The kids had fun.
They took baths.
They ate ice cream covered in sprinkles.
The cartoons were way too loud.
There were toys everywhere.
And there was laughter.
Lots of laughter.
Except when it came to Takeru.
Mei laughed with everyone else.
Just not with him.
When he spoke to her, she answered shortly.
When he offered help, she refused.
When he offered her water, she shook her head.
When he tried to sit next to her on the couch, she moved away.
"I can do it myself," she kept saying.
Always.
After the other kids went home, Takeru did what he always did.
He cleaned.
He washed dishes.
He organized the toys.
He fixed the things that had broken during the chaos.
Normal.
Everything was normal.
Until it wasn't.
Later that afternoon, when the house finally got quieter, Takeru took a deep breath.
— Mei… can I talk to you?
She didn't answer right away.
She was sitting on the floor, drawing.
Pressing the pencil way too hard against the paper.
— It'll be quick, — he added.
She turned her head.
Her eyes were hard.
— Say it.
He hesitated.
— Are you… mad at me?
Silence.
Then a dry little laugh.
— You just noticed?
— Mei—
— DON'T CALL ME THAT!
She jumped to her feet.
Clearly angry.
But still somehow… adorably furious.
Her drawing flew to the floor.
— You left! — she shouted — You ran away!
— I didn't run—
— YES YOU DID!
Mei pointed at him, her finger shaking.
— Just like Mom!
The word landed heavy in the room.
Takeru didn't answer.
And somehow, that only made things worse.
— You left us! — she continued — You left me alone with Harumi! Do you think I wasn't scared?!
— I… thought that—
— YOU ALWAYS THINK!
Now she started throwing whatever was nearby.
A pencil.
A toy.
A pillow.
None of it hit very hard.
But the words did.
— You always leave! — she cried, shouting through tears — Just like her! Just like everyone!
The house had never been this loud.
And then—
CLAC.
The front door opened.
— I'm home… — Harumi's tired voice echoed.
But instead of silence…
There was yelling.
And chaos.
Mei was still shouting at Takeru.
Neither of them noticed Harumi standing there at first.
Maybe it was because of the completely exhausted aura she carried with her.
She stopped at the entrance.
And looked at the living room.
Toys everywhere.
Cushions on the floor.
Mei breathing hard, eyes red.
Takeru standing still, pale, fists clenched.
Harumi blinked.
Once.
Twice.
She heard it.
Not the shouting.
The words.
And something inside her changed.
Without saying a word, Harumi gently closed the door.
CLAC.
Mei froze.
Takeru froze too.
Both of them stood completely still.
Waiting.
For the lecture.
For the yelling.
For one of Harumi's nervous jokes.
Anything.
But Harumi said nothing.
She just stood there.
The silence fell heavy over the messy house.
And for the first time…
No one knew what was about to happen.
"Is she going to yell…?"