I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 22: Tea Room

When they reached the Southern tea room Kai was surprised. The room was an outdoor veranda with a roof that was large and provided great protection from the wind and rain. He could also see plenty of screens they could move to block the wind and several stoves placed throughout for heat.

"It's great, right?" Minda said thinking Kai wouldn't refuse now that he saw the tea room. He wasn't entirely wrong. Kai did consider letting Minda stay for about a second before he started pulling Minda back inside the estate.

Flash* Boom*

Just as he started moving the wheelchair back lightning flashed and the room was filled with light. In his excitement  Minda nearly jumped out of his wheelchair.

"Did you see that?! Hey, move closer before the next one. I really want to see the bolt of lightning!" Minda shouted.

Kai really didn't want to keep the feverish Minda in the cold room. But looking at his excited appearance he also found it hard to disappoint him and bring him back to the bedroom.

"I have to prioritize his health. This room is obviously bad for it. He's fever will get worse. But if we go back now his mood will drop and that also wouldn't be good for his health." Kai continued grumbling and debating whether he should let Minda stay in the room.

"Please, Kai"

Minda looked up at him with big eyes. It was obvious he wanted to stay in the open veranda and watch the lightning storm.

"Let me light the stove." Kai reluctantly said. When he compared Minda's dark pitiful mood from the bedroom to his current cheery look he could no longer refuse. He moved Minda barely close enough to see the farmland in the distance while ensuring he was protected from the wind, rain, and near a stove.

"Can't we move a little closer?"

"No." Kai stated as he quickly stuffed the stove with wood to burn.

"But its so hard to see from this far away."

"We can return to the bedroom." Kai said. The moment he did Minda shut his mouth and looked outside as though he hadn't said a word of complaint. His innocent appearance brought a smile to Kai's face.

"Adorable." Kai found himself thinking as he looked the giddy Minda.

...

As they watched the beautiful lightning flash across the sky Minda excitedly chatted away.

"Kai, what do you think causes lightning? I heard if lightning hits a tree or house it will cause it to burst into flames. Do you think lightning is similar to fire?"

"I couldn't say."

"I wonder why it makes so much noise? Fire makes a little noise because the wood crackles or pops but there's no wood in the sky, so why does lightning make noise?"

"I don't know."

Minda repeatedly asked questions as they watched the storm raging in the distance. Kai couldn't answer his questions but Minda didn't mind. He was just excited to chat with Kai.

"Why does the sound come after the light? Isn't that strange? My dad told me it's possible to know how far the storm is if you count the seconds between the flash of light and sound but he could never tell me why the sound is slower. Do you know why?"

"The world is filled with wonderful and mysterious things." Kai responded as he repositioned the blanket over Minda's legs. It had slipped off his lap from moving around too much.

"What's the most mysterious thing you've ever seen?" Minda asked Kai.

"It's difficult to say but if I had to choose it would be when a large wave appeared on the coast."