And now for a completely different perspective. Shoutout once again to Goodalwayswins98 (will probably be a future collaborator from here on in, hopefully) for once again proofreading and getting some minor corrections/ideas in. One of the confrontations that people were waiting for. How will things pan out? This drama train won't be stopping anytime soon, fair warning.
Oarai Girl's Academy – Rirko's Office – Early Evening
This was it. This was the moment Rirko feared the most. To confront the most prominent, maddest expert of Sensha-do of a personal matter. A very private matter. Something that Rirko had no right to be involved in the first place. The three months he had spent in Japan, he was sucked in because of Miho's decision to stick it to her family and say 'no.' The one person in the entire family had the courage to say 'no, that is not right' and she was immediately flagged for disgrace.
Seeing the injustice unfold before him, Rirko made the choice of getting involved. Soon, he was dealing with both daughters' grievances, and Shiho was very displeased. He couldn't blame her. He had inadvertently subverted authority from her regarding her family. In her eyes, he had no right.
How the meeting was going to go rest on what would the other do in the first three minutes. Rirko's mind was racing and his heart beating hardcore. He could already see a grey ensemble from the reflection of the window; but not her face. "Okay. She's cold and stoic. Should I act the same way? I can't exactly be grovelling. Nishizumis like strong-willed people; people who show a backbone. Right."
Shiho didn't say a word, only silently standing there. It was up to Rirko to set the tone. His back against her, he spoke. "I guess I should count myself lucky. The 'mighty' head of the Nishizumi clan has graced me with her presence in my lowly office. But for what reason, I wonder?" No response. The room was still silent.
Slowly, Rirko started to turn towards her. He was expecting either cold and stoic or pissed-off and beast-like. Moment of truth. Both of their eyes met, and he did not expect what he saw.
Soft and tired. Shiho was frowning, and her eyes were glistening. She was shaking a little like she was holding off from crying. At that moment, Rirko's guard ultimately dropped, and he was overcome with pity. He felt sorry that she had to go through the pain of trying to understand what was happening with her daughters while dealing with a heartache.
He sighed deeply. "Whatever beef I had with you. It's over, you understand. It ended the moment Ami taught me to look through the eyes of another and see their worldview. To try to understand, not condemn. To hear, not to judge."
The next thing that Rirko spoke surprised Shiho. "Wanna drink?" He pointed to the cupboard. No one offered her something to drink, except when it was at professional gatherings. She looked towards the cupboard, then back to him. Closing the door slowly, she never let Rirko out of her sight as she made her way to the couch and sat down.
Rirko made his way to the cupboard and took out the box he had received a while back. Taking it out, he revealed the contents: a bottle of Crown Royal. He spoke while pouring the liquor into each vodka glass. "Had this imported from Canada. Crown Royal. Somewhat of a Canadian staple. Has a bit of a kick. Originally, me and my brother were supposed to share a bottle during Christmas break. But then he got called off on business. You must know what that's like."
Rirko sat opposite of her, laying her glass right in front and the bottle in the middle. "So, I guess there's no chance of that happening now is there?" As he swirled his glass a little and took little sips, Shiho studied him. She began to do the same thing. A bit clumsily but she soon got the hang of swirling. She then took it straight. Her face contorted for a moment to handle the bitterness of the liquor.
She sat her glass down gently. "I think I prefer Nihon Honjozo," she said meekly.
"Well, Crown is something of an acquired taste. Drink a lot of it, and you'll start to get used to the bitterness." Setting his glass down, Rirko assumed a listening pose. He knew very well that Shiho wasn't here for a liquor lesson. Her face was still soft and tired as she looked right at him.
"You know why I'm here."
"I can assume so, yes."
"…I can admit, I'm not the perfect parent. I make mistakes and do things that some others may call…unacceptable. But I always try my best to provide for my daughters. Everything that I do is for their benefit."
Rirko's old habit of 'advocating for Western values' was about to flare up. But, he restrained himself and continued listening.
"The last three months that you have been here. You have been helping Miho deal with her problems. And I would have been fine with that. It was only when Maho started showing the same audacity that Miho did that it became an issue. This…it…" Shiho was struggling. She was trying hard not to go off on him. She knew he was doing a job but his actions caused a lot of inconveniences for her. Rirko continued to listen.
"…My role in the Nishizumi lineage is to make sure that our way of doing Sensha-do is preserved. We are taught this in a way that has been passed down through generations. It's the same with the Shimadas and any other style school out there. I want you to understand…I need you to understand, my role as a parent and as an instructor are one and the same. My 'style' of parenting is, no doubt, conflicting with yours. If you had children of your own, you would want the best for your children. I want what is best for my daughters while keeping our legacy intact."
Shiho's insight made Rirko realize that she had one shitty job. In addition to keeping the Nishizumi style relevant, she was a parent and one of the prominent leaders of the Sensha-do Federation. Her stoic mask hid all those aspects very well. Rirko put his hands on his lap. It was his turn.
"Alright. Family values are important to you. The unit must be intact. But, as you stated before, I have been helping Miho with her issues. Her issues include what's been going on in her own family. Because of this connection, Maho is involved as well and so are you. For both, the psychological and emotional stresses of suppression are literally tearing them from the inside out. You want to show everyone you're the best, fine. You want everyone to know that your style is still relevant, sure. But I know you got eyes, and you see that the more they conceal what they are feeling, the more they are likely to break. Nishizumi will or not, everyone has a breaking point. Everyone."
So far, the meeting was cordial. Both were still trying to study the other. Shiho decided to up the ante.
"Our resilience can be owed to our predecessors in the family. In Sensha-do, about 40% is actual physical work. The other 60% is mental. Just as in any other sport, Sensha-do has a mental aspect to it, more so here in the East. That is why the Nishizumi is where we are today. We have made Sensha-do not a sport but an art form. 'The Way of the Tank' is a spiritual outlet; unlike your Tankery in the West where it is treated as a mere sport."
There were apparent differences between Tankery and Sensha-do, but also similarities. Shiho didn't have to say it explicitly. She was inferring that a firm will is a reason why the Nishizumis were successful. It was through the hard work, dedication and conditioning that each Nishizumi underwent to become proficient at Sensha-do.
But no one had seen the harmful effects of this conditioning…until now.
Rirko leaned closer. "I can admit the skill of your family, there's no question. But what is the trade-off, Lady Nishizumi? Like in all sports, perhaps more in Sensha-do according to your logic, each of them carries a mental aspect. With that aspect comes dangers. Those dangers pose just a serious threat to their physical counterparts. If left untreated, it would cause long-term or even permanent damage. Case and point: your daughters."
That struck a chord in Shiho's heart. He knew what he was referring to.
"Isolation. Burnout. Becoming socially inept. From what I'm seeing, the Nishizumis want to dedicate themselves, fully, to Sensha-do and nothing else. To become engrossed by it, to embrace it so that there would be no room for anything else. Life is an experience that should be felt by all. To dedicate oneself fully should be a choice. But there's no such thing as choices in the Eastern world, is there?"
The debate had now begun in earnest. Both now showing their real affiliation. "I doubt that you would ever understand the dedication involved in Sensha-do. It is a source of pride, especially for the Nishizumis. And besides, my daughters did choose to follow Sensha-do. They had opportunities to choose whatever path they wanted to take. We encourage them to be independent, after all."
Rirko chuckled softly. "Please. Sensha-do was never an option for them. In families like yours, it is a tradition that children go into the family business. I have no problem with that, believe it or not. My only problem is when you do it day in, and day out without any reprieve, it disturbs their growth emotionally and psychologically."
Shiho's patience was wearing thin. Having him to understand where she was coming from was a great effort on her part. Her voice began to rise. "They have never shown these problems growing up. They participated in Sensha-do without any effect on their school or social life. They have not been affected emotionally or psychologically, and that would still hold true…if you didn't intervene."
"Ok, Shiho. You want to play games? We'll play games. Since September, Miho has been dealing with the emotional/psychological trauma that the Nishizumi conditioning put upon her. Her physical symptoms are linked to what she did during her years in Kuromorimine, maybe even before. Same thing with Maho. It just didn't manifest itself until now."
"You filled her with ideas of individualism! Planted thoughts of rebellion! Maho was perfectly fine until you spoke to her!" The livid Shiho now manifested itself. Rirko was fully expecting her to show up. In fact, this was the person he wanted to see.
"Hey, they both came to me on their own accord. I never forced anything. The only thing I did was list choices. Choices that they are entitled to know." Rirko's voice was firm; not to the point of yelling. He wanted to convey to Shiho that he had no intention of backing down. Of course, neither did she.
"Your 'choices' is what's causing their issues in the first place! I never fought with Maho over anything! It was only after speaking to you! Our traditions, our ideals, our legacy, they are being endangered by your Western views! I will not allow this to harm my daughters!"
Rirko eyes were deadpan. "Words have power; indeed, they do. What Maho does with my words is up to her. It's not like I'm ramming it down her throat and expecting her to be my pawn. How would I even benefit from doing harm to your daughters, anyway?"
Shiho stopped talking. Truthfully, she didn't have a reason. That was a good question. How would harming Miho and Maho benefit Rirko? He wasn't from a rival family that desired to get rid of the Nishizumi family.
Rirko needed a break in the conversation, and this was it. "Now that you've mentioned it…you've been only talking about Maho. You do have another daughter, remember?" Shiho remembered that Miho's injury in Notojima was when Maho started changing. It was undoubtedly linked to Miho.
"I…I remember…Miho. You just didn't mention her."
"Well, if you were so keen on 'protecting' your daughters from me, what's the reason for Miho's absence?"
Shiho started to become uncomfortable around Rirko's questioning. Every time she spoke, Rirko was calm. In her experience, all the men she encountered were intimidated by her presence and her spoken words. She had expected for Rirko to buckle the same way and resolve the issue quickly. That he was only a person that had courage when behind a keyboard or speaking through someone else. This wasn't the case.
"Miho has nothing to do with…"
"Oh no. If you're going to say that Miho has nothing to do with this situation, you are wrong…dead wrong. You know of the relationship between those two. Tethered regardless of time or distance. They love each other to no end. Is it any surprise that Miho's condition affects Maho's psyche?"
"Miho and Maho have always been close to one another." Shiho silently pondered. She was thinking about a rebuttal, but had none except "What's your point?"
"My point?" Rirko's voice began to rise, angered by Shiho's refusal to believe the connection. "My point is that both sisters have lived under the same conditions, therefore having the same issues. My point is that Miho has been affected by years of Nishizumi teaching and her plight has affected Maho! My point…is that the level of concern you show Miho is minimal compared to Maho!"
Shiho stood up, shaking the table. "I care for both of my daughters!"
"Really? There must be a reason why Shiho doesn't have the same level of care for Miho. Because from what I can see, you couldn't care less about her. Remember what you said from the beginning 'and I would have been fine with that.' If you did care, you would have been just as livid about both daughters' situation, not just the older one." Now Rirko was using Shiho's words against her. Never had she seen such a level of audacity before.
He claimed that she didn't care for Miho? "I think you weren't listening to me before! My job as a Sensha-do practitioner and as a parent are one in the same! Miho has her own way of doing things. She's dead set in abandoning all our traditions, even our legacy. Because she doesn't agree with our doctrine!"
"And because of her doctrine, she's then slated for disgrace and peer seclusion?!" Both stared each other down. Rirko now knew the reason why. Her style conflicted with the Nishizumi so much that it would have changed the very style she was supposed to inherit. Her style would become the new Nishizumi style. That was something that Shiho, as the family matriarch, would not allow.
"I will not allow her style to tarnish the Nishizumi family. Even if it means keeping her at arm's length. Even if it means denying her publicly. Because it's my responsibility."
"Interesting…Then you're part of a love triangle?"
"W-What? What are you talking about?"
"Love of your daughters. Love of your family. Love of Sensha-do. Your concern for your daughters, both of them, constitutes to the love for your daughters. Keeping Miho at arm's length from you would constitute to your love and duty of your family. Sensha-do can be something of an obsession for you, seeing as if you have it as an important aspect of your life. Putting this all together and there's only one logical solution that you could do that would solve all your problems."
"If you have a point, get to it already."
"Disowning Miho. Surely that option crossed your mind, right? Separating her from the Nishizumi by removing her from your lineage. It would free Miho from any responsibility and keep your family name intact."
Little did Rirko know, Shiho had considered that option. Miho knew that her mother had no love for her own style; her own way of thinking. Because she brought this disgrace, Shiho was considering disowning her. In the end, though, her daughter proved victorious over Maho. Her style proved triumphant. However, this affected Shiho so much that it split her feelings into two. The love for her daughter and the love of her family. Which to choose? Rirko was intent on finding out.
"Why don't we find out which is your true love then." Rirko gestured to her. "I want to hear these words coming from your own lips. 'Miho Nishizumi, you are no daughter of mine.' If you truly care about your family responsibility so much, you wouldn't have a problem saying this to her face, right?"
Shiho began to shake in anger. Rirko was forcing her to make a choice she dreaded. "I have no obligation to say this to you."
"This is all conjecture, my lady. What's the problem? Just picture me as Miho and say those words: 'Miho Nishizumi, you are no daughter of mine." Rirko was gloating her to speak, efficiently backing her into a corner.
"Damn this bastard! Damn him to hell!" If she said it, then she would prove that she only cared about her family obligations. If she didn't, then she would show that she loved her daughters but lacked the conviction to do whatever it took to protect her family's reputation. She couldn't hide it. Not this time. Shiho sat down and put her hands on her lap, staring at Rirko with distaste.
He shrugged, "Guess we both know where you stand then."
"Despite your farce, the fact remains: I care for both of my daughters."
"And the only thing that's getting in the way is your family obligation. Or is there something more." Shiho became disturbed by Rirko's comment. What else did he have?
"What do you mean?"
"Truly? From the moment we started talking, it's been a circular conversation about ideals, values, family loyalty, styles, and Sensha-do. You're running away from the truth, and we both know the reason why."
"What does he know?! Shiho's paranoia was working overtime. She was always so sure of herself and confident in whatever she said. Now Rirko twisted her words and questioned everything to the point where she was not sure even sure what was going to happen. "What does he know?!" Shiho only watched as Rirko got up. He wore a solemn look. Unlocking a cabinet, he took out a file and opened it. Closing the cabinet, he tossed the folder and its contents on the table. It shook the glasses a little when it hit.
When Shiho picked up the contents, she didn't even have to read anything other than the title. It was the police report concerning Tsuneo's death. She dropped it upon the ground, shaking, eyes glistening again. Rirko sat back down and once again assumed his listening pose. He knew that it was now going to be hell on earth.
It was a few minutes before Shiho recovered from the shock. "Where…where...did you get this…"
"Remember that source you used in Notojima? It works two ways." Rirko had to tell Shiho that Ami was the one to provide the report. Otherwise, she would have questioned his source.
"Ami, had it all this time? I told her to destroy all the copies!" That was it for Shiho. Her civility would give way to rage and sadness.
Rirko could see it happening on her face. "Oh boy, here we go. This is going to be a real pain…"
"How dare you! This was sensitive information! Why do you have this?!"
"Simple. I wanted to learn more about you and your family."
"So, you told Ami to get this report?!"
"No. She gave it to me."
Standing up, she slammed her hand on the table. "You liar!"
"You can call me whatever you want. All I can tell you is that I expressed intent on learning about the Nishizumi as much as I can. To better understand the way, you think. A few hours later, Ami provided that report. I never asked her for anything. That is all." Rirko's stoic response made Shiho even angrier.
"You wanted to learn more about me?! You spoke ill of my family! Attempt to take my daughters away! You even have the audacity to speak to me in such a disrespectful way! You have no business knowing anything about me!"
Rirko stood up, refusing to be intimidated. "When a student in this school comes to me, asking for my help because her family is messing her up, you better damn believe that I'm making it my business! I don't even care about rank, position, or any social status! My responsibility is to the student! No one will be getting in the way of that! Least of all... you!"
Both stared each other down again. Shiho had only met a handful of men that would have the courage to stand up to her. Rirko sat down slowly, keeping his gazed locked on her. His deadpan look meant that he would not take her intimidation tactics. "No one is forcing you here. If you feel so strongly about me, then you can just leave. Or if you are intent on continuing, stay. It is your choice."
He had thrown the ball back in Shiho's court. Now knowing that she couldn't intimidate him, Shiho had no choice but to talk to him again. A few minutes later, she sat down and crossed her arms. She was still mad at him, but not yelling.
"Well, at least she's stopped shouting. Fine, I pissed you off. I had no right to look at that report, according to you. Regardless of if you believe me, this death was the turning point for your entire family."
"Let's hear it then," Shiho said mockingly. "Enlighten me."
"Bitch. Looking at previous media, you were quite different back then. More optimistic, more flexible. Something more akin to Miho's personality right now."
"Humph."
"Continuing then," Rirko took another sip of his cup. "This incident happens, and everything goes to hell. This is the turning point for you. Obsessed with the Nishizumi style, grooming Maho and Miho to be the perfect heiress' and to prove superiority to all. Things were going quite nicely…until…"
Rirko stopped to notice Shiho's non-verbals. Although her arms were crossed, she was visibly shaking and biting her bottom lip. The recollection of Tsuneo's death was apparently something she hadn't gotten over.
"When Miho saved those girls instead of achieving victory for Kuromorimine, she had undermined everything you had prepared for her. Because of this, Miho transferred to Oarai to live the rest of her high-school days as a pariah. Of course, that was the official reason. The reason you wanted everyone to believe."
He was getting to this point. As he approached, Shiho began to breathe deeper, trying to calm herself down. However, her stoic façade was fading fast. There were tears forming that she was trying to hold back.
"The real reason you berated Miho for that stunt. You just didn't want a repeat of what happened to your husband, did you?" Rirko's careless way of describing in detail Shiho's entire plan angered her greatly. He had used the different evidence around him and constructed a story that could pass on as truth. But this was the cold, hard truth. Not being able to restrain herself any longer, Shiho got up and slammed her fist on the table multiple times.
"You insignificant bastard! You know nothing about this! Nothing! Absolutely nothing!" She was practically yelling. Her hair became frayed, and all sense of professionalism was out the window. She looked at him with sheer contempt.
Rirko just looked at her. Shiho wanted nothing more than to strangle him and be on her way. There were a variety of emotions that she was feeling at that point. Anger, sadness, fear; feelings that she was trying desperately to keep in check. Finding some bearing, she collapsed on the couch, breathing deeply.
As she was trying to regain some semblance of formality, she wondered" Why... Why is he doing all of this? What does he have to gain? Why is he so obsessed with my family? Why? Why? Why? I…I just…want what's best…for them. Their future…Our future…"
"You succeeded then. And it seems that you'll get what you want: a groomed heiress that will lead the Nishizumi family into the future. And you can put your mind and heart at ease knowing that the family legacy will live on! All it took was the happiness of two daughters, five Kuromormine High School students and perhaps the respect of everyone in the Sensha-do community. I'd call that a bargain, wouldn't you?"
Shiho sighed. "You are a cruel person. Why do you insist on tormenting me like this?" Rirko looked at her. This wasn't the same person that the Sensha-do community feared. This was her true self. The mask had fallen away. In its place was anger, regret and despair.
Rirko knew he went too far. No matter how much he denied it, it felt good seeing Shiho like this. But Miho and Maho would have viewed it differently. This was a failure of empathy. Shiho was a victim as well. Of a heartache and pain of doing a job as a head of the family. Suddenly, he felt like a total douche. He could see now that Shiho was hurt by all the things he had coldly said. The two were silent for a couple of minutes.
When Shiho spoke again, there was only sadness in her voice. "Why did you have to remind me of that?"
"Because…now that we've addressed the real reason, we can move on."
If Shiho didn't move on in the last eight years, what made him think she would move on now? She felt a sudden urge to enlighten him of her pain. "Have you ever lost a loved one? Hmm? Have you ever received a phone call in the middle of a meeting? Letting you know that your husband died from saving the lives of other men? Complete strangers?" As she spoke, her voice became a mix of sadness and anger. Like Ami but at a more intense scale.
"He was safe and, yet he went in because it was 'the right thing to do.' Now imagine it unfolding again, in front of your face! When your daughter is doing the same thing! I lost Tsuneo to virtue, and it was going to happen again! What was I supposed to do?! She would have done it again if given the chance! No! I will not suffer the same pain! To not be able to hold your loved ever again…You have no idea the despair I feel each day!"
Her last sentence was drawn. This was raw emotion she was showing. The loss of her husband and the fear of losing her daughter to the same heroics. But most unnerving was the last thing she said: that he had no idea what despair was. And he was pissed.
"Of course, I do. I know what despair looks like. It comes to me, every Monday and Thursday at 7:30 in the morning. It dumps on me all the crap it was dealing during the week and all the fears and insecurities it has about its life. I saw it huddled up right against that door there in the wee hours of the morning because it had no idea what was happening to it. I saw it…sprawled out on the hotel floor, gagging and sobbing out of anxiety. It cried in my chest when I took its favourite hobby because it couldn't take the stress. Oh, and let's not forget when it wandered for a full day in a forest and came to an empty school, with no one to comfort it except for me! So, don't f***ing tell me I don't know what despair looks like!"
Both laid their real selves on the table. Shiho just stared at Rirko while his eyes welled up with tears. He sniffled a bit.
Shiho couldn't help but question this. "Are you crying? Men aren't supposed to cry…"
"Well, maybe I feel like crying!" With a fierce look, he took a tissue and tossed the box on the table. Then he took the bottle of Crown, filled up his glass and downed it in one shot.
Shiho looked with shock at what he said. She knew he was referring to Miho. Who else would it have been? All the things that happened to her and he was there to help her every step of the way. And now, he was shedding tears over someone he had no real responsibility for but did anyway.
He had willingly taken the problems of her family and tried to try to resolve them in his own way. A coward would run from such adversities. He was not a coward. Only a man with a heart would do this. But Shiho was still angry that he brought up the pain of losing Tsuneo. His outburst, however, gave insight on who he truly was.
"She…she got lost in a forest?"
Putting his glass down, Rirko stared at her and leaned close. "It was a particularly bad day for her."
It was a while before Shiho spoke again. "It is no wonder that my daughters ultimately listened to you. Not only do you have a way with words…you have the heart to back up your claims. If that is the case…" Shiho looked upon him, with sincerity and sorrow. Her voice sounded broken. "If that is the case…why didn't you show me the same?"
He was ashamed and didn't answer her immediately. "Because…deep down inside of me…I guess, there's a part that still genuinely despises your existence. For all that you've done."
"My daughters. Miho. Maho. For the sake of their future, I will do anything to keep them safe. Anything. Even if it means facing down all of the ridicule and jeers of others alone. Even…if it makes me a monster in their eyes." Downcast, she turned her head away from him.
"…He who makes himself a beast removes the pain of being human. But sometimes beasts can scare off the very thing they wish to protect."
"…yes. I suppose they do."
When Shiho compared herself as a beast, she was being accurate. She was the best in the entire country by being ruthless and persistent in a victory. But, if her intent was to protect Miho and Maho from the dangers, she had forgotten to account their happiness. That was just as important. The beast who scared off the ones she sought to protect. Darjeeling's words rang true after all this time.
Rirko had gathered all that he needed to know; save for one. "One thing that's been bugging me, though. Why did you have to wear a mask?"
"A mask?"
"A mask to hide the sadness, the pain. Putting on a stoic face each day, to deny yourself to feel again? If it was any other person, they would have broken long ago. But you? You appear to shed no tears for your allies. You would even condemn your own kin, if necessary. This was nothing more than masking the truth. To live alone for the longest time?"
Sighing, Shiho thought about his profound question. No one had ever questioned her about her feelings. Her personality was a major turn-off for a lot of people and no one, save for a select few, knew the true her. That she was still grieving for Tsuneo's death. She had thought Rirko, a danger to her family. Now she saw that Maho's words rang true:
"Say what you will about him, but the truth is that he is a compassionate person who only wants to help. Unlike you."
He had pushed her to share the truth. Most likely he did the same for her daughters. Otherwise, they would never divulge their true feelings. The feelings that they had hidden, even from her.
"Love."
"Love?"
"Because of love, I suffered. That's why I hid everything under a mask." Looking at Rirko, she gazed on her supposed adversary. "But I'm sure you've seen through my pain."
So, love was the reason she was like this? Love made one vulnerable. When she gave her love to Tsuneo and her daughters, she was at her happiest. She probably never considered a life without him. However, after the incident, she was burnt. That love, and her old self, perhaps burned away with that building and her husband. Never wanting to go through the same heartache, she closed herself off, even to her own family.
With all of her true feelings revealed, Rirko sighed and his pity for her encompassed her entire family. "This is so sad. Haunted by the memories of a golden age in her life. Burdened by the wishes of generations of family obligations."
Like her daughters, Shiho had emotions but hid them away from others. For so long, she had forced them down, always putting the interests of her family first. Because of this, Rirko accepted that fact that there were going to be things that he wouldn't be able to change with Shiho. But, if he was able to change the way she saw her daughters and how she treated them. Then, perhaps, she could change little by little. It would at least be a start.
Silence once again. Where would the conversation go from here? Little did both know; an answer would soon come knocking.
Literally.
Three soft reps at the door. Usually, he would not answer when he was with a client. But for the two of them, there was nothing else to say. What else was there to discuss? They both looked at each other. Finally, Rirko got up and walked towards the door. When he opened it, he was surprised to see Miho and Maho standing right there.
"Oh, what the hell is this then?" Why were the two of them there? Miho caught a glimpse of Shiho sitting on the couch. Her heart immediately filled with anxiety. Maho tapped on Miho's shoulder, and the two looked at Rirko.
"Well, this is certainly a surprise. Must admit, seeing the both of you here must mean something. Right?" Shiho caught on. Miho and Maho were here. Turning around, she gazed at them both. Immediately, both girls looked away. Rirko looked at the two parties and shrugged. "Now what, my lady? It would be an optimal time to put your affairs in order. Or, you can walk out of this office. It's your call."
Once again, he made Shiho make a choice. It annoyed her that he would ask her to make such a decision. She turned her back and grabbed her pants. "Why don't you make that decision for me, Mr. Nagasawa. I will defer to your professional opinion." Knowing that she wanted to stay but would never say it, he stepped out of the way. It was the girls' turn. Both looked at each other with uncertainty. After a few moments, Miho walked slowly into the room, followed by Maho.
The two walked pass their mother, not even looking at her. They both sat opposite of her. Clearing off the table of the whiskey, glasses, and the file, Rirko replaced them with his water jug and plastic cups. It was going to be a long meeting.
"I'm sure that the three of you have much to discuss. I'll leave you all to it then." As he was making his way to the door, a voice called out to him.
"Where are you going?" He turned and saw Shiho addressing him coldly.
"Well, you did say that I have no right to your affairs. Therefore, the only natural thing to do is to leave."
"No…" Shiho shot a steely gaze on him. "After all you've done, you're too involved in this to excuse yourself out now. You're staying."
Truthfully, Rirko wanted to see how things would play out. But he thought he was intruding on what would be a very sensitive discussion. Miho and Maho looked at him as well. Their eyes asking him…begging him, to stay. Laughing softly, he went to his desk, grabbed his seat and sat between the two parties.
"If it gets ugly, I'll intervene. Well then, worthy ladies of the Nishizumi style. Shall we begin?"
Next chapter will be coming alone accordingly. Thanks to those who support this fic in their own special ways. The words have been nothing more than incredible.