The Moon's Redamancy In Fall [Tsukishima x Yamaguchi]

nineteen.

Yamaguchi

"How was Kaori's birthday? Did you get to enjoy it?" My mom asked, as she minced garlic by the kitchen counter.

I sat by the counter and watched her do works with the knife, "It was okay, Akihiro-san made us drink Japanese saké and Tsukki couldn't handle it," I laughed, recalling the memory of drunk Tsukki.

My mom paused from chopping the vegetable and her temples forming fine lines as her brows formed a furrow, "Akihiro?" She asked, her voice sounded a bit surprised, "Her husband?" Her tone oddly sounded very curious, as she fixed her gaze at me.

I pursed my lips before speaking as I picked up a different approach from my mom, "Yeah . . .?" I carefully responded, sounding like I was questioning.

She shook her head and avoided eye contact, "It's nothing. It's just been a while since I've heard from him," She muttered, as she continued chopping vegetables

That was kind of weird.

The kitchen was filled with silence but the crunch of each slice of the celery. I did not bother to ask questions anymore because Kaori-san . . . She didn't want me to speak about what Tsukki had said to me last night.

And so, the afternoon went by hastily, and I ended up sending a few messages to Tsukki but he didn't respond to most of it. Maybe because he got too tired from last night . . .

I had to go and check up on Yachi-san to ask her about the project, I was starting to worry that she would do it all by herself. So, I planned tomorrow, Sunday morning, I would be paying her a visit not only because I felt bad for completely ditching her in our cafeteria but I would mostly feel guilty for not helping her out. Although, for Hinata . . . I'm not pretty sure what his contribution will be.

I snuggled into the soft eiderdown duvet on the sofa and closed my eyes as it caressed my cheek. It still smelled of grandma's house, that floral scent taking me back to Sunday afternoons knitting with her. But she was gone now. I hugged the duvet a little tighter and rolled so that it enclosed me in warmth.

Silence settled, but a few moments in, the landline started to ring. The telephone's ring pierced the silence, and my heart rose to my throat. My mom darted across the room and grasped the receiver, and when she said hello, her voice sounded breathless and strained to her.

As she regained her breath, "Yes?" She sighed.

My mother sat at the kitchen table as she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder and bit at the cuticle on her thumb.

"It's your father," She said, standing up to pace the narrow kitchen, handing me over the phone.

I stood up from the couch and took the phone from her before placing it on my ear, "Hey dad," I greeted him through the phone with a sigh of relief.

"Tadashi-kun, my son!" He sounded a lot jolly from the other line, "So, how have you been?" He queried.

I shrugged my shoulders as if he could see me, "I'm good," I responded, leaning back by the soft couch, "I think I'm actually getting better at school, too,"

I could hear my dad sigh through the phone, "Well, that's good news . . ." He trailed, "What about your volleyball club? Any good news?"

He's strangely curious about things, huh? He doesn't casually ask me about these kind of stuffs since it's my mom's job to do so. Although, my dad haven't came home for almost a year and wouldn't make it for the upcoming New Year because he already got promoted on his job in Kyoto. It's a pretty big company and he couldn't turn it down. He never turn anything down related to work.

"I'm improving, I guess? We might be able to compete in Tokyo if Takeda-sensei would be able to make some arrangments," I explained, my voice growing lazy as I start to fiddle with the pillow tassles of the sofa.

"That's good," He muttered from the other line.

He doesn't really sound interested about it since he only cared about is his career, and himself. My dad loves to drown himself with work because he's been an avaricious man or grasping, concerned with gaining wealth. I mean, I'm glad that he at least tried to sound enthusiastic about it.

"Did your mother tell you about moving to Kyoto?"

I sighed, my eyes darting across the room, before rubbing my temples in some kind of frustration, "For a hundred times, yes," The repeated frustration of my attempts to introduce changes started to pour in me.

"Aren't you excited?" He paused, waiting for my response but I refused to speak, "You'll get to pursue your dreams of being a doctor because I'll get you to a prestegious academic post and I'm sure-"

I frowned and cut him off, "Dad, I know that already, please let's not talk about this anymore," I sighed in an exasperated tone.

Hearing him decide for my career in the future made me upset all over again. In my life, I never said once that I wanted to be a doctor. It's what my mom and dad wants me to become.

The conversation sunk into sulkiness and for a moment, I have realized that I only have a year to stay here in Miyagi and that I'm leaving for good. My mind started to doze off as my father begun to tell me about his job and how busy he's going to get for the next few weeks. I didn't really care about his career.

If only he had more time for us. But I couldn't really complain since all they will only say that I should be grateful I'm getting what I need and that he's working hard for us.

Yeah, working hard for invalidating my feelings and opinions and literally deciding to what I should do and should want.

After the phone call, I handed the phone to my mom and I didn't even heard our half conversation. It took me a while to realize that I had been nodding to whatever my dad was saying as if he could see me.

Should I even tell Tsukki about this? If I will he wouldn't really be interested. I slumped down on the couch and drowned myself from my mom's yapping through the phone call with my dad as I could feel it fading away, falling asleep.