Chapter 1: Meet Aoi Ryuji

Following Shizuma's graduation from Astrea Hill, she decided to follow through on her wish to meet Nagisa's father. Shizuma and Nagisa packed their bags into Shizuma's Lexus CT 200 and they drove to Shinjuku, Tokyo. Once they arrived in Shinjuku, Shizuma rented a secured parking space and the two women caught the train to Kabukicho, Tokyo's notorious red light district. Shizuma had only ever been to affluent neighborhoods in her lifetime. As such, Nagisa warned her that the two of them needed to catch a cab from the train station and be careful not to walk down the wrong streets. It wasn't safe, because of people like the Yakuza. But Shizuma waved her away, saying, "I'm not worried about it, Nagisa. I will keep us safe." However, Nagisa looked nervous and knew that Shizuma was underestimating the neighborhood.

Once they arrived in Kabukicho and took the stairs up from the train platform, they caught a taxi cab. Eventually the streets around Nagisa's neighborhood became so narrow, that the taxi had to drop them off at a corner. Shizuma and Nagisa walked down the middle of the narrow street, taking in the noises and smells coming from local food vendors whose stools took up most of the sidewalk space.

They dodged bicycles whizzing by, and one splashed water onto Shizuma's expensive jeans, but she didn't seem to notice. Two men could be seen crouched beneath an awning making a questionable transaction. Shizuma tilted her head curiously to the side and considered asking them what they were trading, until Nagisa pulled her back toward the street, where they nearly stumbled over a sewer lid. Up ahead, very boisterous and drunk men stumbled their way into an XXX nightclub. Nagisa squeezed Shizuma's hand. "We're here," she said. Shizuma was so overtaken by her surroundings she didn't even hear her girlfriend.

"Man, Nagisa, did you smell those soba noodles? I could really go for some!" Shizuma rubbed her tummy.

Nagisa chuckled and tried again, "Shizuma-sama, we're here." She gestured toward the tall, brown apartment building that was attached to the nightclub.

Shizuma looked up. It was one of the shorter buildings: only three stories high. They turned, and Nagisa lead Shizuma to the side of the building where they climbed a worn metal staircase to the second floor. A rat scampered past and startled Nagisa—she grasped Shizuma's arm. When they reached the door to Nagisa's apartment, the smaller woman took out her key and unlocked the door. The door always got stuck, so Nagisa gave it a little kick with her boot and it finally pushed open all the way. Shizuma looked around the room, and the first thing that met her eyes was a skinny man with fluffy, red hair meditating by a fire with a teapot over it, in the middle of the room. She was surprised the door hadn't shaken his meditation.

"Who is that?" Shizuma whispered to Nagisa, who was closing the door and re-securing all three locks. "That's my dad!" Nagisa said. But the man who was sitting by the fire looked far too young to be Nagisa's father!

"Otousan!" Nagisa cried suddenly. His pant leg had caught aflame.

Nagisa's dad's eyes snapped open! "Aieeee!" He yelled. He stood up and began shaking his leg around until his trousers were left with a singed hole at the bottom of one leg. Then, he looked up and ran over to the short redhead. Shizuma was enjoying all the action and trying not to bust out laughing. Nagisa wrapped her arms around her dad. "You should be more careful, otousan!"

Shizuma smirked, "Like father, like daughter," she said to herself.

"What was that, Shizuma-sama?" Nagisa asked.

"Nothing dear."

"—Oh, hey! Otousan, I want you to meet someone very special," she held her hand out to Shizuma.

Shizuma then bowed very low to greet Nagisa's father, "Hanazono Shizuma! I am very pleased to meet you!"

But Nagisa's dad took a few steps back. "H—Hanazono?! As—as in Hanazono Construction Bank?"

Shizuma nodded her head bashfully.

Nagisa's dad grabbed a broom from the corner of the room and swung it at Shizuma! "I—I, please, I don't owe you any money! Can't you people just—"

Nagisa was trying to head him off and Shizuma dodged the broom. "No-no, Aoi-san!" Shizuma began quickly, "I'm here to visit you! I'm not here because of my family's business! You see, I—"

Aoi-san had finally put the broom down. Nagisa was feeling rather mortified and, didn't know what to expect next. But, a rosy shade spread across Shizuma's cheeks.

"—I'm in love with your daughter."

Aoi-san's jaw dropped and the room fell silent. Then, Aoi-san went back to eyeing Shizuma suspiciously, keeping the broom close by, just in case. "Is this a joke?" he asked her.

"Far from it," Shizuma said, with a most serious expression, "I love your daughter and I'm asking that you not seek another suitor for her."

Aoi-san pulled nervously at his shirt collar. "Excuse me."

Sliding a door open, he went into the restroom. He looked into the cracked mirror before him and ran a hand through his short mass of unruly, red hair. "A Hanazono wants to be with my daughter? What do they think—I'm some kind of idiot? But if Nagisa really met her at that fancy school…"

Suddenly, the bathroom door slammed open and Aoi-san reappeared. He cleared his throat and put on a superior air. "Look," he took a few steps toward Shizuma, "If you think just because you're Hanazono you can come in here and take my daughter that easily—"

Shizuma looked uncharacteristically nervous. Even the neighborhood hadn't caused her this reaction.

"N—No, of course not, sir! I didn't mean to seem—"

"Dad!" Nagisa called out, agitated.

"I need to be certain you're going to care for my daughter. She doesn't possess a dowry or anything—do you understand me?"

"Of course, sir. I assure you my intentions are honorable. I will take care of her and only her as my one, true love. You can count on me," Shizuma responded.

Nagisa looked nonplussed. She hid her face in her hands. "Dad, please!"

Then, Aoi-san puffed out his chest, and straightened up. "In that case, Hanazono-san, I suppose you can be with her. But, of course, I will tolerate nothing but the best for my Nagisa-chan. You see—" he leaned in, and said very dramatically, "—she is my one and only child!"

"I fully understand, sir," Shizuma bowed again, "Thank you for trusting me."

Nagisa thought she would faint at the spectacle.

With that, Aoi-san walked toward the kitchenette. Shizuma realized this would be a good time to point out the food.

"Nagisa and I brought you some beef and vegetables, cake, and a melon. I just thought that-"

The tall man froze at the words "beef and vegetables." He suddenly spun around with a big thumbs-up, "Now you're talkin'!"

Shizuma handed him the bag and he tore into it, "By the way," he said, "Just call me Ryuji. No need to be so formal. Want a beer?"

"Uh, sure," Shizuma replied.

"Good, I was afraid my daughter met one of those weirdos that doesn't appreciate a good beer." He shoved a can of Sapporo at Shizuma and she accepted it. Aoi-san chugged his own beer and his face immediately reddened. Shizuma chuckled and turned to Nagisa. "Glad he enjoys the food!" She moved in a little closer, "Now, where are we sleeping, my sweet?"

Nagisa turned crimson. "We? I—I thought Shizuma-sama would prefer to stay in a hotel. Dad's apartment is very…" Nagisa looked around the tiny apartment, with its tattered curtains, short ceiling, and banged up tea table. A black cat sat on top the mini fridge. But Shizuma smiled softly. "I think your home is cozy, Nagisa. Why don't you show me to your room?"

Down a very short hall, Nagisa slid open the shoji-style door and revealed a small room with tatami mats. "I'm afraid it's not big like you're used to," Nagisa said, looking away. Shizuma slid her arms around Nagisa's waist. "Good. That means I get to be closer to Nagisa."