Aiko inspected her home and approved of the end result. Donning an apron, she started preparing a fast dinner to consume before sitting in front of the tv. During her work hours, she expected Atsushi to handle the chores she set out for him. Her schedule fluctuated depending on the week and required the help. None of them made a big enough mess but it felt good having a clean apartment. Her son was old enough to know how to fend for himself.
His sudden shift in educational goals showed his determination to change. Whether from outside influences or not, he did the work to attain the results. Having heard his goals, she felt pride that he pushed himself to pass his midterms.
Once she checked the time, she busied herself through preparing the ingredients for her dinner. She reached out to turn on the radio when the front door opened with a click. She gripped her ladle and crept up to the hallway. She knew for certain that Atsushi didn't walk through the front door. Not when he called her about his late tutoring session. She prepared to strike the intruder.
Her husband, Soichiro Maeda, stood at the entrance with several suitcases. He turned to her, pushing up his circular glasses with the back of his hand. A tender smile appeared as he glanced at her direction. The slight peppering of silver on his temples was something new. She suspected the distance and the stress of their son caught up with him.
"Dearest," Aiko hurried to the front door, an relieved grin graced her features. "You told me your flight came back next week! What's with the sudden surprise?"
Soichiro leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Don't play coy. Your little fax caught my attention." He kissed her lips. "My boss sent me back to oversee our department until he returns. Where is Atsushi?" He noticed his son's shoes missing from the shoe cabinet. "He's off causing mischief again. Right?"
"Oh not anymore." Aiko leaned against the wall and hid the ladle behind her body. "He's a little late. He called ahead to tell me that his study session went longer than expected. Another student ended up joining them in the last minute. His tutor ended up having to juggle four people at the same time. From what he told me, this time it's English."
"Tutor?" Soichiro set his shoes in their proper place, right beside his wife's pair. "Since when does Atsushi go to tutoring sessions?"
"Surprising, isn't it?" Aiko helped him bring in the suitcases deeper into their home. "I didn't have to force one on him. He did this all on his own. Before you ask, those grades are legitimate. I called his teachers and they confirmed his good grades. From their observations, Atsushi stared improving toward the middle of the semester. Sakamoto turned his life around."
"Sakamoto?" Soichiro set his suitcases in the living room. "Is he an upper class man who took pity on Atsushi?"
"No, no, he's in the same class as Atsushi. Bright young man. I convinced Atsushi to bring him over for dinner. To show this kid we appreciate his hard work. He showed such polite manners!" Aiko smiled. "He remembered Atsushi's detail on how I enjoyed loose leaf tea and brought me a sampler set."
Soichiro narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me you're falling for an underage boy."
"No!" Aiko stifled her laugh. "I'm just impressed there are teenagers nowadays who show respect. I didn't do the same when I was his age that's for sure. My parents would have loved to have him as a son."
"There's something else you're not telling me." Soichiro noticed her biting her bottom lip. "What is it?"
She explained. "One more thing, Atsushi's tutor is his boyfriend."
A sly smile showed Soichiro's glee. "Ah...I will enjoy mortifying that boy. Most of my white hairs came from stressing about his foolishness. He has to pay his dues."
Atsushi swore when his father met them at the door.
His father flicked him on the forehead for his use of language. Atsushi laughed sheepishly as his father patted his shoulder. He thought his father returned later on in the following week. The calendar on their fridge stated the time and date. His mother circled the square in red marker and counted down the days. She didn't call him for a fair warning. At all.
Aiko busted out laughing, catching Atsushi's attention. "Surprise! Your father came home early from his business trip." She walked around Soichiro and patted Sakamoto's shoulder. "Thank you for bringing this troublemaker home in one piece."
"You're welcome, Aiko-san." Sakamoto nodded his head. "I didn't know Atsushi-san's father returned. I would had brought a gift along with me."
"Nonsense!" Aiko motioned Sakamoto inside, she smirked at Atsushi. "Soichiro doesn't mind. I didn't call ahead to warn you two of his arrival."
Sakamoto removed his shoes. "I'll bring a gift on another occasion." Atsushi walked past his father and took off his shoes.
Soichiro followed Aiko into the dining room with Atsushi and Sakamoto right behind them. They settled in their respective seats. Aiko fetched their light dinner and Soichiro sat at the head of the table. Soichiro started a conversation with Sakamoto over Atsushi's tutoring lessons. Sakamoto described the curriculum with a chart he pulled out of his bag.
Aiko came back and set all the plates on the table. Soichiro stood up and went to collect the jug of iced tea from the fridge. She sent him a smile of appreciation. Before Sakamoto spoke, Aiko wagged her finger. "I let you prepare my plates last time. Sit back and relax kid."
"As you wish, Aiko-san."
Soichiro returned and poured everyone a cup of iced tea. Everyone thanked him as he set the jug in the middle of the table. He sat back down and patted his pocket. An idea came into his mind.
Atsushi saw the mischievous grin and his stomach dropped. He saw his father take out his wallet and an image he tried to forget came into view.
Soichiro opened his wallet and showed Sakamoto one of the photos. "This is one of the few times he showed his hair. Kind of ridiculous in my opinion. Don't listen to Atsushi's rantings, his hair isn't that ugly." Before Atsushi snatched the wallet, he handed it over to Sakamoto.
"Dad! Why did you show him that one?" Atsushi hunched down, a red tint crossed his cheeks.
From Sakamoto's seat, Atsushi had no chance of grabbing it back. Still, he kept his senses sharp for any sudden moves from that direction. He held the wallet in the palm of his hands, staring down at the features of the Maeda family. Aiko wore a simple dress, minimal make up and small jewelry. Atsushi's father wore a business suit, circular glasses, and well kept hair. He turned his eyes on Atsushi who stood on his mother's right side.
For the longest time, he pondered on the secrets underneath the red beanie Atsushi wore. Whenever he bumped into him outside of school, he wore a bandanna or that red beanie. Peaking his interest in wanting to find out the truth.
He smiled at the sight. Atsushi couldn't hide this from him again.
Aiko boasted. "I wanted a proper family portrait to send to my folks. The last one happened during Atsushi's first year of middle school. You see, we got him in a suit and tamed his hair. He still scowled at the camera. My mother called me with complaints about her beloved innocent grandson."
Atsushi frowned. "Grandma still thinks I'm not doing any bad shit?"
Aiko shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah. Her neighbors think you never get into trouble at school and have exquisite manners."
"She's delusional as fuck." Atsushi shoved his food into his mouth for distraction purposes. He tried not to choke on his food at the sight of Sakamoto's smile.
"It's a lovely portrait." Sakamoto told them, he passed the wallet back to Soichiro. "When was this photo taken?"
Soichiro grumbled, begrudging the loss of his perfect black hair. "The beginning of this year. Atsushi caused all this white hair on my head."
"Oh c'mon! I'm not that bad. Besides, you're getting the one getting old. Of course, you'll start getting streaks of white hair. It's not my fault." Atsushi retracted when he saw his father's glare. "Since when do you care how you look anyway?"
Aiko smiled. "I happen to like those white hairs." She winked at her husband. "It adds another level of handsomeness to my beloved husband."
"I see." Soichiro reached out his hand and held Aiko's hand. "Thank you for informing me."
"Yuck! Don't flirt in front of me, please!" Atsushi exclaimed. "Sakamoto are you done eating? We can go to my room."
Sakamoto set down his chopsticks before he turned to him. "It's impolite to leave dishes on the table, Atsushi-san."
"I don't care! They're in their own world. They won't notice us missing from the table. Let's go!" Atsushi dragged Sakamoto toward his room.
Aiko broke from her trance as she yelled out. "Leave the door open!"
Soichiro followed with his own yell. "I better not hear any suspicious noises!"
"Mom! Dad!"
The end.
