Fly!!!

Chapter 3

-"Good morninnng!" you said happily as you entered your kitchen. Kohaku and your mom were already sitting in their designated spots around the table. You plopped down next to them and started meditating about all your breakfast options. "I think I'm gonna have some rice, with a couple of eggs and toasts. Big day ahead of me, don't want to get hungry"

You looked down at the place your plate was supposed to be at and realized it was and empty, there weren't any utensils or even a glass. You side eyed your brother in an annoyed way and lightly punched his arm.

-"Har har very funny idiot. Now I have to get up again" you said as you stood up from your spot. You were expecting him to retaliate by making a snarky comment or cheering that his plan of being a pain in your ass had been successful but instead you were met with complete silence.

-"Yo, what's with the silent treatment?" you asked, as you stretched your arm to open the cupboards. You were about to grab the item your needed when you noticed a piece of black fabric around your elbow. You pinched your eyebrows together and inspected a bit closer. Then, you raised your other arm. 'This is weird.. why am I wearing my elbow pads?' You took a closer look at yourself and froze on the spot. You were wearing your old volleyball uniform from head to toe, all except the right knee pad. That one was missing. You turned your attention towards your family once more and realized they were both in complete silence staring down at their plates. They weren't even eating, just sitting there, like motionless puppets. The air turned heavy as a chill ran through your body, making the hairs in the back of your head stand up.

-"Mom?" You asked quietly from afar, not daring to take another step towards them. It was really dark, so you weren't even able to see the expression in their faces.

'Wait, why is it so dark in here?"

You suddenly became aware of your surroundings for the first time since entering the room. It was pitch black. You slowly approached the glass door to look outside. Every step you took felt like an eternity and the closer you got, the more terrified you were. The faint glow of the moon lightened the backyard as the night wind made the naked branches of the cherry blossom dance. You turned around to look at your family once more and you caught the exact second their gazes left the plates, and turn to the door completely in sync. As if they were expecting something.

Right at that moment the kitchen door swung open with a loud creek, and you were met with a face you hadn't seen in a long time.

-"Good morning family!" with the sound of his voice life returned to the kitchen, your mother and brother started eating and the sun started to shine brightly outside.

Your heart stopped. You could only watch wide eyed as the person sat in the spot in front of yours ever so casually.

-"Dad?" You asked weakly. Tears threatening to start falling from your eyes.

-"Good morning honey" he said, giving your mom a kiss on the cheek.

-"Good morning sweetheart" Your mom answered

Then he turned to look at Kohaku,

-"How are you my boy?"

-"Morning dad" he answered, his mouth filled with rice.

You were frozen in your spot. There was a knot in your throat the size of a fist so even if you said something you weren't sure if anything was going to come out. You just stood there, and watched as they made small talk. A couple minutes passed before you were able to snap out of it but when you did you weakly walked towards him and threw yourself on the floor to his side.

-"Dad?" you managed to get out a little choked up.

The whole room went quiet as they all immediately focused on their plates again, the smiles on their faces erased by the sound of your voice.