2026-06-07: Listlessness
- Log: Listlessness
- Cast: Misato Fushihara
- Where: Rengedai Ward, Sumaru City
- OOC Date: 2026-06-07
- IC Date: 2012-11-21
- Summary: Some days all you can do is wait for something to happen - even if it's something you'd rather avoid.
Misato Fushihara lay in her bed, one arm propping up her head while the other rests in front of her, phone in hand with her thumb idly scrolling the screen. She acknowledges each picture briefly as they go past, but none remain for long before they're scrolled up out of sight - and out of mind.
And then, a notification. A response in the group chat. Misato looks it over briefly and automatically taps out a contextually-appropriate emoji in response. A second passes, and another member of the group chat sends out one of their own, and then another follows suit.
They'll be at this for a while. She can leave them to it.
Misato rests her phone on her stomach, her eyes straying to the posters adorning the wall next to her bed, depicting members of the local women's professional soccer team. She lingers on them for a moment before looking away toward the window, where a leafy houseplant soaks up the light streaming in. It still looks healthy... it doesn't need attention right now.
For want of nothing else able to capture her attention, Misato instead stares up at the ceiling without really looking at it. Past it, perhaps. She shifts, setting her phone aside and resting both hands under her head, now. At times like this, it feels like there's nothing better to do than to simply exist. Let time pass her by. ...Maybe she should sneak out for a bit. She knows where she can find some real excitement. It'd be easy. Except... no, her uncle is bound to be home any minute. In fact -
She hears the sound of a door opening somewhere below. Speak of the devil. At least something's happening, even if he's the last person she wants to be around.
"Misato-chan, I'm home. I brought dinner." A man's voice calls from downstairs. Her uncle - Gunma Fushihara, who took her in after the deaths of her parents. Misato closes her eyes for a moment.
"Down in a minute!" She calls back and, with a sigh, hauls her up out of bed and in front of the mirror in her room. She takes a quick moment to assess herself.
Bedhead and an unreadable expression like a thin slash across her face. Misato exhales.
She takes a moment to run her hands through her hair until it approaches something like decent, and lightly slaps her hands against her cheeks to psych herself up and put on a smile.
There. You look like a normal human being now instead of one of the running dead.
She starts for the door, briefly considering the decorated cane by her doorway before deciding against it and heading downstairs to the living area. Her uncle - an average-looking man, she supposes, though one with scraggly facial hair that's crying for a trim - has already seated himself at the table. He certainly didn't waste any time in removing his suit jacket from work. She spots it tossed haphazardly onto the sofa. She forces herself not to comment on it.
"Welcome back, Uncle." Misato instead greets with a bright smile, taking the seat opposite him. He brings out a paper bag, setting it on the table.
"Thanks, Misato-chan. Hope you're okay with fast food tonight." He comments, and Misato nods.
"That's fine! Thanks for the meal."
Over subpar burgers and fries of the kind that are still somehow irresistible, they conduct the usual evening ritual - telling each other how their day went, bringing up whatever's happening in their lives. These days there really isn't much she cares to tell him, but she finds something to say anyway. And, eventually, the meal begins to near its end.
"...Misato-chan." Gunma starts. Misato, in the middle of sizing up the last portion of her burger to decide how to tackle it, pauses. She looks up at him, maintaining her expression carefully as she studies his.
"...What is it?" She asks. It takes some effort to mask her trepidation.
"I've been wondering, and it's alright if you say no... But do you think you would be alright calling me 'father'?" He asks. Misato freezes. She looks away for a moment. Her expression slips, contorting somewhat - but it's easy enough to explain away as lingering grief. When Misato looks back, it's with a sad smile.
"...I'm sorry. But... I think it's still too soon." She apologizes. He nods quietly in acceptance.
"That's alright, Misato-chan." He assures with a nod. Even he can see that the mood has changed. "...Here, let me take care of this."
He starts to gather up their trash and she offers him a nod as she finishes up the rest of her burger and stands up.
"I think I'm going to clean up and head back to my room... Thanks again, uncle." Misato offers. She slips away into the bathroom and shuts the door behind her.
Once again she finds herself staring into the mirror - but this time, that smile melts away into frustration.
How could he even ask that...? Ugh.
She closes her eyes and breathes deeply, in and out, before opening them and looking at herself again. Maybe she will sneak out later. She could really afford to let off some steam...