It's a short one because real life sucks mostly, taking away all my time.
 
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Shizune will be home soon. I don’t think this will go perfectly, but it at least has to be recognisable. I have to show her somebody in this house is making the effort, a certain somebody else sure isn’t.
The loud thumping on the door alerts me to her presence, and after scanning the page quickly once more, I head to the main room of the house, taking a seat on the sofa. Waiting, while my mind races with pictures from the book and various websites spinning round and round.
 
From down the corridor I can hear dad’s booming voice shout, ‘OH, SO YOU THOUGHT YOU’D COME HOME FOR ONCE DID YOU?’ What the hell dad, she comes home fairly often. Far more often than you go and see her, anyway. ‘OH, AND YOU BOUGHT HER HERE TOO? GREAT, WHY DON’T WE JUST SET THIS PLACE UP AS A HOSTEL FOR DELINQUENTS?’
I find myself smiling as the door slams shut, quickly wiping it off my face as footsteps make their way towards me. By the time they all arrive in the room my face is glued stiffly in its usual indifferent pose.
‘Hi Hideaki~’ Misha yells across the room as dad heads off through a side door to the kitchen. In response I raise a single hand to her, not quite a wave. She just laughs, coming over to ruffle my hair. Surely she of all people understands how much time and effort doing your hair takes?
 
Next comes Shizune herself, drawing me into a tight hug before turning to the bag slung over her shoulder, digging around inside it for her little notepad and a pen, I assume. Taking a deep breath I reach out to her, resting a hand on her arm. She looks up at me, the surprise on her facing giving way to a questioning look.
I slowly raise my hands, eyes fixed firmly on their forms in front of me.
[Hi…Shizune.] I sign, slowly and carefully.
Her eyes widen in shock and recognition, and for the second time in a couple of minutes she pulls me into a tight hug, eventually letting me go and adjusting her glasses.
[When…learn…sign?] she asks me, or something to that effect. I can’t quite catch all the words even though she’s slowed down a hundred fold from her usual lightning speed conversation with her friend.
[Misha…show…me…and…book.] I respond, improvising her friend’s name by holding my hands in the air in front of my shoulders, index fingers outstretched and making twirling motions.
Shizune covers her mouth to muffle her laugh, while Misha lets out a boisterous ‘Wahaha!’, mimicking the gesture with her fingers entwined in her drills.
 
Shizune suddenly turns to Misha and begins her rapid movements through the air, her friend’s eyes glued firmly on her hands. I manage to catch the odd word, such as [when] and [tell me]. Misha just shrugs in response, her hands still tangled in her hair.
 
Shizune turns back to me and signs something I can’t catch. Apparently seeing my blank stare she reaches into her bag, finally pulling out the pen and paper.
 
WHERE. IS. FATHER?
 
Showing me the note, she points to each word in turn and carries out the appropriate gestures, pausing after each one for me to copy. Once I’ve repeated the whole sentence she nods, looking thoughtful for a bit before pointing to the last word again. Instead of signing the word, she takes a step back and juts out her chest, one hand on her hip while the other hovers at her waist. Her eyes take on a familiar intense look and her mouth opens wide and snaps shut repeatedly.
 
Not a bad impression, all in all.