After the long walk home, I arrive to my brother sitting in the formal room. He must know the look on my face as he throws his hands up. “Hey, I’m not making -any- work here, I’m even offering free homework help!” All three older children are with him, and he goes back to leading them in English conversation. But Makoto breaks off to come hug me and I’m glad that my little girl seems to be… good with me again. We have each other, and Ai-chan, in the end. She may get to be the vision I saw later, of a bitter, resentful girl… but for now I’m embraced and asked about my day.
English… I don’t think Asato-san was -displeased- with my work but he enjoyed nit-picking. I would just nod and promise to take his guidance for the next project. Everything I was translating was dull and dry, but I feel like it was more of an assessment than an actual assignment. But my feet ache and my eyes ache… but I’m still the woman of this house, so I put on my apron and help with dinner, and insist on doing all of the cleaning after.
Yuunosuke stays a bit after, complaining a bit that Saya-san has been out on her own business… I only smile and change the subject to the books he’s bought. He very nicely bought me a copy of his favorite English/Japanese dictionary, and made notations as to the mistakes they made…!
But he, too, eventually leaves and the children and Yukiko-san retire. I’m in the tatami room, which has become the turtle’s domain – even nice Midori-chan got tired of its nocturnal noises after a while – but I curl up on the sofa, missing Hajime -so much-. I did something new today, something hard. I wish… I wish… those quiet moments.
I let myself be sad for a minute, but then pull myself together. There’s no use in -lamenting- a man that doesn’t want me.
(OOC – Hide is up in case anyone wants to talk to her)