Having brought a nervous but well-fed Minami to her elementary school, putting on a brave face, Honoka engaged in her frequent pastime of chatting with Yukari Takara at one of their houses, taking it in turns to host the other with some tea. Yukari had her own daughter Miyuki, who in previous years had went to the same school, but being a couple of years older, she was now in her first year of junior high while Minami was a fifth-grader. Nevertheless, the girls were inseparable, like sisters, often playing or reading together after school and on weekends. And with both their husbands rarely around due to the demands of employment at a major Japanese company, it was only natural that the mothers would bond similarly.
Yukari was undoubtedly a bit strange at times. She had an unusually youthful demeanour, seeming at times to have never grown out of being a sociable and courteous but cheeky teenager. But she was also unmistakably a mother, even if at times you could be forgiven for thinking she was Miyuki's older sister or something. While the day's conversation started on a lighter note, it was inevitable that last night's tragedy would come up sooner or later.
"My daughter didn't sleep too well last night," is how Honoka chose to segue into the topic. Yukari giggled, and asked "Was it something she ate?"
Not...quite the response Honoka was expecting. Maybe Yukari hadn't heard. She wasn't really one for politics and current affairs, preferring to watch dramas and sitcoms on television. "She came downstairs and saw the news at ten, and she didn't take it well," Honoka replied, steering the conversation back on course. Yukari's eyes widened a little. "Ah, she's a timid one sometimes, isn't she? Poor girl. I guess the autism doesn't help either when you see something like that," she said with a rather ill-fitting smile for the subject matter. Honoka's expression changed to one of concern and her voice deepened.
"She saw a plane hit the part of the South Tower that Chikao works in. She was worried her father had..."
Honoka couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence. Yukari's smile faded and the gravity of the situation seemed to set in for her. "That... must have been really awful for her," Yukari responded in a gentle but clearly saddened tone. "Your husband, is he...?"
Honoka looked away from Yukari's eyes. "He's alive and uninjured," she said in a mildly despondent tone, "but his best friend was still in there when the plane hit." She let out a deep sigh. "My husband, he... isn't taking it well. Thinks it should've been him. Honoka looked Yukari in the eye. "You know he's always been a caring and selfless man."
Yukari reached out and embraced Honoka in a tender hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. Chikao was always keen to help those in need and would frequently assist in tasks like clearing snow in the winter or checking on neighbours after each of Japan's numerous earthquakes, before he and his coworker were promoted and transferred to New York. Whenever he was back in Tokyo, he'd always bring a little souvenir from a different American city back for Miyuki, who got on very well with him.
After a few moments, Yukari released her. Honoka asked, "Does Miyuki know?" to which Yukari shrugged. "She seemed a little shaken this morning but that could just be the thought of her dentist's appointment this afternoon creeping up on her." Honoka really didn't know what to say, so she elected to simply change the subject. Maybe Yukari just needed more time to process it all. Honoka certainly did.