Ape Kodomo Escape REDUX

Chapter 4 - Unwelcomed Announcement

Daichi strolled into the kitchen. It was the first day of his school suspension, the first school suspension he had ever gotten. The first thing he saw was quite unusual, Akira was sitting at the kitchen countertop next to his mother. He was working on some school work that was clearly overdue, and his mother was helping him by giving him ideas for answers and pointing at the questions he was on. This really confused Daichi, and he turned his head to look at the clock. He didn't even realise that he had slept in until midday!

It wasn't like he had anyone to make him do work. He walked over to the refrigerator and opened it, grabbing one of the pre-made egg sandwiches that had been lined up in a row. I should probably leave them be, he thought to himself in a daze. He walked his way over to the connected living room, where he saw Dawn and her father flicking through television channels on the couch. Akira's father had fallen asleep on one of the armchairs.

That's when Daichi realised that almost everyone else was already dressed like they were going somewhere, everyone except for himself. He was still in his pajamas. Dawn was in her everyday clothes, as there was no reason for her to be in her school uniform like the day before. She had her blue and white tie-dye crop top-hoodie over a black jumpsuit and the purple stripe on her dark grey leggings seemed to reflect the light of the day. Oh...I should stay in the kitchen, he thought. And thus, he made his way to kitchen table and sat down – beginning to eat his sandwich. He was still very tired as he chewed on the bread and eggs.

Daichi couldn't seem to focus on anything. Ever since he was told about his sister's disappearance the day before, he had been feeling different. It was as if the entire world was on his shoulders. He hadn't spoken much since the previous day, which everyone suspected would happen. It wasn't that he didn't want to speak, but he felt as if there was something physically preventing him from speaking. This same feeling prevented him from eating dinner the night before, so this was the first meal he had since the sandwiches Dawn's mother made the previous day.

His brain seemed to stay fogged for the entire day, even when they all watched television shows and even a movie whilst waiting to see if anyone would call in with a sighting. When night came and Dawn's side of the family went home, and Akira's parents stayed in another guest room, Daichi still didn't feel better. He couldn't sleep, his mind muddled, with thoughts slipping through to the light from time to time. He could only plug in his headphones and listen to music, whilst lying on his bed.

He didn't know what time he went asleep at, as one moment it was the middle of the night and the next he was waking up with his phone having barely any battery left. Before he went downstairs that morning, he left his phone to charge on the bedside table. But these recollection of the past few hours would also soon disappeared in the mist of his mind.

"Daichi! Do you know what I need to do for this question?" Daichi looked up, only to see that Akira's seat was slightly turned around and his friend was looking straight towards him.

"Akira, you're meant to be doing this yourself." His mother said, giving him a somewhat frustrated look. Daichi was taken back from the interaction, only blinking at first.

"Um, sure." He replied, with no clear expression in his voice. He left his half eaten egg sandwich on the table and got up, approaching his friend. Natsumi sighed and turned back to the homework. Daichi looked through the space between the two to see the English grammar homework Akira was working on. Of course it's English grammar, he thought to himself.

"So, what do you need help with?" He pondered clearly.

"This one here!" Akira responded, pointing a finger towards a question on the page. In bolder text, the question read "Fill in the appropriate indefinite article for the following sentences.".