NAKU JOSEI'S
BACK TO JAPAN

That day went very fast. Evelyne and some of her father's relatives drive Yuki home to her apartment.

They were all talking about the funeral of Yuki's parents, while Yuki himself was just sitting pensively in his room while covered in blankets.

A pair of middle-aged men and women who were close relatives of her father entered Yuki's room and sat next to her.

"Don't think too much, it's not good for your health, it's better "

"Uncle Ben ...," Yuki interrupted his uncle's remark. "why do the two of them have to go?" ask Yuki.

"They're not leaving, Yuki. They just rest in a better place" replied Uncle Ben.

With a clear grain that started falling from her eyes, Yuki asked again, "Why should they rest somewhere else? Why don't they just rest with me here? Aunt Mary, why do they have to go?"

Yuki's increasingly heavy cries made Aunt Marry cry and hugged her tightly. "I don't know, Yuki. I also don't know why they left so fast."

"It's so hard ... how could they leave me here alone," Yuki said with a sobbing cry.

That day passed, relatives came to Yuki's apartment to accompany her.

*****

The next day, they brought the bodies of Yuki's parents to the church.

Yuki really could not say anything in front of the pulpit. The sound of crying from the relatives of his parents and Yuki himself, made him only able to be silent in silence.

A heavy rain in the afternoon accompanied the group to the cemetery.

The funeral ceremony began.

The roaring sound of crying was heard from some of the people there as the priest spoke before the mourners.

That afternoon, 5:15 PM. After the funeral is over.

Jack and James are standing together. Seeing Yuki walking alone, Jack approached her.

"Hey, can I take you home?" haggard Jack.

"Do you not have a busy life?" ask Yuki.

"Of course, you think ... What do I usually do at a time like this? Nothing" Jack explained, smiling.

"All right," said Yuki.

They both walked to the car. Soon, however, Marry's aunt and Ben's uncle walk up to them.

"Yuki, come to our house if you feel lonely living in your apartment. There's an empty room you can take" Aunt Marry said.

"Yeah, stay with us" said Uncle Ben.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you," Yuki refused.

"Are you sure?" ask uncle Ben.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm used to living alone in an apartment" explained Yuki.

"Alright then, let us take you home" Yuki's hand held by her aunt.

"I'm fine, Bi. Jack will take me home. You guys go back home, I can take care of myself, don't worry" Yuki said.

"Heemm .. Well, it seems like you have grown into a very mature girl, yes, your face is very similar to your mother, but your nature is more similar to your father. Then take good care of yourself" said Aunt Marry, hugging Yuki and then walking away with Uncle Ben.

.

.

That afternoon, Jack escorted Yuki to his apartment building. He escorted Yuki to walk up to the front entrance of the building.

"Are you okay living here alone?" ask Jack.

"Don't worry, Jack. I'm fine" replied Yuki.

Jack (Virty-seven years old) is one of Yuki's co-workers in his office. He is known as the 'Joker' because of his attitude that looks silly and likes to joke.

According to many people, she had indeed liked Yuki since the first time Yuki had worked in the same place as her.

Yuki looked at Jack. "Looks .. I just need a cup of coffee right now."

Jack smiled. "heemm .. It looks like you look better than ever. Alright .. let me be the one who is treated." he said.

Then they went to a cafe not far from Yuki's apartment for coffee.

They talked and shared their stories there. Sometimes Yuki is seen smiling and even laughing because he heard Jack's joke which he referred to as his life experience.

"So like that, I called him the rabbit tooth, because of his strange tooth shape ..." Jack demonstrated his joke.

"I can't believe it, Jack. You're a bad liar." Yuki who looks laughing.

Yuki also tells Jack about all the events he has experienced during his life. There were a lot of things told at the time. About her time at school; when she was in college; her hard work until she was accepted to work in a prestigious place; even about her dreams before the news of her parents' accident.

Then until the time when he recounted the events of his past when he was a child in Japan.

And also about Naku Josei.

Jack was astonished to hear all his stories. His face expresses an unbeliever and thinks Yuki's story is just a joke.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you this" Yuki said.

"Group ...." Jack seemed to hold his laugh. "Honestly, I don't believe, or rather don't believe in anything supernatural, mystical, ghostly, or whatever. But I trust you, and let me be petrified this time," Jack said with a big smile.

"It's not a joke, Jack. She's real, and even now I don't know how my grandmother is there. He's been out of touch since yesterday, and I lost my aunt's contact number. Looks like I'll have to take a leave of absence to go to Japan next week" Yuki explained with a serious face.

"Okay, I'm in (Alright, I'm coming)" Jack raised his hand.

"What do you mean?" ask Yuki.

"I told you I'd help you. You can't go alone if your story is true, that's why I'm coming" Jack said, seriously.

"I don't believe you, you gotta be kidding me, right?" Yuki stood up from her seat.

"I'll also take time off with you, just look at it later," Jack replied, smiling.

Yuki stepped her foot. "As far as you are. I want to go home, .." Walk away.

"Hey .. wait a minute, I haven't finished talking, you're this ...," Jack exclaimed as he walked after Yuki.

*****

The night passed, and the day changed.

For some reason, Yuki feels confident in Jack's words that want to help him, even though he still seems to think of Yuki's story as nonsense. But even Yuki could not resist the seriousness that Jack showed. Then finally they both agreed to take a leave of absence to go to Japan.

One day before their flight schedule, Yuki looks at the one who is preparing all her belongings. He finds a parchment Nori-san gave him before he moved to America.

Yuki sewed the parchment, and made it into a necklace that was hung around her neck.

One week passed. That day, at 10:15 AM.

Yuki and Jack are seen already at the international airport and preparing to leave.

"Huuft ... honestly, this is the first time I've been on a vacation to Asia" Jack said with a happy face.

"Jack! This is not a vacation!" Yuki looked at Jack with a sharp look.

"Well.all right ...."

After about an hour they waited, they finally took off and began a trip to Japan.

Yuki and Jack.

"Wait for me, grandma ...."

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*****

CONNECT ...