Courage to Fly

A Stillness Only You Know

A couple of weeks into the school year, Asahina is somewhat happier at home, but happiest at school. One day, her mom came into her room. 

She was confused, assured they established the boundary that her mother was to not speak to her until she felt it was necessary. Most of the conversations that they had were short, a couple of words, and it was the next best thing to the silent treatment. 

Her father often visited, in silent, yet caring words of comfort. She knew that was the best he could do, once his wife's mind was made, there was no budging. 

Yet, this time, her mother had resurfaced from the incidental with a newfound confidence that screamed malice. And malice was her specialty. 

"Oh, you must be so lonely up here, studying all day...care to come with me to go shopping? We're all out of bok choy, and I need it for tonight's dinner. I can even make your favorite dessert." She added with a chuckle, definitely up to something, Asahina thought.

What does she want from me? It's been about 5 months...no? Maybe 3 or 4 even! I've been to busy wasting away to care, anyways. She thought to herself, still writing down things of her latest adventures in her newfound diary. It was a gift from Shizuku and Airi, who also seemed to be a newfound couple like her and Kanade.

Just this week, they had officially come out as a couple, and surprisingly, a lot of people turned out to be supportive. "Whatever floats your boat" they murmured, and then asked about things like the weather and grades. It felt nice.

Unlike now. And since Asahina replied with a faint "Mhm." and continued the soft music flowing into her room. 

"Well, what's this, a diary?" her mother walked up to her from the doorway she stood so menacing from, and almost snatched it from Asahina had she not closed it to look up at her. And when she did, she gave her mother a look of utmost loathing. The type of look only one with so much emotion pent up could properly deliver.

The hate was so raw, and yet, controlled. She was getting  better at composing herself, and she was proud to know it. Her mother seemed taken aback for a moment, and only a slight moment. She then recomposed herself and smiled again, the silent battle of body language weaving this way and that, slight changes to the appearance to properly convey the message.

 It was overwhelming, but so was Asahina's life. It was right up her alley, and she wasn't backing down. She had spent so much time focusing on pleasing her mother, and now that Asahina knew what she wanted for herself, she finally realized it would involve breaking her mother's heart.

It was fair, after all. She did spend all these years getting her soul broken by her mother. She never wanted to become a doctor, and yet she spent extensive time focusing on the medical arts, day and night, year after year. 

This was enough. The petty manipulation won't stand. she thought defiantly.

And then, her mother gave her the look. The look. Where she finally realized who she was dealing with. Sure, Asahina was her secret weapon, in a matter of impression, but a weapon was a weapon nonetheless. And this one was loaded. 

But now was not the time. Asahina needed time. And she figured she should go ahead anyways to the grocery store with her mother. 

After all, she couldn't openly harm her there. Her words were slowly starting to lose their controlling effect. All that was left for Asahina was to do was leave.

But would she come back to the silence only her mother would come to know? Or would the cycle of hate ensue?