[Manabu smiles, his face tinged a shade pink, warmed by the gesture head to toe. it's first-class consolation, that.]
Mn! I'll see you soon. [for certain this time. not just...the thing you say before vanishing into a facility for so many weeks.
he sees Grey to the door, waving, blocking Shutaro from toddling out after him with a well-positioned foot, feeling lighter than he's felt in...in a while. things aren't perfect, but they're undeniably good. isn't that how life tends to be best? not perfect, but good.
returning to his mother, "good" has to account for the complications that come with facing grief and all the gaps in time to go over in a way that won't exacerbate it. tough stuff, and even though Kana's been through more than enough losses, fresh wounds still hurt. when the slightest notions of "when i get back" - to work, to the SDF - comes up, she hardens, but she bites her tongue best she can. she doesn't mean to, but coming to resent that organization seems only natural, given what she's endured.
it's his life, though, not hers; she just wishes her life had more bearing on it than simply being the one to worry and be left behind. were the two of them better at communicating, maybe she and Manabu could find some solace between knowing the same feelings in their own ways, but...
but for now, half-measures are taken, and Manabu lets her fuss and smother him all she pleases up to the weekend. she gives him some side-eye for saying he's staying over with Grey, but again bites her tongue, not wanting to hear a truthful answer on that just yet. Grey's a good man, so she knows he's not going to be going off into trouble, but still. still.
not perfect, after all.
Manabu gets antsier and antsier before the weekend dawns, and no amount of chores or humdrum activities is mitigating a restlessly bouncing leg or getting him to focus. Kana's doing her best - finding jackets and things for cover-up - but there really is no escaping the oddity. Manabu's an SDF boy, not an outlaw, so looking like a cosplay of the infamous Tochiro Oyama suits poorly outside of Halloween.
the hat is at least better than a knit cap, and makes sense for the searing sun of Tabito... an off-hand joke about making captain so he can get the long coat and hat goes off poorly, and Manabu sighs and just accepts his faux-cowboy fate.
that's what appears at the door when Manabu comes knocking: broad-rimmed hat, long brown coat, and a bag carrying a pair of bento boxes.
no subject
Mn! I'll see you soon. [for certain this time. not just...the thing you say before vanishing into a facility for so many weeks.
he sees Grey to the door, waving, blocking Shutaro from toddling out after him with a well-positioned foot, feeling lighter than he's felt in...in a while. things aren't perfect, but they're undeniably good. isn't that how life tends to be best? not perfect, but good.
returning to his mother, "good" has to account for the complications that come with facing grief and all the gaps in time to go over in a way that won't exacerbate it. tough stuff, and even though Kana's been through more than enough losses, fresh wounds still hurt. when the slightest notions of "when i get back" - to work, to the SDF - comes up, she hardens, but she bites her tongue best she can. she doesn't mean to, but coming to resent that organization seems only natural, given what she's endured.
it's his life, though, not hers; she just wishes her life had more bearing on it than simply being the one to worry and be left behind. were the two of them better at communicating, maybe she and Manabu could find some solace between knowing the same feelings in their own ways, but...
but for now, half-measures are taken, and Manabu lets her fuss and smother him all she pleases up to the weekend. she gives him some side-eye for saying he's staying over with Grey, but again bites her tongue, not wanting to hear a truthful answer on that just yet. Grey's a good man, so she knows he's not going to be going off into trouble, but still. still.
not perfect, after all.
Manabu gets antsier and antsier before the weekend dawns, and no amount of chores or humdrum activities is mitigating a restlessly bouncing leg or getting him to focus. Kana's doing her best - finding jackets and things for cover-up - but there really is no escaping the oddity. Manabu's an SDF boy, not an outlaw, so looking like a cosplay of the infamous Tochiro Oyama suits poorly outside of Halloween.
the hat is at least better than a knit cap, and makes sense for the searing sun of Tabito... an off-hand joke about making captain so he can get the long coat and hat goes off poorly, and Manabu sighs and just accepts his faux-cowboy fate.
that's what appears at the door when Manabu comes knocking: broad-rimmed hat, long brown coat, and a bag carrying a pair of bento boxes.
with an eager grin:] Made it!