Sad Little Joker

3

[Later that Day - Shigure's House]

"..Grandpa told us we could come back, so.." Tohru trailed off her explanation.

I had not said a single word after that phone call. I know that Tohru is worried, but I couldn't help but feel like this.. I knew that I'd have to drop my classes again and go back to working, since I agreed with the old man that I'd stay if I covered Tohru's schooling.

The sound of the television played as everyone was quiet. Tohru gasped as she stood up. "Oh no! We haven't started cooking dinner yet!"

"We can scrounge something up. Why not go out tonight then?"

"It'll be alright. We already have all the ingredients we need. Let's start cooking, (Y/n)." Tohru stated as she entered the kitchen, me following shortly along quietly.

Tohru closed the door and turned to the stove, while I just stood by the table with the ingredients needing to be cut. As I started to cut, my mind had dozed off to a memory with my aunt.

[FlashBack]

"Hey! Sorry I'm late!" Kyokyo stayed as she took off her shoes.

"It's okay. Dinner will be ready in just a bit—"

"—Ah! I thought I told you to make her stay in bed and some rest until her fever is gone, (Y/n)!"

"I'm sorry, but she didn't listen. You know auntie, she's like you sometimes." I stated, sighing in defeat.

"What makes you say that?" Kyokyo walked towards us in front of the stove.

"I told her not to worry. My temperature has come down a whole lot." Tohru looked at her mother while smiling with her eyes closed. "You two work so hard for us everyday. I can't just do nothing."

Looking back at the pot, Tohru was watching the dinner carefully so it wouldn't get burned. I did the same and made sure Tohru was alright. At the same time, we both were in a bear hug. I looked in between us to see my aunt smiling with her eyes closed. "Thank you so much, the both of you sweethearts.. But sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. That's something we all deserve you know.."

Touched by her words, I had leaned into her touch and held her hand gently, never wanting to leave her warm embrace.

[FlashBack Done]

The sound of the tea kettle took me out of my mind, causing me to stop cutting the ingredient. I realized that I had almost cut myself so I dropped the knife on the cutting board. "Thanks mom, but we're okay! I'm sure grandpa's house is looking great now! I can be happy there too. Besides, anything's gotta be better than living in a tent, right?" Tohru told herself.

I guess she thought the same memory too.. I thought, looking at her. As much as I want to feel the same, I can't.. I just can't.. Going back to cutting, I was deep in thought. I wanna be selfish but I can't.. He's taking us both in.. He could've just taken in Tohru but she fought for me.. I'm more than grateful to move in and not continue school anymore.. I have nothing else to do but accept it and move on to protect Tohru.

The rest of the afternoon, I continued to stay silent and ate my food. The other's realized my change in attitude and tried to change it.

"Hey weirdo, you didn't put any damn chives in here, did you?" Kyo asked, only for me to ignore him.