as we walk ; geto suguru

Forgetful

"Say goodbye to Mr. Gojo now, Nanako," you say, pushing your daughter gently towards her preschool teacher.

Nanako gives a cheerful, bouncy wave to Gojo with a bright smile, jumping up and down making her sparkly pink backpack with too many charms attached bounce up and down noisily. Gojo gives a laugh and waves back, not noticing his pink apron has been untied because of two snickering children behind his back.

"See you tomorrow, sweetheart! And don't worry, I'll share the bread you gave with Kento, (Y/N)."

You roll your eyes playfully, watching Gojo return his attention to another child who was waiting for their parent as he carefully takes out a piece of bread to snack on for the time being. He accidentally manages to attract a crowd of scrambling hungry children as they scurry around him, jumping up and down and demanding a piece of the bread to which the preschool teacher raises it above his head in defense and telling them to go back to playing as a few of them begin to climb up his tall frame.

Nanako stretches her arms out and scrunches her small arms repeatedly with a grin. "Up, Mommy! Up, up!"

You smile and bring up in your arms with a soft grunt. She's getting bigger by the day and you can't help but feel nostalgic about her infant days, despite her being only four. She giggles as she enjoys the view from your arms. Nanako plays with your hair gently as she's cradled in your arms, inhaling your slight scent of sugar and coffee beans that people say you carry around with you at all times to your embarrassment.

Nanako is sound asleep shortly on the walk home, but begins to wake up to the sound of people chattering in the noisy cafe. It's beginning to grow a bit busier now that winter has thawed and the May flowers have bloomed - almost all the tables and booths have been filled up with a wide variety of people. College students take up one booth, a group of businessmen hold the long table seated in the middle, and a group of the gossipy elderly ladies whisper about in the near corner.

"Do you want to take a nap upstairs?" you say and start heading go the elevator that leads to your apartment which sits above the cafe once you receive the sleepy nod.

The elevator dings, telling you that you've arrived on the eighth floor. You step out, only to nearly trip over because of the sheer amount of boxes that are set up in the hallway and almost let out a curse in front of your daughter. The boxes are scattered all over messily, with various labels scribbled in permanent, black ink written on the sides.

It was then you suddenly remember the landlady had said there would be a new tenant moving across the hall yesterday and you're glad that the empty apartment across from yours finally has someone living in it. You figured you would say hello later in the day, but with the boxes that are placed like landmines, you aren't too sure if this would be a good first impression.

The keys jingle in your hands and you let yourself into the apartment. Nanako is set down on her princess-themed bed and you pull the blankets over her as she snoozes herself away from the tiring day of running around and learning shapes and colors at preschool. You only had less than an hour to your shift and you pray that Nanako wouldn't wake up before then, knowing how she hates to be alone.

You exit your apartment, only to see the door across from yours close suddenly. You clicked your tongue in slight annoyance - at least the neighbor was there. There were significantly less boxes than before, but you still had to hop around the ground to avoid tripping and landing face first; the last thing you needed was to combine your clumsiness and barb wires that took form in cardboard together. The least they could do was put the boxes to the side of the hallway... you mutter internally.

Your shift ends quicker than expected - the college students say they'll take over for you and you thank them gratefully as you dash upstairs only to hear the muffled sobs of your daughter through the walls. Panic starts filling your body and you sprint to your apartment door worriedly. The door slams open and Nanako comes crying to you with open arms and you spill out apologies, reassuring her you didn't disappear to her fright. Her wails are even louder and you try your best to soothe her or at least decrease the volumes of her sobs.