Chapter Text
The snowy winter afternoon was too much for Yoshikazu. He held onto his hand warmers walking in his hometown. Being an only child was easy until he craved the sibling connection others had. Stopping him in his tracks he witnessed two children arguing. He figured to give an ear considering they were on top of their lungs.
“It’s not fair! You kicked my snowman!!” the blonde child yelled.
“Nuh uh! I didn’t!!” the green haired child responded.
Just as Yoshikazu planned to interject to help in the situation. A green haired woman walked up to the two children before pinching their cheeks. This definitely wasn’t the first time this happened all winter. Yoshikazu chuckled as he continued on his walk home. For some reason the walk felt quite longer than usual. He shrugged it off as watching the children argue probably just took up most of his time.
Approaching the infamous Miyano household it was like something shifted in the air. The snowflakes were falling slowly. Yoshikazu noticed his father’s motorcycle outside. This formed a smile on his face as his father was probably getting ready for band practice now.
Toukai Miyano, Yoshikazu’s father, is quite famous around the band scene in Tokyo. Often called the ‘Winter Legend’ for his performances around winter festivals with his band, the snowflakes. Picking up the pace Yoshikazu walked up the front door as he shoved in his key into the door knob as he unlocked the door. “Dad?” Yoshikazu called out.
Yet there was no response. Strange. Normally Toukai would respond with something like “Yoshi my boy!” or “It’s me!”. There was none of that. Yoshikazu figured he had his headphones plugged in playing some music in his office. He closed the door, not allowing the winter breeze to enter no longer. He took off his shoes taking a step further into the warm empty house. He walked past the kitchen, nothing seeming untouched. He continued onwards as he went up the stairs.
“Dad?” Yoshikazu called out once again
No answer.
Yoshikazu felt chills in his spine as there was no response. Probably Dad had stepped out. Yoshikazu took off his puffer jacket taking a sigh before hearing a loud thud coming from his father’s studio. He ran as he looked into his room quickly but he wasn’t fast enough.
His father’s body rested against the hardwood floors. Yoshikazu’s eyes quickly watered as he released the gravity of the situation. He stepped into his room as he noticed a note on the table.
Dear Yoshikazu and my love, Yuki
The voices in my head have won. I’m sorry
~ Toukai Miyano
Yoshikazu held onto his father’s lifeless body yelling all sorts of words as he was still in denial about his father’s death. It was until later, his mother Yuki came home where the emergency services called.
Yoshikazu was questioned by police officers giving his account of the story.
Months after the tragedy, the widowed woman and son moved away into a small apartment complex. Yoshikazu would constantly get nightmares sleeping in their old home and honestly no one could blame him. Toukai’s bandmates were not much help during the process as honestly none of the three men could even catch a glimpse into what made him do it. Maybe it was pressure from his parents? Yuki? His fans? No one could actually answer the question.
One of his bandmates and childhood best friend, Reikan insisted that Yoshikazu kept his father’s guitar. Yoshikazu grew up with his father playing lullabies with his guitar before bed. The same guitar that he saw in his childhood and now after his father’s death. At first Yoshikazu detested it. He kept it in his room which felt like a constant reminder. He hated how his father left him and his mother now alone. It was all suffocating. Nothing was ever the same. Yoshikazu had to change schools and move to a whole neighbourhood as the tabloids reported on Toukai’s death.
What a sick joke.
Yet Yoshikazu couldn’t allow himself to be upset about his father. He had his reasons. He wished he could’ve held onto him tighter. If time machines existed he wished that he could’ve arrived home earlier that day. Maybe just maybe he calmed down his father. They could watch his favourite detective show he loved. Anything. Something.
Now all he had of him was that god forsaken guitar.
Toukai barely taught him how to play it, always reserving it for when he’s older. Yoshikazu took up the guitar from the stand as he gently hugged it. He sighed as he knew no matter how much he hugged the guitar. It could never replace the presence of his father.
Yuki wasn’t doing any better either. She had to get a new job just to escape the tabloids and any fan that decided to pin the blame on her. It was a tough process but luckily she had a little bit of help. She had one big problem.. How could she even help Yoshikazu to cope with his feelings? The various social workers, therapists, or even psychologists could not help her son. It was frustrating.
Yet Yuki kept enduring this all by herself without any help. Toukai’s family members abandoned the two, easily pinning the blame on their son. All she could think about constantly was coming home and hearing Yoshikazu scream on top of his lungs. She rushed to see what was happening only to see her husband in his arms. Her world shattered just right then and there. She held her composure as she dialed the emergency services. A day she’ll never forget - December 5, XXXX.
Yuki ensured to keep an eye on Yoshikazu. If she heard even a pin drop she rushed over to his room. The boy was hugging onto his father’s guitar.
Poor Yoshi.