Fire and Ice

The Truth

It was quiet around Yukihira's with the sun slowly rising before rain clouds took over, tapping on the window with the quiet pitter. Tsuki looked up as her eyes went dark.

"It's raining..." Tsuki saw the weather outside, pouring heavily, making the sun seem like it was never there.

"On hot days... that house always pops into my mind."

"To me... summer always... reminds me..."

Flashback

This was after Tsuki's and Soma's mom had passed away, leaving Joichiro as a shell of his former self. Soma and Tsuki were being taken care of by Kazusato, but the latter had some business with some friends for a few days, so Soma tagged along to help.

Tsuki wasn't in the mood to see others so she declined to go, telling her grandfather that she wanted to do her homework and spend time to herself. Kazusato thought from her words that she wanted to grieve a bit longer for her mother so he let her without prying too much.

Since Yukihira's was still closed down, the father and daughter had nothing to do.

Tsuki felt nothing for her father back in those days, missing the presence of her rowdy mother much more. Tsuki was sitting with Joichiro for breakfast, during one of these days.

The food consisted of a simple slice of bread and jam, with water for Tsuki while Joichiro drank coffee.

"P..Papa..." Tsuki quietly spoke up. 

Joichiro was on his phone, looking at it while eating his breakfast. "Wait. Let me finish this." Joichiro's cold voice made Tsuki flinch before she clenched her hands and nodded.

"...Okay, go ahead." Joichiro put down his phone.

"Is it... possible to buy a new air conditioner?" Tsuki asked quietly. "This summer... is really hot..."

"I don't know. It's not that hot yet is it?" Joichiro looked at the conditions of house.

"It's humid too... On a rainy day like today... I can't even open that the window." Tsuki looked to the windows. "And... it feels stuffy..."

"If it feels stuffy, go outside." Joichiro's voice was stoic.

"You're only saying that because you're home all the time." Joichiro sighed. "Since you have a lot of free time now, find something to do outside."

Joichiro had eye bags while he was aimlessly looking at Tamako's alter. 

"...You're right." Tsuki nodded. "I should go out for a while today."

"That's a good idea. Go see some friends."

"I don't want to see anyone."

"I gotta go now. The rain's gonna make the traffic bad." Joichiro went to stand up.

"...Take an umbrella with you." Tsuki spoke up.

"No, I don't need it." Joichiro put a hand up to refuse.

"..."

"On rainy days, I was stuck at home... and Papa was the only one who didn't realize it."

Tsuki went outside with an umbrella, walking on the white lines.

"If I tell him, would he listen...?" Tsuki thought as she put down her umbrella, letting the rain soak into her skin.

As if to protest... Tsuki walked in the rain all day long... and caught a cold.

But again, Joichiro didn't notice.