Author's note: Anyone who is actually reading my stories is probably extremely annoyed with my lack of updating, but I think updating is a very mutual thing. If someone in the community doesn't update, then some readers get a little frustrated, and they don't really feel like writing because there is little to read.
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What an interesting window. Izumi thought dreamily, her eyes pasted to the peeling paint of her kitchen window. What an interesting house.
"Izumi!" She jumped, letting go of the fork that was in her hand. She scrambled to regain control over the utensil, but it still fell on the floor.
"I don't know what is so interesting about that window that you've been staring at for over an hour, but your pancakes are getting cold." Her mother said when she was back above the level of the table.
"I-I'm sorry." She stammered as she immediately dug her fork into her soggy breakfast.
"I don't seem to recall you liking that much syrup on your pancakes either." Mrs. Orimoto raised an eyebrow as her daughter made a face and nearly choked on her food.
Cough. "You're…" Cough. "…right." Coughing fit. "I don't know what's gotten into me."
As her coughs subsided, Mrs. Orimoto leaned in and asked. "Who was that boy?"
Izumi looked sideways at her mother and began coughing again.
Throwing up her hands, her mother sighed exasperatedly. "Okay, I won't ask." She got up and left.
That's a pretty swirl. Izumi stared at the patterns of the syrup and lifted the pitcher to pour some more.
"Izumi…"
She set the pitcher down and sighed. What was happening to her? First acting like a flirty, shallow girl, and now daydreaming?
"Mom, I'm going out for a drive!" She called out, going into the entrance hall and grabbing her purse.
"But, honey, you just got back. Aren't you the least bit sleepy?" Her mother almost seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Um…no." She shrugged and tried to get past her mother.
"Izumi, you really should get some sleep." Mrs. Orimoto's expression softened.
"I'm sorry, mom." Izumi whispered. "But there's something going on, and I…I need to know what."
She pushed open the door and left before her mother could figure out what she had just said.
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Author's note: Well, I guess nothing happened in this chapter, but I thought the next chapter needed it's own page. It'll be up soon.