Chapter 31- September 5-6, 2011
Midori flopped onto the couch and groaned. "I'm done!" She buried her face in the pillow.
"What happened?" Hoshimi called form the kitchen.
"All men are awful!" Midori sat up and squeezed the pillow to her chest. "If one more man tries to stare down my shirt I'm going to strangle someone!"
"I'm sorry." Hoshimi set plate of carrots on the couch next to her. "You could always get a new job."
"If only I had the time to find a new job." Midori grabbed a carrot stick and took a bite. "Plus the old man always says he needs me."
"Maybe try to get him to change the uniform." Hoshimi called from the kitchen.
"Maybe… but I doubt it will change the type of customers."
"I guess." Hoshimi laughed. "Again you could get a new job."
"I'm not opposed." Midori laughed. "But I need the money for school."
Hoshimi went silent. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your job." Midori grabbed another carrot stick. "I'm an adult."
"I know but-."
"Don't stress sis, I"m doing fine." Midori finished another carrot. "Scholarships help."
"I guess."
Midori chuckled then laid down on the couch and closed her eyes. Nap time…
"Hey Midori." Wataru suddenly yelled. "You have visitors."
"What?" Midori sat up and glanced towards the entryway. A moment later Masaomi walked around the corner followed by…
Midori jolted up at the same time as Hoshimi dropped a plate.
THree people stood by Masaomi. The first was a man wearing a stream pressed black suit with a dark green tie. His tie matched the woman next to him's pant suit. Both had matching scowls. A young man stood behind them barely able to be seen.
"Mother… Father…" Midori jerked up straighter, memories of past lectures buzzing around in her head.
"Midori." Her mother's voice hadn't changed, still cold and hollow. And her father still just stood at her side quietly folding his arms behind his back.
"What are you doing here?" Midori didn't even try to her venom.
"You haven't answered your phone for the last three montsh." Her mother continued. "And you didn't inform us of your move, we had to find out from your boss."
MIdori squeezed her hands into fists and grit her teeth. "I'm an adult I don't have to all everytime I move."
"Mother I-." Hoshimi took a step forward and just like every other time for the past eight years their mother ignored HOshimi and continued as if nothing else mattered.
"We came to fetch you. This is Rinko Takamari. A business acquaintance of ours agreed with us that his son and you would be a good match. You'll be joining him for dinner."
The man in question stepped forward and gave a small bow. He had dark brown hair slicked back with way too much hair gel, it didn't even move as he bowed. "Midori it's nice to meet you."
His voice reminded her of the sleaze bags who had flirted with her just earlier at work. "Can't say the same."
"Midori." Her father scolded.
She flinched at his almost never raised voice. "I-."
"What's going on?" Mai walked in form the other doorway carrying a large book. Shin and Ukyo followed her in.
Of course what did Midori's mom do? She just turned her back to Hoshimi and the kids. "We will be waiting downstairs for you Midori. You will be coming. And you will dress up."
"I'm not-."
"If you don't come you will regret it. You have twenty minutes." She turned to Masaomi and gave him that stupid business smile she always used. "Thank you again Ms. Asahina for helping me contact my daughter. And thank you for taking care of Midori." She headed towards the door.
"Mother!" Hoshimi called out. "Um I want you to-."
"Come along Kichiro dear." Heir mother didn't even look at HOshimi as the three exited.
Midori could have sworn her teeth broke as she watched her parents leave. "Hosh-."
"You should probably go get dressed. Need help?" Hoshimi just smiled.
"... I'll be fine… Hey save me some dinner please." Midori forced herself to smile. "I prefer your food."
"Of course." Hoshimi smiled just like always. "And there will be leftovers for lunch too."
"Thanks." Midori took a deep breath and then headed towards her room.
Forever later Midori sat at a table across from Rinko. Her parents had left a few moments ago, a business emergency. Dinner was bland, and was way too small. The company wasn't much better.
"So tell me Midori, what are you plans for the future?"
"It doesn't matter." Midori poked at the leftovers of her dinner. "We're not close."
"We could be." He grinned at her. "We're both from good breeding and both of us are good looking." He held out his hand. "We would be a perfect couple."
"I'm not looking for a boyfriend."
"You wouldn't want for anything."
"I'm not wanting for anything." Midori stood up "And I think we're done."
"Wait." He stood up as well. "We're not done."
"Yes we are. I came, now I'm leaving. Goodbye." Midori walked out and shoved her hands into her purse and dug out her phone. Who to call…. Well Ukyo did have a car, but… No she needed to get home and check on Hoshimi. She dialed in his number. After three rings he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Ukyo… Could you pick me up?"
"Give me a minute."
She gave him the address and then leaned against a wall outside to wait. She closed her eyes and sighed. She hated this, she always had. "I thought I had gotten away from this." Midori whispered. A few minutes later she heard a car pull up and opened her eyes. Ukyo sat there in the front seat and looked at her.
"Thanks." She climbed in and buckled her seatbelt. Once she was all buckled in her pulled away. Pure silence….. "Okay, I know you want to say something…. What?"
"You're parents…"
"Have always been like that…. Well as far back as I can remember. And it has only gotten worse since the twins were born. Our parents don't really care about us…. They just want to set us up and use that to move themselves forward. There's a reason why I don't live with them… Or respond to their calls."
"I see." Ukyo whispered.
"Nothing else? Not going to dig in?"
"It's not my business." Ukyo stopped as they pulled up in front of a light. "But… I do want to know… What did they mean when they said you would regret it?"
"I'm not sure." Midori squeezed her phone. "But I'm sure it will have something to do with my ability to live with Hoshimi. They will mess up our happiness…. Just like always."
"I see." Ukyo nodded and continued to drive.
Midori looked down at her phone as it buzzed and froze. A single text. Midori you will go out with Rinko again or else we will make sure that Hoshimi's funds dry up.
Midori squeezed her phone tighter and looked out the window. "I see… so that's their plan."
"What?" Ukyo asked.
"Nothing." Midori sighed. "Forget it." I've got no choice…. Hoshimi…. I'll make sure they don't mess with you again. I promise.
"Very well." Ukyo said and continued to drive. "By the way Hoshimi left you a large section of dinner."
"Of course she did." Midori chuckled. "That's just who she is." I'm going to miss that. "Thanks for picking me up Ukyo… And thanks for looking after Hoshimi."
"Of course. You girls are family….. You shouldn't worry as much about all this. It will all progress fine." He pulled up in front of the house. "Just take it one day at a time."
"Maybe…" Midori unbuckled. "Thanks, I'll see you later." She climbed out and looked down at the text. Hoshimi's funds…. Hoshimi shouldn't have to worry, not when she has to look after the twins. I've got time…. I can give up a month of two of dating that sleazebag… To protect Hoshimi… I'll have to.