The Ties that Bind [Rindou x Reader x Kakucho]

Part 2: Chapter 8

Y/N POV
As I got to the door of our apartment I let out a sigh of relief. Struggling to hold onto the bags of groceries, while carrying my school bag , and box with a cake inside. I tried to open the door with the keys I made sure to have ready before the struggle became even more real after leaving the cake shop. Knowing I'd have a difficult time reaching for them inside my school bag. "Ugh, come on", I fumbled to get a hold of the key I needed while ensuring the cake didn't fall. "There we go", I said relieved as I turned the key to unlock our apartment door. I lightly kicked the door open and stepped inside while giving it a swift nudge with my foot to close behind me.

"I'm home!", I yelled fully stepping inside our living room after taking off my shoes. "In the kitchen dear!" called my mom out. I walked towards the kitchen making sure to put the box with the cake inside on the counter at the kitchen island. "Don't think I could've made it much longer without dropping it.", I sighed loudly as I put the groceries on the counter as well. Taking each item out. "Well, you'd just have to run back and buy another one.", my mom chuckled while looking at me as she turned her attention back onto chopping up some carrots.

"Uh. No.", I said folding up the tote bags I had purchased at the supermarket to put the groceries inside. "That was the last red velvet cake they had," I pointed at the box, "don't think we'd be extra lucky to find another one nearby, and especially too close to dinner time." I walked towards the refrigerator to put away any perishable items. "Well, you're a strong girl, so you made it safely to your destination while carrying all of that." My mom said as she poured the chopped carrots onto the pot beside her on the stove.

"The volleyball team will be lucky to have me don't you think?", I said as I flexed my arms at my mom posing like some professional wrestler. "Speaking of that, when will they tell you about making it on the team?", she grabbed a broccoli next on her chopping block. I closed the refrigerator after placing the cake inside to ensure no frosting melted. "Well, supposedly this week.", grabbing an apple from the counter as I took a bite of it, I stood next to my mom. "I'm sure you'll make it. You're a good strong player, Y/N.", she smiled at me, "They're definitely going to be lucky to have you."

I smiled as I finished the apple and threw it away in the compost bin. "Now come on, help me finish cutting these vegetables so I can start the main dish.", she made her way to the sink where she was preparing to wash some lettuce. "Your father said he has some exciting news to share with us.", she proceeded to say. "Sounds like something interesting happened while he was away." I couldn't help but slump down when I heard that. It usually meant having to move again, or just him going away for another work trip. One that could take almost a whole month — again.

"I like it here, mom." I spoke up, "What if dad has gotten another promotion? Will we have to follow him, too?" I dreaded thinking of starting over again in a different city. It's always so hard to make friends like that. I've only been here in Tokyo for a few months, and I've gotten to meet a lot of students in my class grade. Especially getting to officially make them friends. Akane being one of them. She was on the volleyball team already, so it's because of her that I even got motivated to tryout for the team.

"Y/N, I know that us having to move around because of your fathers job is a lot. I don't blame you for feeling like you can't and aren't able to have any friends." She placed the freshly washed lettuce onto a salad bowl. "Yet you know that we as his family have to be—", I cut her off by finishing her sentence, " supportive towards his work. I know." She smiled as she walked towards me holding my face up, "Right."

She walked toward the refrigerator to grab a pack of ground beef. I sighed returning to finish chopping the cherry tomatoes for the salad. "Alright, I think the water is ready for those vegetables to be steamed." She grabbed the bowl with the chopped carrots and broccoli and carefully pouring them into the pot of hot water. "Your father is going to be happy to have some hamburger steaks tonight." She happily said as she opened the pack of ground beef to prepare. I smiled as I saw her looking so content.