Lesson Learned

Don't think about it

Dad seemed to find that amusing and patted her on the head, making her smile grow. "I'm sure you'll both try your best." He smiled at Gakushuu. "You both have the strength and determination needed."

Gakushuu frowned faintly.

"Does anyone want more juice?" Mom came over with a jug of orange juice.

Dad smiled sheepishly and held up his mug. "Well, my coffee—"

"Get your own." Mom's smile didn't crack, moving past him and towards Karma.

Mitsuko covered her mouth to smother a laugh at her dad's put-out expression.

"Would you like some more, Karma? Your glass is nearly empty?"

Karma was nearly having a laughing fit. "Y-yeah! Sure." He grinned, holding up his half-full glass. "Thanks for the hospitality, Mrs Asano!"

"It's no trouble." Mom smiled warmly. "It's nice having more people in the house."

"What is this a hostel...?" Gakushuu grumbled darkly under his breath.

Dad gave an unconvincing smile. "It's so...nice to have you, Akabane." He stood up to go pour his own coffee. "But just out of interest, when will your parents be returning home? I'm sure they'll want to catch you up on their travels."

Karma shrugged sipping his juice. "Well, they said the 31st, but since they know I'm staying at friends they say it might be the 4th January now."

Gakushuu started coughing. "W-what?!"

Dad's smile twitched. "I would have expected them to at least call beforehand to let us know." His wife shot him a dark look. "Not that it matters of course!"

"Awesome! Then you can help out with me and Gakushuu's party," Mitsuko said.

"Party?" Karma raised an eyebrow. "Wait, when's your birthday?"

"1st January," Mitsuko replied. "We're planning a hot pot party here on the day."

Karma raised an eyebrow before he grinned. "Ah, sixteen..." He stretched. "I remember when I was your age like it was yesterday."

"It was yesterday."

"I guess that's why I'm so wise-- I just can't help it really."

"For goodness sake." Gakushuu buried his face in his hand.

"It seems like a lifetime ago." Karma sighed loudly.

Her brother looked like he'd bash his head against a wall. "Stop. Just stop."

"You kids just don't know how good you have it until it's—"

Gakushuu swiftly picked up Karma's plate and tossed the breakfast on the floor when both their parents were distracted talking to each other about something.

"Gakushuu!" Mitsuko reprimanded. "What the hell?"

"Oops." Her brother shrugged with feigned innocence. "My hand slip—WHAT THE HELL!?"

Karma had poured orange juice on her brother's lap.

Both their parents looked over just as Gakushuu tried to put Karma into a headlock.

"Gakushuu!" Mom dropped what she was doing and rushed over. "We don't attack guests!!"

Meanwhile, dad sipped his coffee while Mitsuko sipped her orange juice as they calmly watched Mom try to pry the two boys apart. 

***

"You're both going to kill each other in high school," Mitsuko declared as she and Karma built a snowman in the back garden.