Here's another chapter for you. Sorry for any grammar and spelling mistakes that I have made on this simple story of mine. I'm still just a novice in writing as of now. Well, anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Clannad.

It was early morning and Tomoya was standing outside the Furukawa's bakery. He was walking aimlessly back and forth stammering what to do next. "Tomoya? That is you, right?" Sanae asked standing behind the lad. Tomoya immediately recognized the voice behind him. Turning around slowly, he saw Sanae clasping both of her hands in her mouth, tears flowing down her cheek. At this very sight, Tomoya couldn't hold back anymore and said, "I'm back, Mother-in-law." Sanae then drops her bag of groceries and quickly runs and hugs Tomoya.

"What are we still doing here outside? Come on, come inside," she said composing herself as she wipes off the tears. Tomoya followed her inside the house after. "Dear, Tomoya's here. He's back," she called to her husband.

"What? Tomoya's back," Akio called back. Reaching the stone's foyer, he saw Tomoya standing beside Sanae. "Tomoya, you brat. Hehehe…. Welcome back," he exclaimed giving him an arm lock.

"Come on. Let's all have breakfast. I'll go and wake Ushio to join us," Sanae proposed. The two seated themselves on the table. Moments later, Sanae arrived along with Ushio, still having a sleepy face as she rubs her hand on her left eye, the other one holding Sanae's hand.

"Pa-pa," Ushio cried softly. Her eyes getting bigger as she sees her father in the house. Tears slowly falling down her cheeks. "PAPA," she shouted running towards Tomoya.

Tomoya seeing Ushio run quickly stood on his knees to embrace her. He too is already crying at her sight. "Yes, Papa's back now, Ushio," he said to her. The two embraced each other for quite a while. Sanae cries on the sight at the sight in front of her while Akio grinned at the two.

Soon after they had breakfast, Ushio and Tomoya were walking towards Ushio's school. "You excited going to school?" he asked.

"Unn…"

"Ehh… Hehehe….. Guess you didn't grow up like me. That's good to know."

"Everybody's been nice to me especially Teacher Kyou."

"Kyou?" he said in surprised. Curious as to what his daughter think of Kyou, he curiously asked, "So what's she like?"

"She's very nice and caring and also pretty."

"Ehh…. Kyou's like that? Not really the Kyou I know in high school. Well, she is pretty cute. Hey wait, what the heck am I thinking?" he thought after Ushio's answer. "What else about her?" Tomoya continued asking.

"She's…. like a… mother to me," Ushio replied back smiling at her father. Tomoya was taken back at her reply.

They soon reached the school and Kyou was already at the school gate greeting the students coming in. Tomoya still disturbed at what Ushio said, blush instantly as he saw Kyou's face.

"Good morning, Teacher Kyou," Ushio greeted happily as they neared her.

"Good morning, Ush-," Kyou replied cut off after seeing Tomoya. "Tomo…"

"Yo," he replied as calmly as he could.

"So you finally went to see her," she replied gladly.

"You would have killed me if I didn't." The two laughed on as they continued their conversation. Ushio looks at them with a confused face. Tomoya noticed this and said, "Ushio, Papa and Teacher Kyou went to the same high school before. She was really fierce and wild during those days especially to me."

"Hey, wait, what are you saying mocking me in front of my stud-?"

"But she was a dear friend to your…. mama and also…. to me."

Kyou smiled at Tomoya's remark. "Ushio, your friends are in the playground. Botan is also there. You can play with them if you like," she suggested. Ushio did as she was told.

"Ehh…. Botan's here? Been a while since I last saw him," Tomoya exclaimed.

"Come along. I'll show you the way. I'm sure Botan would love to see you too," she said as she guided him the way. They soon neared the playground and there stood a large brownish-black animal to which the children flock about. It was bigger than the kids and was even used by them as a slide. The animal soon ran towards the two upon seeing them.

"Puhi…. Puhi…," Botan growled at Tomoya.

"Ehh… Botan?" Tomoya said I surprised shifting his look to Kyou and back. "You've….. gotten….. tasty," he joked.

"Tomoya, you hungry? Want a knuckle sandwich to quench it?" Kyou suggested crackling her knuckles in front of him with a demonic aura.

"I was joking," he quickly said.

Their conversation soon turned to laughter as they remembered their high school times using the same flow and choice of words. It was almost time for class and Kyou called out to her students, "Everyone, classes will soon start. Go to your classrooms now."

"Okay," the kids cried in unison as they ran inside the school. "See you later, Papa," Ushio shouted at her father waving her hand as she joined her friends. Tomoya waived back at her then.

"Guess, I'll be going to work now," Tomoya said as he excused himself.

"Sure. Take ca….," Kyou said cut-off upon seeing Shinji looking at them behind Tomoya. "Shin…ji," she stammered.

"Is that how you greet me? With a shocked expression?" Shinji joked at Kyou. "I came just to remind you of our date this night. And right, here's the gate pass to our school's festival next week." He then shifted his attention to Tomoya and greeted, "Yo, Okazaki. How're you doing? You remember me?"

Tomoya could feel the glare on Shinji's face as he greeted him. Trying to be calm as he could, he greeted back, "Yeah. I'm fine, Shinji. Thanks." Tomoya could still feel the tension in Shinji's glare. In his head he thought, "Shinji. The guy I despised the most in high school. He basically clung to Kyou after Nagisa and I started dating. Acting all nice and stuff."

"Shinji, what are you doing here? Don't you have a class about now?" Kyou said trying to break the awkwardness.

"Ahh…. Don't say it like that. Aren't you glad to see your boyfriend?"

Shinji's words echoed throughout the place especially in Tomoya's head. The sound of the rustling leaves continued on as it tries to alleviate the tension but all in vain. The trio stood there in silence for a second or so only to be broken when the school bell rang.

"Shit, late again. Gotta go. See you later, Kyou," Shinji shouted as he ran to the school gate."

"I guess I'll be seeing you later, Tomoya. Good luck on your work. Bye," Kyou said quickly to avoid any confrontation as she ran inside the school.

Tomoya looks on Kyou's figure as she ran inside the building. Losing her from view, he slowly turned and walked towards his work. Upon reaching the gate, he is surprised to see Shinji standing there, leaning his back at the wall, as if waiting for someone. Tomoya couldn't help himself but glare back at him.

"Let me get straight to the point. What's your motive?" Shinji began clearly not liking Tomoya's presence.

"Motive?" Tomoya questioned back.

"I don't know what your motives are and I don't care but I'll make this clear and straight, Kyou is my girlfriend now and she chose me, not you. You rejected her already in the past and you don't have any right coming in and barging into her life. Got it?"

With that, Shinji turns and quickly went to the school where he works. Tomoya looks on at him with two of his hands forming a fist with his nails piercing through his palm. "…. I….., " he muttered unable to continue.