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A Hot Summer Day
There was a muggy sort of heat in the air. The sky was a deep, clear blue, completely void of any clouds, leaving anyone who dared step outside at the mercy of the scorching sun. Most people had sequestered themselves far away from its cruel touch—but there were a few who chose to brave it.
"Really, that Ryuuji..."
Sitting at the edge of the veranda, Torako fanned herself in an attempt to cool herself down. Beside her, there was a small tray upon which four glasses and a jar of lemonade were carefully arranged.
Her words drew a small laugh from her husband, who was watering the plants around the yard wearing a loose pair of robes, a sun hat, and a damp towel over his neck that had already grown warm.
"Don't look so sour, dear. He'll be here soon. Uwabami said that the meeting wouldn't take long," he told her with a placating grin.
Torako let out a small huff. "And yet, he's late."
Her impatience was in part influenced by how hot today was. She snapped her fan shut, set it down on her lap, and picked up one of the glasses beside her. After pouring herself some lemonade, she took a slow, long sip until she had emptied the glass again. When she set it back down beside her, the palm of her hand was slightly wet due to the condensation that had gathered on the glass. She sprinkled her face a bit with some of it before picking up her fan again so she could continue to cool herself down.
All the while, Tatsuma's eyes remained on her. He admired her from afar with a love-struck look on his face that, when she noticed it, warmed her up far more than the summer heat wave.
"You've been watering the same spot for the past two minutes already," she told him pointedly, acting as if the flush on her cheeks had nothing to do with him.
Tatsuma knew better of course. But he didn't call her out on it.
"Ah," he said instead, chuckling sheepishly. "That I have."
Torako watched as Tatsuma stepped closer so he could water the bushes near the veranda. He whistled a cheery little tune as he did, something upbeat that made her smile.
Still, she let out a sigh as she felt a bead of sweat run down the back of her neck. It had only been about ten minutes since she'd stepped outside, but that already felt like too long. "The weather today really is brutal," she murmured.
"It is, isn't it?" Tatsuma hummed in agreement. And then, with a mischievous glint in his eye, he turned towards her and sprayed her lightly with the hose in his hand.
"Wha- Tatsuma-san!" she protested at once, drawing back a bit to protect herself from the water.
"Shhh, you'll wake him up," Tatsuma said, grinning as he nodded towards the prone figure on the floor, just a few feet away from her.
Rin had dozed off a while ago while waiting for Ryuuji to return. He was lying face down across the wooden floor, using his arms as a pillow, while Kuro rested on his back, all stretched out. The cat sith had loyally stayed glued to his side despite the heat and was just as deeply asleep.
"I'll wake him?" Torako gave her husband a look that was meant to be incensed, but the cool water had done its job. The droplets trickled pleasantly down her heated skin—though they dried up much too quickly.
Tatsuma gave her a knowing look. He knew his wife would not ask him to do it again—it wasn't exactly proper. But their relationship was one that had succeeded this far on many unspoken agreements. So without hesitance, he turned his hose on her again and delighted in the way she spluttered with outrage.
"Oh, now you've done it!"
When Ryuuji arrived some minutes later after that, he was greeted by Rin, who was now awake and soaking wet, and grinning wide enough for his cheeks to hurt.
"Hi Ryuuji!" he said, pushing back his bangs with a loud splat while Kuro, hiding under the wet wooden floorboards, greeted him with a vastly less amused yowl.
"Hi," Ryuuji said bemusedly, taking in the sight of the spilled lemonade, dripping onto the grass, his father trying to climb up to the roof—and his mother turning the hose she had commandeered in Ryuuji's direction without mercy.
"Hey!" he spluttered.
Within seconds, he was hurrying to get out of her direct line of sight, protesting, all while choking back laughter while Rin pushed him back right in the range of the water spray as his tail devilishly flickered behind him.