บท 41: Chapter 41: Let's Go to War

Tokushima, Japan - Eight Years Ago

Takeshi sat in his home, knelt in front of the shrine of his ancestors. He was so still that, had he not been breathing, he would have been easily mistaken for a statue. His eyes stared forward into the flames of the candles he had lit. They were unseeing, but unblinking. The sole subject of his concentration was to make Takagawa a distant memory.

“Nii-san?” He recognized Kenta’s voice and waved him in. “I have news about Takagawa.”

Takeshi bowed low to the altar before turning to his brother. “What do you have for me?”

“Well, he was willing to just leave Little Rose alone, since news spread like wildfire that you had left her.” He said sheepishly.

“But?”

“But, at the order of Midori, who said–” Kenta paused with fear in his eyes.

“It’s okay, otōto,” Takeshi reassured him, “it’s not you I’m mad at.”