Entrapped

Yui Ikeda, a young girl in her early teens with long, silky, jet-black hair and large, expressive black eyes, walked into the living room, her face lit up with a wide grin, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She had just returned from school. After throwing her bag onto the couch, she went to the kitchen to prepare her lunch, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her parents and siblings. Yui always looked forward to spending time with her family, cherishing every moment. She felt fortunate to be part of such a loving household. Minato Ikeda, her father, was gentle and jovial, yet he was also a firm disciplinarian. Despite this, Yui always found pleasure in his company. Sakura Ikeda, her mother, was calm and industrious. Yui often thought her father was lucky to be married to such a wonderful woman. Her elder twin brothers, Aoi and Aoto Ikeda, were sociable and supportive, though their personalities differed—Aoi was gentle, while Aoto was strict. The Ikedas lived happily together, until tragedy struck. On that fateful day, Sakura and the children were sitting in the living room, chatting and laughing when the door creaked open. Minato walked in, looking unusually dejected. He shut the door quietly and approached them, collapsing onto one of the couches as he stared blankly into space. Normally, Minato would enter with a cheerful demeanor. After their greetings, he would tease Sakura, Yui, and her brothers before joining in on their conversation. But today was different. The lively atmosphere in the living room shifted to one of tension. Yui and her brothers exchanged worried glances, silently seeking answers from each other. After a few moments of uneasy silence, Sakura coughed lightly and sat beside Minato. "Welcome home, sweetheart. How was work today?" Sakura asked with a gentle smile. Instead of replying, Minato let out a long sigh, deepening Sakura's concern. "Is... anything the problem?" Sakura asked, her voice tinged with anxiety as she slightly lowered her head. Minato remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the ceiling. "Daddy, did anyone hurt you?" Yui’s voice cracked as she spoke, snapping Minato out of his thoughts. He tried to speak, but the words seemed heavy in his mouth. Another silence fell over the room, increasing the family's fear. "Please, speak up," Sakura pleaded, her voice trembling. Minato slowly unzipped his briefcase and pulled out a brown envelope. He took a deep breath before handing the envelope to Sakura. She stared at it with suspicion, her heartbeat quickening as she opened it and unfolded the neatly folded paper inside. Her eyes widened in shock as she read its contents. "What?! You've been fired?" Sakura shouted, her voice laced with anger. "Yes… I have," Minato finally spoke, his voice heavy with resignation. "Why? What happened? After all the years of hard work and dedication, your boss just fired you? That's outrageous!" Sakura snapped, folding her arms in disbelief. "Calm down, darling. I can explain," Minato replied, his expression somber. "I'm listening," Sakura said, turning her gaze away from him, her heart pounding. Minato fidgeted with his hands, struggling to find the right words to explain what had happened. Finally, he mustered the courage to speak. He explained how he had been framed by some of his colleagues who had always treated him kindly, but secretly envied him. As the production manager, he was responsible for the company's production records. Out of jealousy, his colleagues manipulated the records, accusing him of theft. His boss, Mr. Sato, refused to listen to his explanations and immediately instructed his secretary to draft a termination letter. "If I hear any more from you, I'll hand you over to the police and ensure that you rot in jail. Now, leave my office and never come back!" Mr. Sato's harsh words echoed in Minato's mind as he left the office, feeling utterly defeated. "Wasn't this the same man who praised you and recommended you for that part-time job at Georgia's Crib? How could he fire you without even hearing your side of the story? He's just cruel! All wealthy people are the same—they work you to the bone and then discard you when they no longer need you," Sakura ranted, her anger boiling over. Minato gently took her hands and caressed them. "That's enough, darling. Don't exhaust yourself over my boss. We'll move on with our lives. Everyone knows I served him faithfully, and I believe that my good deeds will pay off someday," Minato said softly, while the children watched him with pity in their eyes. With Minato out of work, Sakura became the breadwinner of the family. Minato's salary had been three times hers, but now the entire household depended on her meager income as a house manager. Minato hated being idle. Ever since his unjust firing, he stayed at home all day, taking care of the house and preparing meals for the family while Sakura went to work. The weight of his new reality weighed heavily on him, but he kept his feelings hidden, determined to stay strong for his family. Sakura felt deep empathy for Minato. She could see the pain he was going through, and their current situation made her uneasy. "Min, I know this is a difficult time for all of us, but I need you to hold yourself together. I can help you find another job," Sakura said, her voice filled with assurance as she leaned on Minato's shoulder. "Are you sure I can find another job in this city? What if Mr. Sato has already tarnished my reputation with other companies? What if I get rejected everywhere I go?" Minato asked, his voice heavy with hopelessness. Sakura sighed and then smiled gently. "What if you do get accepted? What if you find a better job? The children are looking up to you, Min. If they hear you talking like this, they might start believing that this is how we should deal with tough times. You have to stay hopeful, okay?" Sakura advised, her tone both comforting and firm. Minato nodded, taking in her words. "I've heard you. Come here," he said softly, pulling Sakura close and holding her in a tight embrace. Despite putting on a brave face for Sakura and the children, Minato's thoughts grew darker when he was alone. The weight of his despair began to pull him into depression. His health deteriorated rapidly, and soon, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and a partial stroke. Sakura was devastated by the news of Minato's worsening health. The thought of where to find the funds for his proper treatment constantly gnawed at her. She sought help from family and friends, but they all turned their backs on her. She even approached financial institutions for loans, but they refused, citing her meager salary as insufficient to repay the debt. Just when Sakura and the children had nearly lost all hope, a glimmer of light appeared. Isamu, Minato's childhood friend who had just returned to the country, offered to help with the hospital bills. However, their relief was tragically short-lived, as Minato passed away just a few days later. Sakura was heartbroken. Yui couldn’t comprehend the news; she was inconsolable. Aoi and Aoto, trying to be the strong men of the house, held their emotions in check, but the pain they felt was overwhelming. As Yui reflected on the events leading up to her father’s death, a burning hatred grew inside her for Mr. Sato. She blamed him entirely for her father’s demise. The anger within her boiled over, and she imagined confronting him, exacting justice for her father's death. "If Dad's boss hadn’t fired him, he wouldn’t have gotten sick, and he would still be alive today. That man is cruel, and I won’t let him get away with this. He needs to pay for what he did to Dad. I'll fight until my last breath to make sure Dad gets justice, and that man ends up behind bars," Yui vowed, her eyes blazing with rage.