Clannad

The Lost Girl

Chapter Four

Dango

"I'm sorry for making you stay over so late..." Ushio says as we walk along the dark street. "That's alright, it's not like there was much else for me to do anyways." I assure her, but her face shows a slight frown. "N-Not that this was my last resort, it's just...Uh..." I begin to say, but she smiles at me and I stop in my nervous speech.

"I understand..." Ushio says as we stop at the corner of the street. "This is far enough, I live just right over there." I tell her, pointing up the road to the right. She nods, and gives me a smile as she says, "Goodnight, Tokoi-san." I give a smile back as I respond, "Goodnight, Ushio."

Then, we part ways. When I arrived at my grandmother's house, I looked back, and saw her still standing there, a lone figure in the darkness. I give her a wave, then she shyly waves back. After that, I watch as she turns and begins to walk back to the bakery. With a last look over at where she had been standing before, I walk inside the house.

"I'm home." I say as I step inside, closing the door behind me. "Ah, Konoda, your father is here." my grandmother says. For a few moments, I stand there, frozen in place, dropping my bag. My...Father? I think, memories of my father's drinking and cruelty. Without hesitation, I run over to the stairs, and I go up to my room.

"Konoda! Aren't you going to come say-" I hear her start to say, but it's cut off when I slam my door shut. What business does he have to be here? I think with a sigh, sitting down on my bed and putting my head in my hands. Suddenly, there is a knock at my door. "Who is it?" I mutter.

"Konoda..." I hear my father's voice say, "It's me..." After a few moments of just sitting there, I stand and walk over to the door. As soon as I open it, my father begins to say, "Listen, about the-"...But I slam the door shut in his face and I lock the door.

After a few moments of silence, I hear footsteps as my father goes back down the stairs. "Don't worry, Yurima...Just give him time to adjust." I hear my grandmother say. I continue to stand there by the door for a while, before I hear another knock at my door. "Konoda...It's me." my grandmother says. Opening the door, I can see a sad look on her face.

"You really hurt your father's feelings." she tells me. I shake my head. "Like that compares to what he's done to me..." I mutter. She sighs. "He's going to be staying here for a while," she explains, "To look for a job." That makes me raise an eyebrow. My father getting a job? I think, I never thought That'd happen.

My grandmother looks down the stairs behind her and says, "He's trying to fix his life..." I shake my head. "He can't fix anything..." I mutter, and my grandmother sets her hand on my shoulder. "Give him a chance..." she tells me, before walking back down the stairs, and I close the door softly.

I found myself unable to go to sleep, thinking about my father staying in the same house as me for a while. Does he think I can forgive him? I wonder, looking out my window at the starry sky. With a sigh, I stand up, and put on my jacket, deciding to take a walk outside.

After sneaking my way to the front door, I slowly stepped outside, feeling the night chill envelope over me. Closing the door from behind, I close my eyes and I allow the wind to blow over me, giving me a sort of calm feeling. Looking to the left down the street, I can see the corner where I had left Ushio merely hours before.

After a few moments of thinking, I decide to make my way over to the Furukawa bakery. When I reach it, I can see that the light on the second floor is still on. Maybe Ushio is still awake? I wonder. I move closer to the front, and I'm about to call out to her, when I hear whispering from behind.

Turning around, I see none other than Ushio standing across the street, underneath a street light. A calming sort of glow surrounds her, and she holds out her hand, seeming to look at me, as she whispers some more words. Is she talking to me? I wonder, walking towards her.

When I reach her, she seems to be in a sort of trans. "Uh..." I begin to say, and she jumps slightly, startled to see me there. "T-Tokoi-san..." she stumbles to say, blushing slightly. "Sorry to startle you..." I say, rubbing the back of my head shyly. Ushio shakes her head. "I-I wasn't startled..I..." she begins to say, before blushing more and trailing off.

There's a sort of awkward silence between us for a few moments. "So, um...What were you doing just now?" I ask. She tilts her head and looks up at me, before realizing what I was talking about. "Oh, that was from a play." she explains. "A play?" I say questioningly, "Are you in theater?"

Ushio shakes her head. "N-No...But I heard my mother did it, so I thought that I might try it too..." she explains, and I nod in understanding. "Why don't you join the school's Theater Club then?" I ask, and Ushio looks down at the ground shyly. "I...I never got the nerves to try..." she says.

I sigh. "Would it be easier if I went with you?" I suggest to her, taking a step forward. She looks up at me. "Y-Yes..." she says, "But...Tokoi-san." "Hm?" I ask. Ushio blushes slightly as she asks, "W-Why are you being so nice to me? When we've only just met?"

I look up at the sky, setting my hand on my chin. I'm not quite sure myself... I think. "Well," I begin to say, "I like to help people...It gives me a feeling of belonging."

That look of wanting to belong somewhere... I hear Akio's voice say in my head. I guess he was right about that, I think with a sigh. Ushio tilts her head at me questioningly. "I-It's nothing." I assure her. "Hey, I actually never got a chance to ask...Where are your parents?" I ask.

Ushio looks at the ground and shuffles her feet. "M-My father is out of town for business..." she tells me. "And your mother?" I ask, and Ushio looks to the side, biting her lip. After a few moments without a response, she asks, "Tokoi...C-Can you come somewhere with me tomorrow?"

"Uh...Sure," I answer, "Where will we be going?" Ushio turns around and point up at a tall building not too far away. "The hospital over there." she answers.

The hospital?... I think. Wait, so...Her mother...

The next day went by quickly, and I was relieved to see that Risha hadn't come to school today, nor did I get ran over by a spontaneous girl riding a scooter. As soon as the bell rang, I started to make my way to the front of the school. However, as I passed the hall where the club rooms were, I stopped.

Walking down to the end of the hall, I find myself at the door to the Theater Club. I hear no noise coming from it, so I slide the door open to peer inside. I can see boxes stacked up all around the room. Sliding the door all the way open, I walk inside, examining the room.

This club room looks abandoned, I think, opening up a box and examining the props inside of it. When I look around once more, I see a piece of paper stuck onto the chalkboard at the front of the room. Walking up to it, I take it off the board and I walk over to the entrance to the room, to get more light.

The picture on it seems familiar to me. This is...The dango family? I think, examining it:

Join the Theater Club!

Open House: May 15

After school in the theater club room.

Come and have fun.

President - At the end of the east wing

3-B Furukawa Nagisa of the school building.

"Furukawa...?" I say, thinking about the sign hanging over the bakery entrance. Is that...Ushio's mother? I begin to wonder, when I hear footsteps come from nearby. Looking up, I can see Ushio standing there. "Tokoi-san...I was wondering where you were." she says in a relieved voice.

She walks closer to me and looks at the flier in my hands. "What is that?" she asks, and I hand it to her. Reading it, her eyes light up. "T-This is from when my mother was in the Theater Club!" Ushio exclaims. Huh, so I was right. I think, satisfied.

Ushio suddenly looks at me. "Oh, we should get going, before it's too late." she tells me. I nod, sliding the door shut, and beginning to follow her. She continues to look down at the paper in her hands, a smile on her face.

Looking at her, I feel a warmth of happiness envelop over me, watching Ushio and her smile.

Take care of her... Akio's voice says...

I suddenly have a feeling...That I'll have to.

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter: Family