Earlier in the week, the twins' father was called into school was because Nanami was being rewarded for a prize he'd won for writing a well thought out essay.

This time, he was called in because Sakiko was caught stealing money from the school's librarian.

Sakiko only looked to her shoes as the three sat in front of the principal. Nanami, despite not being in trouble, had broken into a nervous sweat- sending glares to his sister every now and then.

Trouble. God, Sakiko hated that word and every variation of it.

She'd been through enough trouble in her nine years on this planet. Then, every teacher and person yielding authority decided to call her troubled.

They scorned her for acting causing trouble with her troubled self that was troubled after being through the troubling trouble in her troubled life. Sakiko really hated that godforsaken word.

Nanami held his head high, those side eyed looks sent to his sister every now and then as though he was trying to put her in her place himself.

"Mr. Otani, I thank you for your patience," their principal- a snobby, frail woman if you asked the girl about to be interrogated.

"Of course," their father, Shinsuke, smiled as a greeting.

"Sakiko is.. How do I say this.." her teacher sighs-horribly butchering the girl's name, not that she probably cared.

Granted, the entire family had dealt with their fair share of mispronunciations and mix ups. Though, as the noise that escaped the principal's mouth when addressing Sakiko changed each time, she knew the woman didn't care enough to learn. The woman pronounced Nanami's name right- Sakiko knew what she was doing.

"I guess there is no easy way to say it, if I'm honest. Sakiko seems troubled."

'Troubled'. Sakiko wonders if the desk is hard enough to knock herself out on.

"Is it her grades?" Shinsuke questions.

"It is.. As well as, most of everything else. Last week, Sakiko seems to have gone through our librarian's purse and took money. When confronted, she denied it. But, other students claimed to have seen her do it."

Shinsuke's eyes turned pitied as he couldn't even bring himself to look over to his daughter.

"I apologize," Shinsuke frowns, "Is there anything I can do? Pay back the funds or.. or anything?"

Sakiko looks to her father from under her eyelashes, huffing before turning back to her shoes. She'd stolen that money because of his lack of said material. How on earth did he ever plan on paying something back when he doesn't have the means to do so?

"No, sir. That isn't needed. We do ask that you take into consideration.. keeping a better eye on Sakiko's behavior at home. It must be something from home that she is bringing to school with her."

The diss made Shinsuke's eyes turn to the floor, the father and daughter looking more alike than ever under the disciplinary tone.

"Last time you were here, it was because Sakiko was attempting to take school property home in the form of hand sanitizer and tissues. It seems to be a reoccurring issue nowadays," her teacher reminds.

"I understand," Shinsuke voices softly, cringing internally.

"The school's guidance counselor is open to meeting with Sakiko. We think it would be beneficiary for everyone if she does so."

Sakiko's top lip curls in disgust.

"Of course," Shinsuke agrees.

"I'm not," Sakiko speaks up for the first time.

"You are," Shinsuke argues, "You will be meeting with the counselor from here on out."

Sakiko huffs again, looking back to her shoes, using her left toe area to pick at the edge of her right shoe that was falling off on the bottom.

When was the last time she had new shoes? She'd been wearing these since two years ago.. If she was honest, they were tight and hurt when she kept them on for more than a couple hours. She's surprised the teacher hasn't brought up the times she's gotten in trouble during class for taking her shoes off mid lesson.

Maybe it just got lost in the other complaints the teacher had to inform her father about.

--

The car ride back home was silent.

Once Shinsuke pulled up outside of their small house, he turned the car off and the three sat in the tense quietness, the only noise emitting from the jangle of Shinsuke's keys every so often where he nervously picked at them. After a few seconds, he passes the keys to Nanami in the backseat.

"Head inside. We'll be there in a bit," Shinsuke urges.

Nanami stays quiet, still not in trouble, but still feeling like he was tip toeing in dangerous waters. He gives a quick glance to Sakiko before opening his door and making his way to the house.

"You stole money," Shinsuke finally sighs, his head hitting the back of the seat once Nanami is inside.

"You already spent it," Sakiko whispers, "I hid it in the couch for you to find. You bought gas with it."

At the revelation, Shinsuke's eyes close.

"You can't steal from people, Kiki," her father nearly cries, feeling at wits end.

"We needed it," Sakiko argues, taking her seatbelt off and crossing her arms.

"You let me deal with the money and such. I'm the parent here," he reminds, looking to her in the rearview mirror, "You're nine. You shouldn't worry about these things. Especially when it makes you do things like this."

Sakiko doesn't say anything, only looking out the window.

"Understand?" Shinsuke asks, turning in his seat to try and meet his daughter's eyes.

"Fine," Sakiko shrugs him off.

"I don't want to keep going to the school every week because of things like this. First the tissues and sanitizer-"

"We were out of it," Sakiko reminds.

"Do not cut me off," he warns, making her sigh, "Now this? I refuse to let you become some pickpocketing thief."

Sakiko glances to him, meeting his stern eyes before cutting hers back to the floorboard.

"You're grounded until I say so. I don't want to see this you of you anymore. Are we clear?"

"Yes, sir," Sakiko mutters.

Shinsuke takes her words with a grain of salt. He loved his daughter, but he wasn't sure it he could trust her at this point.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

my new book and new babies are here 🥺

i hope everyone enjoys nanami and sakiko's story i love them 💞