Epilogue

It had taken Jun two full years after the sentencing to build up the courage to go meet his brothers again. He had been told that he didn’t have to if he wasn’t comfortable, and so, he had waited until he was entirely sure he wanted to do it.

On a rainy late spring afternoon he stepped inside the prison his oldest brother now resided in. It was a far cry from the lap of luxury the Manjoume family had enjoyed. Nervously, Jun sat down on his side of the glass partition that would separate him from his brother. A minute or so later, Chousaku arrived along with a guard who sat down to observe and take note of anything that was said.

“Your hair has grown really long, Jun… I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so long before.” It was unbelievably awkward, neither of them knowing what to say, and this is what they ended up with. Jun ran his hand through four years of growth. After letting it grow freely for the last few years it reached down on his back in curls that got wilder the older he got.

“And yours is… really short.”

With a small laugh, Chousaku dragged his hand over his shaved head. “Yeah, they’re really strict about it. It felt very strange the first few months.”

They lapsed back into silence again for a while, both looking awkward whenever their eyes happened to meet. “Did you… visit Shoji?”

Jun shook his head. “During the trial, you were the only one who felt remorse. That made it easier to visit you. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive you, but…” he looked firmly into his older brother’s eyes. “I wanted to tell you that I’m doing amazing. I’m engaged. I’m a godfather to a pair of three year old twins and a newborn. I wanted to tell you that I’m happy.”

A sad smile played on Chousaku’s lips. “I don’t know how much it’s really worth, but I hope the rest of your life will remain happy. I get out again in three years, but I won’t contact you. If you ever decide you want me in your life again, I’ll let you be the one who makes the terms. And if you never want to speak to me again, that’s fine too.”

Feeling a hot lump in his throat, Jun nodded. His voice was just a whisper when he spoke again. 

“We’ll see.”

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