185 Chapter five, 2016, days of waiting: 2 (2/2)

The microwave chimed and Yukio fetched his heated dinner and sat down by the kitchen table.

”Mom, midterms are coming up and after that there are parent meetings.” He looked at his mother who waited for him to finish. ”Can you get time off or do you want me to ask dad?”

She got her handbag and picked up a phone. ”No it's fine. Just make sure to tell me the time at least a week in advance.”

He nodded and started gulping down his meal. It was about as lacking in taste as he had feared, but it filled him up and banished the worst of his hunger.

While he ate his mother got the bottle of water and two glasses. She filled them both up and sat down across the table.

”How are things with Kyoko?”

”Fine,” Yukio said between two mouthfuls.

He finished his meal and downed his glass of water.

”Mom,” he began, ”mind if I bring her over this weekend?”

His mother gave him a long glance. ”For a visit, not at all, but sleeping over, very much.”

That suggestion made Yukio's face flare red. ”Mom!”

”Sorry, just teasing. Please do. She seems to be a sweet girl. Hold on to her, will you?”

He had no plans doing otherwise. ”As long as she wants me.” 'Strange, before I met you I'd say she's mine,' he thought wondering how Urufu spent yet another lonely evening in the hospital. 'But you and Kuri taught me love is something you share.' ”I'll work hard to make her want me,” he added.

”Yukio, you're growing up.”

'Maybe because my best friend is an adult.' ”Yeah, maybe I am. That's good, isn't it?”

His mother suddenly smirked, and for a moment Yukio saw something empty in her eyes. ”Don't be too much in a hurry. You want to remember that you were still a child during these years.”

'What was that about? I'll ask Urufu when I meet him.' ”OK,” Yukio said. He didn't really understand what his mother had meant, but for some reason she looked like an abandoned child when she spoke.

Yukio felt discomfort filling him, as if he had seen something in his mother he wasn't supposed to. Rather than continue the awkward conversation he stood and prepared the dishes. After that he spent the rest of the evening doing homework.

Tomorrow he'd check with Kuri before he told Principal Nakagawa that Urufu flat out rejected any involvement with the student council.