Euphoria

Dinner & Dismissal

As you made your way to the kitchen, the table was set and the food was already on the table, ready to be served. An assortment of foods from egg rolls, to onigiri, to spam musubi. You sat down next to Histoshi and across from his parents at the table.

The first part of dinner consisted of a little bit of small talk and basic conversation, including all of the basic questions.

How is school going? What have you been up to? Have you met anyone interesting?

Stuff like that.

The only thing with small talk, is that it is easily ended and once it started to die down, there apparently was an elephant in the room you were not aware of. That is until your roommate's parents seemed to blatantly shoot at it.

"If you don't mind us asking, why didn't you go home for the holidays hun. I'm sure your family would have loved to see you after so long away, we know we missed Hitoshi." Hatori spoke up after a small pause in your previous conversation about the film.

Oh, so that is where this conversation was going. I guess it was inevitable. I hate it...God, they don't even know, ignorance to situations like this is bliss, I suppose.

In that short thought, Hitoshi seemed to try to change the topic, but you stopped him before he could completely.

"It's okay Hitoshi, if they want to know I'll tell them. It's their right in return for letting me stay here. I mean, I will be living with all of you for the next month, right? Might as well." The boy next to you gave a hesitant nod.

"To be honest Hatori, they don't want to see me. For the longest time, they had been wishing for the day I left our house. To save you the sob story, they just aren't good parents, and if I didn't have to see them again, I wouldn't choose to. They belittled and ignored my existence for the last 18 years, I think they can handle my anger and retaliation. At least, until they get their act together enough to treat me like a daughter."

Your surroundings went quiet, it isn't like you had excessive malice in your tone. Just enough to get the point across that they did not deserve sympathy. Overall, your proclamation was serious and slightly monotone, like a congressman giving the same speech for the 20th time. Memorized, practiced, and numb.

"I see, I guess from our viewpoint we could not understand a parent not loving their child. So, that option didn't pop into mind. We're sorry that you were left in such a situation. I'm happy you decided to come her with our boy, it's best for both of you."

"Thank you Mayuko, I have moved past it honestly. It doesn't bother me as much as it used to in everyday life, even if I still don't love talking about it. I know I didn't ever do anything wrong, despite when they would say I did. It was their own problems, not mine, and they have to work them out."

"I see, well...I guess that just gives you more reason to become an honorary member of the Shinsou family." Mayuko said to you with one of the kindest smile's you have ever seen. Apparently they ran in the family. She meant it, you could tell she was truthful.

It was very comforting, being welcomed into a home, into a family so easily. You never imagined something like that would happen and only in a few months of freedom. You made friends closer than any you'd had before.

As you stopped those thoughts, you realized there was a tear running down your cheek. Quickly, you wiped it off and continued.

"I'm sorry, you all are very kind. I guess I am still not very used to that. I think, I think I'm going to go lay down now, I didn't sleep well last night. Dinner was delicious and I mean that wholeheartedly, thank you for letting me stay here. It is already more comforting than the dorms and feels more like home than the house I grew up in." Your mouth upturned at one corner, teethed beared in a lopsided smile.

"Of course dear, we are happy to have you here. You seem like a very nice girl, don't worry about cleaning after yourself, we will pick up everything. Toshi, help her with getting ready for bed."

You made your way upstairs again, exhaustion seemed to hit you quickly. Which probably clouded your judgement in the moment of saying your next few words.

"Hitoshi, why don't we just share the bed. We've done it before and your bed here is even bigger than the dorms."

He couldn't deny the sentiment, you weren't wrong and it would be more comfortable than a futon or even the down stairs recliners. So he agreed,

"Yeah, I'm good with that. You take the outside and I'll take the inside. I'm tired too, I didn't want to set up a whole bed for you." He couldn't deny that he had wanted to do this again, ever since the last time. He always seemed to sleep better when he was with you.

"Charming, a great host." He chuckled.

You got ready for bed as quickly as possible, and you finally found yourself lying down on what felt like a cloud fifteen minutes later. It dipped down again a few moments later, a Hitoshi sized human indenting it. Surprisingly, your heart wasn't fluttering and your thoughts weren't racing.

No, on the contrary. Everything was very calm and comfortable as you drifted off quickly into some unintelligable dream state.