Shiori Minamino pulled into the parking lot of Kurama's school.
She turned the engine off and paused.
Why had she come here?
Was it really necessary?
Surely, she tried to persude herself, Shuiichi was fine. Surely, he had simply forgotten to come home as he had promised.
But...
That wasn't like Shuiichi.
That wasn't at all like her son.
And that's why she was here.
She would meet him. She knew he had play practice.
She only wanted to see him.
She only wanted to see for herself that he was alright.
Perhaps he was just growing up. Perhaps he was facing those things you face at his age and didn't want to trouble his mother.
But...
That didn't feel right.
Shiori sighed.
She would find out, if she could, and she would do the only thing she could do.
She would offer her hand to her son and only hope that he would place his own in hers.
She got out of the car.
"The wind," she murmered to herself as the trees suddenly began to shake like fever and loose leaves blew past. "It's so cold."
...to be continued...