He was back. After all this time, his father had returned from India. This annoyed him to no end. Where was he when all of his friends were dying? Where was he when Kouichi was forced to kill his own aunt?

"Yousuke," he nodded to his father. Yousuke chuckled awkwardly.

"I don't think it's been that long, son," he said.

"I think it has been that long," Kouichi scoffed. "I'm going to visit a friend." Before his father could stop him, Kouichi brushed past his father and out the door.

A year, he seethed. How dare he?! His father had no right to show up out of nowhere after a year. Where had he been when Kouichi was being emotionally tortured by the Calamity? The PTSD? Down in India, enjoying his luxurious life. There was no way he'd forgive his father for that. He had always been a lackluster parent. But leaving for a year was going too far.

Kouichi knocked on Misaki's door. "Kouichi?" He looked up at Mei's voice. "Are you alright?"

"My father just came back," he said. Mei's eye widened, ushering him inside.

"Mom is out. What happened?"

"He just showed up out of the blue, Mei! No text or email! Where was he the past year? When we had to go through the Calamity? When we had to go through PTSD? Where was he?!" Tears filled his eyes as Misaki pulled him in for a hug.

"It's okay, Kouichi. It's all going to be okay." They stayed, wrapped in each other's arms for a while before he finally pulled back. Misaki studied her hands. "You have to consider, Kouichi, that he never knew."

He sunk to the floor. "I know. I'm just so... angry! He barely called! It practically warranted a celebration to receive an email from him!"

Mei sat beside him. "And for that, you can be angry. But don't bring the Calamity into this. You know how that makes you feel." Kouichi nodded, leaning his head on her shoulder.

"When did you become my personal counselor?"

"When you decided not to treat me as a ghost," she said amusedly.

"That's vaguely familiar," he said. Kouichi sighed. "I have to go back, don't I?"

"You do."

"Just... let me stay here for a while?" Misaki's eyes flickered to him.

"You're always welcome here, Kouichi." He nodded tiredly. That sounded nice.

"Thanks, Mei..." he barely finished the sentence before sleep overtook him.

"You're welcome," Misaki whispered, laying her head on own.

The next morning, Kouichi and Mei had to travel to his house. He had to get his uniform. Kouichi stared at the front door. "Just go inside." He made no move to. Mei sighed, walking forwards. He grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him.

"I'm going through my window." Misaki quirked an eyebrow, but didn't argue as they the window leading to his bedroom. He opened it, allowing her inside first and then following. Kouichi grabbed his stuff and entered his bathroom. He changed quickly, but the sight which met him when he left it was almost likely.

Yousuke was in the room, glaring at Misaki and holding a baseball bat as a weapon. Kouichi immediately stood in front of Mei, protectively. His father relaxed, sending him a smile. "Kouichi!" He put the bat down. "Is this your girlfriend?"

"We have to go to school," Kouichi said. His father didn't move.

"Where were you last night?"

"With a friend," Yousuke's eyes flickered to Mei.

"I better not be a grandfather, son."

"You really shouldn't assume things, Yousuke."

"They're obvious assumptions! You've been skittish around me! You've barely stood in a room with me! Have you been using?!"

Kouichi's eyes widened in anger. "How dare you?! Again with the assumptions! You've been gone for a year! You've barely cared about me when you were around! And now you prance about and act like the father I never had?!"

"If you knew anything about Kouichi," Mei quietly started. "You'd know he would never do anything that detrimental to his own health."

Yousuke chuckled awkwardly, glancing away. "I never knew you were so cantankerous, son."

Kouichi looked to Mei. "Do you understand what I mean, now?"

"Yes," Mei tilted her head. "Your father is quite blind. I wonder how he hasn't walked into any tables yet." Misaki was glaring at Yousuke, as if daring him to respond to her. "We have to leave now, Kouichi. Or else we'll be late."

"Right." He took her hand and briskly walked past his father. Kouichi looked back and saw Yousuke staring at them. "Let's go."

School passed quickly. Naoya had asked why he were so cranky but he just shrugged him off. Soon enough, it was time to return home.

Mei walked Kouichi the way home. "You have to, Kouichi. There's no point in ignoring him and making more drama for yourself." Kouichi nodded. "Want me to come with you?"

"No... this is something I want to do on my own. But," he glanced at the rapidly darkening sky. "You should stay the night. It's too dark to go walking around." Mei sent him a knowing smile, taking his hand.

"Don't worry, everything will go fine. I'll wait in your room." Drawing in a deep breath, Kouichi pushed his door open. Misaki walked to his bedroom and Kouichi to the living room. His grandparents were in bed already but Yousuke was watching television.

"Hey," said Yousuke.

"Hi," Kouichi sat down.

"I never realised I was that absent of a father, Kouichi." He didn't reply. "I've been thinking about getting a job here. As a teacher. I know I'm actually a college professor but I'm sure the school would-"

"There's a college nearby," he shrugged. "Apply there. It'll be easier." In reality, he didn't want his father in close proximity with the Calamity.

"Yeah, I..." he'd never seen his father so at a loss for words. Even earlier in the morning, he'd come up with a word such as cantankerous. "How do I make it up to you, Kouichi?"

"I don't know. Be a father, I guess?" He stared at his hands.

"Tell me about yourself. And that girlfriend of yours."

"She's not my girlfriend," he said. "I like art, I guess. I..." he didn't know what to say. The Calamity had shaped him into the person he now was. He didn't want to talk about that. "Mei... She's amazing. Smart, pretty. She likes dolls and drawing. She's selfless. She's different. Special."

His father began to laugh. "Are you sure she's not your girlfriend?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Kouichi said, blushing slightly. "I'm going to bed, now."

"Goodnight, son." Kouichi looked back.

"Goodnight... dad."

He quickly left the room, finding Misaki sketching in his room. "How'd it go?"

"Good, it went good." Kouichi sat beside her. He stared at Mei, taking in the details of her face. It was amusing how many people assumed they were dating. Neither of them felt that way about the other. Right? He did notice how beautiful Misaki was, but that was because she was beautiful. No other reason why he took note. Right.

The next morning, Kouichi entered the kitchen where he found his dad. "I think I might like Misaki," he confessed.

"Oh, really?" Yousuke said, voice layered with sarcasm. "I never guessed."

Kouichi smiled slightly. "Neither did I, dad. Neither did I."