"Value"

Chapter 4

Melissa didn't give me a response instead she remain silent and stare blankly at the ceiling. I let her take time she needed, and closes my eyes to meditate. "Uhm... Hayama... I actually don't have the courage to face them... I'm ashamed towards my self for choosing the wrong decision. I even hold a grudge against them because they didn't supported me but..." Melissa told me the reason why she is hesitant but things won't take progress if she keeps behaving like this.

"Don't worry. I will handle everything, just leave it to me and tell them how you really feel." I open my eyes as I speak and look at her directly.

"Thank you..." She avert her gaze towards me and smile bitterly. I can see regrets and guilt in her face but I disregard it.

"Anyway, you should take a rest... We have lots of things to do tomorrow." I stand up and turn off the lights. After that, I double check to see if the door and window was lock. When I confirmed everything is fine, I turn on the alarm for invaders and sit down back in kotatsu. When I look at Melissa, I sighted her lying down on bed staring at me. "What's wrong? Is the bed too cold for you?" I want to know if she is uncomfortable to my futon but it appears she has a different reasons.

"Uhm... Are you going to sleep?" So she is simply concerned about me. But there's no point in asking that because I'm not going to sleep anyway.

I need to guard her at all cost. However, I can't lie to her, lying isn't my forte. "I'm not really sleepy, so I might stay awake..." I averted my gaze away from her and rested my chin on the top of my palm.

"Im sorry..."

"Sorry...? For what?"

"Well, you are worried that something might happen tonight and guarding me when I'm asleep..." I didn't say a word to her and just keep my silence. "I'm causing you so much trouble... But can you at least lie down on bed next to me? If we are together then you don't have to worry about anything... Please just... Take a rest... Don't push yourself too hard..." Hearing her say that troubles me. I couldn't turn her down, so I stand up from the kotatsu and lie down on futon next to her.

"Thank you..." She hug my right arm tightly and rested her head on my shoulder. In a couple of minutes, she fall asleep.

I waited for a while to be certain she is really asleep. When I confirmed that, I slowly remove my arm away from her and stand up. Then I pick up the phone from my pocket and call someone. "Hello, this is Ameguri Hayama... I need you do to something..."

"Yes, I will take care of everything, just come with us tomorrow to avoid unnecessary problem."

"My school? A day of absence doesn't put me on harm."

"No, I won't talk about her... She trusted me with her secrets and I will do everything to support her."

"You are free to refuse. However, this is related to the victim's case."

"Well, you will find out sooner anyway."

"OK, let's meet each other tomorrow. If you are late then I will make my own move." I ended the call and take a deep sigh. "It's going to be painful as a parent... I don't know what's going to happen whether they will accept her or reject but if she got rejected, I guess I will welcome her with open arms." I sent someone a message and turn off my phone. Then, I averted my gaze away from Melissa and lie down on futon next to her. "I should sleep too..." I muttered to myself and fell asleep while on my guard.

In the next morning, I woke up without problems. Melissa is still asleep beside me, so I make sure that I won't wake her up.

The current time is 5 in the morning, I wash my face and prepare some tea. Using a pack of dry tea leaves and boil it at the right temperature.

Anyway, I pour into tea cup and head outside of the house to smoke some cigarettes. "Nothing beats cigarettes in the morning... I don't have particular reason to smoke but I'm just doing it to pastime." I take a sip of tea and after that I release the smoke outside of my lungs. "They won't arrive until 7 in the morning... I guess, I have lots of things to do..." I muttered to myself as I think about the people I called yesterday. They are willing to cooperate with me and also accepted my silence about her story.

However, there are still things I needed to take care off. "Are they going to accept her? I can use violence to force them into submission but I want to resolve it in natural way. Melissa already have enough on her plate, if I added violence then she will self destruct." I take a deep sigh and look at the sky. The sun isn't about to rise yet but the sky slowly comes into light. "This is the first time I'm not going to resort into violence. Usually violence solves everything but if the victim is on the verge of death, using it won't produce results." I take another hits on cigarette then I turn around after hearing the creaking sounds coming from the door.

Chapter 4.1

"You are awake already?" I sighted Melissa holding the door frame while rubbing her left eye. She is still wearing my pe uniform but it doesn't matter to me.

"Good morning, Hayama-kun..." Melissa greeted my happily as she narrow the distance between us. I kill the fire on cigarette by pushing the tip into ashtray and she sit down next to me.

"Did you sleep enough? It seems you are excited to meet your parents again." I asked her a question and point something out. Melissa smile bitterly at me and glance at the sky while wringing her hands.

"To tell you the truth... I'm kind of excited and nervous at the same time. I don't know where to go if the things didn't turn out well..." I can see some tears slowly gathering in her eyes but before she shed tear I decided to give her a comfort.

"Don't worry, if they rejected you I will take you with me. We cannot live to the same place but I have a different house we can use it." I'm talking about one of my property, it's unbelievable at first since I'm living in isolated town and my house is all in one. It's hard to believe that I have a bigger house but it's true.

"Huh...?" It seems she didn't expect those words coming from me. I couldn't blame her for it after all I didn't even expect my self to become like this.

"Thank you... Now I feel ease after hearing that..." Melissa turn her gaze at me and smile genuinely. I could tell that she is happy after knowing that I'm willing to take her under my umbrella.

"Anyway, I'm going to prepare some food we should get inside... Also the wind seems cold today, I don't want you to get sick before we meet your parents." We head inside and I prepared some tea for her before cooking a food for breakfast.

The time has come and the sound of door bell being ring caught our attention. "It seems they are here..." I muttered to Melissa as I glance at the door. I finishes taking care of everything and only waiting for them to come.

When I open the door, the person I promise to meet made an appearance. "Good morning Ameguri-kun. Are you guys ready to leave now?" The person who asked me a question is no other than Ramirez. I asked her to take a day off in order to help me bring Melissa back to her parents. We could easily use the police mobile.

However, I'm in doubt due to the fact that we are going to a different region. I also wanted her to feel secure, so instead of commuting we are going to use a car.

Ramirez voluntary or rather I force her to use her car with a promise of me paying the gas but she refused my offer and told me that I don't have to do it since it's for helping Melissa.

"Yes, Melissa we are going now..." I averted my gaze to Melissa. She is still wearing my pe uniform. I couldn't asked her to take a bath since I wanted to bring her back as soon as possible.

Anyway, she stands up from the kotatsu and head outside. I lock the door and followed her afterwards but when Ramirez open the cat a troublesome woman made an appearance.

"Hello, Ameguri-kun..." She greeted me with a smile on her face while waving her hands inside the car. I only look at her for a second then turn my gaze to Ramirez.

"Why Tachibana is here?" I asked her a question, she simply take a deep sigh and shake her head as if it was stressful. I ignore Tachibana and head into the car. Since the passenger seat was occupied by Tachibana. We used the back seat.

Melissa sit down next to me despite the chair having some space she move her body, so that we could get closer to one another.

"Are you still nervous?" I asked her a question because I could feel her body slighty shaking. She just nod to me and rested her head on my shoulder.

"You can sleep in the meantime... I will wake you up once we reaches out destination." With that she closes her eyes and sleep comfortably. I gently pat her head with my left hand while looking outside of the window.

There was a moment of silence between us for few minutes. Then Tachibana speak to break it. "Can I ask you a question Ameguri-kun?" She is looking at me through the mirror. I averted my gaze away from her and respond.

"You are already asking me a question. Anyway, go a head..." I gave her permission to speak and she shrugged her arms after hearing my reply.

"What methods did you use for Melissa to speak? When we were asking her, she refuses to talk..." She seems to be curious on what did I to for Melissa to open to me but I didn't do anything in particular.

"I don't know... Even if I know something, you should know that I won't tell you a thing since she trusted it to me."

"Well whatever... By the way the tea leaves you gave me is surprisingly good... I couldn't help but keep boiling tea one after another... My siblings also like it and now it's all gone. Where did you purchase those tea anyway?" Well, I'm not surpise about that. Those tea leave are the best among the country.

"About those tea leaves. You cannot purchase them again."

Tachibana frowned after hearing my reply. I could tell that she is confused and disappointed. "Why is that?" She asked me for the reason but I didn't answer and simply take a deep sigh.

"There was a sad story about it..." I muttered to myself and take a momentary silence then look at the window. I bought it from an elderly which I happen to meet by coincidence near the convenience store in the afternoon week ago. He was surrounded by delinquents, they probably wanted to rob him.

"Robbing an elderly? Kids now a days have nothing better to do..." I speak out loud as I approaches them. While walking I'm stretching my arms indicating that I'm prepared to fight them head on. There are three delinquents in total, they were robbing his money and crushing his items to sold.

They look at me in the eye after hearing me speak. One of the deliquents looks like a leader immediately take a step back to due to shock. "You are... Ameguri Hayama..." He stated my name with a trembling voice. From the looks of things it appears they know me, so this will end quickly that I thought.

"So you know my name?" I found it odd at first that he knows my name. The only people who knows my name are my classmates and number of people most of them are thugs that I beat up. But it's odd that someone I never meet before knows me.

"Of course! I heard lots of rumors about you..." After explaining how did he find information about me. He throw that wallet which contains money of old man and retreat. I don't have any plans to let them go but causing havoc in public place isn't really my style. I watches them as they walk away, and approaches the weakened elderly to help him stand up.

"Are you alright grandpa?" I lend my hand and gently pull him up. After regaining his composure, he smile bitterly at me and speak.

"I'm alright thanks for your help son..." He patted my shoulder and check his cart to see what's going on. Some of the fruits he has were crushed only few can number can be sold.

"If I arrive a little earlier then those delinquents will be crushed in place of fruits." I muttered to myself.

"It's alright... I don't have any use with them anyway, so don't blame yourself..." I was a little bit shock when he responded to me. Perhaps he knows what's going on inside my mind as if I'm transparent to him.

I take a deep sigh and didn't pay attention to it. To change the topic, I averted my gaze towards the five packs of tea leaves. I'm actually heading out hoping to find a package of those but it appears that the store doesn't have any stocks in them, so I plan to purchase the tea leaves he has.

"By the way grandpa. Are you still selling those tea leaves?" I pointed the tea leaves with my index finger and continue. "I visited some shop but they don't have any stock. If you are selling them I'm willing to purchase any price you ask."

"Oh...?" He turn his gaze to the pack of tea leaves and stare at it for a while before talking to me. "You can have those tea leaves... I'm not going to charge you a single yen for it." He is smiling but this time, I could tell that he was genuinely happy. He hand over the tea leaves and tell me a short story. "I planted those tea leaves and fruits in my small farm. I also harvested it myself..." He proudly speak to me about the history of the items but the tone of his voice generates a deep sadness. Then he averted his gaze away from my eyes and glance at the empty cart. "My daughter left me alone to go with her boyfriend. I was against their relationship at first but she chooses to go with him rather than staying with me... My daughter resented me for not supporting her decision..." Despite telling me sad story there was no trace of tears in his eyes. All I can see is regrets and disappointment.

"Few years later she came back bearing a child with her and wanted me to raise it. Despite what she did to me, I couldn't brush her off, afterall she is my daughter... I accepted her baby and she suddenly disappeared in the middle of the night..." He closes his eyes as if remembering what happened to them back in the day. I can see what's going on here clearly, his daughter get herself pregnant after abandoning him.

Since she couldn't just abort the child she needed someone to take care of it. She probably knows that her father won't abandoned her despite her actions and decided to take advantage of his kindness, it's an opportunity to make him raise her child. "What a sinister woman..." I speak to myself and keep on listening to him.

"Every seconds... I'm getting older, son... I don't have much strength to move forward but I couldn't leave my grand child alone since he was still a months old baby, so despite the hardships I carry on and raise him with everything I've got."

As expected, this elderly is respectable person. Despite her daughter actions to him, he didn't hate her in the slightest, that's something I couldn't understand.

He remained silent for awhile. During those time I sorted my thoughts and prepared myself to listen the moment he continue. "...I'm always short on money to support his financial needs. Thanks to those tea leaves and fruits which I sold everyday, I managed to support his studies but..." He cut his own words and take a momentary pause. He keep his eyes on the empty cart and resume talking. "He committed suicide few days ago..." It was rather unexpected.

Neither of us say a another word and keep the silence between us. But after few minutes, he break the silence. "I'm too old be dramatic, son... If I let my emotions sway me then my grandson will be come dead for real..." I caught a glimpse of the way he thinks. I averted my gaze away from him and take a deep breath.

"I undestand..." I cut my own words and continue after being silent for few seconds. "You wanted to cry but you can't... Because if you do your energy will be wasted and eventually reach the end. If that happens then you will die along with your son." Despite dying his grandson will still remain alive as long as there is a single person who remembers him.

Chapter 4.2

Judging by his appearance he probably didn't have much time left. If I were to estimate he can at least live for 5 days. I look away from him and think about his hardships. "His thin body was force to work everyday without taking a proper rest in order to keep his grandson alive yet one day when he went home and sighted his grandson dead body lying on the floor..." I can't imagine how painful it is for him. The honorable man in front of me was badly hurt and I couldn't do anything about it. "If I happened to meet him earlier perhaps I could change their lives for better." I couldn't do anything other than closing my eyes and think of if's which is not going to happen.

"Son..." He called me out. I open my eyes and turn my gaze at him. This time he is looking at my eyes directly and not on empty cart. "The thing behind your back, it's something that you shouldn't be carrying alone..." He is talking as if he knows what secrets lies behind my eyes. He is the first person to analyze my thoughts that I keep hidden for a long time. "Perhaps because I'm too old and have enough experience to witness it but the answer you are looking for is with those tea..."

I averted my gaze at the packs of tea leaves which I'm holding in my left hand and ask him a question without looking at his eyes directly. "What do you think...? Is it possible?"

"Hoo... Hoo... Hoo..." He let out a few light laughter after hearing my question. "You meet someone like me right? So I believe it's possible..." He smile at me and pat my shoulder. The sadness in his face disappeared as if it was never been there in the first place.

"I see... Thanks for that grandpa..." I express my gratitude after realizing that my goal is at least possible to achieve.

"Son, perhaps it's fate that we meet each other today... It's a pity I wouldn't be able to give you more of those tea leaves but-" He seems to only regret one thing but I interrupted him from speaking and say the words he wanted to say using my own mouth.

"I'm searching for specific tea but I couldn't find one. Then, by coincidence I happened to find a tea that's better than what I usually have. The path of those tea already reaches it end. Despite me liking the taste I won't be able to have the same tea again. I might find something better or worse but I won't be able to find the same taste. However, the plant still exist somewhere, as long as I seek it , then I can grow my own tea leaves and have it endlessly..."

"Hua Hua Hua..." He seems to be satisfied after hearing my analogy about tea and life. "I never thought that I will have a good time despite my age... Perhaps if we meet each other few years ago before things becomes messier then we might be able to change and have a better ending... But that's only a fantasy of old man and child... Thank you for wonderful time." He turn his back to me. With his shaking tired slim arms, he grab the handle of the cart and pushes it with every once of his strength.

I wanted to help him until he reaches his destination but I doubt he needed my help. I only watches him from a distance as he take his leave and give a salute. "That laughter probably consumes him lot of energy more than I could imagine. How many days he has left? He will keep pushing that heavy cart until he reaches his destination. I'm hoping that his strength is enough to reach his grandson and lie down on bed next to him..." If we meet each other earlier before I make a choice, I wonder what kind of life awaits me...?.

I shake my head after he disappeared from my sight. I glance at the sky and continue speaking to myself. "I guess it's just a fantasy of child and old man..." I put the packs of tea leaves inside my bag and head to my house. "Today I gained a lot, I'm looking for someone yet I've been found out... Ironic isn't..."

Back in the present we arrive at our destination after driving for few hours. "So this is her house..." I muttered to myself.

Ramirez stop the car and I sighted two people standing outside the gate. They are hugging eachother on the side.

I averted my gaze to Melissa with a plan to wake her up but she is on deep sleep, Instead I open the door and gently carried her body on my arms making sure she won't wake up.

The moment I take a step outside, her parents immediately rushes into me. I signal them to remain silent by shaking my head and they walk slowly towards me. When the distance between us has been narrow, I hand over Melissa and her father carried her like a princess. I straighten my index finger and put it into my lips to silence them. "She is only asleep... Don't worry about a thing... You guys can have a long talk. If she wakes up later and asked what happened."

Both of them nod at me at the same time then I requested a favor. "Can you tell her my message once the things between you has been settled, if not then keep it for yourself until then." I spoke in low voice and they nod to me as sign of approval. With that I take a deep breath and say the words I wanted to say. "We won't be able to see each other again but if we happen to meet, make sure you live your life without regrets other wise the polkadots will be seen."

They frowned after hearing half of my farewell message. I could see it in their face that they are confused what does it mean but it's a secret only for the two of us. "I already told your parents about what happened and ask them to scold you... But they were probably going to take it easy, so you can relax. As for my uniform, you can keep it as momento..." I turn my gaze to her father and speak to him. "I don't need money or thanks... Even though making sure Melissa arrive here is my first priority I have a different objective, I fulfilled it and I'm satisfied with that... So I'm going to take my leave." I slightly lowered my head and walk away from them. I already leave my farewell message, so I don't have any business here.

Tachibana and Ramirez wanted to talk with them but words aren't needed. They follow my lead and we leave the place. I glance at them for one last time and they bow down to us. "So the case involving Melissa has been solve?" Ramirez asked me while driving back to our region.

"Yeah... I'm grateful for your cooperation." I express my gratitude to her while looking at the window seat.

Tachibana who is sitting at the passenger seat glance at me through the mirror. "By the way Ameguri-kun..." She wanted to ask me a question but I'm already asleep on my chair.

"Leave him be for now... He did lots of work, at least he deserves to take a rest." Ramirez talk to Tachibana asking to leave me alone in the mean time.