Kiyumi giggled softly on the other end. "Don't look so surprised. Word travels fast in our family. Akiko didn't say much, but the younger ones were all whispering."
He swallowed. "Ah… yeah. The date went well."
He didn't lie, not exactly. The beginning had gone well. It was everything after that spiraled into ash and flame.
"Well," Kiyumi said brightly, "I'm glad to hear that."
Glad, he echoed bitterly in his mind. If only she knew. If only anyone knew how catastrophically the night had ended. He could still hear his own drunken laugh echoing inside his skull.
"I'll call again later," he murmured, already shifting the phone away.
"Wait—wait," Kiyumi interrupted.
He brought it back. "Yes?"
There was a slight hesitation, and then: "If you're not too busy… You could come over for dinner. Tonight, the entire family gathers. So…"
