The Place For Haru

Haru stabbed lightly at his picked daikon, his appetite diminished from the abrupt news that morning. He stared at his father, Joutarou Higashi, the research figurehead of a large corporation, the title intimidating before any normal person.

“So, tell me why you should stay here?” he asked.

His father’s sharp eyes and quick wit made acquiring his acceptance challenging, like he could pick apart the intentions if one wasn’t careful with his words. He had rocketed to the top of his division, bolstered by the fact that he made breakthroughs seem… effortless.

What expectations he has of me as a result…, Haru thought, sighing at his predicament.

He nearly had a heart attack, thinking that they were going to suddenly move overseas. But apparently, it was just a month-long demo that required his parents’ attention. Still, Haru didn’t want to waste a month away, having just made plans with his friends.

“I told you, dad. I made arrangements already. Weren’t you the one that told me to keep my promises?”

Joutarou placed his everything bagel down. With such a definitive clink that Haru was sucked into it.

“It’s a good opportunity for you. With your grades, a stable position in the tech industry is well within reach. Why not start building connections with the top scientists in the field?”

Apparently, the trip would take them to the home research department of IBN, located in upstate New York. At the time, Haru was more surprised that New York existed beyond being a city. But he quickly snapped out of it. Why would he spend a precious month in some isolated place, forcing himself to look good because he was the department head’s son?

“Sorry. It doesn’t sound interesting at all.”

“Life is all about opportunities, son. If you don’t jump on them, they will pass you by.”

“Well, maybe I don’t want those kinds of opportunities!”

“If not this, then what?!”

The two of them stood up, locking horns and waiting for the other to back down. Haru refused to, the image of Grace popping into his head, the welcoming looks from his friends reaching out for him.

“Alright, cool it, you two! You’re never going to get anywhere, both of you blessed with the gene for stubborn. Dear, give the boy a chance to speak.”

Haru’s mother, Kari, was a researcher further down the food chain. A real hands-on type of scientist. Because of that, practicality was her strong point. It certainly came out strong when dealing with a bunch of dreamers arguing at the dining table.

While his father talked a good game to those around him, his mother was there to back up those statements with tangible results. Haru gulped as both pairs of eyes stared at him. One to detect his hesitations. Another to catch lies. It was a tightrope with America splattered on the ground below.

“I just started on the soccer team.”

“And? I’m sure a month from practice isn’t going to be detrimental. The yearly tournament isn’t until winter,” countered his father.

“I also joined a band. We’re planning a live at the end of the month.”

“Fiddling around at some live houses with some nobodies. Hardly more important than your future career.”

“I got close to someone recently, a girl. I don’t want to be away all of a sudden.”

“Then, just keep in touch with her.”

His father shot down each and every reason. Haru’s mind whirred to keep up with more excuses. Anything that would help convince them that he didn’t want to go.

“Please… it’s important.”

His father leaned forward to object, until his mother stepped between them with her hand raised.

“Why is it important to you?” she asked.

Haru was stunned by this rebound. He had certainly claimed that it was important to him. But that had just naturally come out of his mouth. He thought of Koichi, Daichi, and even Kasumi. But then, Grace popped into his head.

Those moments when Grace gave off a hint of sadness, when she felt the tiniest bit lost – something about it concerned him. The more that he thought about it, the more he realized how little he knew about Grace. He had seen the light reflected from the moon, but the dark side eluded him. Hidden in his waking hours.

“Things have changed a lot for me since I met her, quite frankly for the better. If I don’t give something back now, I feel like that chance will be gone forever.”

Opportunity.

That was the word that his father always used. Grace was his opportunity to turn his life around. Without her, he would have still been stuck in his room. He would have easily gone along to America, did what he was told, and marched straight toward the path that he was offered.

But now, he felt different. He didn’t want his life handed to him.

Haru looked straight at his parents, determination on his face. It had been so long since he had made any promises, too afraid that he had dug himself into too deep a hole. He had to claw his way out, no matter how unsightly he would seem.

“I don’t know what may come of this. It may not even matter in the end. But I want to try. I want to see where these new things will take me. I don’t want opportunities just because. Let me chase after the ones meant for me.”

A silence enveloped the room. Haru wondered if he said something wrong. A chill tickled his back and slithered with every second of patience.

“Fine. You can stay. Your father and I will go alone.”

His mother went back to the kitchen. His father looked down at his phone. And Haru… he could finally breathe again. He had been holding it so long that his lungs burned. Quickly, he grabbed the bowl of miso soup to hide the haggard trembling of his lips.

As his mother passed by again, she bent over and whispered.

“I expect to see how much you’ve improved on all those fronts when we return.”

Haru turned to see her innocent smile, masking the gentle burn of unbiased critique. It made his ass cheeks tighten. The soup in his mouth could have been knowingly poisoned, and he wouldn’t have cared.

I knew I wasn’t going to be let off easy!