#malamarca

She is still trembling in the aftermath, the image of her father’s hand raised towards her still vibrant in her mind. She’d been bracing for impact, waiting for his open palm to meet her face, but it had never come. It had never come, because Shindo had stepped him, hand wrapping around her father’s wrist before he could move. He’d swept her away shortly afterwards, arm around her as he took her out of her house. 

You need to come home, Kaminoke. This idea you’ve gotten about being a hero won’t get you anywhere. And him? Really? We have a much better match set up for you.

And when she’d said that no, she wouldn’t come home and she wouldn’t leave Shindo, her father’s tone had changed, his voice raised, his hand lifting to remind her why it was that she belonged at home.

It is easy to lean against him, to let his presence ground her. She had known taking him to meet her family was a bad idea, but the phone call from her mother had convinced her. That had likely been planned by her father as well, Kaminoke realises now. She should never have asked Shindo if he wanted to meet them. Should have warned him more. Should have just said no. It isn’t easy to be kind to herself, like he says, when all she can see is the mistakes she has made.