😴
junko didn't have a good day at school. kaori didn't have a good day at home. touji was the only one who was okay. rather, 'okay'. work wasn't great, but he was likely doing the best out of the family
he hurried past his 'wife'—she was either drunk, passed out, or both, and he was tired of seeing any scenario. then, he walked up the stairs, headed straight to junko's room.
junko's room was nice. pink, too. most of its decorations were birthday gifts from touji. he looked over to junko, who was asleep. if he had to guess, she'd been out for an hour by then. she found no comfort in anything, even her own mother. until touji got home, this was all she had.
and what a shame that was.
his little girl lay in bed, frowning. her eyebrows, twitching, were furrowed. she didn't have to say anything, he knew what happened. he kissed her forehead, trying not to wake her up.
"i'm so sorry, my little tiger," he whispered.
after a pat on the head, she smiled—barely, but it was there. touji put his head in his hands for a bit.
such a terrible situation for a child to grow up in, he thought. but we'll get through it. i'll get through to her, and we can all be okay.
another part of his mind laughed at the thought. day by day, it grew. he hated it. but he wanted to believe. he wanted so badly to believe it would all turn out well.
thoughts of the future ravaged his mind, so he swallowed hard to stifle them. with care, he picked junko up and hugged her. he held onto her longer than he usually did before gently lying her back down. her expression softened, making him smile.
"all better now," he murmured.
he stood, closing the curtains and placing a stuffed animal on the bed closer to her, then slowly closing her door.
before it closed all the way, he looked at junko one more time through the small opening.
"we'll get ice cream tomorrow."
