[Three hours after the birthday party...]
While sitting in his room, Nagata was going through his journal and marking off a few things he accomplished. As he was, he heard a gentle knock on his door.
Walking up to it, he opened the door to see a teary-eyed says.
"S-Saya...What's wrong? Did something happen?" Nagata asked, concerned, holding her shoulders
"...Stupid,"
"What was that I couldn't hear you?"
"For someone so smart, you are so stupid. Are you going to leave me for six years? Then, at the end of the party, Takashi tells me he doesn't like me. How do you think I feel," Saya cried as she hit Nagata's chest.
Seeing his sister's tears, Nagata could not help but hate himself. He knew she would be upset,t but he did not want to hurt her to this extent.
(I ended up doing what I told Takashi not to do) Nagata thought to himself
Pulling Saya into a hug, he spoke to her.
"I'm sorry, Saya. I did not want to hurt you like this...I should have told you sooner, and I'm sorry about Takashi,"
"Then take me with you," Saya whispered, hiding her face in his chest.
"I...I can't take you with me. You have to stay here. All your friends at school are here, and mother and father need you," Nagata replied
"Then why are you leaving? You have people that need you, too,"
"Come on, I don't have any friends at school," Nagata replied with a small laugh, trying to cheer her up.
"I'm not talking about school. I mean Father, Mother, and me, we need you. How can you just leave!" Saya yelled, breaking Nagata's hug
"S-Saya?" Nagata replied with a surprised look
"Stay Nagata, please don't go... you're my brother," Saya begged.
"I...I'm sorry I can't stay," Nagata replied, looking down while clenching his fist.
"...Fine, don't ever talk to me again. I hate you!" Saya yelled, running away to her room
Seeing his sister yell that she hated him broke Nagata. For the first time in both lives, he felt an indescribable pain.
Closing his door, he sat on the edge of his bed and sighed at what had just happened.
"First, Seako and Mother are mad at me, and now Saya, the last person I want, is angry at me," Nagata said, thinking back to the party.
[Four hours earlier...]
"Nagata, what are you talking about," his mother asked him after pulling him away from the press.
"I'm sorry to surprise you like this, Mother. I knew if I told you any sooner, you would never approve,"
"So you went behind my back with your father and planned this," his mother said with a furious expression.
"...I didn't want to, but I had to. I need to do this," Nagata replied
"Do what, leave your family. And what about you marrying this Yuko girl? You just met her, and now she is your future fiance,"
"Mother, I know you are angry at me, but..."
"Angry! No I'm angry in your father...I'm just broken. I thought my son could come to me for anything, but now I figure out he is leaving me for six years alongside a bunch of strangers," His mother said, her eyes slowly becoming red.
"Tell your father I'm turning in for the night," His mother said without letting Nagata speak.
(Damn it...This better be worth it) Nagata said, controlling his emotions and making his way outside
Walking up to his father, he pulled him aside and told him what his mother said. With a sigh, Souichiro nodded before returning to the press.
Moving over to the sister and the others, Yuko and Seako pulled Nagata aside. Going to the garden, Seako sat him down and slapped him across the face.
"You told me you were going to finally marry me, then you said you were leaving me. If you love me, you will stay, but if you leave, I don't think I'll wait for you," Seako said, regaining her composer and walking away.
Sighing, Nagata put his head in his hands.
"I mean, how did you expect her to react? The boy she loves tells her he loves her back and for marriage. Then you say you will be leaving her for six years," Yuko said with a small laugh, sitting next to Nagat.a
"Are you angry at me too, Yuko? I know this was out of the blue for you," Nagata asked.
"Well, I'm more surprised than anything. But I'm guessing my father put you up to this. Anyway. I don't know you well. You seem like a good person, but by the time you get back, I will be in my twenties. I don't think that's someone you would want to marry," Yuko said
"No, I would be more than honored to be with someone as beautiful and kind as you," Nagata replied
"Oh, is that so? I guess we will have to see in six years. But I think right now you have three ladies to worry about," Yuko laughed.
"Three?"
"Well, first, I know your mother didn't take the news well from your shock, Seako's reaction just now, and well, how do you believe your sister will react to this," Yuko explained
"Yeah, I get what you mean; I just hope she doesn't slap me as Seako did," Nagata sighed, leaning back in his chair.