Chapter 16

Chapter 16

T he days and weeks after the storm are a whirlwind of busy work and strong resolve. Even though the Book Club is in ruins, we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves. There’s too much at stake — the safety of our animals, saving our records and archives, and, of course, the club itself.

We work ourselves to the bone, all of us. As soon as the winds and rain dissipate enough to let us back outside, we dive into rescue efforts and damage checks. Gia, Yuriko, Raj, Haru, and I scour every inch of the wrecked club, carefully pulling out each animal the rescue squad missed from their hiding spots and getting them into temporary quarters. Thankfully, they all made it through the storm, mostly due to the tarps the fire team secured on the roof. I’m beyond relieved.

By the time we’ve accounted for every last one of our furry or feathered friends, I’m so physically and emotionally spent that I can barely put one foot in front of the other.

But there’s no rest for the weary, not yet.

Because in between animal rescues, we’re also scrambling to compile what’s left of the club’s records and archives before any more irreplaceable data is lost to water damage or structural deterioration.

I lose count of how many hours I spend hunched over the beat-up computer terminals. My eyes strain as I carefully input every bit of info we’ve dug up — handwritten pairing logs from decades ago, old photo albums, and membership registries. If it can be digitized, we make sure it’s included. And it’s just two filing cabinets worth of data because Maho always worried about leaving too much on paper. Something else to be grateful for.

It’s a gigantic effort, and I often wonder if our stubbornness is worth it. No matter how many nights I stay up or how many files I save and back up, the truth is clear. The Book Club we knew and loved is gone. It can’t be rebuilt or fixed. This becomes obvious with every beam we clear and every load of debris the demolition crews take away.

The beloved sanctuary of books and quiet spaces is now rubble and splintered wood, exposed to the elements. I can’t bear to look at the wreckage whenever I pass by; it breaks my heart daily.

Soldier on, Winta.

A small, scheming voice in the back of my mind whispers, “Is it worth it?” whenever the exhaustion becomes unbearable. Is it really worth spending so much energy to salvage these scattered remnants of the past?

“Some days, this just feels like I’m burying my best friend, over and over,” Gia says to me one quiet afternoon. She’s been packing up books for days.

I sigh and rub at my neck as I finish packing up another box of office supplies. “I know the feeling.”

I don’t have an answer for all the doubt swirling in my head. All I know is that I can’t stop, I won’t stop fighting to preserve whatever shreds of the Book Club I can — not until I’ve given everything I have and then some.

The others seem to sense my single-minded determination, my refusal to surrender to the overwhelming odds we face. They gave up trying to change my mind two weeks ago. Gia and Yuriko work tirelessly at my side, keeping me fed and hydrated and talking me down from the occasional panic spiral I slip into whenever the weight of it all becomes too much. Raj and Haru split their time between assisting us and coordinating the temporary housing for our displaced animal ambassadors.

And then there’s Daichi.

From the first night he welcomed me into his home during the crisis, he has been a steady source of support and quiet strength. He never tries to talk me out of my stubborn quest or tells me to take a break for my own good.

He never questions me. Daichi just rolls up his sleeves and joins me, working hard without a single complaint.

I lose track of how many nights he spends hunched over the computer beside me, carefully inputting data as I rattle it off in a soft, exhausted monotone, my voice nearly spent. Or the mornings I’d wake up in his bed instead of mine, a blanket tucked around me and a fresh mug of tea waiting on the coffee table. ‘Went to check on the animals, be back soon. Get some rest, Winta.’

But even in the midst of the all-consuming work to salvage what remains of the Book Club, things start to get serious between Daichi and me. It starts off small, almost unnoticeable at first — the way his hand finds the small of my back as he guides me through a doorway, or how he seems to instinctively know when I need a fresh mug of tea delivered with a soft smile and no fuss.

We don’t spend all of our time together — he still has Tori no Kazé and Itsuko to look after — but he becomes a significant part of my days and nights. The rumors in town swirl about us, and I ignore them all. Let them think whatever they want. I’m not ready to sleep with him until I’m sure this is going somewhere, and that’s none of their business.

Finally, his simple gestures of care and consideration multiply until I can’t deny we’re in a relationship. This isn’t just dating anymore.

Daichi insists I spend my few free evenings at his place instead of my cold, empty apartment. Those evenings evolve from us working quietly side by side to curling up together on his couch with takeout and a bottle of wine.

And then, one night after we’ve both had perhaps one too many glasses, Daichi pulls me into his lap and proceeds to kiss me like he did that night at the club, leaving me breathless and desperate for more.

Yeah, I’m not saying no to that.

I can’t even find it in me to feel guilty for indulging in such quiet intimacy amidst the chaos and devastation still looming around us. They’re the only things keeping me grounded and focused on the bigger fight.

One evening, nearly three weeks after that fateful storm, I find myself curled up on the plush loveseat in Daichi’s living room. Itsuko is nestled at my hip, and I have a glass of rich cabernet in hand. Daichi is in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a fragrant curry dish that has my mouth watering. I’m starving after another long day at the club.

I take a sip of wine, savoring the simple pleasure of unwinding, even if just for a little while. Daichi seems to sense when I’m reaching my limit, when the nonstop work becomes too much. That’s when he insists we take an evening off to recharge, just the two of us.

It’s like he knows I need these nights to keep from completely unraveling.

When he emerges from the kitchen, he has two steaming bowls in hand and that soft, contented smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“There you are, lost in thought again,” he says, setting the dishes down on the coffee table before sinking onto the loveseat beside me. “You doing okay?”

I lean into the comforting weight of him, letting my head loll against his shoulder.

“Mmmm, more than okay,” I hum, meaning it down to my very bones. “I was just… feeling grateful. For you, for these date nights, for this wine.” I lift it with a smile and a chuckle.

Daichi taps his glass against mine. “I’ll drink to that.”

He hands me my bowl, and we both begin to eat. Ah, delicious as always.

“You know you don’t have to keep pushing yourself to the brink like this, right?” The words come between bites of food, softly spoken and insistent without being bossy. “What happened to the Book Club was a tragedy, but it wasn’t your fault. You’ve done more than enough trying to salvage what you can from the wreckage.”

“But…” I tense at his words, that same stubborn spark of determination flaring in my chest. But Daichi leans over and presses a lingering kiss to my temple.

“I’m not trying to discourage you or make light of how deeply this place means to you,” he soothes. “I’m just… worried about what comes next once the work is done. I saw it yesterday. You’re in the home stretch. Have you even heard anything from Maho about the club’s fate yet? Or are you still operating under the assumption that you need to have every last scrap of data and detail preserved by the time she makes her final decision?”

The words hit home. No, I haven’t heard anything about the club’s fate from Maho since the day after the storm. Since then, I’ve been so wrapped up in my goals that I haven’t thought to check in with her again. She stops by a few times a week to check on our progress, bring coffees or pastries, and tell us we’re doing a fantastic job. That’s about it.

“You know… you’re absolutely right,” I say, shaking my head. “Maho hasn’t let on what’s next for the club. I’ve just been assuming she’s waiting for me to have everything sorted before she weighs in.”

Daichi gives me a small nod. “Maybe it’s time you got an update from her directly. At least it might help you figure out if all this endless work is still necessary.”

His words make perfect sense, and yet… the thought of letting go still fills me with dread, like I’ll be abandoning the place, the career I love.

Daichi seems to sense my hesitation, setting aside our meals, and reaching out to grasp both of my hands.

“Hey, I’m not trying to make this decision for you. I just want you to have all the facts so you can figure out what’s best for you, okay? No matter what Maho says, no matter what ultimately happens with the Book Club, you’re going to be fine. I’ll be right here. You’re not alone.”

I’m not alone anymore, am I? Daichi is here. He hasn’t fled, and he hasn’t done any of the stupid shit other men have done in the past. He’s stuck by me this whole time.

“You’re right,” I say, stroking my thumb along his knuckles. “I’ll reach out to Maho first thing tomorrow and get the full update. See if she has a timeframe for making a decision about what to do next.”

Daichi’s lips form a warm smile. “There’s my smart, sensible woman. I knew she was in there somewhere beneath all that stubborn determination.”

I swat at his chest with a huff of mock indignation.

“Oh, hush, you,” I chide. “I’ll have you know my stubbornness is one of my most endearing qualities.”

Daichi throws back his head with a rich peal of laughter that has my heart fluttering in my chest.

“You’ve got that right.” He pulls me onto his lap, one of his favorite things to do. “It’s one of the many, many things I love most about you, Winta Kimura.”

His husky voice leaves me breathless. There are things about me he loves. I never thought that would happen.

Daichi gathers me close and holds me tight. I wind my arms around his neck and surrender, letting the rest of the world’s worries and uncertainties fall away in this perfect moment.

I have to take the perfect moments while I can.