The loud sizzling from the frying pan, now on its way burning the salmon into charcoal. Despite the smells are filling the kitchen, it's not enough to snap Eiharu from his thought. His eyes indeed glued to the blackened piece of meat, yet his mind wanders somewhere else. The chopsticks loosely hold in between his fingers, about to fall to the floor. And Eiharu still standing there like a broken statue.

"Eiharu, you burned the pan!"

By that shout, Eiharu's mind forcibly brought back to reality. The poor meat is impossible to be saved now, so he can do nothing but dump it to the trash bin. While whining.

"What are you doing? If you don't want to cook, then leave it."

Eiharu only glances, not really listening to his mother's ramble. His gaze meets another person's currently standing by the door, and he bows a little in return for that person's smile. That person is around middle age, with a big build and firm visage, short hair, thick eyebrows, the true definition of a delinquent. If not because of that aloof yet sweet smile, and the gentle cologne sipping out of his figure, anyone will mistake him as a Mafia or something.

The man enters the kitchen, holds Haruna's shoulder and says something to soothe her. The smile is really a contrast to his visage. Despite the gentle words are not directed to him, Eiharu feels equally calmer. He took a deep breath and silently recook the dinner he ruined. He doesn't react to whatever her mother says, completely ignores her and focus on his task. He's not really in the mood to talk to anyone.

Unfortunately, Haruna won't buy that at times. And this time happened to be those times.

"Eiharu, do you hear me?"

No response.

Haruna sighs. She knows Eiharu is listening, but refused to give any reaction. Even though Eiharu normally acts that way, there're particular moments when he really refused to be in a conversation. Usually, Haruna will give him some time alone to sort his feelings first before forcibly seat him down and had a talk. But today, she won't let him.

"Eiharu, Yukisada-san said you might be his acquaintance. Is that true?"

Eiharu's hand halts for a brief second, but he pretends like he doesn't affected by it.

"I don't know." His voice is low, but enough for Haruna to hear it, "Maybe, maybe not."

"Then he really is. Who is he?"

"....Who knows."

"Even if you didn't know him, what you did was rude."

"...."

"I understand if you don't want to be in any conversation with a stranger, but why did you have to run away like that? You never do that before, why? He did something?"

Eiharu breathes slowly. The way his mother bombards him with questions triggers his anxiety faster than usual. He really wants to run away like he did this afternoon when he met Kanryou, lock himself inside his bedroom, curling under the blanket and never coming out again.

"Look, Eiharu." Haruna continues with a softer tone, "You don't have to do that, alright? If you feel uncomfortable, you can always tell me. Isn't that what you usually do? Signaling things?"

Haruna waits, but Eiharu still silent.

"You were being rude, Eiharu. You do realize that, don't you? Yet you still did. I really want to make you apologize to him personally."

"What? No!" Eiharu turned around immediately, "I don't wanna see him!"

"Why?"

"No reason! I just don't want to, okay?? I don't even know him!"

"If you don't know him, why are you getting so worked up?"

"Because you forced me! What else?? So what if I ran away?? Did I hurt him?? I didn't, right??"

"Did you forget I will be the one affected by your action?"

His mouth opened to retort, but nothing comes out.

"It's embarrassing, alright? Yukisada-san is an important person at my workplace and you just--"

Haruna stops, sees the change in Eiharu's expression. She regrets things she said immediately. The fear of having Eiharu back out from her filling her mind. It's already hard enough like this. And for her, Eiharu doesn't help at all with the situation. She can do nothing but only hugs him from behind as soon as he turned around back-facing her.

"I'm sorry, Eiharu."

Eiharu keeps his hands working. After he turns off the stove, by then he gently lets go of her arms around his middle. Without particular words, he only hums, short and low, refused to look at her in the eye. A big hand on her shoulder makes her turned her head.

"Why don't you relax in the bath first?"

Haruna stills for a moment, but then nods and left the kitchen. Eiharu still pretends like he hears or sees nothing, focuses on preparing the dinner by himself, when this big guy gently ruffles his hair and smiles. Eiharu doesn't need to look to know what kind of face that person is making. He always knows.

"Let me help."

Eiharu nods, glances for a moment.

"Mutsuo-san, are you... Spending the night?"

"If you don't mind, yes."

Eiharu lowers his gaze.

"Why would I mind... Besides, it has nothing to do with me."

"Silly boy, of course it does. I won't stay if it makes you feel uncomfortable."

Eiharu glances at him again. As usual, the same gentle smile always plastered on that hard visage. It makes him happy to know this man, the one her mother fell in love with after years divorced with his father, is the man she chose and not someone else. Mutsuo never treats him like an outsider, sees him as if Eiharu is his own son. The unusual attention always makes Eiharu feels accepted, and he also sees Mutsuo as his own father. However, his awkwardness shows the opposite.

"I don't.... Really mind."

He backs out instinctively, rushes to the shelf to get another plate. He feels guilty for letting his body take over his mind, but he really can't control his anxiousness around just anyone. Good thing, Mutsuo understand Eiharu's problem and never cross the boundaries. Mutsuo is lying if he said he doesn't want Eiharu to open up to him, though.

"Thank you."

They both sit around the table, waiting for Haruna to be done with her bath. Eiharu is not one to start a conversation, so he keeps his mouth shut all the way. Since Mutsuo must have heard about what happened in the afternoon, Eiharu got restless on his chair. If Mutsuo really asks him, he doesn't want to answer. Nor like he knows what to answer.

"So..." Eiharu flinches as Mutsuo really starts a conversation, "What have you been doing today?"

"Huh?"

Eiharu raises his head to see Mutsuo. The older man seems to genuinely ask him that, not trying to lead him to another sensitive topic, and it kinda surprising.

"Eh.... Nothing?"

"I see. You should at least open the curtain even though barely."

"...Yes..."

"And make sure to stay hydrated."

"Yes..."

"Kinda reminds me. I met this little boy in the clinic--"

Eiharu listens to his story, confuses since Mutsuo really just trying to have random chit-chat with him. After watching how Mutsuo talks, he realized Mutsuo just trying to cheer him up. The small gesture, did not too straight-forward, giving Eiharu small sense of comfort. That's another reason why he likes Mutsuo. Despite Eiharu keeps his safe distance, will not just blurting things out unless his mother baited him to, Mutsuo never pry. He will listen, giving some sort of acknowledgment and encouraging words, and never once judge Eiharu for things he did or did not do. Around Mutsuo, Eiharu feels even someone like him has his own worth, that he too deserves some kind of solitude even though most people see him as nothing but a burden.

This random topic with no importance whatsoever relaxes him. Eiharu involuntary lets out a thin smile and starts responding more than simple words. The heavy air from before disappeared completely from the room, Haruna who has been watching from the door can see how Eiharu no longer tense. A thin smile also forming on her no-longer-young feature.

Even though her relationship is not one to be considered as good, in the past few years, it increases much thanks to Mutsuo's presents. She was worried Eiharu won't accept him, Eiharu did backing out so much in the first months she introduced them. But now seeing them can converse casually like a real father and son, it lifts much burden on her shoulders. She sighs and joins them, took a seat next to Mutsuo and wants to be included in the talk.

She no longer asks about the thing with Kanryou that night.

=====