Christmas Eve was meant to be spent together in preparation for the next day. But, Sakiko and Nanami were once again out of the house awaiting the time they were able to come back. They were inside a small diner this time, sharing a plate of chicken strips and fries instead of their usual snacks outside the store. Sakiko took Daryl's advice even though it annoyed her- but, the diner was warmer and the food tasted better so she wasn't too mad.

"You kids should head on home, storm's coming," their waitress advises- a woman who had served them for the past week now.

"Oh, is it?" Nanami questions, glancing out the window.

"Be safer if y'all head on home. Want me to give you a ride?" she offers.

"No, we can walk. Thank you," Nanami smiles politely.

"All right. Y'all be careful now," she smiles, picking up their empty plate.

"My watch isn't working," Nanami sighs.

"Then, we have an excuse," Sakiko shrugs, pushing herself out of the booth.

Nanami tilts his head in agreeance as he follows her outside, the pair being met with brutal winds that leave stinging pains on their cheeks. They agree once more to hurry as they break into a fast walk down the roads and to their house.

Their driveway was empty of new vehicles this time, only Shinsuke's car in it's usual spot.

"See? We're fine," Sakiko points out, tugging her brother quicker to the door as the wind picks up speed.

They rush to the door, bustling inside with pants of exhaustion and pain of the cold weather.

"Dad?" Nanami calls.

Sakiko stomps on the doormat a few times to make sure there was no snow on her shoes before walking into the living room as Nanami hangs his hat on the hook. A scream from Sakiko has Nanami tripping into a run to hurry by her side.

Shinsuke grunts in pain, blood covering his face as he tries to pull himself off the floor.

"Call- Call someone!" Sakiko cries to her brother.

Nanami hurries to the table where Shinsuke's phone lay, ready to call the three numbers that would bring help.

"Don't!" Shinsuke shouts, leaning his back against the couch.

"Dad, you- you're.." Sakiko stumbles over her words as she motions to her father as though he would understand his own condition.

He ignores her, pulling himself to his feet, one arm wrapped around his ribcage as he limps to Nanami and snatches the phone harshly from his hands.

"Go to your room!" he yells, making Nanami flinch.

Sakiko could only look at him with wide eyes- wondering why her father was beaten, who did it, and how it all came to be.

"Now!" Shinsuke adds, shoving Sakiko by her shoulder to the hall.

Nanami rushes to her side, grabbing his sister's arm and tugging her with him to their room, careful not to slam the door and leave Shinsuke more angered.

--

Christmas was hardly any different. The kids opened their gifts and were quickly sent outside once again. The diner was nearly empty, one family and a single man eating their meals to themselves as the twins sat in silence over their meal.

The twins hadn't spoken about what happened the day before- both too afraid of what it might mean and what it does mean. Their father had been hurt, but neither knew why.

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," Nanami announces, leaving right after.

Sakiko sits with her knees to her chest in the booth of the diner, only looking at the doll Shinsuke had given her that lay lifeless on the table.

The jingle of the bells signaled the door being opened, Sakiko glancing to the new arrival. Her eyes widen and she looks back to the doll when she sees it was Daryl and the man she'd seen in her living room.

Her thoughts ran wild for a second- were they the ones that jumped her dad? Did they know who? Maybe they knew why?

She wasn't quick enough to look away as Daryl takes notice of her, caught off guard by her sudden change in manners.

Merle selects their table, announcing to Daryl that he'd forgot his wallet in the truck and hurrying back outside. Daryl watches him go then looks to Sakiko who was curling into a smaller ball, hoping that Nanami was quick and they could leave.

Daryl carefully knocks on the table, making Sakiko jump, "Hey, kid."

"Hi," she responds, not looking at him.

Daryl takes note of the doll, wondering if that was the excuse of a present she'd gotten on the famous day.

"Your uh.. Your brother here?" he asks.

"He'll be back in a minute," she nods.

"All right," Daryl nods.

She wasn't alone- that was more than he got at her age.

When Daryl begins to walk away, Sakiko looks at his back and couldn't fight her usual curiousness.

"Why do you wait outside?" she asks timidly.

Daryl pauses, glancing to her over his shoulder before turning around to face her again. She'd seen something, hadn't she? Maybe she wasn't as lucky as Daryl had thought.

"The same reason you do," Daryl answers.

Sakiko doesn't say or do anything that shows she heard him, only wondering how many things he'd seen the thing she had. How many times it had happened to him.

"So, he's your dad?" she finally asks in regards to Merle.

"Brother," Daryl says shortly.

That only left Sakiko more curious as she wondered if their dad was like hers. Secretive.

The duo's words fall short and Daryl sighs at the lack of questions she'd thrown at him this time. He knocks on the table once more as he walks away to the cashier, Sakiko placing her chin on her knee and looking back at the doll.

Nanami and Merle return at the same time, though neither of them recognize the other. Daryl walks away from the register to join Merle as Nanami nods for Sakiko to get up.

"It's five, we can go home," Nanami says, waving their usual waitress over.

Sakiko picks up the doll, placing her feet on the floor as the woman walks over with a kind smile.

"Your bill already got paid for, darlings. No need to worry," she tells them, handing them each a piece of candy, "Merry Christmas."

As she walks away, Nanami looks to the strawberry candy then to her with confusion. Shinsuke had given them enough to buy their snacks or meals- he always did. Who would pay their bill? Nanami shrugs it off, figuring the waitress and chef in the back had noticed the two occupying the same spot on the daily and felt bad it also applied to holidays.

Though, as Sakiko stood and the twins made their way to the door, she glances to Daryl who was already looking at her.

She mouths a 'thank you' to him and Daryl huffs out a breath, looking back to his menu.

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

okay last for the night bye im-