Fires And Family | Paradox Live

10

Himari made it home from Chika's just as Zen was finishing the preparations for breakfast. She accepted a gentle sorry-about-your-hangover hug from Iori and then helped Hokusai with laying the table.

When everyone sat down to eat, Himari found an extra glass by her plate containing something she recognised as the hangover remedy her father used. She hated the thing, but with the headache she was nursing she was willing to try anything. Taking a deep breath and holding it, she downed the whole thing in one go.

"Ane-san," said Satsuki, noticing the face she pulled. "What are you doing?"

"Reaping what she shows," Iori said with a smile.

Himari grimaced at him. Then they heard the doorbell. Everyone looked toward the front of the house in surprise.

"Who could that be so early?" Iori mused.

"Salesperson, perhaps?" Zen answered.

The doorbell rang twice more, insistent.

Satsuki tsk-ed. "So noisy. Leave it to me, Zen-nii."

They could hear him grumbling all the way to the door. Not to be outdone, Reo rose as well and followed with Hokusai. After a couple of minutes of silence and perhaps sensing something was off, Zen and Iori decided to go too. Himari accompanied them, curious about who it might be.

"What's going on - " Iori started, but stopped short at the sight that greeted him. Himari stopped behind him.

"Kanata-kun! Why are you here?" Zen said.

"I told you I've investigated the Suiseki group. This is the only house left of them so I knew I'd find you here despite the time." Kanata's voice was low with emotion. Himari could tell immediately that it wasn't anger, though, and it seemed that so could Iori. Himari felt him tense slightly.

"Oi," Satsuki growled. "What are you doing talking to Zen-nii so informally? Zen-nii, do you know this guy?"

Zen stumbled to find the right words. Iori jumped in to save him the trouble.

"So?" he said, folding his arms. "What business d'you have, suddenly barging into other people's houses?"

Kanata looked Iori in the eye. "I need to speak to you alone, Suiseki-san."

This didn't go down well with the boys. Reo reacted immediately.

"Are you here to pick a fight?"

"Come on then," Satsuki followed up. "If it's a fight you want, I'll give it to you!"

Hokusai put a hand on Satsuki's shoulder, eyes fixed on Kanata. "Fighting isn't good..."

Iori chuckled. "As you can see, everyone here is my family. Whatever you want to say, you can say in front of them."

There was a brief silence in which Kanata seemed to hesitate. Iori picked up on that.

"Or are you too scared to speak in front of everyone?"

Kanata looked slightly put off, but still didn't fly into a rage like he normally would.

The adults could see there was something wrong. Kanata usually never let himself show what was on his mind, yet here was looking out of breath, disheveled and panicked. Scared, even. Himari and Zen exchanged a look. They knew not to take Iori's teasing seriously, but Kanata at that moment was in no position to really know how to react. Zen stepped in.

"Judging from the state you're in, something serious has happened. If there's anything we can do to help, just tell us."

Kanata looked at Zen. He looked at Himari, who nodded very slightly. Then he looked at Iori again. Something seemed to break just a little bit inside him.