Lesson Learned

This was...nice.

"Does mom know where we'll be?" she asked, already resting her pillow against the window so she could get some more sleep.

"Yes." Dad's voice was stiff.

Mitsuko rolled her eyes before closing them, drifting off to sleep in less than two minutes.

Then she was rudely awakened when the car door was opened and the only thing that stopped her from falling out head first was her seatbelt.

"We're here," Dad said brightly, leaning against the car door.

Mitsuko glowered at him darkly, undoing her seatbelt to practically collapse onto the grass outside. "I need sleep, damn it!"

"Told you, you don't have the endurance," Gakushuu teased, stepping over her to get out.

Why the fuck had she been forced to live with a bunch of insomniacs?!

She dragged herself up onto her feet and followed them, looking around groggily to find out where they were.

It looked like their dad had driven them to a hill area near a field, it looked like somewhere in the country but the glow of the city lights in the distance broke that illusion.

Her eyes widened when she lifted her gaze to the sky and saw it clear with the crescent moon glowing and the stars out in all their detail.

...It was also freezing.

Mitsuko shivered and held her pillow close when she saw her breath.

Shit. I should have brought a coat...

"I told you to bring a coat." Dad's voice made her scowl. "Hm." He tutted and walked back to the car while Gakushuu set-up the telescope. "Here." He pulled out an orange fleece blanket from underneath the seat of the car. "This will help."

Mitsuko glared at the ground as he slipped the blanket over her shoulders. "...Thanks."

He patted her on her shoulders and smiled down at her. "Well I can't have you freeze to death from stupidity—I couldn't bear the shame."

"Like you're one to talk!" she yelled.

"It's set-up," Gakushuu told them, already looking bored as he stood by the telescope.

"Ah, wonderful!" Dad smiled and walked over, peering into the eyepiece. "Just a little while longer and we'll be able to see it perfectly." He adjusted the dial while his children watched behind him. "Did you know the close approach they make is technically called an appulse?"

"Yes," the twins replied tiredly.

Dad chuckled. "Ah, yes, I suppose you probably did learn that already." He stood up and smiled at them. "Would you like to look?"

The two of them stayed still for a while until Gakushuu sighed and walked over to the telescope to look.

"It's clear isn't it?" Dad smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, making her brother shift slightly. "Even from the naked eye, their movements are detailed."

Gakushuu hummed, looking uncomfortable as he stood up and eased the hand off his shoulder. "Yeah..." He avoided his gaze, the bruise and cut on his cheek still very visible. "I know."

Dad's smile dimmed and an uncomfortable silence settled, making Mitsuko grimace.

She walked over to them and peered through the eyepiece. "It looks weird though, with the moon being a crescent and all..."

"Yes, but that's also what makes it an amazing event," dad said pleasantly. "And the fact the event is even able to take place due to its change in distance is phenomenal."