Part 8: Hanabi

"You're back!" said dad. He enters the living room, putting his work beg on the table.

"Yeah, I'm coming back for the fresh air and to relax." I made a pot of green tea and place it on the table.

"Where is your mother?" he looked over at the kitchen while unbuttoning his jacket and placing it on the stand.

"She's at the new neighbor's house, helping them." I pour the hot green tea into Dad's empty cup.

"I guess I need to cook dinner for us. Your mother might come home late." Dad drinks up the hot green tea and gets up.

"What do you want for dinner?" Dad put on an apron and rolls up his sleeves. He tied his hair up. I got up as well to help dad in the kitchen.

"Can you cook curly, please? I loved your curry!" I put on my apron too, helping dad in the kitchen is my favorite part.

"Alright. So we will be cooking some curry and chicken katsu. Sounds good?"

"Yup!" I washed my hands after dad finished washing his hand. I take out all the raw vegetable and wash it. Dad is an excellent cook than mom, I can deny it.

"Defrozen the chicken too. I made the curry first," instruct Dad. He began to cut down the vegetable and place it on a plate, then I helps with the peeling part.

"So how's Tokyo? Is everything okay?" He asked.

"Tokyo is occupied. There are a lot of people and traffic, urgh! Don't let me start on the traffic. It's packed as hell. The food in the city is pricey, but luckily I'm a student. So I'd get some discount on

Food." I started to explain my study life in Tokyo,and then I began to tell Dad about the hospital. Believe me, it's a bad action to tell him.

"What? Have you been in a hospital? For what?" Dad looked at me.

"I-Uhm. Fainted? And a few students found me in the subway." I try to act like it wasn't a big deal.

"Fainted? Did you faint in a subway? Great! After Hanabi, then it's you. I think I need to bring you two for a medical check-up."

"Ha? Hanabi too?"

"Yes, she's recently fainted in her classroom and she did not wake up for one day. The doctor said it was just a high fever and nothing else." Said Dad, he turn off the cookstove and place the pot on the table. I've done the prep for the chicken. Dad took over and I started to set up the dining table.

"Wow, dad. I didn't know that happened. That explains why she's so annoying this noon. When I came back, the first words she said is what are you doing here? And I was wow kid. I'm your big sister, I have the right to come home whenever I want."

"Hahaha. You know your little sister is a bit grumpy if she's not well. Just let it slide."

"Oh! I'm gonna annoyed her more than ever. Believe me, dad."

"Stop making her feel much worse. Here." Dad passed me the orange juice that he had just freshly blended.

"I can't promise that." I take the jar and place it on the table. Soon after we're done cooking.

"Call your mom and said I'm coming to pick her up." Dad takes off the apron and heads to the front door.

"Alright, dad." He heads out and I reach for my iPhone and start calling mom.

"Hello, mom?"

"Yes, dear. What's up?"

"Dad's on his way to pick you up. We're done cooking dinner."

"Oh, God! I forgot I need to cook dinner! Alright, I will be waiting for your dad. See you at home."

"It's fine mom. Ok, bye." I ended the calls and went straight to my room to grab a charger. On my way to my room, I look at Hanabi's room.

"Hanabi? You're okay?" I knock on her door a few times but she didn't say a word.

"Hanabi. Come down if you are awake, dad and I cooked curry and chicken katsu."

"Alright.." she answers. I head into my room, grab my charger, and waited for them to come home.

After a few minutes, Hanabi walks down and enters the living room. I can see from her face, she's sick.

"Is it just me or you looked way too pale?" I walk to Hanabi and touch her forehead. Her body temperature is quite high.

"I'll be fine. Anyway, where's mom and dad?"

"Dad goes out to pick up mom and head back here. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, Hikari. I'm fine, I just need some resting." Hanabi took a blanket to cover her entire body with it. She lay down on the couch.

"Here. I got you something, a protection charm." I hand over to Hanabi the protective charm I've brought from the weird shop.

"Where did you buy this?" she asked, looking at the wooden charm.

"I find it in a shop and it's a weird shop. You know, the moment I stepped into the shop, the owner shop chanting something to me and I started to vomit and you know the next thing that happened is he said I'm been cursed by a witch. It's crazy." I tried to laugh it off but Hanabi seem to believe it. Her eyes brighten up.

"Did you see the witch's face?"

"Yes, I have. Black hair, big scary eyes, and-"

"Bloody mouth," said Hanabi. I looked at her in surprise.

"How do you know?"

"I saw her too," said Hanabi. She begins to tell me all the weird things that are happening to her since she last visited her new friend's house.

"Wow. I think you need to be cleaned, tomorrow morning, I'm going to Aoi-chan's house. You should follow me." I suggest.

"But I don't think it's going away, every day it's getting near. Sometimes at night, it would come and watch me. I can feel it but I don't open my eyes." says Hanabi.

"Hanabi, after dinner we're going to Aoi-chan." I decided this thing can harm her if we let it come.

"Alright. Make sure you take a bath before going okay." soon after, our parents get home. We eat our dinner together.

"Mom, dad. I think I wanna spend the night at Aoi-chan's house, do you mind sending us to her house?"

"But you just got here. Go to her house tomorrow morning." says, mom.

"But I made a promise to her, and Hanabi is coming with me too. I wanna spent girls' night with them." I try to come up with the most realistic reason.

"Hanabi is sick. You can't bring her, what if Aoi-chan gets infected?" says, mom again.

"But mom. Please let me bring Hanabi too plus she needs the fresh air too. Right Hanabi? Didn't you say you wanna come with me 'cause you wanted some fresh air?" I hit her legs, wanting her to cooperate with me.

"Yes, mom. I need the fresh air. I have been in my room the entire 3 days so I need the air." says Hanabi.

"Fine. But make sure you don't cause any problem do granny. She's old enough to catch the flu." says mom.

"I won't let Hanabi touch granny at all!" We finished up our dinner as fast as we can and Hanabi went to the bathroom.

"Hurry up Hanabi. We don't want to be late." I rushed her to pick up her pace. In the meantime, I called Aoi-chan to let her know we were coming to her house. At first, she sounded sad but then again she invites us. I packed up my pajamas and my exchange clothes for tomorrow. I put my laptop inside my bag too. After Hanabi finished washing up, I take my turn to bathe.

"Did you bring your medicine?" asked mom. She checked Hanabi's bag and put her medicine in the bag pocket.

"I've got it all in here. Don't worry mom. It's just for a night." says Hanabi.

"Okay. Take care, and you Hikari make sure you girls don't stay up late. See you tomorrow." Mom wishes us farewell and we hop into the car. Dad brought us to Aoi-chan's house. When we arrived, I ring the doorbell, and the person that opens the door was Kimura-Kun. Aoi's eldest brother.

"Hello. I'm sorry to bother you but is Aoi-chan awake?" I greeted him.

"Hi Hikari, Hanabi. Yes, she's awake and she told us about the pajama party you're having. Come in."

Kimura invited us in and for a few minutes, my dad was talking to him. Not long after, Aoi-chan comes to the main door and invites us in.

"Girls please don't make any trouble for them. And Kimura, thanks for having my girls in your household," says Dad.

"It's been a pleasure to have Hikari and Hanabi in our home since they have been friends with my little sister. Drive safe sir."

"Bye, dad." we wave Dad goodbye and I head straight to Aoi-chan's room.