could’ve talk to her. But what would I say to her? I lowered my head and pressed my lips together. It didn’t take long for me to break down in a mental crash. Why is this giving me a headache? I lifted my head.

Why the hell do I keep thinking about all of this? I puffed up my cheeks as I looked up at the bus shelter ceiling. I’ve been in Hiroshima for weeks and I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

“Kichiro!” I heard someone shout. I faced forward at the direction of the sound.