We Are A Family

"Hate is quite a strong word, Dad." Freda couldn't help but point that out. "I loved you, Klaus, and Mom all the same. However, that was in my past life, and I want to move forward. I can't keep clinging to the past just because that option is available to me. You know this more than anyone—people change over time."

"Let me forget everything, Dad."

"..." Toshio brought his mug to his lips and took one huge gulp—taking in the ice cubes and all. He put down his coffee and stared at it, sorting his already whorling thoughts.

His daughter in his past life—Freda—wanted to become free from all old attachments and start anew. She drilled her stance into his head that she didn't wish to budge from her method of adapting to the abrupt changes. Obviously, it worked like a miracle for the dainty girl.

But what about Toshio himself? He loved his family in his past life. He loved them so much that he risked adding strife after strife within his new family. He chose the most apparent option to him—to search for his children and wife and reunite with them.

His nurtured love for them would never be replaced by the likes of his family in this world.

He was adamant in wanting to hold their hands again.

"...I see."

Toshio's curt reply to her resolve took the girl by surprise. She thought that the obstinate guy before her needed more convincing, but somehow, she did it without doing much. Surprise quickly changed into confusion when Toshio stood up from his seat.

"Dad?" Freda called.

"You chose to remove us from your life. I understand now. Your love for your old family was so feeble that it could be ground into dust just like that."

Freda's c.h.e.s.t tightened at the conclusion Toshio had reached. The sensation she'd tried to avoid came crawling down her spine. To some extent, Freda knew what Toshio had said was true. She didn't try to refute his statement after all, as she watched Toshio turned his back towards her.

"But that doesn't mean I'll give up, Freda," said Toshio. "I'll pay your school a visit and ask you to come back. I intend to do the same with your brother. Then, once I'd convinced you two, I'll continue my search for Beatrice."

"..." Freda didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. Her father's resolve was unmovable—determined and dauntless. When being exposed to such an aura, her brain screamed for her to not move. She obeyed.

"Before I forget, how have you been faring against the Draugrs?"

Toshio asked the question Freda had anticipated him to ask. It was natural for him to ask such a question, since reincarnated people were pulled into their Personal Dimension when they sleep.

"I'd claimed my Crown, and now I'm an Astral," Freda answered. "I assume you're the same, Dad?"

"They didn't pose much of a problem to me. But it's good to know that you're doing alright. Though, whenever you need help fighting the Draugrs, I'll come to your Personal Dimension myself. As long as you don't reject me, we should be able to cross the void and visit each other's Personal Dimension."

"...I'll only allow you, Dad. Because it's you."

"Is that so? It'll be good if you see your brother in that light as well, but that's just me wanting you to change your mindset. Anyway, I'll see you again tomorrow." Toshio waved her goodbye and walked out of the family diner.

"...Stubborn old man."

Freda sighed and stood up, only to realize neither of them had paid the drinks yet. Panic shot up through her nerves for a moment before her gaze fell on a few crumpled notes on the table.

"..."

Stubborn but responsible. She loved that part of him a long time ago. But now, it was different.

. . .

Tsujihara J. Freda arrived back at her house at 6 o'clock—which was nowhere near the promised time she said she would be back. She stopped by a bakery to purchase a small cake and ended up taking her time choosing which one she wanted to buy.

"I'm home." Freda tucked her shoes away and went to the kitchen. There was nobody home. The girl found it strange at first.

She put her cake in the fridge and reached out for her phone in her school bag. Her right thumb hovered over its tempered glass screen and tapped repeatedly.

"...Went out to attend a friend's wedding."

Her mother had sent the message after Freda inquired about her whereabouts. A friend's wedding? A memory flitted into her mind when she thought about it.

"If I recalled correctly, she did mention something about this yesterday."

It was during dinner when her mother brought up the topic. She was ardent about it and shared the soon-to-become bride's joy as well. Though Freda couldn't remember if she had said who the groom was specifically.

To be fair, she didn't care. Why did it matter? If she could avoid being in the limelight needlessly, she wouldn't grumble about it. At least this mother of hers didn't seem to have mentioned anything about her to her coworkers or friends.

Her father was a different matter entirely.

"I'll eat the cake come midnight," Freda mumbled after she inspected the kitchen for any food.

So, she had an option to go for the stir fry her mother had prepared for her or outside food. Why would she need outside food?

Freda was quite picky when it came to food—befitting someone of her age. When teenagers experienced something that invoked joy and happiness, they would want to go through that again—over and over until they were satisfied.

But young people such as them wouldn't be satisfied so easily. Their tolerance for anything outside of their comfort zone was so low, that they risked upsetting their loved ones to satisfy their craving.

"...A pizza for myself?" Freda weighed the options available to her like always.

"...There's no guarantee I can finish it on my own, and I have to continue writing my chapter after this, so..."

She chose the former option and settled for her mother's cooking.

After all was said and done, Freda laid down on her bed, wanting an early repose for the day. There would be no need for her to stay up late since there was no homework. Exams were a month away so she could hope to be this lackadaisical.

She closed her eyes, and her mind drifted into the darkness. Yes, there was a more pressing matter other than homework and exams.

"..."

Her blue eyes reflected the breathtaking panorama spread out before her—a dark canyon gaped open like an abyss beneath her feet. She was overlooking the scenery from high up in an obsidian tower. That being said, it wasn't the only man-made structure in the area. Another tower sat next to it like an impeccable twin.

The two towers were connected by two bridges made up of the same material. A cloudy sky loomed over them, as if heralding a bad omen, and yet it appeared to be in a standstill.

From someone else's perspective, this scenery would be well described as somber to a palpable degree. Everything about this place exuded negativity. What sort of people could find solace in this place bereft of color?

"..." Freda rested her forearms on a window's sill and took in the sight of the canyon.

Why would she?

This place was a part of her—the manifestation of her deepest, most depraved wish. In other words, the lonely canyon and the sky combined made up her Personal Dimension.