(no subject)
First to Post! Secret Santa Exchange Fic for katharos_8. May your own exams be bearable and your rewards be rich.
Title: Care Package
Characters: Touya, Touya’s family.
Length: 586 Words
Genre: General
Prompt: Exam Period
****
He needed to get out for a while.
Making his way through the dormitory complex occupied mainly by students like himself, Touya passed by several of his floor mates in the hallway, some on cigarette breaks and others just hanging about, all displaying the familiar stress symptoms of exam period; unkempt hair, old clothes, stubby faces, baggy eyes, gloom as grey and stifling as the fumes in the air. Touya realized he wasn’t looking much above average himself, but couldn’t give three yen’s worth of damn as he descended two flights of stairs and pushed his way out the front entrance and into the courtyard, double doors swung wide open with the force of his shove.
A gust of wind and rain greeted him head on, and he closed his eyes and welcomed it with open arms, savored the feeling of stinging chill and moisture washing away heat and frustration from not having ventured outdoors in nearly 48 hours. Cold air in his lungs vented out the cooped up poisons, rivers of water running down his face easing the fever from too much thinking, sweater and jeans turned to clinging wet masses.
Feels good…
When the moment of madness had receded-madness, because to get sick now would be the end of him-Touya slinked back indoors, a trail of footprints and raindrops behind him as he attracted the attention of everyone who saw. It was only after he had peeled off his clothes and stood bare under the shower that he felt himself come back, felt the pores on his skin contract and expand to the change in temperature, his head clear from the steam that clouded the communal shower hall.
Twenty minutes later he reentered his room with dry clothes and a towel over his head, whereupon his roommate confronted him with a large cardboard box. “Hey man… two ladies in black and shades dropped this off for you a minute ago. They didn’t look like UPS.”
Touya cocked a brow and took the box into his own room: no post marks, no message, no address and no ticking sound to suggest someone wanted him out of his misery. When he sliced open the sealing tape, he found several well-wrapped packages and an envelope. He knew when he saw the writing, and he grinned.
“Dear son, I hope this care package finds you well and still warm inside. Your aunt assured me on the efficacy of her couriers, and I trust her completely…”
Touya lifted out the largest bundle and unraveled several layers of foil to reveal a whole steak-still hot and juicy-with all the trimmings.
“The 20 oz. prime rib comes from aunt Sonomi’s own kitchen. She means to fatten you, and promises to serve you the rest when you come home for Christmas…”
Two cardboard boxes contained cheesecake and sugar cookies.
“Your sister and I made the dessert. There would have been a whole cake, but Kero found us, which leaves you with three-quarters…”
The final item was a large, flat envelope, inside of which was his entire family, including Tomoyo and Sonomi, at home around the couch, smiling at him.
“Tomoyo took this photo of us. She and Sakura were the ones who came up with this idea, so be sure to thank her when you return. Take care, do your best, we’ll all be waiting for you.”
Putting the letter back inside the envelope, the food and photo spread out before him, Touya sighed, and smiled.
~The End.
Title: Care Package
Characters: Touya, Touya’s family.
Length: 586 Words
Genre: General
Prompt: Exam Period
****
He needed to get out for a while.
Making his way through the dormitory complex occupied mainly by students like himself, Touya passed by several of his floor mates in the hallway, some on cigarette breaks and others just hanging about, all displaying the familiar stress symptoms of exam period; unkempt hair, old clothes, stubby faces, baggy eyes, gloom as grey and stifling as the fumes in the air. Touya realized he wasn’t looking much above average himself, but couldn’t give three yen’s worth of damn as he descended two flights of stairs and pushed his way out the front entrance and into the courtyard, double doors swung wide open with the force of his shove.
A gust of wind and rain greeted him head on, and he closed his eyes and welcomed it with open arms, savored the feeling of stinging chill and moisture washing away heat and frustration from not having ventured outdoors in nearly 48 hours. Cold air in his lungs vented out the cooped up poisons, rivers of water running down his face easing the fever from too much thinking, sweater and jeans turned to clinging wet masses.
Feels good…
When the moment of madness had receded-madness, because to get sick now would be the end of him-Touya slinked back indoors, a trail of footprints and raindrops behind him as he attracted the attention of everyone who saw. It was only after he had peeled off his clothes and stood bare under the shower that he felt himself come back, felt the pores on his skin contract and expand to the change in temperature, his head clear from the steam that clouded the communal shower hall.
Twenty minutes later he reentered his room with dry clothes and a towel over his head, whereupon his roommate confronted him with a large cardboard box. “Hey man… two ladies in black and shades dropped this off for you a minute ago. They didn’t look like UPS.”
Touya cocked a brow and took the box into his own room: no post marks, no message, no address and no ticking sound to suggest someone wanted him out of his misery. When he sliced open the sealing tape, he found several well-wrapped packages and an envelope. He knew when he saw the writing, and he grinned.
“Dear son, I hope this care package finds you well and still warm inside. Your aunt assured me on the efficacy of her couriers, and I trust her completely…”
Touya lifted out the largest bundle and unraveled several layers of foil to reveal a whole steak-still hot and juicy-with all the trimmings.
“The 20 oz. prime rib comes from aunt Sonomi’s own kitchen. She means to fatten you, and promises to serve you the rest when you come home for Christmas…”
Two cardboard boxes contained cheesecake and sugar cookies.
“Your sister and I made the dessert. There would have been a whole cake, but Kero found us, which leaves you with three-quarters…”
The final item was a large, flat envelope, inside of which was his entire family, including Tomoyo and Sonomi, at home around the couch, smiling at him.
“Tomoyo took this photo of us. She and Sakura were the ones who came up with this idea, so be sure to thank her when you return. Take care, do your best, we’ll all be waiting for you.”
Putting the letter back inside the envelope, the food and photo spread out before him, Touya sighed, and smiled.
~The End.