Mika was so busy focusing on the incident, replaying the scene, and wondering exactly how loud she had said the word that ten minutes had passed before she could focus on the lecture. It was fortunate at least, that the content being taught was slightly behind where it had been in her old school, so she didn't miss any significant details. The class after that was P.E.; Mika’s worst and least favorite class.

They were playing volleyball, and Ayako had been sure to include Mika. She ended up with the front right spot, but after a couple of rounds, in which Mika had knocked the ball out three times and had volleyed it into a teammate’s face, she got rotated to the back beside Kana. The fact that Kana was no better at sports – she could hardly hit the ball when it came her way, let alone aim it back to the other team – was the only redeeming part of the whole incident.

Homeroom wrapped up the day, and at long last, the final bell rang.

Mika sighed and picked up her bag. What a full first day it had been. Ayako and Kana met her at her desk while the rest of the students in the class filed out into the already packed hallway.

“So how’d your first day go?” Ayako asked.

Mika tried for a small smile as she stood up. “It was long, but not bad.”

“Awesome! If you want, I can show you some of the places around town and –”

“Ayako, what about the homework?” Kana said, staring at Ayako over the rim of her glasses. “It would be just like you to go running around downtown, forget to do it, and then ask me to help you five minutes before class tomorrow.”

“Kana!” Ayako said, a small whining tone entering her voice. “You make it sound so bad.”

“Maybe some other time,” Mika offered. “I have to do mine too, and I have a bit to catch up with since it’s my first day.”

“Alright fine. This weekend then!” Ayako decided, before leading them into the now vacant hallway.

“You guys don’t ride the buses?” Mika asked as they walked down the street.

“My house isn’t far,” Ayako answered. “It’s less trouble to walk than to try to cram myself onto the bus. Besides, after a long day inside, the outside air is nice.”

“Likewise,” Kana responded. “It takes roughly twenty minutes to walk to my house from the school, but the bus can take up to three quarters of an hour.”

“What about you Mika? You didn’t want to ride it? Where do you live anyway?”

“Kyoudomari I think is what the area is called. I don’t really know the bus routes that well so I thought I’d walk. It only took me about half an hour this morning.”

“That’s not too far,” Ayako agreed with a nod. “Well anyway, this is where I turn. See ‘ya tomorrow Mika!”

Ayako branched off to the left, leaving Mika and Kana to continue in silence. For the next two blocks, all Mika could think about was how to start a good conversation; neither had talked much to each other, instead, they seemed to communicate more through Ayako as a mutual friend.

Kana stopped, and Mika turned back to look at her. “Is something the matter?” she asked worriedly.

Kana shook her head. “My home is down this way,” she said, indicating another road to the left.

“Oh, well I’ll see you tomorrow…?” The statement turned into a question half way as she wondered if Kana was even interested in talking to her tomorrow.

“Of course. Mika, it was nice to meet you,” she said smiling ever so slightly before she turned down the street.

“You too!” Mika called after her. The rest of the walk to her house took less than ten minutes. As she reached the front gate, she paused to look up at the house. It was so different from her grandmother’s, but it was home, or at least it was now.

With a deep breath, Mika stepped through the gate and up to the front door. Uncle’s car is still gone… it’s been four days now, she thought as she opened the door. The last she’d seen him was the day she had moved in. At that time, he’d given her a key and told her that he spent most of his time away from the house.

Mika hadn’t realized this meant that he wouldn’t come home either. She had received a couple of phone calls from him since then, but in both cases, he’d been slightly drunk and the only thing she could make out was that he would be on a business trip for the next two weeks.

Her mother and grandmother had always said that he was an alcoholic, and a violent drunk on top of it. Neither had ever had good comments about the guy, but her two encounters with him – once as a child and another just a handful of days ago – had not been bad. Granted, he hadn’t been drinking.

With a sigh, Mika banished the thoughts from her head. There was no sense in worrying about it now. “Tadaima,” she murmured into the quiet house.

What she wouldn’t give to have someone answer, “Okaeri.”