"We’ve already tried calling Satoshi countless times!" her mother barked.
"No one answers! What’s going on over there?!"
Before Kyouko could reply, her father’s voice thundered into the call:
"My birthday’s next week! You better come home for it!
Bring Satoshi! And if you can, call my granddaughter too—make her come along!"
"Umm... err..." she stammered, eyes darting toward the ceiling to find right excuse.
"No excuses, city girl!" her father snapped.
"Y-yes... I’ll try talking to them."
"Try hard, Kyouko! I’m serious. If you don’t show up this year, I’ll—"
The rest of the threat faded into more parental noise as Kyouko pulled the phone slightly away from her ear again.
This was going to be complicated.
"Yes... yes..." Kyouko said softly into the phone.
"But I can’t promise they’ll come with me, okay?"
Her voice dipped slightly, careful not to sound too dismissive.
"I’ll try to talk to them tonight."
More insistence from the other end.
"Yes... I’ll be back home. Don’t worry."
Her eyes drifted toward the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall.
"Day after tomorrow..." she repeated softly.
"That’s when I’ll come."
She nodded again, holding the phone tightly with both hands now.
"Yes, Father... I’ll talk to them tonight.
Yes... I’ll be careful.
Silence filled the kitchen again.
Kyouko set her phone down gently on the counter.
"Well... Haruki’s not here, and I don’t have anything to do..."
Kyouko spoke softly to herself as she walked back toward the living room.
Satomi and Satoshi wouldn’t notice.
They barely touched breakfast.
"Maybe I should go back to my hometown for a while."
Then turned and headed upstairs.
She opened the closet and took out her small luggage, setting it on the bed.
"Hmm... I’m not going to stay long," she murmured, running her fingers over the fabric.
"So... I don’t really need much."
She folded a few dresses.
Oh—and my skincare, of course."
She added her exercise outfit too, folding it neatly on top.
After everything was carefully packed, she sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up her phone.
The ring went on for a while.
Finally, he picked up.
"You both late again tonight?" Kyouko asked gently.
"Ah... Father called. Said he’s been trying to reach you a lot."
"I was busy in a meeting."
"Ah... umm... okay." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Just wanted to let you know, he invited us for his birthday next week.
He asked if you and Satomi could come too."
"We’re busy here, Kyouko.
Why don’t we talk about it when we get home."
He hung up before she could say more.
Kyouko lowered the phone slowly, stared at it for a moment, then exhaled.
She didn’t feel hurt anymore.
That night, the house was silent , except for the ticking clock on the wall.
Kyouko sat quietly in the living room, her hands folded in her lap, her posture perfect as always.
Then , a soft hum from outside. Headlights lit the gate.
She rose from the couch without a word, walked to the wall, and pressed the gate button.
She opened the front door.
The car pulled in slowly.
Satomi in the passenger seat, clearly exhausted.
Satoshi beside her, eyes glued to his phone as the engine stopped.
Kyouko stepped aside and offered her usual soft smile.
Neither of them really responded.
She pressed the gate button again, closing it behind them.
"I need to talk to you both," she said softly.
They paused at the hallway entrance.
"Is this about Grandpa’s birthday?" Satomi asked, already halfway out of her shoes.
"Sorry, Mom... I can’t. We’re packed with meetings this week. Clients, reports and there a lot of work to do."
Satoshi didn’t even look up.
"You should go back if you want, Kyouko."
She stood there for a second longer.
"Umm... okay. I’ll be going tomorrow."
Satomi waved a hand, already turning toward the stairs.
"I’m going up to sleep, Mom. Night."
They disappeared upstairs, leaving Kyouko alone in the quiet hallway.
She stood there for a moment longer.
Then turned off the light and walked back into the living room.
And the soft echo of her own footsteps.
Morning sunlight poured into the kitchen, warm and golden.
The scent of miso soup and grilled fish lingered gently in the air.
The breakfast table was neatly set.
Kyouko stood by the counter, apron still on, her phone in hand.
"I planned to go tomorrow..." she thought silently, watching the steam rise from the teacups.
"But since they both don’t seem to care...
She tapped her screen, selecting the earliest flight to Okinawa she could find.
Her luggage was already positioned near the door.
On the entryway table sat the remote for the gate, and the house key, placed precisely beside it.
Kyouko sat down quietly at the table, smoothing her skirt.
She waited patiently, sipping her tea.
Not for goodbye hugs.
Just for the sake of manners.
To let them know she was leaving.
Satoshi’s voice rang from upstairs, footsteps thundered down.
Satomi followed, brushing her hair with one hand and checking her phone with the other.
Kyouko stood by the table, waiting.
"Ah, both of you. Wait a second."
"Hmm? What now, Kyouko?"
Satoshi didn’t even glance her way, already reaching for his coat.
Kyouko gestured gently to the table.
"The gate remote. The house key."
Satoshi waved a hand.
"You take them, Satomi. Put them in your purse."
"Okay, okay..." Satomi said, grabbing the items and tucking them away.
"But Mom... if we take those, what about you?"
"I have the spare. Don’t worry." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Satomi blinked, then nodded.
Kyouko glanced toward the breakfast table.
"You two... at least have some coffee."
Satoshi checked his watch, already moving toward the door.
And just like that, the front door opened.
Just footsteps fading down the walkway.
Kyouko stood in the quiet hallway, fingers lightly brushing the side of her skirt.