***Tomoyo***P.O.V

It was Monday, just an ordinary Monday or at least I hope it would be. Yuichi going to jail was now the new topic of the school. I for one wouldn't be interested on anything they had to say about that.

I walked into homeroom and sat next to Kanou like I always did. He barely looked at me. I decided to give him a little wave but in response he just nodded.

So much for a wave back but at least I'm making progress with Kanou I guess.

When school was over I walk home alone. I unlocked my old wooden front door and take off my shoes at the entrance inside. I shut the door behind me when I notice another pair of shoes at the entrance way.

No it couldn't be, he couldn't be home. I walked into the living room to see my father sitting on the couch. The worst part is there were beer bottles everywhere.

My father rarely came home from work he was always traveling somewhere on business trips for his job. I was surprised that he was actually here in front of me.

My father wakes up probably because he heard my footsteps. When he gets up I am greeted with a hug. I shove him off of me. I still can't get over the fact that he spends more time at work than with me.

"Come on Tomoyo don't be like that give your ol' man a hug." He says stretching his arms out.

I don't respond and instead glare at him before going to my room slamming the door. How can he think after being gone for almost a month now that everything is alright? That everything is going to be the same?

I scream in frustration I then look at the pictures of me and Kanou in the photo booth from the Spring Festival. I pay close attention to the one where I kiss Kanou on the cheek.

Why can't my dad be sweet and kind like him I think to myself. I watch hours go by but I don't dare leave my room. I was hoping I would never have to see him again.

Suddenly there is a knock on my bedroom door. I reluctantly get up to open it only to find my dad's drunken face.

"Hey honey come out of your room and come have dinner with me." He slurs.

"Oh let me think...no!" I yell trying to push the door closed but he forces it to stay open.

"Then can I at least get a hug from my daughter that I haven't seen in almost a month?" He asks making a puppy dog face.

I can tell he's not going to give up so I open the door and force myself to give him a hug.

Even though I'm mad at him part of me wants to hug him longer because unlike my mom he hasn't completely left my life just yet.

When I finally release him I slam the door shut and lock it. I slide slowly to the ground exhaling. What a day this has been and yet I was hoping it would be a normal Monday.

The next morning I got ready for school, after all my dad probably already left for work yesterday night. I walk into the living room and I start to smell something really good.

I follow the scent all the way into the kitchen where I finally see my dad in the kitchen cooking eggs.

"Oh morning." My dad says with a cheerful grin.

"Huh...morning." I force myself to say. I had to admit I wasn't expecting him to still be at home.

"Hey are you hungry?" My dad asks now flipping the eggs.

"Nah I never eat before I go to school." I say shrugging.

"That's not very healthy for you." He adds.

Since when did he know what's healthy and not healthy for me? I can't believe he is so casual about finally being home I have to ask him what's going on.

"Aren't you suppose to be at work?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"No I'm off for today and I'm pretty sure tomorrow too." He says placing the eggs on a plate.

I stared at him with my mouth wide open. It's bad enough I have to see him all day today but now I have to see him tomorrow?

I then get up from my seat. I don't even bother to say goodbye to him. I walked out the front door slamming it before walking to school.

Why does my father finally decide to come back now? Something isn't right I wish he would just come out and tell me already!

At school I couldn't help but feel gloomy I didn't want to have to see my father again. I knew I would have no choice in the matter so I slumped in my seat next to Kanou.

I pretty much zoned out on everything the teacher was saying I couldn't concentrate at all. I could tell Kanou noticed because he kept looking over at me from the corner of my eye.

When homeroom ended and it was time for gym, Kanou came up to me and handed me a paper. I look at it and notice that it seems to be the notes from class. Did Kanou really write these extra notes for me because he noticed I wasn't focused enough?

Maybe I'm looking to deeply into this though. I look up and notice Kanou is still standing there. He begins to say something but he doesn't look me in the eyes.

"Umm...is something the...the matter?" He stutters out.

"I...I don't wanna talk about it." I force myself to say while looking away from him.

"Are you sure you just seem different today?" He says and I noticed he doesn't stutter this time which surprises me. I looked away, I wanna tell him about my dad but I'm not sure if I should. Well he did come out his way to ask me what's wrong so maybeI should just tell him.

"My..my dad has finally come home and I hate that he was gone for so long I hate it and I...I hate him!" I yell tears streaming down my face.

"Tomoyo..." He says in a calm tone, it sounded very gentle. There is a silent pause at first but then he begins to speak again.

"Your father isn't perfect he makes mistakes but he...he loves you Tomoyo so you should give him a chance to show it by loving him back. That is probably why he came back to see you." He says but throughout the whole speech he looks me straight in the eyes.

That was definitely not something I expected him to say to me at all. I think he is right about that though maybe my father is trying so I should try also.

"Thanks Kanou for you know...helping me." I say looking at the ground. I noticed he doesn't say anything instead he takes his hand out and pats me on the head.

I stare at him in shock and once he realizes what's he's doing his face turns deep red and he runs off again. My cheeks were a little red also. Am I possibly getting closer to him?

After school I go home and see my dad sitting on the couch watching the news. I greet him with a hello.

"Hi dad, um sorry we got off on the wrong foot yesterday." I said.

"Woah, what is this? Someone must of had a good day at school today," He says grinning at me. "Now come on I made lunch in the kitchen." He adds so we both go to the kitchen and eat sandwiches. After that we spend the day watching movies together.

"Hey um Tomoyo by the way, can you explain these to me?" He then unfolds paper and there lies my pictures of Kanou and I from the photo booth.

"Oh that he is just a friend." I say casually.

"Just a friend? I'm pretty sure you don't kiss your "friend" on the cheek. Is he your boyfriend? " He says emphasizing word friend.

"N-No it isn't like that, he is clearly just a friend." I say and once again I can feel my cheeks getting red hot.

"Don't you lie to me Tomoyo!" He yells I don't know why he's getting so upset over something so little? I look down at his hand and noticed a huge beer bottle.

Oh that explains it he's been drinking this whole time.

"Look dad I swear I am not lying." I can see he still doesn't believe me so I try to grab the pictures out of his hands but he pushes me down to the ground hard.

I hit my elbow hard and I can see now that it's bleeding. I attempt to grab the photos again but I fail again.

"Since he's just a friend. I guess you won't mind if I do this!" He says ripping the photos in his hands. I watch in horror as pieces of the pictures fall to the floor.

Those were the only pictures I had of Kanou and I together. Now they're gone, lost forever never to return again.

"Who-who are you? My dad would never do something like this!" I say before grabbing the scraps of the photos on the floor and slamming the door to my room.

I listened to Kanou and gave my dad a chance and this is what I get? How could he do this to me?

I spent all night trying to tape the remains of the photos together but it wouldn't work. I hear a knock at my door but I don't dare to answer.

My dad stops knocking but I hear him say something through the door.

"Look Tomoyo you don't have to answer the door but I want you to know that tomorrow. I will be flying on a plane again for another business trip so when you come home from school tomorrow I will not be here.I think you would be happy about this that's why I'm letting you know."

I stare at the ground I had nothing to say instead I slumped on my bed and went to sleep. He was right, that was good news to my ears.

The next day it was supposed to be raining all day. I wake up and see my dad passed out on the couch. Yeah I admit I really didn't like him but I kissed him on the forehead because I know that I wouldn't see him anymore after school.

School was uneventful, nothing happened. I talked to Misaki and Yukimura about ideas to make the school better for the students but other than that nothing unusual.

I also still couldn't bring myself to tell Kanou that he was wrong about giving my father another chance. I actually didn't talk to him at all today.

When I got home I checked to see if my father's shoes were still there. They weren't there so I walked in the living room and threw my bag on the couch. He's really here...

Right before I could sit down I hear a creek come from behind me and I snap my head in that direction.

I then see my dad jump when he sees I spotted him at the front door.

I cross my arms in anger. Why was he still here? He said I wouldn't see him when I came back from school.

I look down at his hands and see a blue duffle bag.

"What's that?" I ask pointing to the blue bag.

"Oh this? They're just some business materials I need. I was just about to leave."

I stared deeply into my fathers eyes. I didn't believe him, not one bit. Without thinking I yank the blue duffle bag out of his hand and empty it out.

I see a load of his clothes fall out of the bag and some bathroom utensils.I then look up at my father who seems to be sweating from nervousness.

"What is this? Explain to me why you are bringing this on your job?" I ask in a harsh tone.

"Well that would be because uh-"

"What did you lose your job or something?" I say interrupting him.

"No that's not it..." he responds hesitantly.

I began to think of what could be going on with him. Then the most unthinkable idea popped into my head. I can only pray that the answer wasn't yes.

"...Or did you never even have a real job to begin with?" I ask in a low weak voice waiting for the answer to come.