To say I was shocked was honestly an understatement. Really, I didn't even know if 'shocked' was even the right word to describe how I felt if there was even any real describable feeling.

Daichi's initial visible shock had died down. Clearly, he had no idea that she was just going to show up like that but he was still clearly uneasy.

After Tobio had unknowingly opened the door for her, she had boldly invited herself in. She attempted a conversation with Tobio but he was just as flabbergasted as Daichi and I were.

And that's how we got where we were now. Her, sternly standing in front of him and him just nervously fiddling with his fingers and staying notably quiet.

As bad as it might have sounded, I was sort of at ease knowing that Daichi was uncomfortable rather than happy or giddy. Throughout my time as a daycare teacher, I had learned some of the true secret intentions that some single parents had. Their slimy tactics of using their child as some kind of third-party wingman to get back with their old partner, but Daichi didn't seem to have those same intentions.

"So, I was wondering if I could take him for the weekend?", straight to the point.

Daichi stopped fiddling with his hands and brought them to his face, lightly pinching the bridge of his nose between his thumb and his index finger as he let out a small sigh.

"And you've never heard of, I don't know, texting? You know, before just showing up on someone's doorstep."

His words were laced with venom, probably a little more than he had intended. But it didn't seem to really phase her, as she continued to calmly give Daichi a blank stare, almost as if she didn't even notice at all.

In fact, she smiled curtly.

"You'll live. I didn't expect you to have company."

She smiled again but this time she had it directed towards me. I attempted to smile back, simply just out of my instincts for mutual respect but the smile did not reach my eyes.

She took a breath before getting ready to talk again but Daichi cut her off. Once again attempting to explain to her that she was in the wrong but she once again dismissed Daichi completely, suddenly taking an odd amount of interest in me.

Probably just using me as a distraction tactic to defuse Daichi's hostility.

"Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Kiyoko, and you are?"

I hesitated before quietly murmuring my name to her, not really wanting to make a conversation with her. But against my luck, she continued to make small talk while Daichi protectively shuffled towards me.

"Sorry for intruding! It looks like you guys were starting dinner, I feel kind of bad now." she chuckled lightly, tucking the loose hairs that had fallen from the bun holding up her hair behind her ears.

I had half the mind to break and offered her to stay and eat with us but I digressed before the thought had the time to materialize into words and I half-heartedly hoped that Daichi couldn't either.

Kiyoko had obviously noticed the tension in the room, I could see it on her face that she was trying her best to make all the right moves.

"You know, I could take Tobio for the weekend and you guys could have a date night," she suggested.

This took me by surprise.

She thought that Daichi and I were a thing. It was already kind of suspect that we were having dinner together alone and I guess it didn't really help that Daichi was standing so close to me to the point that we were basically breathing the same air but the fact she pointed it out. Daichi almost guarded me from the woman.

Daichi and I, of course, we're not dating but I could kind of see how she might have drawn that conclusion. Even though there weren't many visual clues, I feel like there was strong energy that Daichi and I were probably giving off. Or maybe that only I was giving off, seeing as I was obviously infatuated with Daichi and her presence was visibly off-putting to me.

Even though I secretly had hopes that one day a relationship might spark between the two of us, for Daichi's sake I don't want Kiyoko to get the wrong idea. I could only imagine how uncomfortable Daichi probably was, so I quickly opened my mouth to correct her but Daichi cut in.

His voice was a bit gruff, "That's very considerate but Tobio had plans to spend the night at Asahi and Yuu's."

Another wave of shock coursed through me. Daichi didn't even attempt to deny her referring to us as a couple, I could only have assumed it's because he was more focused on her so I put it to the back of my mind.

The slim, black-haired woman in front of us face twisted, looking a bit pained.

"Knowing the two of them, I'm sure they'll understand."

Daichi stepped a little bit closer, the front of his body lightly pressing against my side. He lowly made an annoyed sound and angrily ran his hand against his face. I turned my head slightly and peered at him through my eyelashes briefly.

He was wearing an expression that I couldn't ever really say that I've seen from him. It looked like a mixture of different emotions; anger, disappointment, disgust.

"Kiyoko," he started, his voice booming but low, " you can't just show up when you decide that you suddenly have time for Tobio. Show up out of the blue when it's convenient for you."

Shocked, I studied the expression that was painted on her face. I felt bad for her, to say the least, and I couldn't help but hope that Daichi would be done and cut her some slack.

But, sadly he went on.

"Tobio has plans and a life of his own. A life that you decided that you didn't really want to be a part of. So, I'm sorry that you came all this way, un-invited may I add, but-"

I cut him off.

Briskly, I turned my body to face him and I grabbed his arm firmly, giving him a warning look with my eyes, he gave me a dumbfounded one in return.

"That's enough," I said sharply before dropping Daichi's arm.

An embarrassed blush spread across his face and his shoulders slouched in shame.

"Now," I said, softening my voice and letting vexation face, "I think Tobio should spend the weekend with his mother. I'm positive Shoyou will understand, don't you think?"

The dejected man slowly looked up to meet my eyes, let out a small sigh, and nodded before tearing his eyes away again.

When I turned to look at Kiyoko again, she had pools of tears threatening to spill from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away before they actually did. She looked like she had so much that she wanted to say but the words refused to come out, so I saved her the effort.

"Daichi, you go get Tobio and let him know about the change of plans while I help Miss Kiyoko take Tobio's bag out to her car."

And with that Daichi mopily moved to leave the room and Kiyoko and I went to the entryway where Tobio's bag that was originally meant for Shoyou's house was there waiting. She remained quiet as we took the luggage outside.

When we reached the car, I couldn't help but notice a blonde-haired woman sitting in the passenger seat but I chose not to comment on it, knowing fully well that it wasn't my place. I had already overstepped enough today. I instead moved my focus to place the suitcase into the trunk and carefully shut it when I finally got it in.

I briefly looked to Kiyoko and gave her a small smile before turning to go back into the house. That is until she grabbed me by the wrist before quickly letting it go.

"Listen, I just wanted to say thank you."

Her eyes met mine and I responded.

"No, you don't have to thank me."

She let out a pained sigh. "But, I do. Daichi was right, everything that he said was exactly right." Tears pooling in her eyes again. Wiping them away she continued, "But I'm trying to change that." Her voice was strained. She glanced over her shoulder to the woman in the car and then turned to me again.

"Thank you, Koushi," she whispered. This time, I stayed silent.

Instead, I smiled at her one last time, but this time it was genuine and heartfelt before going to walk back inside. As soon as I got inside, I met with Tobio and Daichi. The two boys were deep in conversation. Daichi seemed to be going over some ground rules with Tobio, telling him to be good and respectful and what not.

It wasn't long before they finished up and Tobio hugged his dad before muttering a quick 'I love you'. And just before he went to go out the door, he turned to me and opened his arms towards me.

I was a little shocked but it was clear that he was expecting a hug. I bent over and embraced him in a short hug before muttering for him to be good. And with that, he was out the door.

Daichi and I stood quietly in the open door frame, watching as Tobio opened the door, waved goodbye one last time, and drove off. As soon as the car was just out of sight, Daichi slowly closed the door and I turned to him.

"Listen, I think I should go home now."