Effects of The Sorrowed

Chapter 2

Weeks had passed and Mizu was dealing with the death a lot better than when the news was first dropped. Takuto sat at the kitchen table ready to dig into his fresh french toast and eggs. “Delicious.” Takuto said quietly, licking his lips, fork and knife in hand.

“Takuto...why is my eyeliner gone?” Sakuto called from the stairwell. Takuto had just stuck a piece of toast in his mouth when she asked. “I swear to god if you used all of my eyeliner again…” Sakuto said as she rounded the corner to see her brother sitting at the table, sure enough, his eyes were covered in eyeliner, he had been experimenting with different looks the last couple days and had taken to his sisters eyeliner, it made his eyes look nicer was his thought process. “Really? Again? You’re the one that has a job right now, why don’t you buy your own eyeliner?” Sakuto said, her eyes locked on her twin. Takuto finished chewing and swallowed before his eyes fell onto hers.

“Well, I don’t really know if I want to commit like that…” Takuto said, his shoulders rising in a shrug.

“Ugh...I’m gonna start hiding my eyeliner and you’re going to have to get your own!” Sakuto hissed.

“C’mon, we’re twins…” Takuto started before shoving another piece of toast in his mouth, “I’ll figure it out…” Takuto said, his mouth still full.

“Ewe, don’t talk with your mouth full...that’s disgusting…” Sakuto said looking away from her brother, grimacing.

“I thought you liked seafood.” Takuto snickered.

“Yeah, food from the sea, not seeing your food!” Sakuto growled before quickly turning around to head back upstairs but the ring of the phone stopped her dead in her tracks. She sighed. “Who’s calling at this hour?” Sakuto mumbled starting towards the phone but Takuto beat her there and grabbed the phone before mouthing, too slow.

“Hello? Yes, this is he...He’s where? What happened?...what?!...okay...I’ll be there soon!” Takuto said, his playful demeanor quickly falling.

“What’s wrong, Takuto?” Sakuto asked, noticing the concern and worry on her brother’s face.

“It’s dad, go get Mizu…” Takuto said before he threw off his napkin and threw his shoes on and jacket on. Sakuto hurried upstairs.

“Mizu, Mizu! Get up Mizu!” Sakuto said, her voice higher in panic.

“What? What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Mizu asked as she stumbled out of her bedroom rubbing her eyes.

“We have to go.” Sakuto said.

“Go? Go where?” Mizu asked, her eyes now wide and on Sakuto.

“Just get dressed.” Takuto yelled from downstairs, Mizu’s eyes shot behind Sakuto to where Takuto’s voice came from and then she ran off to get dressed. Sakuto grabbed the rest of her clothes and threw them on before throwing her hair in a ponytail. “He’s in the hospital.” Takuto said a little more quietly to his sister. Her face grew pale.

“Why?” Sakuto whispered frantically.

“I’m ready, let’s go!” Mizu said running down the stairs and grabbing a jacket and throwing on her shoes. The three hurried off to the hospital and when they got there Takuto was the first one in the door and then up the stairs to his father’s room, the girls scrambling to catch up with him. His vision was tunneled as he felt his focus remain on his mission, his mission to find his father. He threw the door open to his father’s room and his eyes quickly scanned the white room, he was panting and sweaty mainly from panic. The smell of the cleaning supplies burned his flaring nostrils but he ignored it. His eyes circled the room a few times before they fell to the bed where his father lay, pale and sweaty.

“Father!” Sakuto exclaimed as she entered the room, shaking. Takuto’s breathing began getting more regular as he focused on the beeping monitor that acted as proof that his father was still on this Earth. “Father, are you in pain?” Sakuto asked softly, bending down and grabbing her fathers sweaty hand. Tears fell down her cheeks.

“Not...with...you two here...where...where is Mizu?” Their father asked.

“I’m here uncle, I’m here.” Mizu panted in the doorway as she leaned against the door frame trying to support herself. Her entire body was shaking and she felt the threat of tears and the heaviness of her own heart.

“Come...here child...let your uncle...see you…” Mizu slowly walked over to her uncle in the bed, Sakuto stepping aside to let her in.

“Hi, Uncle Yamasin…” Mizu whispered, with a soft smile, her eyes watering.

“My, my, haven’t...you grown...so...tall...so...beau...tiful...just like...your mother…” Yamasin said as his hands shakily reached for Mizu’s face, she knelt down to make it easier for him, her cheeks slightly pink from the compliment. “How I’ve missed...you...and...your mother…” Yamasin said, his hands falling from her face. He turned his head and looked at the white ceiling. “My children...tell me something...are you...happy?” Yamasin asked weakly. Sakuto, Takuto, and Mizara looked at each other and then back to Yamasin. Mizu nodded as did Sakuto.

“I’d say we’re pretty happy, father…” Takuto said kindly. Yamasin smiled, his smile nearly engulfing his eyes from the wrinkles - even though he was so young.

“That’s good...at least...I can...go in peace...knowing that much...I love you all…” Yamasin said as his eyes slowly closed.

“Father, what do you mean?” Takuto tried gingerly. His father didn’t respond. Mizu and Sakuto looked frantically at Takuto. “H-He’s just sleeping…” Takuto said, his heart racing but a smile tried on his face. The next noise that hit her ears was the last thing she could focus on as the machine flatlined and she felt her heart drop.

“Father! No!” Sakuto all but screamed, tears running quickly down her cheeks. “Father please!” Sakuto shrieked, her knees collapsing beneath her, her hands tightly gripped around her father’s. Takuto was silent but his face was pale and his eyes were wide. Mizu felt the room spin around her and felt light headed as she felt her own legs give out from under her.

‘Not again…’ Mizu thought as she fell to the floor, on her hands and knees, her arms shaking as she held herself up, her eyes shut tight, her teeth gritted, she tasted the salt of her own tears and felt her nose filling with snot, her heart had burst from her chest she felt and was pouring itself - blood and all - onto the ground in front of her as she cried out. The doctors and nurses were running in around them trying hard to remove Sakuto from her father but she kicked and screamed and called out his name as it took two or three nurses to finally remove her, two nurses helped Takuto out of the room who seemed to have gone numb and a single nurse was knelt beside Mizu urging her to get up but she felt like she didn’t have the strength to do so and the nurse ended up grabbing her by the arm and slinging it over her shoulders as Mizu fell heavily against the nurse, her vision was blurred by the nonstop tears she cried. As the days went on, the house was quiet, no bickering, no laughing, no screaming, just the sounds of sniffling and crying and nose blowing. None of them had gone to school for a while, Takuto officially dropped out of school while the other two still remained but did not attend. Mizu spent most of her time in bed, her eyes seemed to be permanently swollen from crying and the only time she left her room was to use the bathroom, and bathe occasionally. She’d shut down. Takuto sat downstairs at the kitchen table, a cigarette between his lips, an ashtray at his left on the table, a glass of whiskey on his right, a nearly empty bottle of whisky behind that and a photo book in front of him. His eyes were glued on the photo in the open album that was a picture of their family, Mizu’s parents holding Mizu as a baby, the twins’ parents holding the hands of their children and all the rest of their family. His right hand acted as a way to hold up his head, his left hand finger rubbing the picture of his father with him and his sister. Sakuto was lying on the couch hugging a pillow tight, fast asleep. Her hair was in a messy bun and she was wearing an oversized t-shirt and some short pink athletic shorts. Takuto’s finger paused on the picture before it reached the cigarette nestled in between his lips. He took a big drag and held it for a minute before releasing it. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples before he set his cigarette on the ashtray and reached for his glass of whiskey. Just as the mouth of the glass touched his lip, the doorbell rang. He paused and set down the glass before looking at the clock. 

It was six at night. He glanced over at his twin who twitched in her sleep but did not get up. Takuto pushed his chair back so that he could get out of it before heading to the door. His hair hadn’t been brushed in days and hadn’t been cut in weeks, it was just above his shoulders at this point. He unlocked the deadbolt and cracked the door a little. A boy with messy brown hair and blue eyes stood beaming at him, although when the boy's eyes fell on him, the boy's smile slipped some.

“Um, hi...is...Tachin-san here? Do I have the right address?” The boy asked, his cheeks turning slightly red at the thought of being at the wrong house. Takuto narrowed his brows at the boy.

“Who’s asking?” Takuto asked gruffly. The boy’s smile disappeared.

“I-I’m a classmate, my name is Hideki Kaoru…” The boy stumbling over his words, he was intimidated. Takuto’s eyebrows only unfurrowed slightly.

“What do you want with her?” Takuto asked.

“I-I’ve just come to give her the class assignments and homework…” Kaoru said looking at his feet anxiously. Takuto stared at him for a minute longer before opening the door all the way and gesturing to the boy to come in. The boy looked up at Takuto and then inside before hesitantly stepping inside and removing his outdoor shoes.

“Wait here, I’ll grab her.” Takuto said as he closed the door behind Kaoru and headed upstairs. As he walked down the hallway, he noticed that her light wasn’t on, again. He sighed and stopped in front of her door before knocking lightly. “Mizara, someone’s here to see you,” Takuto called. No sound. “Mizara, he says he’s a classmate?” Takuto called again. There was another silence before he heard light scampering across the floor and Mizara peeped her head out the slightly cracked door, her violet eyes narrowed in reaction to the bright light, her own blonde hair in a very messy bun, it looked as though it’d gotten staticy. 

“What’s he want?” Mizara asked, her voice quiet.

“He said he’s brought homework and class assignments…” Takuto said, stepping back some from the door to give her room. Mizara’s eyes fell to the floor before she nodded.

“Okay...tell him I’ll be down in a minute, I gotta put a robe on…” Mizara mumbled. She’d been wearing a spaghetti strap light tank top with short shorts that matched, they almost looked like boxers for girls.

“Will do.” Takuto said with a nod before he departed from the now closing door and headed back downstairs. “She’ll be out in a minute, have a seat, do you need a drink or anything?” Takuto asked before going back to his spot at the dinner table and taking a swig of the whiskey, he gritted his teeth as he felt it run down the back of his throat before he picked his cigarette back up and took a drag. Kaoru nodded and found a seat opposite of Sakuto, Kaoru’s eyes scanned her over. “Don’t get any smart ideas, kid.” Takuto growled, his eyes catching Kaoru’s glances. Kaoru’s cheeks got pink again and his eyes fell to the floor.

“I-I wasn’t…” Kaoru said honestly. ‘This guy is scary...he’s much older than me and Tachin are but...I don’t think it’s her father…’ Kaoru thought.

“Hideki-san…” Mizara’s voice came from just before the last step of the stairs.

“Tachin-san!” Kaoru exclaimed, slightly startled from the sudden but quiet voice. “How are you holding up?” Kaoru asked somewhat quietly. Mizara’s violet eyes fell to the floor and her shoulders rose in a shrug. Kaoru frowned. “I’m sorry...but...it will get better…” Kaoru tried with a small smile that was supposed to be comforting, when he spoke those last words, she looked incredulous. “You know, it’s not your fault…” Kaoru said as he stood slowly and grabbed his backpack. He set the backpack on the chair he was previously sitting in and searched through it, Mizu behind him now, her eyes still expressed disbelief and maybe anger? “You’re just hurting yourself by telling yourself it’s your fault…” Kaoru said as he found the notebooks and pulled them out, still not looking at Mizu, he opened the books and flipped through the pages to make sure they were the right ones.

“No! You have no idea what it’s like to have the people you love die! Everytime I open my stupid mouth! Every time I think things are good, someone else dies! So, how can you sit there and act like it’s not?! I’m a curse!” Mizu exclaimed, Sakuto woke up with a start before looking around, her eyes wide. Kaoru cringed when Mizu yelled and he turned to look at her. Takuto stood abruptly and started towards Mizu. Tears ran down her cheeks again and she began shaking. Kaoru looked scared.

“I just mean that you aren’t the reason, sometimes bad things happen to good people. I didn’t mean to anger you or upset you…” Kaoru said, his eyes wide and on Mizu.

“Mizu, we’ve been over this...it’s not your fault…” Takuto said quietly. Mizu shook her head.

“What are you doing here, Hideki-san?” Mizu growled.

“I’m bringing homework from last week and the rest of this week…” Kaoru said, his eyes less wide now. Mizu walked over to him, still shaking, tears still running but more slowly. Kaoru stuck out the hand that was holding the assignments towards her. She felt her anger slip away slowly, ‘That face...Kaido…’ She thought, her heart hurting and sadness replacing the anger.

“I’m sorry, Hideki-san...it’s just...it’s complicated and hard...I shouldn’t take it out on your…” Mizu mumbled looking down feeling bad now. Kaoru seemed to loosen up some, as did Takuto, Sakuto just stared confused. Kaoru smiled.

“I understand. Take care of yourself, okay, Tachin-san?” Kaoru said as Mizu took the assignments from his hands gently. That smile stopped Mizu’s heart and a flash of his face took over the forefront of her mind. Her eyes grew wide.

“Kaido…” Mizu barely breathed.

“I’m sorry?” Kaoru asked, not hearing her. Mizu blinked and felt her cheeks get warm.

“I-It’s nothing.” Mizu said quickly, looking down. “Thanks again…” Mizu said, not looking at Kaoru anymore. Kaoru smiled obliviously.

“No problem, you’d do it for me I’m sure.” Kaoru said grinning. “Hey, if you have any problems understanding it, you can just shoot me an email or give me a call and I’ll help you out.” Kaoru said. Mizu glanced quickly at Kaoru before down again. Every smile was like a knife being dragged through her heart. Kaoru didn’t react to her lack of response. He smiled again and offered a wave after putting his backpack back on. “ I hope to see you at school soon, Tachin-san, we really miss you…” Kaoru said as he headed towards the door, Takuto hurried over to open the door for him. Mizu didn’t look at him but nodded. Kaoru kept his eyes on Mizu for another moment before he looked at Takuto and nodded. “Take care.” Kaoru said.

“You too…” Takuto responded as Kaoru stepped out. He closed and re-locked the door. “Nice boy…” Takuto said as he headed back to his seat at the table. Mizu stood by the stairs still and sighed.

“He reminds me so much of...it scares me…” Mizu said, wrapping her arms around her body. “It hurts to look at him…” Mizu said, holding one shaky hand to her chest. Takuto took another drag of his cigarette before sighing.

“It is kind of...strange…” Takuto said before setting his cigarette down and taking a swig of his whisky again. “So,” Takuto started as he set down his now empty glass and put out his cigarette. “What’s your relationship with that guy anyway?” Takuto asked before stretching his arms behind him and holding them there. Mizu’s eyes shot to Takuto.

“I don’t have a relationship with him, I mean, he’s in my class, that’s all.” Mizu said quickly. Takuto studied her for a long minute.

“Yeah…? Really? You’re telling me the truth?” Takuto asked. Mizu nodded.

“Yes, I’m telling you the truth, okay?” Mizu said. Takuto nodded and looked at his glass tobacco bowl that sat above the picture album.

“Okay…” Takuto said before pulling out a stash jar from his pants pocket as well as a grinder. Mizu sighed and took off towards her room.

“What was that about?” Sakuto yawned before sitting next to her brother at the table.

“A boy from school brought her assignments and homework…” Takuto said as he emptied some of the mary jane that was in his stash jar into his grinder. Sakuto looked at where Mizu had disappeared. Mizu busied herself with her homework and within a couple of hours, she was all caught up - or at least as caught up as you can be from homework and classwork. She set the homework and assignments on her desk before laying back on her bed and staring at the ceiling of her bedroom. ‘How many family members are going to die? Will I eventually be...all alone?’ Mizu thought before rolling over to her side and curling up, the thought gave cold chills through her body. ‘9...9 people have died already...there’s not many of us left...3. That’s it…’ Mizu thought, her brows knitting together at the new wave of hurt that splashed over her. She tried to curl up as tight as she could to make herself invisible. She hadn’t realized that she’d fallen asleep until a knock at her door woke her up, her heart was racing. She blinked and looked around, it was pitch black in her room now. “Hey, Mizu...are you alright in there?” Takuto’s voice came from the otherside.

“Y-Yeah...I’m fine…” Mizu said, her voice cracking since she’d not spoken in so long.

“Can I come in?” Takuto called. Mizu paused and stared at the wall to the side of her bed.

“Yeah, I guess…” Mizu said. Takuto opened the door and poked his head in.

“Where are you? I can’t see…” Takuto said squinting while trying to see his cousin in blackness. Mizu smelled the fresh scent of mary jane on her cousin, it was a smell that had become comforting to her. She reached up to the bedside table next to her and flipped on that lamp. Takuto blinked, letting his eyes adjust. “Heya, cuz…” Takuto said as he started over to the end of her bed. “How are you really holding up?” Takuto asked. Mizu glanced over at her cousin and then away.

“Rough.” Mizu said apathetically. Takuto nodded.

“I figured...but...you realize that you’re going to have to go back to school…” Takuto said, looking at Mizu. Mizu didn’t say anything. “You need to finish.” Takuto said.

“Why should I? You didn’t.” Mizu said, glancing over at him.

“I quit school so that I could take care of you and Sakuto and let you and Sakuto be teenagers…” Takuto said.

“What if I don’t want to be a teenager?” Mizu said. “What the point?” Mizu said before covering her head with her pillow.

“Mizu, I understand that this is a lot to deal with but you still have your whole life to live…” Takuto said. “You will never be happy if you stay locked in your room all the time…” Takuto said.

“I’ll never be happy anyway! Because the minute I am happy someone else will die!” Mizara said. Takuto paused.

“Is that really how you feel, Mizara?” Takuto asked gently.

“Yes! That’s really how I feel! Look at what’s happened!” Mizu said.

“Mizara, death is a part of life, it is not your fault and it is not because you are happy, people die, it’s inevitable. It would’ve happened no matter what…” Takuto explained.

“How do you know?! What if I were never alive?! Would everyone be alive then?! If I didn’t exist, mom and dad and grandma and grandpa and everyone would be alive, Takuto!” Mizara responded harshly. Takuto stared at Mizu for a long time.

“Mizara, that’s not true. We don’t know that that would be true...why do you feel like it’s your fault?” Takuto asked.

“Because...everyone around me dies. There is no other explanation…” Mizu said sadly.

“Mizara, you are not the reason that they died. Time is the reason that they died. The reaper decided that their time was up…” Takuto said. Mizu didn’t say anything. “Mizara, you’re going back to school tomorrow.” Takuto said after a few moments of silence. “No arguments.” Takuto added. “Night…” Takuto said as he stood and headed out of her room. Mizara pulled her head out from under the pillow and stared at the wall beside her bed.

“Is Mizu okay?” Sakuto asked as Takuto returned downstairs. Takuto looked grim.

“Not really…” Takuto said as he walked over to his sister and sat beside her on the couch.

“Oh my, this is a lot to take in for a girl as young as her...we have to help her…” Sakuto said motherly. Takuto looked at his sister.

“She’s not really that much younger than us…” Takuto said.

“But she’s still young…” Sakuto said.

“Keep an eye on her at school…” Takuto said as he took out another cigarette. Sakuto looked over at him before she looked down.

“I will...you should go back…” Sakuto said. Takuto was in the middle of lighting his cigarette, he paused and then dropped his hands and looked at his fingers.

“Sakuto...you know I can’t do that...we’ll lose this place…” Takuto said quietly.

“There’s gotta be a way…” Sakuto said rubbing at her arm. Takuto sighed before getting up and stretching then sliding his lighter and pack of smokes back into his pocket.

“I’m going to bed...you should head to bed too, it’s late…” Takuto said before grabbing his bottle of whiskey and heading upstairs. Sakuto looked down at her own hands.

“I will…” Sakuto said quietly. She sat on the couch staring at her hands, deep in thought. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be…” Sakuto said quietly.

***

“Mizu...Mizu, hey…” A familiar voice called from behind Mizu. She opened her eyes and found herself in a meadow full of beautiful flowers of all different colors, there were trees around her, the sun was shining brightly and the birds chirped loudly. She blinked and turned around to see a boy. He was smiling at her, his blue eyes so bright and beautiful from the light of the sun, his brown hair gracing his shoulders, it looked windswept.

“Hideki-san?” Mizu said quietly. She blinked again and his freckled face was more visible. “No...Kaido…” Mizu said breathlessly. She felt her eyes fill with tears. “Kaido...it’s you…” Mizu said weakly.

“Yeah, hey.” Kaido said as he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. Mizu felt her body tremble.

“B-But...you were killed...right?” Mizu said before she wrapped her own arms around him and breathed in his scent. “I don’t even care...Kaido, I missed you so much…” Mizu sobbed.

“I missed you too, Zara..” Kaido said, holding Mizu.

“Kaido, I feel like the world is crumbling down on me, everyone I care about is dying…” Mizu sobbed.

“I’m so sorry, Zara...but...it’s not your fault. You must remember that…” Kaido said, stroking her hair.

“Then why is this happening?” Mizu sobbed.

“Zara...I know why...it’s not because of you though...it’s because of me…” Kaido said sadly. Mizu pulled back from him some.

“Because of you? How?” Mizu asked, confused. Kaido’s blue eyes filled with sadness and tension. “Kaido?” Mizu pushed. He sighed and kissed her on the head before he pulled back and looked at her, his smile gone.

“Mizara...this world is not what we think it is…” Kaido said. Mizu’s brows furrowed together.

“What do you mean?” Mizu asked. Kaido glanced behind him and then looked back at Mizu.

“There is something I didn’t tell you…” Kaido said, licking his lips nervously. Mizu felt her body trembling again.

“What do you mean?” Mizu asked. Kaido glanced back behind him. “Kaido, you’re scaring me…” Mizu said.

“I’m sorry, I have to go, Zara…” Kaido said.

“Wait, Kaido, don’t go yet!” Mizu said. Kaido smiled sadly before there was a loud bang as the scene around her slowly began to fade. “Kaido!” Mizu said as she watched her fingers fall through his body. Everything disappeared and she woke with a start.

***

Mizu’s eyes shot open and she was panting on the floor of her bedroom, her hair matted with sweat, her alarm was screaming at her and her heart was racing. Mizu took a deep breath. “A dream...it was a dream…” Mizu said putting a hand to her forehead and closing her eyes as she tried to ease her now pounding head. She reached up and turned off the alarm clock before sitting and looking around. She stood up and grabbed her clothes for school and took a shower. She stood in the bathroom after she was dressed and looked at herself in the mirror. She had bags under her violet eyes, her blonde hair needed trimmed, her skin was pale. “I really don’t want to do this…” Mizu whispered as she looked away from her reflection and sighed.

“Mizu, are you up?” Sakuto’s voice came. Mizu picked up her head and opened the door.

“Yeah.” Mizu responded as she headed downstairs.

“Are you hungry?” Sakuto asked from the dinner table.

“Not really…” Mizu said before her stomach gave a loud growl. She grimaced. “Okay...maybe a little…” Mizu said before her stomach gave another growl.

“Eat.” Takuto’s voice came from the living room. Mizu rolled her eyes.

“Fine, fine…” Mizu responded as she headed into the kitchen, the smell of an american breakfast filled her nostrils, bacon, eggs, syrup, pancakes. It overwhelmed her senses, she smelled each individual ingredient and could almost taste it already. She sat at the table as Sakuto dropped plates of breakfast in front of Mizu and two empty seats.

“Taku, come eat.” Sakuto called.

“I don’t have a lot of time…” Takuto called back.

“It’s already done, just come and eat, we’ll clean up.” Sakuto said. Takuto nodded as he quickly sat and dug in. Mizu didn’t realize how hungry she was until she took the first bite. “Hungry much?” Sakuto asked with a small smile. Mizu glanced up at Sakuto, and noticed her slightly red puffy eyes but she was smiling. Mizu nodded and finished chewing.

“Yeah…” Mizu said, swallowing. Takuto finished and headed out the door in a hurry after mumbling a thanks. Mizu looked at Sakuto. “Sakuto...I dreamt of him…” Mizu said as she set down her fork, suddenly the food was not settling well in her stomach. Sakuto stopped and looked over at her.

“Oh, Mizu, are you okay?” Sakuto asked sadly. Mizu shook her head, staring at her plate.

“He was scaring me...he said that there are things he didn’t tell me…” Mizu said, her eyes watering  and her body shaking again. Sakuto hurried over to her and hugged her. “Why did I dream of him? Why would he say that? What didn’t he tell me?” Mizu sobbed. Sakuto looked over at the door that Takuto had disappeared through just moments before and bit her lip before holding Mizu while she was sobbing.

“Shhh, Mizu it’s okay, it was just a dream…” Sakuto said, trying to calm Mizu down. “Mizu...I think you should stay home again today...you aren’t ready to go back to school…” Sakuto hugged her again. Mizu sniffled.

“B-But…” Mizu hiccuped.

“Mizu, you aren’t going to absorb anything in this state…” Sakuto said. “It’s okay, I’ll bring you your homework and let your teacher know…” Sakuto said petting Mizu’s hair again. “Go get comfy clothes on. I’ll clean up.” Sakuto said as she released Mizu slowly and rubbed her back. Mizu looked at Sakuto, her eyes still watering but she nodded slowly and headed back upstairs. Sakuto watched her go sadly and sighed. “That poor girl...she’s really taking this hard…” Sakuto mumbled to herself as she cleaned up breakfast. She was unsure about leaving Mizu alone but she couldn’t afford to skip anymore school, she’d already missed a decent amount of school and her grades were suffering. She wasn’t exactly a straight A student like her brother had been. She got distracted easily. “I’ll be back after school, Mizu, take care of yourself!” Sakuto called up to Mizu. No response. She sighed before heading out the front door.