CHAPTER ONE
The sun was shinning brightly on this February day, as though it was oblivious to what was going on. Jack Bennett stood in the shade, his wife Helen at his side. He was listening to the priest, although he did not understand a word of what he was saying. His eyes were on the neck and shoulders of his youngest son, three feet in front of him. He could not see his face, and was somewhat worried by his lack of reaction. Besides his son stood a short man, in his mid-fifties, with a bunch of flowers in his hands. The older man looked exhausted, an extreme sadness painted across his face, but still he stood tall and appeared to pay attention to the priest. Yasuo Matsuda would not show weakness in front of other people.
Bunji Bennett, on the other hand, did not seem to even notice that somebody was speaking. After the priest had finished his chant, he looked over to the young man, waiting for something. Yasuo lifted his head and put a hand on Bunji's back, to bring him back to the present. His son-in-law, obviously startled, stiffened and looked at the priest, who motioned him to the stone monument in front of him. He spoke softly to him, and Bunji motioned forward to place the bunch of red roses he had in his hands in the designated place on the monument. Then he moved back to his place besides his father-in-law. Yasuo repeated the same gesture with the white flowers in his hands, before one by one, the other people did the same.
The Bennetts took their turn coming forward and putting flowers on the grave. When Jack turned back to face Bunji, he was struck at his son's expression, or rather lack of. His face was completely blank, with no trace of either sadness or grief. He lifted his face up to meet his father's gaze, and for a second, Jack saw in his dark irises a despair so deep that it nearly broke his own heart. It was the same look that he had had twenty years earlier when he realized that his birth father would never be coming back. On an impulse, Jack reached for Bunji and held him close to him for a few seconds. He could feel his son's body tense as though he did not want his father to even touch him, and instinctively let him go.
People were leaving, heads bowed in sadness, but Jack stayed behind for a moment when he realized that Bunji had not moved an inch, and was still staring at the grave.
« You should come back with us, son. »
Bunji did not seem to hear him. Jack came besides him and put an arm around his shoulders to guide him away from the depressing sight of the grave.
« Come on, Bunji... come with me...»
Bunji lifted his head and took his eyes away from the grave, and finally seemed to acknowledge his father's presence. He nodded somewhat distractly and let Jack guide him away, taking one last look at the inscription on the grave, written both in kanji and in romaji:
Matsuda Bennett Hoshimi
2051-06-03
2076-02-05
* * * Four years ago * * *
« Are you sure this is the place? Jack asked with concern.
- Of course I'm sure! Come on! »
Jack Bennett smiled at his son's enthousiasm and followed him out of the car. He looked over at Helen, who was smiling also, and shook his head.
« Well, he seems to have put on the turbo! » Helen said while laughing.
Bunji came close to his mother and took the bag she was carrying, a crooked smile on his face.
« I knew it was a mistake to bring you along!
- Bring us along? Since when are you the one bringing us along?
- Since I'm the one moving. »
They arrived at a house, rather big and farther away from the road. A man in his late forties or early fifties came out. Rather short, he came to greet the newcomers with an inviting smile on his face, and stopped in front of them to bow deeply.
« Welcome. I am Matsuda Yasuo. »
Bunji bowed in turn and presented himself and his parents, who made a good effort at bowing at their turn in front of Mr Matsuda. Then they all got inside the house.
« This is a beautiful house you're having, Mr. Matsuda! »
Helen was looking everywhere around, amazed. The style of the house showed a disctinct japanese trend with its colors, shapes and divisions, while at the same time having a somewhat modern western feel to it. Stainless steel cohabited in harmony with cotton, bamboo and sliding doors.
« Thank you very much. My late wife decorated the house, and I have not made any changes to it since.
- For how long have you taken on students from abroad?
- We have had students living here for the past ten to twelve years. Usually we have room for four, but there will be only three this year.»
As on cue, two voices were heard coming from the rear of the house. A girl was obviously argumenting with a boy, although neither Jack nor Helen could understand what they were arguing about. Bunji, on the other hand, seemed to find whatever they were saying very funny. Mr. Matsuda continued.
« Let me introduce you to your new roommates. Mindi, Tsuke, could you come here for a minute? »
The boy and the girl came forward. The girl seemed to be around 18 years old, very short, and seemed to be very funny and outgoing. She smiled a wide smile at the newcomers. The young man seemed a little bit older, around Bunji's age, about five foot six, skinny and with an awkward stance, like he did not know how to stand.
« Mindi, Tsuke, this is Bunjiro Bennett. He has recieved a full scholarship for the University of Tokyo. »
Mindi smiled again.
« Wow, finally an intelligent male student living here!
- And what am I? Tsuke asked.
- I would rather not say in front of people! »
Tsuke rolled his eyes. Apparently this kind of jokes was the norm between the two of them. Mindi moved forward to Bunji.
« If it is alright with you, Matsuda-san, I will show Bunji-san his room.
- Yes, thank you, Mindi. »
The three youngsters left the room, and Mr Matsuda turned his attention back to the Bennetts.
« I am not always present at home, but since our students are all adults, it should not be problematic. Students tend to seek these kinds of houses where they can rent a room. It comes in very less expensive than renting an apartment in town, and a lot more roomy than renting a tiny room on campus grounds. I am sure your son will be very comfortable here.
- I'm sure he will. We actually just came along for the trip, and a bit because his mother wanted to make sure he would not be missing anything.
- Jack...!
- What, it's not true? »
Helen blushed a bit.
« Well, you know how it is, Mr Matsuda. Bunji is our youngest child and sometimes, it's a bit hard to let go...
- I know what you mean. My youngest daughter lives with me. I do not know what I would do without her. I am not looking forward for her to leave home. She studies history at the University of Tokyo. She must be in the garden right now. Since her mother died, she has been caring for the garden as well as my wife used to. Would you like to see it?
- I would be pleased to. »
The three of them went outside to the garden.
In Bunji's new room, Mindi, Tsuke and he were talking, getting to know each other. Tsuke appeared to be a lot smarter than Mindi had first implied, while Mindi seemed to be as funny as Bunji first thought.
« So, you are from the US? Mindi asked. How come your parents are not Asian?
- Mindi! Tsuke scowled her. It is not polite to ask such things! »
Bunji chuckled.
- It's alright, I don't mind. I was born in Japan, but my birth mother died when I was a baby, and my birth father died when I was five. So my parents adopted me.
- Oh, it is so sad... » For once, Mindi lost her smile and looked a bit embarassed to have asked the question. Bunji got up from his bed and shrugged.
« Well, you know... you learn to live with it. And besides my parents are really great, so I consider myself very lucky to have them.»
They were cut in their discussion by a soft voice being heard from the open window. A woman was singing to herself, beautifully. Mindi looked outside the window and giggled.
« If she knew we can hear her, she would be so embarassed!
- Who is she? Bunji asked.
- Matsuda-san's daughter. She lives here also. »
Bunji came close to the window and looked outside. He could only see the back of a woman walking away towards Mr Matsuda and his parents, at the other side of the garden. She was moving almost as though her feet were not touching the ground, and was dressed in a simple light blue cotton dress that floated around her thighs. Bunji felt almost hypnotised by the sight. Mindi grabbed the young man by the arm and dragged him outside.
« Come on, I will do the presentations! »
Without much choice, Bunji followed her outside, Tsuke in his track.
When they arrived to the garden, Jack and Helen were standing in an alley filled with flowers which Bunji had never seen before, or at least did not remember having seen before. But his eyes were not on the flowers at all.
The young woman was explaining her botanical techniques and improvements to the garden to Bunji's parents. She had a slight Australian accent, but otherwise spoke fluent English. Mr Matsuda noticed the three newcomers and smiled warmly.
« Bunji-san, come and meet my daughter, Hoshimi. »
The daughter in question turned around to greet the new student, a shy smile on her face. Bunji, on the other hand, just stood there, speechless, unable to take his eyes off her. She had long dark and silky hair, a soft smile, and her eyes sparkled with intelligence and a sort of wisdom that young people seldom have. My god, he thought, she looks like an angel! She's magnificient!
« Hi... » was all he could manage to say.
Hoshi answered him with a smile. Her natural shyness could not explain in itself her sudden lack of vocabulary. She stared at Bunji as though she was afraid he might disappear right in front of her if she even blinked an eye.
Mr Matsuda, obviously unaware of the situation, invited Jack and Helen inside for some tea, followed by Tsuke and Bunji. Mindi stayed behind with Hoshi, curious to know what was going on with her friend.
« So, what do you think of our new roommate? Mindi asked with a smile.
- I ... I don't know exactly...
- Are you kidding? Have you seen the look on your face? »
Hoshi blushed a bit and put her hands on her cheeks.
« Mindi, can you keep a secret?
- Of course! I'm your friend, am I not?
- Yes, of course. Well... »
Mindi waited to the best of her patience, which was about two seconds.
« Well what?
- I think he's unlike anyone I have ever met... he's so...
- You think he's a hunk, admit it!
- That's not the point! I... it's like I recognized him... but I've never met him before, I'm sure... I would remember.
- I think you're in love!
- Mindi, I don't even know him.
- Sometimes, all it takes is one look!
- Mindi... !
- Well, why don't you just come inside, and you will get to meet him properly. »
Hoshi nodded, and followed her friend inside, a single thought in mind: what if he doesn't like me?