June 10th
A soft yawn left your lips as you woke early in the morning. Worries about Dojima and Nanako still filled your mind as you relaxed in your bed for a short moment. It wasn't often you had time for this, you noted, but it was still early and no one seemed to be downstairs yet, so you weren't too worried about taking a small moment to yourself just to relax. You let a small sigh leave your lips, when was the last time you had a 'you day'? It seemed all you ever really did was solve other people's problems….
After only a few short moments, you heard Dojima's alarm go off and you got out of bed and changed into your uniform. You heard the shower running when you headed down the steps and knew that Dojima was in the bathroom, so you still had time to get breakfast going before he had to leave. Nanako was still sleeping, usually getting up early, but you didn't want to bother her. She needed some rest.
You cooked breakfast, finishing just as Dojima made his way down the steps and Nanako joined him shortly after. You and Dojima shared a small glance, but didn't mention anything at all concerning what you'd spoke about the night before.
"Good morning," Nanako greeted with a happy smile on her face, seemingly having forgotten about what took place last night. You supposed that was the best thing about being a child. You set plates and sat down at the table to eat. Breakfast was mostly silent, until Nanako glanced over to you.
"You have a school camp out coming up soon, right?" She asked you and you raised an eyebrow. Did you? Oh, yeah, you remembered someone mentioning it.
"Oh, yeah. It's this weekend. I have to admit, I'm looking forward to it. I've never been camping before." You said as you continued to eat breakfast. Nanako nodded to you as she smiled.
"We used to go camping all the time! We would go fishing and everything, it was so exciting!" She expressed happily with a little giggle and Dojima smiled slightly at the fond memory.
"You're right, Nanako, I used to enjoy going as well." Dojima mused and you glanced over to him.
"Well, why don't we go? We can just stay the night at the Samegawa river, since we won't be able to go too far." You suggested.
"Really!? Can we dad, can we?" Nanako asked hopeful as she wiggled in her seat in anticipation. Dojima laughed softly at the excitement from her as he nodded.
"How can I say no to that?" He asked playfully. "And we DO have a few tents, I'll have to pick up some bait." Nanako was even more excited now as she cheered.
"Yay! Dad, you can get bait at Junes!" She chimed, singing the signature jingle eagerly as she finished her breakfast. You smiled lightly to her as you continued eating. Dojima seemed eager about it as well, you were sure he missed little moments like this, since his wife's passing. Even if you didn't quite understand him at times, you knew he still cared for Nanako and was at least trying to be a good father.
Once breakfast was over, you parted with Dojima as he headed to the station and you and Nanako headed toward the school grounds. You two parted at the same place as always and you met up with the investigation team beside Yosuke's trash cans. You wondered if you'd ever accidentally slip up and call them that around him. No doubt he'd freak out about it. You almost giggled just at the thought.
Classed seemed to fly by like always, though Yosuke dozed off during math class and got a piece of chalk to the face. The mark was still there when lunchtime rolled around and Chie was the first to point it out.
"Man, Yosuke, she really got you good!" Chie said with a laugh.
"Yes, Mrs. Nakayama seemed to have expert aim. I wonder if she'd helped me with my fans?" Yukiko mused, seemingly more fascinated with the throw than poor Yosuke's injury.
"What?! Seriously Yukiko? Does anyone care about MY well being here?!" Yosuke whined as he pointed to his wounded forehead. "I think it's starting to bruise!" You rolled your eyes at him.
"Calm down, Yosuke-kun, it's just a red mark. It'll go away." You reassured.
"Yeah, senpai, teachers hit me with 'em all the time. Don't see me bitchin'." Kanji said as he munched away at him lunch.
"Wh-what?! I'm not bitching!" Yosuke defended.
"Yosuke-kun, I don't think it's wise to curse so loudly in the classroom," Yukiko commented and said man clammed up just as he got a scolding look from the teacher in front of the room. A grumble left his lips as he sunk further into his seat.
"That aside, you know, the rainy season's just about here," Yukiko reminded the group as the topic switched to a more pressing topic.
"Isn't it a little early?" Yosuke mused as he ate.
"Once it starts, it'll be raining every night! We'll have to keep a constant eye on the Midnight Channel." Yukiko expressed.
"Crap! I didn't even think of that." Yosuke said seemingly worried now. "I thought you were worried about the rain 'cause of the school camp out." Chie seemed put off.
"Why are you so excited about that?" She asked as she slurped up her instant noodles.
"That's right, it's the first time for you and [Y/N]." Yukiko mused, though she seemed hardly interested.
"You DO realize that the only purpose for the school camp out is to "develop a love for one's hometown in young people", right?" Chie commented
"Yeah, they tell you that upfront, so?" Yosuke asked with a shrug of his shoulders.
"You see, the way we supposedly develop that "love" is by picking up trash off the mountain." Chie said completely and utterly crushing poor Yosuke's dreams.
"What?! Picking up trash?! "Develop a love" my ass, that's slave labor!" The teen blurted.
"Hanamura! I'm not going to tell you again to watch your language!" The teacher scolded and Yosuke braced himself for a piece of chalk to the skull again.
"Y-yes ma'am! Won't happen again, ma'am." He said submissively getting a snicker from Chie.
"Anyways, the nights are kinda fun. We cook our own meals and sleep in tents." She commented, getting the topic back on track once again.
"The five of us are in the same group," Yukiko mused.
"Don't you think it's strange that Kanji-kun was put in our group, since he's a first year?" Chie mused thoughtfully.
"I heard that no one else would accept him, so they put him with us." Yukiko said flatly only succeeding hurting the poor freshman's feelings.
"Wh-what?! C'mon that ain't true." Kanji said with a huff.
"So we're all in the same group, huh…?" Yosuke started, simply ignoring Kanji, like everyone else. "Does that mean we sleep together at night too?!" You, Yukiko and Chie shared an unamused glance.
"You wish! Guys and girls sleep in different tents! I swear, if you leave your tent, you'll be expelled on the spot!" Chie said, once again crushing the boy's dreams.
"This just gets worse and worse… I thought it was gonna be fun…" Yosuke whined as he put his head down on his desk.
"It's only for one night and we disband before noon the next day. It doesn't last very long." Yukiko said in an attempt to encourage him.
"Oh, we did have some fun at the river before going home last year." Chie said, at least trying to help Yosuke feel better.
"Do they let you go swimming?" Yosuke asked swooping up from the desk, now very excited.
"I think so. There's always someone who takes a dip, though we didn't." Chie replied, finishing her noodles and sliding the empty bowl aside.
"I see… so you can swim in the river…." Yosuke mused thoughtfully.
"What're you using that weird voice for, Senpai?" Kanji asked. "You need a throat lozenge or somethin'?"
"Wha- No!" Yosuke huffed and you giggled a bit. Kanji could be so funny and not even realize it.
The lunch bell rang and Kanji left for his classroom, the rest of the group discarded their trash and class began and ended as normal. It had started to rain by the end of class, but Chie reassured the group that it would pass before nightfall. On you way home, you decided to stop a Junes to pick up things you needed for dinner. You stopped in, walking along the grocery department curiously as you gathered things to make chili. You spotted Adachi a bit away and he seemed to notice you just the same time.
"Hey," he greeted. "What're you doing? Shopping for dinner? I'm impressed." He chuckled softly as you smiled a bit to him.
"Hello Adachi-san, yeah, it shouldn't take me long." You mused. "Are you shopping for dinner as well?"
"I live alone, so taking care of dinner can be pretty tedious." He mused with a shrug.
"You don't cook for yourself or anything?" You asked a bit concerned that perhaps that man just wasn't eating at times. He was rather thin…
"I eat, but I don't cook much. I usually just have some cup ramen or whatever."
"Did you…" You started
"Don't you do it." Izanagi rang in your head.
"Want me to make you something?" You offered.
"Aaaaaand you did it." Izanagi said with a sigh.
"Izanagi he needs to eat a proper diet!"
"Sounds a lot like not our problem!"
"Like… you'd come over my house? And cook for me?" Adachi asked thoughtfully. Well this certainly was an offer he didn't often get. "Well, I have to admit, I WOULD like having a cute girl cook me dinner every night." You flushed lightly at the compliment. No one was usually very bold in their interest in you. Except Kou, but he had a subtly to his flirting.
"Cute girls are the best, though I usually go for the real knockouts." The man continued aimlessly. "The most important thing is that they should be good cooks. Anything else, I can take or leave. And you're DEFINITELY a good cook!" He eyed you for a moment, making you slightly uncomfortable.
"I-I see…" You started, just as Adachi seemed to want to continue, an elderly woman approached the two of you.
"Tohru-chan, is that you?" The woman asked as she came close. "Are you off work? I hope you aren't doing anything dangerous!"
"Oh… no, I'm still on the clock. I was just on my way back to the station." He mused sheepishly.
"I'm so happy to see you working hard. I brag about you to my neighbors all the time! I'll bring you some nimono, okay? You have to take care of yourself!" The woman rambled as if you weren't even there at all. "By the way, I saw this detective show on TV the other day…" And her rambled continued.
"Um.. I need to get back…" Adachi mused interrupting the woman after a short time.
"Oh? Is it that time already? I hope your day goes well then." She mused as she took her leave.
"Finally… I guess her son has the same name as me. Maybe that's why she's been hanging around me ever since she found out. I don't know." He mused with a heavy sigh. "She always brings huge heaps of that nimono to the station!And she'll talk your ear off if you let her... It's so annoying."
"Aw, that's sweet of you to tolerate an old woman," you said with a chuckle. "But I can see how annoying it can be."
"It is! it's like that literally everyday," he huffed with a sigh. You had recently assumed he was a bit weird, but now you were starting to see how sweet he can be at times.
"She's the exact opposite of my parents, so I can't relate to people like 's lonely, I guess. I don't think she has any relatives." He mused thoughtfully. "I can't just ignore her, either. It's part of my police have been busy lately, so I'm the only one who can deal with her." He commented. You smiled lightly, it never dawned on you how important his job was to him. You admired that, in a sense. You were starting to understand Adachi in a way you never had before.
"That's very kind you, Adachi-san." You said.
"Heh, yeah. Though I wish I shared a name with her grandson instead! I'm still only 27, after all." This got a giggle out of you and the man seemed to smile even more. "Well, I should head back, or Dojima-san will really chew me out. See you." You waved goodbye to the man, before making your way to counter to pay for your food.
As you arrived home, you spotted Nanako pacing back and forth, instead of sitting by the TV.
"Nanako-chan?" You questioned as you stepped closer.
"Oh, welcome home," she said softly. "Dad's late again." She seemed more and more frustrated with his constant absences. You smiled lightly to her.
"He'll be here soon," you said reassuringly and just as you spoke, you heard the phone ring. Nanako ran to answer it.
"Dojima residence," she spoke. "Dad!" You blinked, damn maybe you should be a psychic?
"Uh huh, yeah… Really?! Okay!" Nanako continued, before hanging up the phone. "Dad's on his way! Let's get dinner started." The small girl was in much higher spirits as she rushed to help prepare the chili.
"Oh, we're out of pickled radish. Dad'll be disappointed…" Nanako mused.
"Pickled radish in chili. Gross!" Izanagi commented and you simply ignored her.
"Let's go pick some up, we won't be long." You offered with a smile.
"Really? Thanks big sis!" She said excited to be able to go to Junes. You headed off to Junes with Nanako, only being gone about ten minutes, but Dojima was already home when the two of you arrived.
"We're back," Nanako spoke softly. "Dad! Welcome home!" Nanako always seemed so excited to see the man when he came in.
"Where have you been at this time of night?" He demanded, ruining the happy reunion.
"Um… Junes…" Nanako replied.
"Didn't I tell you not to go outside this late?!" Dojima demanded.
"B-but you were coming home and big sis was with me so-" she started before he cut her off.
"No matter what your reason is rules are rules. You promised, remember?" He demanded.
"But Ojisama, it was my idea to go to the store, not hers." You defended. "It's not Nanako-chan's fault."
"It's not my fault? Then why is dad angry? Why won't he listen? He never listens!" Nanako said reaching her breaking point with her father. "Dad's stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" She huffed running off to her room in tears.
"Nanako! How dare you call your father stupid!" Dojima called after her, only getting a slamming door in reply.
"Ojisama, we left to get pickled radish for you, since she knew you liked it in your chili." You explained in a huff yourself. Really, you wished he'd at least let Nanako explain things, before getting so irate with her.
Pickled radish… for me?…Is that so." Dojima started, you'd hoped he was beginning to understand he also did wrong in this disagreement. "But I still can't allow kids to be walking around this late at night. You know how dangerous it's been lately. You shouldn't be wandering around out there at night either!" You blinked rapidly, he'd certainly never scolded you this way before. You had to admit you were a bit nervous.
"But Ojisama-"
"No! Just go to your room!" He demanded and you frowned. You took one step toward the steps before pausing.
"No, I won't." You replied. Dojima blinked rapidly at this. Not once had you disobeyed any kind of order or request he'd given you since you arrived. Not only that, but he'd viewed you as a very responsible and polite young woman, not once had he considered you actually telling him 'no'.
"Excuse me?" He asked as he sat up on the couch.
"I said, no. I'm not going to my room, because I'm not in the wrong here. No, I shouldn't have left the house with Nanako-chan this late at night, but you had no right to talk to her that way! And be perfectly okay with letting her sit up in her room and cry instead of enjoying dinner that she helped prepare just for you!" You scolded. Dojima stood as if you seem a bit more intimidating in an effort to take control over the argument once again.
"[Y/N], I'm only going to-"
"Stop! I'm not listening to anything you have to say! When you told me you didn't deserve to be her family last night, I felt sorry for you, but now I think you're right. All she does is think about you and your well being you do nothing but take advantage of her. She's not the one that should be punished and forced to stay in her room, you should, because with or without you, we'll enjoy dinner." You said in a huff. You were furious. Nanako shouldn't have disobeyed him, but he shouldn't have talked to her that way either. Dojima didn't know what to say, instead deciding to listen to you for a change and simply headed up to his room, shutting the door. You sighed heavily, rubbing your temples as you hoped Nanako hadn't heard any of the conversation.
You headed up the steps to check on Nanako who was sitting on her bed, pillow pressed to her chest as she looked over to you.
"Is dad still mad?" She asked softly and you shook your head no.
"He's just tired, c'mon, let's eat." You said and she nodded coming down the steps. The two of you shared a meal and watched the news as usual, before you tucked her in. Once she was settled, you made a bowl for Dojima and knocked lightly.
"Ojisama, I'm coming in." You said, before opening the door and sitting the plate down for him, pickled radish on the side. He sat on his bed, not saying anything to you as came inside.
"How's Nanako?" He asked just as you were about to leave.
"She's okay, she's in bed now." You said and he nodded in reply. You headed toward the door and the man stopped you once again.
"[Y/N], thank you. I think… I needed someone to say that." He spoke softly. "And… I'm sorry." You smiled lightly, glad that he seemed to finally be understanding the error of his ways.
"I forgive you Ojisama, and I know Nanako-chan does too." You said. "Good night." You left the room, leaving him to his dinner. You then made lunch for tomorrow and went to bed.
