Clannad

The Lost Girl

Chapter Three

Bread

"Tokoi-san." Ushio says, giving a slight bow to me as I approach her. "Why were you waiting for me, Ushio?" I ask, and she blushes slightly. "I-I wanted to know if you would come over..." she says. I simply look at her for a few moments. I only meant to suggest it... I think with a sigh.

The look on Ushio's face changes into a sad-looking one. "I-I'm sorry for asking..." she says, but I shake my head and I give her a smile. "No, that's alright. I'd like to come over." I tell her, and her face lights up once again. "R-Really?" she asks, and I nod.

Giving me her warm smile, we leave the school, Ushio leading the way out of the gates and along the sidewalk.

It didn't take long before we arrived at a bakery, with a sign hanging off of it that says, "Furukawa" Furukawa? I think. "Hey, what does your sign mean?" I ask, and Ushio looks up at it. "Oh, that's my grandparents' last name." she explains, walking into the bakery. "I'm home." she says, but there is no response.

Stepping inside, it appears that the bakery is closed, since the bread trays were covered and it didn't appear that anybody was in here. Lifting up one of the covers, I take some bread off the tray labeled, "Rice Cracker Bread". After examining it for a few moments, I decide to take a bite out of it.

Crunch! As I take a bite out of it, I'm surprised to find that there actually was a rice cracker inside of the bread. Ushio hears it and turns to me. "How is it? Is it good?" she asks. I look over at her, continuing to chew. This is...Hard to eat. I think, struggling to swallow my first bite.

"It's...Different." I say, hesitently taking another bite out of it. Ushio tilts her head at me, unsure if I like it or not. I'm not sure myself, I think, continuing to eat it. After the first few bites, I find myself unable to eat anymore of it. "Can...I be honest with you?" I say, and Ushio nods.

Turning to her, I state, "It's not good." She frowns slightly, then takes a step to the side and looks behind me. Turning around, I see a woman standing at the entrance. Ushio's...Mom, maybe? I think. "Grandmother..." Ushio says, and I look at the woman in disbelief. Grandmother? I think.

"Y-You don't like it?" the woman says, a sad look on her face. "Well, it's...An interesting idea, but it's just..." I begin to say, trailing off slightly. "It's just not good enough..." I finish, and I feel a pang of guilt as her grandmother starts to sob. "So...My bread..." she begins to say, then, suddenly, she runs out of the bakery, "Isn't good enough!"

"Hey, Hey!" I hear a deep voice come from outside. Suddenly, a man walks in, who also slightly resembles Ushio. "You!" he says, pointing at me and giving me a glare. "You should have just ate it, and told her it was good!" he states, walking up to me.

"I-I'm sorry..." I begin to say, and the man suddenly grips me in a headlock and tells me, "Sanae has a fragile heart, so it's easy to break. That's why everybody in the neighborhood compliments her, and eats her bread anyways." I nod in understanding, and he lets me go, letting out a long, deep sigh.

"I guess I should go after her." he says, taking two rice cracker breads and putting them in his mouth. He runs out, following the way that Sanae had gone. An interesting family... I think, unable to stop myself from producing a small smile.

It isn't long before Sanae and Ushio's grandfather returned, looking a little happier. "I-I'm sorry." I say, rubbing the back of my head and bowing apologetically. "Oh, don't worry." Sanae assures me, giving me a smile. "Just don't let it happen again." her grandfather tells me, slitting is eyes and looking at me with a look that makes me gulp.

"Now now, Akio-san...Is that any way to treat one of Ushio's classmates?" Sanae says, and Akio turns and looks at me, as if just noticing that I was wearing the same uniform as Ushio. "Oh, he is? Well, why didn't you say so!" he says in a more cheerful voice, putting an arm on my shoulder. "Any friend of Ushio's is welcome here!" he tells me, giving me a thumbs up.

We all moved into their dining room and sat. "Where were you both at?" Ushio asks. "We were having a dinner with Mrs. Ibuki." Sanae explains, and Ushio's face lights up. "Ibuki-sensei? How is she?" Ushio and her grandmother begin to have their conversation about Ibuki, while Akio turns to me and tells me, "Hey, let's speak in private for a moment."

I look back at Ushio before nodding, and getting up to follow Akio out of the room.

Akio led me to a ladder that led up to the roof. "This is sort of my...area of reflection." he explains, pulling out a cigarette and putting it into his mouth, although not lighting it. "Now," he says, sitting down, "I've had to say this to another guy like you before, and I'm going to say it again."

I sit down near him, waiting for him to go on. He looks down at me, and I can the seriousness on his face. "You look like her father." he tells me, and I tilt my head, slightly confused. "That look of wanting to belong somewhere...Yeah, that brat had it too." he says.

Brat? I think, raising an eyebrow. Akio looks at me for a few moments before crossing his arms and nodding. "But I think you're more content than he was...Probably a better person too," he says, "And that brat never ceased to amaze me."

I find myself a little confused from his words. "So...What is it that you're trying to say?" I ask, and he looks up at the fading sunlight in the sky. "Nagisa..." he mumbles softly. "What?" I ask, and he shakes his head. "This is an all-too familiar scenario..." he says, turning his head towards me, "Take care of her..."

I look at him in disbelief. Take care of her?...

A few moments later, we descended from the roof and went back into the dining room. "Oh, Akio-san, Tokoi-san," Sanae says as we walk in, "I was wondering where you both were." Akio gives a grin and tells her, "Just a guys' talk." Looking over at me, he gives an obvious wink. I sigh. What have I gotten into?

"I was going to make dinner." Ushio says, looking at me. Then, she gives me a smile and asks, "Would you like me to make you some?" I shake my head. "No, I couldn't..." I say. "Oh, don't be so modest, Tokoi-san." Sanae assures me. "Like I said," Akio states, "Any friend of Ushio's is welcome here."

I look at the three people in front of me, all smiling and beaming with happiness. This must be what a real family feels like... I think. "Well, I guess I can't refuse." I say, and Ushio nods and walks into the kitchen. Akio pats me on the back and gives me another wink, followed by a thumbs up. "Thatta' boy" he states.

Sanae and Akio start to converse, smiling and laughing. Ushio occasionally comments and laughs along as well. The aroma from her cooking fills up the air, and I take a whiff of it. It smells good, I think with a grin. Looking around at the happy family, I find myself thinking, I wonder what Ushio's parents are like...

You look just like him.. I hear Akio say in my head. That look of wanting to belong somewhere...Yeah, that brat had it too... I turn my head and I watch Ushio as she cooks.

Take care of her...

Why would he say that?

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter: Dango