The Boy of Faith

A Picnic

It was Saturday, a weekday, which means no school. Seiji hummed one of the songs from Matt's band as he moved around the kitchen. After his mom died, him and his brother took turns cooking dinner as they got older. Their dad was horrible in the kitchen when he wasn't working late, so it was up to the two brothers to do the cooking. Seiji was making kimbap, something their mother had used to make them all the time. It was sort of like sushi rolls, except the rolls were bigger, the rice was on the inside, and absolutely no raw fish or seafood. It was mainly using fried eggs, carrots, pickled radish and steamed spinach. He carefully rolled each one up and cut them into even pieces, putting them into plastic containers to make sure they stay in good condition.

"Oh you're making kimbap?" Jin asked as he entered the kitchen. He reached out for a piece in an open container, however, Seiji slapped his hand away. "Ow, what gives?"

"It's for the picnic my friends and I planned today. I made you two rolls just for you." Seiji pointed to the two rolls of kimbap on a plate, covered in plastic wrap, left uncut. Next to it was an empty plate. Their dad had took his rolls on the go. Seiji went back to his cutting.

Jin grabbed the plate and sat at the table in the next room over. He watched Seiji through the window like opening in the wall. "Sometimes you remind me of her." Jin said softly. "Are you going to be okay today?"

Seiji paused for a moment, before going back to making the rolls. "I'll be fine. Davis will be there too."

"Call me and I'll come and pick you up." Jim offered.

"Joe texted and said that there's a big test on the proper way to resuscitate someone in your class today." Seiji said. "He's apparently friends with TK and Kari and they tried to invite him to the picnic since he gets so busy studying."

"Hm, they should keep trying, he works too hard." Jin frowned as he took a bite out of one of the rolls Seiji made him.

"Oppa, do you think eomma would be disappointed in me?" Seiji asked. "I'm not sure if she'd proud or disappointed."

"Seiji, mom would be proud of you. You have so many friends now. I mean you're going on a picnic with them today right? You're making enough for twice the many in that club you're in." Jin said. "You've grown a lot. Sometimes I wish she could see you now."

"I wish she could see you now too, Mr. Paramedic in the making." Seiji teased.

Jin soon finished eating and headed out early, hoping to catch Joe to do some last minute studying before the test. Seiji finished up the kimbap and put them in his backpack. He than grabbed the small travel cooler and put in a bunch of those small water bottles inside. He than retrieved the napping Kudamon in his room, waking him up and settling him on his shoulders.

"I can't wait for this picnic and to try the different foods!" Kudamon said excitedly. "Napping in the nice warm sun would be great too."

"Nice to see you're in high spirits then." Seiji sighed. "Dad will probably be home late again today."

"Hm?"

"Ah don't worry about it Kudamon. Let's go meet the others." Seiji walked all the way to the school. When he got there, Davis was surprisingly the first one there. He had a large duffel, no doubt filled with a mix of junk food and healthy food, and a Demiveemon too.

"Seiji!" Davis waved. "I'm kind of surprised that you decided not to bail today."

"I'll be fine, everyone will be here, so I'll be fine." Seiji offered Davis a strained smile.

"If you really can't today, tell me alright?" Davis told him.

Demiveemon's head popped up out of the duffel bag. "Is something wrong with Seiji?"