5
Glowing lantern light
Does little to quell blindness
In the winter night
"How was your journey to the river, Ina?"
"It was fine, Mum." Her heart pounded in her chest.
"That's nice. Change out of those clothes, sweetie, I have some cookies ready in the kitchen."
Inazuma trailed up to her room numbly. That had been too easy.
That night, her father came home from a two-week mission in the Land of Earth. They had hot noodle soup with mushrooms for dinner. The kitchen was filled with warmth and smiles and light, but as the darkness fell behind the curtained windows, Inazuma couldn't help but wonder…
"How cold can it be in the winter, Daddy? At night?"
"Very cold, Ina-chan. I wouldn't recommend going out there at all. You would freeze to death, most likely. Why the sudden curiosity?"
"Just wondering, that's all," she said, looking down at her bowl of rice hastily, letting her white bangs fall over her face. "Just wondering."