Lesson Learned

It's my fault

A/N: Right well that's one hyper-fixation done for today. 

***

Their dad had told them a lot of things would be changing, and a lot of things had changed really fast over the last year

Mitsuko frowned, chopping up chillies while Gakushuu stood on a stool carefully boiling some rice on the stove.

Mom was upstairs sleeping, which is what she'd been doing a lot lately while dad was working; something he's been doing a lot of too.

The only time they ever seemed to see him was when he was asking them homework questions or giving them practice tests to do.

Their eighth birthday had come and gone and mom hadn't even planned anything or asked them what they wanted. Which was crazy because Mitsuko had been cutting out pages of toys from the catalogue and sticking them on the fridge...

It was like both their parents had just forgotten that they existed.

She sighed, kicking her dangling feet against the air while she chopped up the chillies. "Isn't it going to be too spicy?"

Her brother looked over his shoulder. "It'll be fine. Don't be a wimp."

Mitsuko glared at him. "You won't say that when your tongue burns off!"

He rolled his eyes and stirred the pot. "Just finish chopping them and add them to the pan."

She stuck her tongue out when he looked away. "Fine." She put the knife down and picked up the chopping board, walking over to him where another stool was. "But I'm not eating it if it's too spicy."

"Then you can go hungry," he replied impatiently as she tossed the diced peppers in.

She rested her head on the counter and watched the pan sizzle. "Is it enough for mom as well?"

For some reason, his face grew cold. "She can make her own."

"Don't be mean!" Mitsuko scowled, shoving his shoulder.

"Hey!" He held onto the panhandle when it nudged. "Careful."

"Mom needs to eat too," she argued, placing her hands on her hips.

"Then she shouldn't be lazy," Gakushuu shot back.

"She's not lazy, she's just tired." Mitsuko frowned. "We can save some for dad as well."

Gakushuu scowl worsened. "Why bother?" He glanced at the clock. "It's not even five yet, he's not going to be back until late."

"We can put it in the fridge," she offered. "And its Sunday. People always finish work early on Sundays."

"He can make his own as well."

Mitsuko sighed. "You're mean." She picked up the bottle of wine next to her. "Can we add this in as well?"

"No!" Gakushuu snatched the bottle from her and put it on the counter nearest him.

Mitsuko huffed. "But mom adds it to stuff all the time."

"Yeah, because she's a grown-up," he said matter-of-factly. "Go do something useful."

"I did do something useful!" She glared at him.

He looked irritated. "Then go do something else." He stirred the rice in with the vegetables. "I told you to tidy the living room—did you do it?"

"...Yes."

"No, you didn't," he said bossily, adding seasoning to the dish. "Go do that while I finish this."

He was so bossy!