I'm with you! von abgemeldet (The heart is something only others can see.) ================================================================================ Can't help at all ----------------- Hiroshi and Shiro spent the afternoon and evening at Ichiko’s home together with Chinatsu. On their way home: Shiro: “Hey, Hiroshi. Did you notice that Ichiko was acting strange today?” Hiroshi(looks down): “…” Shiro: “She seemed so nervous. She was wearing a skirt, too, but I thought she would never wear a skirt or a dress by choice.” Hiroshi: “Hm.” Shiro: “Hey, you know something, don’t play dumb!” Hiroshi(looks up in the sky): “Her…father was home.” Shiro(looks at him, surprised): “Huh?” Hiroshi: “I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you this, but you won’t pass it on anyway. Ichiko’s father can’t remember her.” Shiro(shocked): “What…do you mean?” Hiroshi: “I don’t know what exactly happened, but her father had an accident when she was seven or so. He laid one year in hospital in a coma, then he woke up, saw Ichiko and Kaito, but couldn’t remember either of them. He could remember his wife, though.” Shiro(looks down): “…” Hiroshi: “You did notice that she was acting all out of person when her father was in the room, right?” Shiro: “Yeah…she seemed kind of frightened.” Hiroshi: “It’s not fear. I think she behaved like a girl who met the person she’s in love with for the first time, trying to make everything right.” Shiro: “Huh? But she’s not in love with her father, is she?” Hiroshi: “No, that’s not it. It’s just a hypothesis, but I think she plays the perfect daughter for her father.” Shiro: “Ichiko’s strong…I don’t think I could endure to change myself so much.” Hiroshi: “She might be strong, yes, but what she’s doing is wrong. Her father will never remember her if she hold this up. How could he recognize Ichiko if she’s not the least bit like she was before? I can’t understand why she’s doing all this.” Shiro: “I think she wants her father to love her.” Hiroshi(looks at him, astonished): “Huh..?” Shiro(looks in his eyes): “Did you never think she might be doing this, so that her father will like her, though he doesn’t remember her at all? So that her father will show her a smile, when she’s wearing things he likes or act a way he loves?” Hiroshi: “You know, I know that, too and I can understand this…but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s wrong! Ichiko’s Ichiko, short tempered, a bit artful and mean, but always caring and responsible. When she acts like this, she doesn’t seem to have a heart at all. Just like a doll.” Shiro: “…” “…hey, Hiroshi, did you tell her all that?” Hiroshi(looks down): “No…she doesn’t really talk about her father. I asked once as I noticed her behaviour when her father’s around and she told me the thing with the accident, but not anything about herself. I can’t just shout at her and tell her all that.” Shiro: “Then you aren’t better than her. You know, a person’s dumb if he doesn’t know what’s right. But a person who knows what’s right, but acts like he doesn’t know, is irresponsible and weak.” Hiroshi: “But what should I do?! She closes herself up and I can’t help her this way at all! It’s not my fault!” Shiro: “ ‘It’s not your fault’, huh?! Since when are you so stubborn?! I thought you always worry about your friends, the ones you love? This isn’t you at all! Hiroshi(stops, keeps his view on the ground): “I know that! But of course I’m not like myself! How could I act like I do with a friend? I love her! She’s too important to me to risk that she’ll cry and I know she would cry if I told her this! Ichiko’s strong, yes, but she’s fragile, because she had to endure this all by herself. She didn’t have anyone…I don’t want her to be hurt any more. Can’t you understand this..?” Shiro(looks back at him, a bit shocked first, then serious): “And you actually think she doesn’t cry now? That she doesn’t whine after acting like that?” Hiroshi(looks up, shocked with tears in his eyes): “..ah..” Shiro: “…” Hiroshi(sinks to the ground, shutting his face with one hand):”…Shit! I’m an idiot, like always…I can’t help her at all…” Shiro(kneels down, looks in his face): “Oh no, you can. I think Ichiko really wants to tell you all this, but she doesn’t want you to worry. Speak with her. You’re the only one who can really help her out of this.” Hiroshi(smiles while keeping his face shut): “How can you always be so calm? I really envy you for that.” Shiro(laughs): “Hehe.” Both are standing up, continue their walk. Hiroshi: “I’ll speak with her.” Shiro: “I know.” Hiroshi: “But…you know, Ichiko wasn’t the only one acting strange today.” Shiro: “Huh? Who else?” Hiroshi(looks at him): “You. You were grinning to yourself every few minutes. Now tell me, why are you so happy?” Shiro(blushs, looks down): “Ah..uhm…you know…Ann came back.” Hiroshi(surprised, then laughs): “..whoa!” Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)