Getting Pulled Over and Bundled into the Trunk

Everything is fine

Gakushuu grimaced, feeling like he was being shoved in a corner again. "I know..." He shifted, trying to move away. "I'm just tired."

His father's grip loosened. "Oh, of course," he replied, patient again. "But if there's something wrong, you know you can tell me."

"Yes, I know," Gakushuu replied stiffly, trying to look like he meant it. "I'm just tired..." He turned off the tv. "I'm going to bed."

"Oh." His father frowned. "Well, alright then." He smiled and ruffled his head. "Well, we can talk more tomorrow – I'll make sure to get those puzzle games."

Gakushuu sighed, standing up. "Yeah, sure..."

"Well, goodnight," his father called cheerfully.

***

Gakushuu winced when the light from outside his eyes, burying his face in his pillow. "Ugh..."

"Son, it's nearly 9am." His father said, sighing. "Is everything alright? Why are you still asleep? Are you sick?"

Gakushuu jerked back when his father pressed a hand to his forehead. "I'm fine." He quickly sat up, pulling the covers closer protectively as he leant against the wall. "It's a Saturday."

His father frowned, looking concerned. "But you never sleep in."

Gakushuu rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, well now I do..." He tensed when he saw the frown on his father's face. "My friends sleep in until 10am sometimes on the weekend...it's not strange." He narrowed his eyes defensively. "Some of us enjoy a few more hours of sleep."

A brief look of annoyance flashed on his father's face, but it disappeared quickly. "Of course. I'm just surprised is all." He smiled brightly. "I suppose I'm just used to you getting up earlier – anyway, come downstairs, I have a surprise."

"...A surprise?"Gakushuu looked at him warily, feeling his stomach churn from dread.

"Yes." His father kept smiling which just made him grow more nervous. "You'll see. Hurry up and get dressed."

"Right..." Gakushuu watched him leave, wondering if the surprise would turn out to be bad or good.

He hesitated getting out of bed, feeling his dread weigh down and root him there, but there was no point wasting tie upstairs.

Gakushuu got out of bed and dressed for the day, he glanced at the window and sighed when he saw it was still raining, which meant he probably would be stuck inside all day playing with a bunch of shitty puzzles.

When he went downstairs his father called him into the living room where...

There was a pile of three puzzles on the sofa, next to a remote control transformers car, a transformers lego set, and some actual mini transformers figures.

"...What is...?" Gakushuu felt a mixture of confusion and alarm when he saw.

"I couldn't resist really." His father gripped his shoulder. "The puzzles were right next to the toy aisle." He smiled cheerfully while Gakushuu started to grow more alarmed. "And since you seemed upset about me throwing the old ones away, I thought you'd like this."

"I..." What was he supposed to say? "Okay." Gakushuu looked at the toys, feeling a weird sensation in his chest at the gesture which was...strange but...also kind of nice. "Thanks."

He moved to the sofa and picked up one of the mini figurines. "I guess they'll make good collectables." He wasn't sure what else he'd use the toys for, but the remote control car would be interesting if he and Itona could make modifications. "This is...nice."