Playtime

Glass rimmed eyes stared at the bright computer monitor and sighed. Then fingers struck into action from the brief break once more with a loud 'tak, tak'.

Lightly, as though prisms sparked around the person speaking, a voice sounded across the third music room. "Mom, the pressure on a third son must be tough. Would you like a shoulder massage?"

A slight pressure fell onto tense shoulders, the one who which these shoulders belonged to crossed legs in a lady-like manner and tilted back to the massage. "Thanks, Dad. But you know, I'm enjoying it."

Fingertips rubbed in a circular pattern and the light voice spoke up on the real issue, any prism sparkles around the person gone from the other's mind's image. "Fuyumi is…" The tense shoulders tensed up farther. "…worried about you. She thinks you might be doing more than you can handle."

The glass rimmed eyes gazed to the large window, the said person deliberating the answer. True relaxation could only be allowed after the event was won. "No need to worry. In any case, Tamaki…"

The fingertips paused in the circular motion and the pause dragged on a moment longer from the missing motion. "We'll win tomorrow."

It was as if a single sparkle shown once more as the light voice drew in a breath of air to the proclamation.

"And then…" The eyes behind the glass rims closed with a smile. "You can take me to the best place on that map for commoners' gourmet food. Okay?"

The prism burst out into streaks of rainbow colors at the promise of a day alone together. The hope of a day of relaxing, taking enjoyment in each other's company, with no worries. After the event was won, the pleasure of a day without the children around would be wonderful. "Of course!!"

The faint sound of 'dong dong' chimed from outside the window. The clock was faintly heard once again, 'dong dong', fading. The fading toll to the end of an hour, a timed end coming all too soon. Why did the prism colored brightness of playtime seem to be fading as well?

Playtime was not over yet. Not now.

The parents returned to their children.