Cardfight!! Vanguard: R

Episode Two: Song 2 / Chapter 6

6 - Late Nights in Saidan

It was another early morning in the Yumemiru household. Yume's mother – Naomi Yumemiru – was going about her usual morning routine of preparing breakfast and lunch for her daughter. The daughter whom she had assumed would need waking up like she always did.

When she was satisfied with her work, she reached up toward the cabinets and readied her weapons for the morning call.

"No need for that today mom!" Yume sang as she strolled into the kitchen.

"Eh?!" Ms. Yumemiru was honestly surprised at her daughter's presence in the kitchen. She glanced between the wall clock and her wristwatch, assuring herself of the time. "Well this is rare, what's got you up so early? Morning duty?"

"Nope, just got something to do!" Yume replied chipperly, she sat down at the table and gave thanks before tucking into her breakfast.

"Does this "something" have anything to do with why you rushed out last night to the convenience store?"

"It might, all I can say is... pretty soon I'll be coming home later" Yume shoved the rest of the breakfast into her mouth, and let out a muffled goodbye before running toward the entry of the house and beginning her way to school.

*

The Hironori household was situated a little closer to the school, as such Taichi was able to shave a few minutes off his morning commute to school. One short train journey and a slow climb up the hill, and he'd be there about twenty minutes before homeroom began.

Taichi pulled on his gakuran and fastened the buttons halfway up. He fell back onto his bed for a moment staring at the ceiling. He pushed his hair back and breathed deeply and got up again. He took his bag from the desk that was placed against the wall across from his bed. A faint smell of smoke came from the top drawer of his desk. He reached for the handle of the drawer, steeling himself to face what was inside – but a call from his mother downstairs shook him out of this and he quickly pulled his hand away. He left his room, giving one more glance at the drawer.

"You're sure you don't need anything to eat?" Ms. Hironori asked as Taichi appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"I'll be fine" he replied, "not really hungry this morning"

"Do you need any money? Your dad sent this months- "

"I don't need his money" Taichi snapped. His mother's expression stiffened slightly, he recognised this and bowed his head, "I'm sorry... but I want to live without relying on anyone."

Taichi sat in the entry way of his home when his mother approached him. Her oversized pyjamas hanging off her slender frame, and her short unkempt hair – when placed next to her son, you could not tell they were family.

Taichi glanced around for his bag and student cap. His mother cleared her throat to grba his attention and held out his misplaced belongings.

"It's good that you want to be independent" she said as she placed his cap gently over his thick brown hair, "but you can always rely on your mother, y'know?"

Taich cast his eyes down. He was embarrassed by his attempt at being an adult. Though he could try all he wants to emulate their mannerisms and speech patterns, he didn't have anything compared the adult his mother was. As he turned to leave, he said "I'll be late today as well"

"Okay" she smiled "don't be too late okay?"

"Mm" he nodded.

The shoji closed with clack, leaving Ms. Hironori alone with her own thoughts. She crouched down holding her knees close to her chest and smiled wryly. "Everyday... he acts more like you..." she murmurs to nobody.