RING RING RING

"Eh it's not locked? How uncharacteristic for a guy like hi-wait T-Taka!"

The toddler just couldn't stop himself from nudging the door open. "Mistah Cat?"

To his surprise, he's greeted by a slew of unorganized plastic and scraps of metals. Carefully, he leaped from one piece of junk to another, avoiding the floor as if it's some kind of toxic substance that could kill him.

"Hiiyah! I did it!"

His swept off his bangs to see clearly the person inhabiting this house, but was met with a sight of a hybrid of some sort. This man had a face that looks like both a middle-aged man, and a curious teenager.

Turns out, it wasn't the only unusual fact he learned today. Mistah Cat….is actually…asleep! How is it possible? There were several times when he visited during Taka's nap time. So sometimes, he'll just woke up to the sight of this creepy guy staring at him in deep thought.

"Mistah Cat! Mommy said you'll lose a finger ebery time you wake up late."

"…."

"Mommy Mistah Cat is ded."

His babbles can't even seem to enter his eardrums. So he decided to do what every mature person would do and…

BONK

"Fuck!"

BONK

"What was that for?"

"You'll get 1 sin point ebery time you say a bad word. And when you get to 10, you go to hell. Der ish big fire and huuuge skeletons!"

Taizou scratched his neck in disdain. He can't even think about the pain after that explanation. Seriously, what is she teaching him about?

"Ah Hebihara-sensei….sorry for bothering you so early in the morning.." said the mother with an apologetic face.

He wasn't able to properly assess the situation this far. So he stopped to observ the 2 other life forms in his house. Taka was wearing a yellow t-shirt with a cartoon monkey stamped at the front, with a navy blue trouser and a pair of yellow lace-less shoes.

Wait a second.

Yellow lace-less shoes?

Why is he wearing shoes? Dirty from mud and rainwater into his house. His perfectly clean and well-maintained-

His eyes finally caught a glimpse of the mess he had created. Nevermind.

Shizuka, on the other hand, was wearing a yellow shirt tucked inside a white knee-length skirt. With a pair of vanilla-colored flat shoes.

By the looks of it, they do intend to go out. But not to somewhere to formal. Perhaps…

"Ahem, are you listening? Maybe you should wash your face first. It's not a good example for Taka you know." She advised in a fit of annoyance.

"You're right. My apologies."

Her eyes narrowed following that response, how odd…he'd usually launch a sarcastic comment or two by now. Maybe it's down to him being sleepy and all.

She moved to sit on the leather couch when she found silver pins scattered like some sort of mines. "Hey Taka"

"Hmm?"

"You remember what I told you about this guy yesterday?"

"Mmm.. That I shud be clean like Mistah Cat?'

"Yup, forget that, kay?"

After a couple minutes of re-assorting, they had managed to create a semi-livable living room. Taka sat beside his mother, while Taizou sat on the single couch just beside the pair.

"So, please do tell me about your business here."

Shizuka looks down to the maroon carpet. Slowly, she struggles to gather enough courage to speak. "So..umm…we were planning on going to the theme park today, but Hayato suddenly got a call from school and now he's training for next week's competition. So..yeah!"

He stared at her with a half-smile, "So?"

"Taka wanted you to come, to replace Hayato for some time. I mean if you don't want to it's okay."

Taizou narrowed his eyes for a moment. His fingers anxiously clicking against the couch's armrest. His irises bouncing across his eyes. His stomach churning in pain. This is what happens, when someone like Taizou loses composure.'

Sensing this silent unrest, Shizuka smirked a little. Oh? She thought. Who would've thought?

"Ne, Taizou-san..what's taking you so long? Or do you not want to spend time with Taka? Well then we'll take our leave." She said, slowly standing up as if waiting for a response.

He sighed.

"Wait."

The mom and son duo turned their heads around. "Alright, if it's for him." He faltered.

"Yayyy! Going onna trip with mommy and Mistah Cat!"

To be expected, the almond-eyed toddler screamed in excitement at the newly revised plan. He had actually wanted to go and play outside with Mistah Cat for a long time now. But mommy kept saying that he's busy right now. But not today – he bawled his eyes out for hours. Using all the tears he had saved up all week, and mommy, finally obliged.

He changed into a white polo shirt and blue Levi's combination. To be completely honest, it has been a while since he went out on a trip like this. Hence the lack of option in his clothing arsenal.

"Jeez, at least try to match the color. Look at me and Taka, not bad huh?"

Taizou rolled his eyes, "How backward. To think that someone your age would still consider wearing 'matching' clothes as part of an aesthetic truly is-

Before he knew it, a kick had landed on the back of his leg. It's not as bad as when Taka's sword hit his shinbone – but still.

A sudden groan escaped his throat. He limped forward, and when he finally managed to stand upright, he could see her flipping him off.

"Mommy look! Waterfall! I wanna swimm!" Taka just couldn't hold himself any longer. He sprinted to the entrance before being stopped by a friendly looking man.

"I'm sorry kiddo, but you gotta have a ticket to enter." He said with a warm smile plastered across his face.

On the other hand, Taka leaving meant that both Taizou and Shizuka are currently walking side by side. He's trying his best to slow down his pace and stay behind, but coincidentally – Shizuka thought of the same thing. So, instead of what they had intended, they look even more like a couple caringly waiting for the other to catch up.

"Good morning! Welcome to Gohan-kun's Magical World! How many tickets would you like?"

Taizou noticed an air of confidence seeping through Shizuka. He doesn't know why but it feels familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

"Aha! I would love to, but actually – I have….this!" She announced. In her hands, were a coupon which reads,

Gohan-kun has a special gift for you!

Save up to 70% in Gohan-kun's Magical World!

*Terms and Conditions apply*

Taizou felt his shoulder's tense up a bit, "Terms and Conditions?"

"Correct! The sole condition for this coupon is for the user to consist of 2 adults and at least a single child. It seems like you have successfully fulfilled it, so it'll be 400 yen please!"

Taizou transported his glare from the funny-looking staff member to the woman currently grinning beside him.

"While I do commend you for saving up money, however, I don't think that you needed to deceitfully lie to my face." He pauses to clear his throat, "Kamitani-sensei."

She crossed her hands and looked the other way. Pretending to search for Taka, "Hmph, since I'm letting you spend time with Taka – that's the least you can do."

Their staring contest was abruptly ended by the hoarse voice of a man behind them, "Oi would you guys stop flirting? Can't you see the line behind you?"

Taizou can feel one of his veins popping, it's not the content of the complaint that he has a problem with, it's how smelly the man's breath was. He didn't utter a single word, but in Shizuka's eyes it was much worse.

The chemistry teacher scratches the back of his neck while simultaneously slipping his hand to his left pocket. Back then, they often went into arguments. But most of the time, she would be the one getting all pumped up – while he would just lazily spat out some insensitive insults. It was in their first – and actually only big fight, that he did this exact same thing. It was as if something had possessed him. He turned into something else, gone was the man who secretly cares for the people around him. In his place, was a monster.

"T-Taizou-san let's get out of here." She nervously said.

He didn't even budge. He just continues to scratch his neck. She can almost feel it now. This sudden anger, this awakening of a shadow that he had oppressed with all those snarky remarks. It's red.

Fearing the worse, she took his arm and forcefully took him out of the waiting line.

"What's the matter?"

She looked at him with anger, "I just saved that man's soul and you're seriously asking me what's the matter?"

"What?"

She jeered, "Look, don't pretend like you weren't just about to abuse that guy or something."

"Are you drunk?"

She felt her whole body tensing up, "The whole scratching your neck and putting your hand on you pockets thing! You were about to get mad weren't you?"

"Huh? Mad? Of course not. Yes, he smelled bad, but that is not a valid explanation for getting mad."

Her eyebrows began to curl, "So what the hell were you doing back there?"

He flinched, "Well I…" His long fingers started to deconstruct the fibers of his pocket, ruffling it up like a plush toy, "There!" he said out loud, presenting a leaflike creature. "It's a mantis! How do you think Taka will react?" he asked.

She pouted, swiftly taking a seat as if a huge weight had been lifted from her back. "It's dead you know."

"For a biology teacher, that's just ignorant. He's clearly camouflaging." He said arrogantly.

"Ugghh, when a mantis dies, its abdomen will turn a very dark shade of brown. Now take a look at yours."

He squints at the mantis. Looking for things to debunk her assumption. It went on for 2 minutes before his eyes turned back into that of a lazy one.

He said something before leaving for Taka but it didn't quite reach her. She's not sure whether it's of exhaustion or from the perpetual state of panic she was in. She glances over to the sight of the father and son duo inspecting the dead mantis. It reminded her of the time at the infirmary. His persistent remarks didn't seem annoying back then. Instead, she took it as a sign of kinship.

Perhaps Taka's consistent requests to be with his father is due to the same thing that had drawn her to him. Taka felt safe in the company of his dad. When you look behind the curtain that is his insensitive words, you'll find a never-ending sea of pink and yellow. Of the nights where he would cook her dinner, of the times where he would prefer catching a cold than to not meet her.

She pinched herself. Shizuka had promised herself that every time she has these thoughts, she would always remind herself of the despicable creature that lurked that night. This swine, tyrannical, awful, excuse of a man. This-

"Mommie?"

The scent of baby oil flew inside her nostrils. His soft skin caressing her cheeks. The angel with the eyes of a snake had gracefully lifted her from the depth of the abyss. When they separated, she hated herself for having another child from him. His eyes were of his dad. A painful reminder of their past. Although ironically, that could also be the reason that, she just can't be strict enough with him. There lies a faint thought in her, that tries to make Taka as far away characteristically from his father. She chuckled to herself, "I'm really that evil, huh?"

"Mommy dun cry..." muttered the young boy. He had never seen her even shed a tear before so all this debacle is quite alien to him. Nevertheless, there exists a force within him, talking to him.

"If yer scared, dun worry…I'm here!" he said with confidence. Gently placing his nimble fingers on her head. Caressing her soft strands of hair. All she can do is just smile at the irony. Normally it would be the other way around. But in this particular moment, she can't help but adore him. To think that a mere child could exert this sense of comfort.

"You okeh now?"

"Hmm..not quite. Maybe you can give me a hug?"

"Okey! But just a small one."

Warm, green, blankets, coleus

"By the way, how'd you know mommy was crying?"

"Mistah Cat told me"

"Mistah Cat?"

"Yup, he say go der and give mommy headpats"

"I see…"

"Haha Mistah Cat, me and mommy destroyed you at car crash game!" Taka said while skipping on the stone pavements.

"To be frank, that was the point of the game. Have you considered the factor that since you're a kid, I won't be crashing into you anytime soon?"

In truth, Taizou did go easy on them. Shizuka and Taka on the other hand, subverted his expectation and went a little overboard to target him. To be fair, Taka was only in charge of the brakes and everybody knows that brakes are completely useless on this game, so the main culprit was Shizuka. He was about to lecture them but refrained from doing so when despite of their killing intent, both had genuine smiles stamped on their face.

"Yup we totally destroyed you!" said the mother, not wanting to miss on the action.

"Well, I have a bad memory so please do remind me, which one of you cried on the roller coaster and which one pissed their pants at the ferris wheel?"

He gloriously oversaw the complete evaporation of their smiles, regressing into a frown of defeat.

"Mommy, Mistah Cat, look! Those people eat cloud!"

This suddenly changed the pair's vegetative state into that of an 'actually semi-competent parent' mode. They rushed near Taka, only to find him gawking in front of a cotton candy cart.

With his mouth full of mucus, Taka can't help but fumble his way to a sentence, "Wun cloud, tase sweet and nais."

Putting her index finger on her lips "How do you know it's sweet," Shizuka asked.

The starry-eyed Taka pointed at the huge text printed on the cart, 'Sweet and Fluffy!'

She just shook her head in disbelief, well it is certainly like Taka to drool over something he had never heard of, "What do you think Tai-

The man was kneeling beside his son. Pretending to explain something to him, but she can tell that he's just as excited, if not more – to bite into those fluffy 'pink clouds' than Taka.

She sighs.

"Alright you two, get a hold of yourselves and get in line – since it's Taka's first time, I'll pay."

After taking the money, the sales vendor poured in a mysterious substance, the machine than starts. Heating and liquifying the sugar. Spinning it centrifugally through minute holes. Taka watched the spectacle in belief. In his head the clouds had assembled and created a giant ultra tornado.

"Here is your order, thanks!" he said, handing 3 sticks of cotton candy to Shizuka.

"Why did you order 3? Do you want him to have a toothache?" protested Taizou, complete with his arm-crossing, now he's back to the naggy science teacher everyone despises.

"One is for Taka, one for me, and the last one is-

"Me?"

"Of course not, I'm actually gonna give it to that little girl over there."

He looked the other way in embarrassment. To think that he'd get played by such obvious tomfoolery.

She leaned in close and aligned the cotton candy with his point of view, "You doofus, of course this is for you. I wouldn't want you to stare at the machine with a gaping mouth wouldn't I?

The smell of lavender floating around them, the sweet smell of cotton candy in front of him. Somehow it had created a coincidental atmosphere. A truly organic piece of art from mother nature. At least that was his excuse for blushing, "T-Thanks" he mumbled.

They say that time flies by faster when you're having fun. Well that kinda explains how it's already 7 p.m. Rapid movements through the ascension of time had pushed their schedules a bit. Now, the 'ex-family' found themselves sitting on a subway in Tokyo. The most cheerful of the 3 had been long asleep, currently resting his head on Shizuka's lap

Taizou on the other hand, sat across them, scratching his eyes to try and fight the tiredness inside of him. It's odd, the train never stops in Japan, and yet – they seem to be the only passenger on this section.

It's in times like these that he wishes for there to be more people, for the endless coughing of a random bystander, of a louder and more annoying machination. Instead, they were trapped in an endless symphony of silent, while in the background, the tunnel lights are playing the part of spectators.

She found a pack of snickers and offers it to him, "Here, I'm sure you're hungry. If you want, we can grab a bite at the next station."

"No, it's fine."

She groaned, "Then at least get some sleep. You still have to walk some way from the station right? Jeez, to think that you used to lecture me about safety."

He sighed.

Rolling his eyes, he took the pack of snickers and rubbed the tip against each other, effectively opening the wrapper enclosing it. He was about to gulp it down before taking a look at the half-asleep woman. He measured the length and methodically breaks down the chocolate bar into 2 perfect halves.

"Here"

Her eyes widen, and without formulating a reply, she grabbed it like a souvenir from grandma. They held both of their pieces up in the air and – as if doing a toast, gave it a proper shake.

The subway had finally arrived at their destination, at least for the Kamitanis. She gently brushes her fingertips along the young boy's dark blue locks. With the touch only a mother could have – she attentively rubs his shoulders. Giving him a kick from dreamland, transporting his soul back to earth.

Taizou just sat there, motionless, his lips unknowingly forming a smile at the picture-like scene.

"Kamita- no, Shizuka, about today"

"Hmm"

"Thanks"

"I know"

Not even acknowledging his gaze, she continues to care for Taka.

"Taizou"

"Mm"

"About our divorce settlement"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind if we modify it?"

"Which one?"

"The 4th point"

"Why?"

"Days like these...maybe their not so bad after all..."

Her golden orbs tremble, mirroring the faint lights of the city. He can see it now. It's red.

He's on fire.