"Otousan, i'm home."

i stepped past the doormat littered with blossoms and placed my schoolbag on the floor.

i could hear the sound of a pot boiling on the stove

the smell of sticky rice and egg filled the air.

i hoped he hadn't been at it for too long without me

i didn't like leaving him alone.

"Sora-chan, how was school?"

he stood with his back to me

folding the tamagoyaki.

his scruffy black hair filled with steam as he turned to look at me.

he smiled and i wanted to cry for his sadness

but i didn't.

"the usual," i replied. "how was your day?"

"the usual," he said

then turned back to the stove and continued stirring.