アスラクライン

Empathy

There was once a highschool boy named Takuma. Takuma is aged 16 and is in his final year of highschool, before taking an exam to college. Takuma has an elder brother Hazuma who is 18. Both siblings live together in a rented apartment in Tokyo while their parents were away in Australia for work. It has been about 3 years since their parents moved out because the company went to Australia to develop and hence their parents, being directors, will have to relocate to Australia.

Takuma and Hazuma studies in the same school which has both elementary, High Schoon and College joined together. Takuma is at his final year while Hazuma is already in college. Takuma has a group of close friends in school amongst which are boys and girls alike. The group that Takuma always hangs out with, about 5 of which, includes mostly girls except for 1 boy which is his closest friend Touya. The other 4 are girls and each looks equally beautiful. However, not all 4 girls are always around them but only one of which, Aizu, hangs around with them very often.

Aizu is a girl of average height of about 171 cm. Takuma is 181 cm  and is taller than her. Aizu has great proportions for a 16 year old. We do not know the 3 sizes but her breast size is definitely a modest B cup. Aizu has deep back hair of which are reaching just below the shoulders, just above the waist. Aizu seldomly ties her hair but when she does, she leaves a ponytail at the back. If you do not know yet, Takuma has a crush on Aizu but dares not tell her about it. This is due to Takuma’s appearance that he himself is not exactly fit and has been slightly overweight in his younger days. Takuma now looks fairly slim but he has been consistently bullied in the past because of his size and appearance. As a result, he has very litle confidence. Takuma is shy over girls but does not display it because of that, he wears a fierce facade to protect himself. This was mainly due to the fact that he needs to be constantly fierce to prevent people from bullying him. As time passes, Takuma’s eyes matures and becomes sharp and fierce. Hence he does not talk to girls, nor do girls approach him. Takuma met Aizu when they were in grade 2 of elementary school. Aizu was lost at that time and Takuma assisted her. Since then, Aizu frequently hangs around him and Touya. Takuma habours feelings for her because Aizu is the only person able to understand him and accept him as he is.

However, times are hard and rivals do appear here and there.

One normal day, Takuma woke up even before the sun has rose, it was about 5.30am. Takuma always wakes up at this time for he always believes that time should not be wasted lying in bed and sleeping. He would go out into the corridor and look at the dew and breathe in fresh air of the surroundings. He will notice a few crickets, though small they are, creeking away. Takuma felt at peace as he loves the coolness of dawn. The rented apartment has 3 rooms not counting the living room and the kitchen. Takuma settles in the inner most room nearest to the balcony ater he exits his room. In the middle, Aizu settles in about a year ago. Her reason being that the morning peak periods are very hectic and she doesn’t want to squeeze into the packed bullet train. Takuma knew very well that this was not the reason, for Aizu has a crush on Hazuma, his elder brother.

Aizu first met Hazuma when Takuma invited Touya and her to come over since Aizu has some problems with school work. Takuma is usually one of the better students in class, he ranked 11th in the entire school in the mid semestral exams. Takuma does well in his studies because he is not good in sports and feels dishearten. It was then that he studied hard in order to let everyone in class know that he was not some unfit boy who is bad in everything. Despite his good results, Takuma is a deliquent and skips classes often. He does it alone since Touya is a major nerd and Aizu is one of those good honour students. Due to Takuma’s good results, the teachers seldom scolds him but do tip him off from time to time. Takuma has a skin deficiency known as Vitiligo. This means he has the absence of Melanin essential for making of the pigment of the skin. Hence whenever he falls down, the recovered skin will be white instead of the usual baige. That is why he avoids swimming in school and other sports activities for he is prone to sun burn. Takuma once fell down while trying to hold Aizu when she was not feeling well. As such, his face and lips are white because of abrasions to it. Students will tend to avoid him for he looks weird. Despite Takuma’s cold appearance, he tries his very best in everything and feels dejected as a result of those stereotypical judgement of him.

As I was saying, Aizu went over to Takuma’s place to hone up her weaker subjects. This was 1 year ago and Aizu met Hazuma then. Aizu openly tells Takuma and Touya after that meeting that she will be moving into Takuma’s apartment for she likes Hazuma. Hazuma is one of those who has features that are handsome blessed to him by the good old god. Takuma does not believe in god for there is a great constrast between Hazuma and Takuma’s features. Takuma hated himself and envied his brother sliently. But still, he helped his brother with almost all the household chores as he goes out to settle ‘things’. Aizu then moved in and gradually got to knew Hazuma. One fine day, Aizu confessed to Hazuma and Hazuma accepted it. They started going out and Aizu no longer hangs out with Takuma much. Despite remaining unfazed, Takuma was sad because his most treasured person has been snatched away by his brother who was aware of his feelings for Aizu. Takuma did not react negatively towards Hazuma and they savage their good sibling-ship.

Once Aizu parents came and Aizu and Hazuma had a date that day. Aizu begged Takuma to help her handle them and went off for their date. Takuma met Aizu’s parents who in turned scolded Takuma for his lack of supervision of the place and the messiness of the place. The truth is, Takuma received a last minute message from Aizu that her parents are coming and Takuma had to forfeit his cram school to rush back. He had not settled the mess when Aizu’s parents arrived. But still, Takuma prepared some of his best dishes to calm them down. As a result, Aizu’s parents were convinced that Aizu’s meals and health are in good hands. They then left after about 2 hours or so. Takuma knows how to cook by watching tv programmes and experimenting it himself. He does not cook well but does cook a few dishes excellently. Those were the ones he prepared for Aizu’s parents.

Hazuma on the other hand learns the piano and was given the privillege to learn by his parents. Takuma wanted to learn but was disallowed because he was stupid and cannot grasp things well. As such, Takuma always feels sad when he hears piano sounds coming from his room. Aizu would often praise Hazuma saying that he is so cool, knowing how to play the piano. Despite all that, Takuma thought he could impress Aizu with his cooking, and one faithful day, it was Takuma’s birthday and he decided to have Aizu to accompany him for the day for a dinner which he will make. Meanwhile, Hazuma having felt bored asked Aizu out for a date, not knowing that it was Takuma’s birthday. Aizu thought Takuma wouldn’t mind and went ahead with the date with Hazuma. Takuma spent hours preparing the dishes he rehearsed many times but he then heard from Touya the Aizu was going out with Hazuma. Takuma felt miserable and spent his birthday alone.

All these sadness of Takuma continued with numerous events which hurt him most. Atlas, Takuma got the courage to confess to Aizu. Aizu was shocked and said that she had never thought of him that way. She went on to say that Takuma must be joking. Takuma knowing that felt even more hurt. Aizu knows his feelings from then on and tends to avoid him. Takuma perservered and on many occasions when his brother was away, tried to win Aizu’s heart. Over time, their relationship got distant, from a close friend to an acquaintance. They hardly ever talk and this continued on until their entrance exams. It was then that Aizu started talking to Takuma again, of course that was because she wanted to make use of Takuma to teach her. Takuma, despite knowing that he was made used of, still taught her for he loves her. Takuma unfortunately spent too much time drilling Aizu that he fell sick on the exams. Takuma gave Aizu all the important notes and tips that was useful for the exams. This was through hardwork and many hours of cram school. After the exams, Aizu did very well and ended up to the college where Hazuma is attending, a prestigious one. Takuma however, still managed nearly to enter the college. He had a goal to top the school and wanted to get a scholarship to study overseas, to get away from this sad place. But he gave it away because he could not complete certain papers due to his illness.

Afterwhich, Takuma’s health deteriorated and he went for a full body check-up and realised that he had contracted skin cancer. This was a result of the photo-therapy treatment (for Vitiligo) that he was constantly going through to darken his skin and stimulate melanin to be produced. He underwent the treatment knowing that there were some forms of risk, but still Takuma did not think he would be so unlucky. Takuma went home and did not reveal to anyone. He placed on a happy facade for Aizu’s achievement on managing to get into college. Hazuma and Aizu’s relationship have gotten closer and Takuma knew that they already had sex. Takuma spent his vacation tutoring in cram school and having part-time jobs. He did not undergo chemotherapy for his skin cancer as he finds himself short of money. Still, he worked hard to try to undergo the treatment, in a bid to prolong his life. Takuma’s family met with a financial crisis a few months before, that explains why they are no longer rich. Hazuma still went about spending on things unnecessarily while Takuma tried to make ends meet. In the end, when he had gotten enough money for treatment, the cancer is at stage 2. It was still considered early and Takuma never showed signs of weakness. Eventually Touya found out about it and spent more time with Takuma. Touya did not ask why Takuma kept it a secret form Hazuma and Aizu.

Days went by until college started and Takuma entered the same college as Aizu and Hazuma. Aizu entered another class with Touya as both of them did extremely well, mainly due to Takuma’s drilling. Takuma entered another class and suffered more verbal abuses. Takuma thought nothing of it even though he had not heard them in a while, because Touya and Aizu was with him. Now he was all alone due to his illness during the entrance exams. Soon, Takuma dropped out of school to work full time as an engineer. Despite no certificates, he got a high-paying salary to enable him to support Hazuma who did not drop out because he holds the hopes to getting the prestigious degree that the school offers. Of course all these were decided by their parents. Takuma enjoyed his work and he found lesser time for Touya and Aizu. Subsequently, even Touya made new friends and rarely contacted Takuma. Aizu and Hazuma seldom talk to Takuma because he comes home late. One day, he came back and heard erotic noises. Takuma knew sraight away that Aizu and Hazuma were having sex. Takuma knew this as this had happened at least twice a week ever since he started working. Takuma pretended not to know and hence Aizu and Hazuma continued their lovely practise. However, this time, Takuma could not resist the urge to look at Aizu, since he loves her alot. He stole a peak and could vaguely see Hazuma aloof of Aizu, both looking very flushed. They looked happy and Takuma felt his heart ached and went back to his room. Takuma then cried for the first time. He felt miserable as he watched his brother doing it to someone he loves. Takuma started slipping into depression and took medicine from the hospital he visits for chemotherapy. Takuma’s cancer condition is worsening, but at a much slower pace.

On another usual friday night, Takuma went home the usual pavement he walks and saw a person who is drunk. Beside him was a girl whom Takuma recognised and instantly knew it’s Aizu. Strange as he felt, he recognised Aizu but could not recognise his brother, Hazuma. This was due to Takuma constantly looking at Aizu. Takuma then saw Aizu and Hazuma crossing the road. Then an oncoming car came, Takuma, on instinct, sprint towards them and pushed them away with all his might. Afterwhich he felt an impact against him and time momentarily stops. He felt ached all over and after what seemed like hours, but is in fact seconds, he felt strong impact onto the rough roads. The truth is, Takuma got hit by a MPV and was flung a few metres away. Takuma died after that from a shattered skull. Just before Takuma passes on, he cried and he desires to see Aizu one last time, but guess what, she was not there for him. He slowly fades to sleep and finally he is at peace.

After that incident, Aizu broke up with Hazuma and she got together with Touya one day and visited Takuma’s tombstone at the cemetery. Apparently, what happened immediately after the incident was that Aizu frantically called the ambulance and screamed for help. She did not dare look at who got knocked over. But after that, when the ambulance came, only did Aizu found out that Takuma was the one who was knocked down. Aizu cried whereas Hazuma looked on hazily. Upon receiving the death certificate, the cause of death was excessive blood loss and of a fractured skull. Other ailments were also listed, amongst them include depression, vitiligo as well as skin cancer. Touya and Aizu were shocked of these revelations for Takuma himself did not mention these to them. Instead when they were around Takuma, the latter usually solve other people’s woes and counselled them. As Aizu laid down the flowers on the tomb while Touya drips water onto the tomb, the sun sets midway into the horizon. The tomb reads the word that Takuma wanted to be inserted into his tomb if he were to die. Apparently, Takuma had wrote a will after knowing about his cancer.

In the will, it reads:

“For those who hate, it is for nought, for there is no god but whether we choose to believe there is”

“Forgive and forget, forgo and forsee”

“Love is empathy and empathy is key”

“I love you wholeheartedly, Aizu, from your forgotten friend, Takuma”

“I wish for the word ‘empathy’ to be craved onto my tomb, spread this word around”