ⁱˡᵒᵐⁱˡᵒ

ᵍᵒⁿⁿᵃ

They're fighting again. 

It wasn't as bad in the beginning. A few words shared in the heat of the moment and maybe a cold shoulder for the morning but by the time lunch came around they'd learned to resolve their issues and carry on for the sake of a healthy marriage. For the sake of having a healthy family. A lover's spat here and there is normal, after all. 

But then shared words became harsh whispers and harsh whispers became screaming matches in the middle of the night—slamming doors and name calling and sometimes even the occasional pushing and shoving, God forbid it get out of hand. He hasn't tried to break them apart simply because he doesn't want to interfere; his parents are strong and he's sure most nights they can work past their differences. 

Tonight, he's not so sure. 

Eri has managed to find her way to his bed in fear and he doesn't attempt to make her leave; it's well placed. They're screaming at the top of their lungs, photo frames rattling against the wall as he's certain his father has just been shoved against it. He wants to break it up; they've never fought like this before. 

But Hitoshi can't believe what it is that his mother is being accused of. 

"You think I'm such a fucking tool, don't you, Shota? That I'm so goddamn gullible that I don't know what the fuck you've really been doing?!" His father yells---Eri flinches when the wall rattles again. 

"How many times have I told you that it isn't like that, Hizashi? Why do we have to do this every other night? Is it so fucking hard to believe that I'm actually out doing my fucking job---" 

"It's four in the fucking morning and you just came dragging your sorry ass back in here like we don't have a fucking toddler to look after! Not to mention that you fucking reek of alcohol and him ! You really expect me to believe you were at the fucking office?! You should fucking be ashamed of yourself---you just stopped breastfeeding two weeks ago and now your drinking like a goddamn fish?!" 

"I wasn't fucking drinking---I haven't touched a fuckin' drink over a year, you know that!" 

"I know that you're not telling me the truth about where you've been, either. Quit fucking dodging me and tell me the truth, Shota. Were you with him?" 

The pause that follows is telling enough…

But Shota tells him anyway. 

"You know that I was." It's a different tone than what he's used before---soft and wavering. Hizashi doesn't respond immediately but Shota's sniffles can be heard through the wall. 

" 'Zashi, I didn't---" 

"Don't fucking touch me." 

"We haven't  done anything." 

"So I'm expected to believe that you've been out drinking with him every other night this week until the early hours of the morning...and he didn't touch you?" 

The next blow to the wall causes the frame to fall and shatter, startling even Hitoshi as he realizes what's happening. His heart is racing so fast that he can hear his own blood pumping in his ears, chest heaving as he tries again and again to get himself to calm down. Eri can sense that he's distressed from his souring scent and she, too, begins to squirm uncomfortably.