TWENTY-FOUR
"Handa the younger placed fifth this year. His work appeared quite different," her father remarks as he cuts into his meal.
"Seishuu Handa? Yes, I saw. I think it's an improvement; though unpolished, his calligraphy is… more alive." Beside her, Maria sighs into her napkin and Genjuurou rolls his eyes.
He nods, musing, "Though Mr. Handa is an eccentric gentleman, there is no doubting his choice to send his son away to find himself. Even young Handa sees it now."
She agrees. Words are tricky creatures—they hover just out of her own grasp, and sometimes they falter in the face of the monster that rears its head in her throat. But, they manage to communicate in other ways.
Like sending sons away to remote islands, or delivering boxed memories to little girls.
But for the sake of Maria, she unglues her jaw (in her mind, a creaking sound accompanies this action). "Have the renovations on the family compound near completion?"
It feels odd, speaking of business during business, but Maria perks up, and even Genjuurou refocuses on the conversation.
Her father smiles, a marginal quirk of one corner of his mouth; he replies, "The expected completion date is the 24th of November."
"That's nearly a month earlier than what we thought. I bet even that is too far away from now, though," Genjuurou smirks, but he softens when he ventures into nostalgia, "I remember how excited I was when I adopted Chris. Granted, that was after she ran away, came back, caused some trouble, ran away again…." He chuckles. "You're in for a fun ride."
"Hibiki said something similar," Maria grimaces.
Clasping Maria's hand, she declares in full confidence, "Elfnein is a good child. I doubt she will cause us any of that sort of trouble."
"Elfnein?" her father is quick to ask.
Maria nods, gushing, "She's such a sweet child! She's just so excited about the world—if anything, we're going to be spending a fortune on books and materials and classes."
"Sounds like you've a scholar on your hands."
"You have decided, then?" The question is for her.
She chews slowly, buying time for the answer she will give. After all, this is the answer he will give the rest of the clan, and the answer she will give them herself when the time comes.
It is already set in stone.
"We wish to adopt Elfnein into our home. That is why we want the house prepared as soon as possible, so that we may provide her the space and freedom children need," she manages to state without stumbling. It reveals just enough that the rest can remain unsaid.
They will not protest. Probably. Not much, at least.
Maria squeezes her hand, and she says, "I'm sure you'll like Elfnein, Father."
He contains his reaction to a single blink, but everyone knows he is secretly pleased at the title.
"But when can we meet her?" Genjuurou cuts in.
"Not for a while yet," Maria tells them. "Honestly, we only met this Wednesday, and we don't want to overwhelm her," she laughs sheepishly, "but—hopefully—soon."
Nodding, Mr. Kazanari reminds his brother, "Patience is virtue. In the meantime, we have much to do to have their home ready for them."
a/n: More background information, setting the stage for certain events later in the story. Next chap won't be the picnic, but the one on Wednesday will certainly be!
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