After that both Kenji and Makoto just stayed on call awkwardly, the silence while none of them had anything else to talk about. Kenji was just happy to hear from his son, however he didn't know what to say to Makoto. Kimura on the other hand was trying to find out what he could do to find his mom.
Another moment had passed as Kimura broke the silence, "Dad, do you know what happened to mom that day…?" he questioned Kenji, but he didn't know how to respond. Kenji contemplated on how he should proceed, he sighed briefly before choosing his words.
"Yeah, I know what happened that day Makoto…I wish I wasn't overseas when it happened…" Kenji reluctantly told him.
"I wish I was there for you, Haruka, Aki and Kiriko…I don't…"
Kenji was audibly breaking down on the other side, bringing up any mention of that day was something that struck his core. Kimura stayed on call silently, hearing his father blow his nose and sniffling, willingly hearing him wipe his own tears and recompose himself.
"I…I just wish I didn't take that mission if I knew that was going to happen…." A slightly recomposed Kenji replied.
"It's alright dad, just…" Makoto stopped mid-sentence.
"…just what…?" Kenji questioned on the other side.
"..."
"Makoto?" Kenji asked, a bit worried.
"…Just don't push yourself too hard on this…We all miss mom as much as you do dad…" Makoto surprisingly showed some remorse.
"…no, you're right…I need to take a couple of days off from drowning myself in my own work." Kenji sniffles again on the other side.
"If you want, you can come to my school festival next week…" Kimura invited Kenji.
"Are you sure…? I haven't been to one since Kiriko's school festival…I might be out of date with clothing trends…"
"I'm sure dad. Just promise me you can show up." Makoto asks with a slight desperation.
"I…" Kenji paused for a second to recollect his thoughts, "…I understand, I'll make my way over next week son."
"Okay…and thanks dad."
"No problem son, it's been a while since I stepped foot into Haven Academy…"
Both hung up as Kimura squats down, letting up a big sigh as he can't believe he just invited his father to the school festival. Meanwhile, Kenji sets his phone on the top of the wooden desk, turning his attention to a family portrait. The family portrait was of a much younger Kenji with Haruka and an even younger Kiriko and Aki. Makoto was still an infant when the photo was taken, being held in Haruka's arms. Just like old times Haruka…looks like I'll be stepping foot back into Haven Academy once again… he reminisced as he got up and left his home office.
***
The Day of the festival came with all the preparations set up and ready. The gates opened after school as parents and outsiders alike came flooding through. Laughter and happiness soared through the academy grounds as multiple booths were set up, some selling items while others were selling food. Experiences within the academy building were also being held, most were hosted by the school's afterschool clubs. However, new to this festival were classroom activities, where primary homeroom classes were being hosted and monitored by the students of that homeroom class.
Kimura wasn't partaking in these homeroom activities due to him being on security as he roamed the bustling hallways. Some younger kids were running through the halls as dressed up students were carrying boxes. Parents and siblings alike were also present, looking and experiencing what their sons, daughters, and siblings were doing for their homeroom activity.
There's a lot more people than I thought…
Kimura looked out the window towards the front gates as he remembered his talk with Kenji, hoping that his father would attend. He sighed as he spotted an outsider being overly touchy with one of the students, hand placements being where they shouldn't.
Without wasting a single moment Kimura walked over and grabbed the man's wrist and pried it off the student's waist.
"Sir. I'm going to have to ask you to stop this inappropriate behavior. Otherwise, I will have to show you the exit." Kimura spoke in a cold tone.
"Huuh? And what are you supposed to be? A bodyguard?" The man mockingly spoke to Kimura.
"I won't repeat myself again, stop this inappropriate and disruptive behavior or I will show you the exit…" Kimura's tone flattened.
Kimura's stone-cold glare became even colder as it was almost as cold as Ayameko's cold stares. The outsider let out a small tsk sound as Kimura let go of his wrist, leaving a bruise where he was grasping.
The man walked off as other students, parents, and kids were standing around talking to each other about what they just witnessed. Kimura let out a sigh of relief as he looked around. "It's okay, I don't think that man will disrupt the air here, please, enjoy yourselves." Kimura said with a lighthearted tone that it seemed to get the tense air back on track, the disruption seemingly disappearing within seconds.
While Kimura was doing his job as security, he took a small break while the others took over his shift for the day. Kimura walked over towards his homeroom as he opened the door, just to see the sight of what his homeroom chose. The color left his face at what he was looking at, a waiter café. The men there were dressed as waiters as Naoki was sitting down with three others at a bench near the register.
"Oh…Kimura…" Naoki called out, waving tiredly.
"Naoki, what did they do to you!" Kimura walked over, shaking him confused.
"Well…tag in…" Naoki muttered.
"Tag in?—"
Before Kimura could deconstruct what Naoki meant, Kimura was suddenly grabbed by the arms as he was dragged towards the curtains. "Wait! WAIT! I DIDN'T SIGN UP TO BE A WAITER! WAITT!!!!" He cried out; however, his cries fell on deaf ears as he was dragged into the abyss that was behind the curtains.