Chapter 9: Mother-Daughter Unexpected Bonding Time!

The night before…

“Goodbye, Kei-chan! Take care on your way home.”

“I will.”

The two waved each other goodbye.

“I’m home.” Natsumi announced at the doorway as she removes her shoes.

“Welcome back!” A voice echoed inside the house.

Natsumi follows where the voice came from. In the kitchen, she finds her mother cooking dinner.

“What’re you cooking? Ooh, curry!” She asked though quickly answered her own question.

“Dinner will be ready soon so-.”

“What about dad?” Natsumi cut her off.

“He said he’ll be a bit late tonight.”

“Really? That’s a bummer.” She said in a sad tone but her eyes indicated excitement.

Natsumi went up to her room to change clothes and back down to eat dinner with her mother.

As she’d hope. Her dad has to late a bit late tonight leaving her alone with her mom for some time. She’ll ask for permission during that time and he doesn’t have to know.

They say their prayers and started to eat.

“Mom?”

“Yes, dear?”

“I’m going out with Keisuke on the weekends.”

“Oh? That’s lovely! I’m a bit jealous.” Her mother chuckled.

They continued eating as the conversation kind of died down.

“Uh, does that mean you approve?”

Her mom puts down her chopsticks. Natsumi gulped in anticipation.

“Natsumi… Have you asked your father about it?”

There it is! She knows full-well that I’m asking her exactly because I can’t ask dad about it.

Natsumi furrows her brows, a bit annoyed mainly because she knows she’s getting a sermon.

“You already know he’s going to say no. That’s why I’m asking you.” Natsumi gave a straightforward answer.

“Still. You have to ask him about it, okay? And if he says no, then it’s a no.” Her mom made a very serious expression. Something that she doesn’t often do.

Natsumi looked down, feeling utterly defeated. Her mind starts racing with dark thoughts like going behind her parents’ back, which she doesn’t want to do.

Her mom notices Natsumi’s unrest. She stood from her seat and sat beside her daughter.

“You know, your dad and I really love you. It may not seem that way to you right now but I promise you that we do. We may say “no” to some of your requests but that doesn’t mean we hate you.”

She wraps her arms around Natsumi’s head and pulled her gently to her chest.

“Me and your dad just don’t want you to be like your brother, Haruto.”

Morino Haruto. Oldest of three siblings with Natsumi being the youngest. Natsumi has another older brother, Fuyuki, who’s currently working overseas.

This caught Natsumi’s attention. Haruto frequently spent his time playing games on his computer when he was still in high school.

It wasn’t a problem though. He performed really well in school and even did part-time work as a convenience store clerk all the while having a healthy relationship with his parents and siblings.

While he was attending university, he introduced us to his girlfriend–only that she wasn’t in the same room as us during the whole thing. Instead, she was inside his computer screen, waving quite nervously, greeting us in what sounded like an awkward attempt at speaking Japanese.

Haruto said that they met in a game that they’re playing and ended up hitting it off. Everyone was smiling during the call but the moment it ended, everybody became uncertain, especially dad.

The two would argue about it–even bickering during dinner. Dad’s main complaint stemmed from Haruto saying that he’s going to marry her someday.

Dad was fine with him having a girlfriend but declaring that he’d marry her was something that worried him a lot. They met on the internet too so there was a chance that it could be an elaborate scam for human trafficking, or so he says.

All the arguing took a heavy toll on Haruto’s mental health and once Haruto got a hold of his visa, we never saw him again.

The dinner the previous night was extremely different from what we’ve been accustomed to. Haruto never said a word back to dad, or to anyone for that matter.

Thinking back on it, I wish I had told him something but I was just a kid then. I didn’t understand much about relationships back then too, not that I understand it well now.

Her mom hugs her tighter.

“Mom? Are you afraid Keisuke will take me away from you and dad?”

Her mom doesn’t say anything. The silence is deafening, as if to answer “yes” to her question.

Natsumi ends up letting out a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, dear. I just don’t want to lose you too.” Her mom starts sobbing.

Natsumi’s mom was never one to cry easily so hearing her voice waver while crying is making her cry too.

“Mom… I’m not going to leave you.” Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

Finally, Natsumi properly hugs her mother back. The both spent a couple more minutes in each other’s embrace.

“Natsumi. I’ll talk to your father about it later.”

“Thanks, mom!”

The two eventually finished eating. There wasn’t much dishes to wash and yet the both of them were behind the sink. Their bond has deepened.

“Oh, that’s right!” Her mom seemed to remember something.

“Remember the dinner date that I proposed the other day?”

“The one where you invited Keisuke to have dinner here?”

Her mom invited Keisuke over for dinner the other night. Natsumi almost forgot about it though.

“Yes, that’s the one. I was thinking, instead of just having Keisuke-kun here, why not invite his whole family? I think that would be fun!” Her mom suggested gleefully.

“Hmm… That could be nice but I’ll have to ask him first.”

“Don’t worry! I’ll talk to Mrs. Tsuneyuki about it. Oh, this will be so much fun.”

“You haven’t even asked yet.” Natsumi said playfully. “Wait. You guys talk to each other?”

“Well, I met her by chance while shopping for groceries some time ago. I recognized her from a photo posted by Keisuke-kun on social media and decided to talk to her. Ever since then, we’d give each other updates about you two.”

“I see…” Natsumi is flabbergasted.

“Well, I’ll keep you updated on what me and Mrs. Tsuneyuki talk about.”

They finished cleaning up.

“Ok, mom. I’ll go up to my room now. Good night.” She awkwardly waves at her mom as she heads back to her room.

“Good night, dear!” She looked at her daughter as she disappears from her view, still happy with their bond becoming closer.

Mrs. Morino, now alone in the living room, simply waits for her husband to get home. A picture randomly catches her attention.

It’s their family photo. Taken a couple of years ago.

She sobs once more, although this time, it is of sorrow.

She pulls out her phone, and in her teary-eyed, blurry vision, opens social media.

She looks into her son’s account, filled with pictures of him and his girlfriend–or should we say fiancé as he did propose to her.

Unlike the other times that she’s done this, this time she finds the courage to reach out and send him a message.

“Congratulations, Haruto.”