Chapter 20 - The Holiday Season
"Reiji, can we speak for a minute?" asked Yumiko, entering the office of her husband. Reiji looked up and smiled as his wife approach him. "Sure," he replied, "What's up?" Yumiko took the seat opposite her husband's and looked uncertainly at him. "Reiji," began his wife, "Do you think it was a good idea? I just can't help but feel like we've betrayed the Doumyojis." Reiji sighed and got up from his seat.
"I know," he replied, "But I'm thinking for Shigeru. I want her to be happy even if it means losing that business deal." Yumiko nodded. "I agree," she said, "Have you called?" Reiji shook his head. "Looks like I should," he replied, picking up the phone, "The sooner, the better." Yumiko watched as her husband dialed the number.
************
Yuki cashed the cheque for her month-end pay that had sat in her wallet for the past week. "I need to get something for Nishikado this Christmas," she thought, "But what?" Her mind swirled with ideas for a gift as she walked along the pavement. "He has almost everything," she sighed, "What would he want from someone like me?"
Today was her day off and she thought it would be a great idea to do some shopping for the coming season. The streets of Shibuya were packed with the young and trendy as it would every weekend. Everyone seems to be out on this chilly autumn afternoon. Yuki wandered the streets for almost an hour before sitting by the sidewalk, exhausted. "I can't think of anything," she muttered.
Seated next to her was an old lady, knitting furiously away. Yuki can't help but admired at her speed and skill. "It's nice," she complimented. The old lady stopped and looked at her. "I'm knitting it for my grandson," she smiled, "It's the only thing I do best." Yuki's eyes widen and she beamed at the old lady.
"That's it!" Yuki exclaimed, "That's what I do best too!" The old lady stared at her in bewilderment. "Thank you," said Yuki and she hurried off. The old lady shook her head and continued on with her knitting as Yuki turned off the corner and entered a craft shop.
"Can I help you?" asked the sales lady. "Yes," replied Yuki, "I need your best wool in blue." The lady showed Yuki the house's best wool in shades of blue. "Are you going to knit a sweater or a scarf?" asked the lady. "A sweater," answered Yuki, looking at the shades. "Well, ten balls would be enough," recommended the lady, "But it would be better if you take eleven balls, just in case. Which shade of blue would you like?"
"I'll take the indigo," replied Yuki. The sales lady nodded, took out eleven balls of wool in indigo and packed them. "Would that be all?" she asked. Yuki nodded. "Well, that would be 9700 yen," she said. Yuki passed her the cash and departed happily with the package.
************
"Okawahara-san is on the line for you," informed her secretary. Kaede thanked her and picked up the phone. "Hello, Reiji," she greeted, "How are you?" Reiji returned her greeting. "I'm fine, Kaede," he replied, "I just want to inform you of the change in plan... I'm sorry."
"I've heard about it," said Kaede without waiting for him to explain, "Congratulations." Reiji was shocked and stammered, "How...how did you know?" Reiji cleared his throat. "I've my sources," replied Kaede calmly, "Anyway, don't worry about the contract. There will be no change in plan."
"No change in plan?" repeated Reiji unbelievingly. "Yes, no change," assured Kaede, "If that's all, send my regards to Yumiko and congratulate Shigeru." She returned the phone back to its receiver. Kaede got up from her seat and looked out the window. Her thoughts were disrupted when her personal assistant knocked and entered her office. Kaede turned away from the window and took her seat.
"Good morning," he said, placing a pile of filed documents onto the table, "The invitation cards have been sent and the guests list finalized." Kaede picked up a file and examined it. "Good," she said, "I assume then that everything is ready." He nodded. "All right then," she said, "Pick our important guests up." He nodded again and excused himself. "That should settle it," thought Kaede, returning to her computer screen.
************
Sojiro and Akira met in their usual café for tea. "Awfully boring these days," commented Akira. Sojiro agreed. "Any idea what to do?" asked Akira. Sojiro shook his head. "What have you been up to recently?" asked Akira again, "Nothing new on the menu?" Sojiro nodded. "Hey, are you dumb or what?" complained Akira, "Every question I ask, you either nod or shrug or shake your head!"
"Sorry," apologised Sojiro, "I'm thinking of some stuff." Akira sighed. "Rui is back in Paris and Tsukasa is away in Boston," he said, "Don't tell me the F4's really..." Sojiro raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with you?" he asked as Akira picked up his cup of coffee. "Nothing," replied Akira, "By the way, you haven't been partying a lot lately. What have you been actually up to?"
Sojiro shifted uncomfortably. He wondered if he should tell Akira that he's seriously dating. Akira is after all his best friend and they have been since young. "Akira..." he began, "I think I should let you know..." Akira straightened and looked intently at him with eyebrows raised. "Er..." he swallowed, "I'm seriously...dating a girl now...or rather, we're going out regularly at the moment."
Akira's eyes popped. "What?!" he exclaimed unbelievingly, "You what?" Sojiro frowned. "Will you keep your voice down?" replied Sojiro annoyingly, "I've told you before - I'm no longer playing the field." Akira calmed down and then, grinned. "So, who's this girl?" he asked cheekily, resting his elbow onto the table and propping his chin on his hand. Sojiro smiled. "Someone you know," he answered, "Makino's good friend."
"Makino's good friend?" repeated Akira. Sojiro nodded. "You've got to be joking," said Akira, "You know what you're into if Makino finds out?!" Sojiro raised his eyebrows. "Look," explained Akira, "If things don't work out between you both...I mean, if you hurt her friend...mind you, it's her good friend we're talking about...she'll...she'll come after you!" Sojiro sighed, his shoulders drooping. "I did consider that...but I'm serious about this...or at least, let us try to work things out," he replied, "I don't think Makino has a right to interfere...does she?"
Akira looked intently at him for a while. "I really don't know," he answered, picking up his coffee cup. Sojiro frowned and retorted, hitting Akira on the head, "Then, why did you say that she will?!" Akira choked and coughed, spilling coffee over the table. "Ouch!" he cried out, "That was uncalled for." Sojiro ignored him and looked out the window.
************
Tsukushi picked up her jacket and put it on as Tsukasa stepped into her room. "Yo," he greeted, "Can we go yet? We're going to be late." Tsukushi nodded, grabbing her bag as Tsukasa opened the door for her.
"What time is Tsubaki-oneesan arriving?" asked Tsukushi, walking alongside him down the corridor. "About noon, I think," replied Tsukasa absentmindedly. "I see," said Tsukushi, "Do we meet her at the airport?" Tsukasa shook his head. "We've got classes, don't we?" he commented. "Oh, right," replied a sheepish Tsukushi.
The duo was going to spend their holidays in Beverly Hills with Tsubaki and she had insisted that she picked them up personally from Boston. "Come on," he urged, "We've got to hurry." Tsukushi nodded. Despite the cold winds, the duo braved it and hurried to their last leg of lessons before the holiday season begins.
************
"I'm home," called Yuki as she entered the hallway. "Welcome home," replied her mother, "What's in that bag?" Yuki smiled and answered, "Nothing. Just some stuff I need for school." Her mother shrugged. "Well, dinner is almost ready," she informed, "We can have it once your father's home."
"All right," nodded Yuki, ascending the stairs to her room. "That will be about an hour from now. I can start on the pattern for the back first," she thought. Entering her room, Yuki placed the package on her bed and reached out for a box underneath it. In that box laid her knitting needles and accessories that was a gift from her grandmother. "Now, I need to pick a pattern that will be most suitable," she muttered, opening her drawer and pulling out a file. Yuki spent the next hour working on the sweater for Sojiro and stopped only when it was time for dinner.
************
Shigeru paced the entrance of the cinema and wondered where Tomoya was. They were supposed to meet at seven o'clock for a quick bite before catching the movie at half past seven. "Where the hell is that guy?" muttered Shigeru impatiently, "It's already fifteen minutes past seven." Pulling her jacket tighter, Shigeru looked left and then right for him. "It's so cold," she muttered under her breath, "And that stupid idiot has the nerve to let a girl wait!" Her impatience was surely brewing and so was her anger as she paced along the entrance. "Wait till he gets here," she muttered angrily, "Just wait till he gets here..."
"Yo!" greeted Tomoya. Shigeru spun around; her face red with anger. "Where the hell were you?" she yelled, "You're supposed to be here 15 minutes ago and you're not supposed to let a girl wait!" Tomoya pulled out a bouquet of flowers. "Here," he said sweetly, handing it over, "Got these for you on my way here." Shigeru stared at the bouquet speechlessly; her anger subsidizing to embarrassment. "Shall we go in now?" asked Tomoya as he took a glance at his watch, "We can grab a bite after the movie." Shigeru nodded.
"How can I get angry with such a sweet fellow?" thought Shigeru, looking at the flowers. "I'm sorry you had to wait out in the cold," apologised Tomoya, handing the usher their tickets, "Dinner's on me later." Shigeru smiled and replied teasingly, "But, of course! Don't expect me to pay for dinner." Tomoya took her hand and led a redden Shigeru into the cinema. "Anything for you," he replied.
"Reiji, can we speak for a minute?" asked Yumiko, entering the office of her husband. Reiji looked up and smiled as his wife approach him. "Sure," he replied, "What's up?" Yumiko took the seat opposite her husband's and looked uncertainly at him. "Reiji," began his wife, "Do you think it was a good idea? I just can't help but feel like we've betrayed the Doumyojis." Reiji sighed and got up from his seat.
"I know," he replied, "But I'm thinking for Shigeru. I want her to be happy even if it means losing that business deal." Yumiko nodded. "I agree," she said, "Have you called?" Reiji shook his head. "Looks like I should," he replied, picking up the phone, "The sooner, the better." Yumiko watched as her husband dialed the number.
************
Yuki cashed the cheque for her month-end pay that had sat in her wallet for the past week. "I need to get something for Nishikado this Christmas," she thought, "But what?" Her mind swirled with ideas for a gift as she walked along the pavement. "He has almost everything," she sighed, "What would he want from someone like me?"
Today was her day off and she thought it would be a great idea to do some shopping for the coming season. The streets of Shibuya were packed with the young and trendy as it would every weekend. Everyone seems to be out on this chilly autumn afternoon. Yuki wandered the streets for almost an hour before sitting by the sidewalk, exhausted. "I can't think of anything," she muttered.
Seated next to her was an old lady, knitting furiously away. Yuki can't help but admired at her speed and skill. "It's nice," she complimented. The old lady stopped and looked at her. "I'm knitting it for my grandson," she smiled, "It's the only thing I do best." Yuki's eyes widen and she beamed at the old lady.
"That's it!" Yuki exclaimed, "That's what I do best too!" The old lady stared at her in bewilderment. "Thank you," said Yuki and she hurried off. The old lady shook her head and continued on with her knitting as Yuki turned off the corner and entered a craft shop.
"Can I help you?" asked the sales lady. "Yes," replied Yuki, "I need your best wool in blue." The lady showed Yuki the house's best wool in shades of blue. "Are you going to knit a sweater or a scarf?" asked the lady. "A sweater," answered Yuki, looking at the shades. "Well, ten balls would be enough," recommended the lady, "But it would be better if you take eleven balls, just in case. Which shade of blue would you like?"
"I'll take the indigo," replied Yuki. The sales lady nodded, took out eleven balls of wool in indigo and packed them. "Would that be all?" she asked. Yuki nodded. "Well, that would be 9700 yen," she said. Yuki passed her the cash and departed happily with the package.
************
"Okawahara-san is on the line for you," informed her secretary. Kaede thanked her and picked up the phone. "Hello, Reiji," she greeted, "How are you?" Reiji returned her greeting. "I'm fine, Kaede," he replied, "I just want to inform you of the change in plan... I'm sorry."
"I've heard about it," said Kaede without waiting for him to explain, "Congratulations." Reiji was shocked and stammered, "How...how did you know?" Reiji cleared his throat. "I've my sources," replied Kaede calmly, "Anyway, don't worry about the contract. There will be no change in plan."
"No change in plan?" repeated Reiji unbelievingly. "Yes, no change," assured Kaede, "If that's all, send my regards to Yumiko and congratulate Shigeru." She returned the phone back to its receiver. Kaede got up from her seat and looked out the window. Her thoughts were disrupted when her personal assistant knocked and entered her office. Kaede turned away from the window and took her seat.
"Good morning," he said, placing a pile of filed documents onto the table, "The invitation cards have been sent and the guests list finalized." Kaede picked up a file and examined it. "Good," she said, "I assume then that everything is ready." He nodded. "All right then," she said, "Pick our important guests up." He nodded again and excused himself. "That should settle it," thought Kaede, returning to her computer screen.
************
Sojiro and Akira met in their usual café for tea. "Awfully boring these days," commented Akira. Sojiro agreed. "Any idea what to do?" asked Akira. Sojiro shook his head. "What have you been up to recently?" asked Akira again, "Nothing new on the menu?" Sojiro nodded. "Hey, are you dumb or what?" complained Akira, "Every question I ask, you either nod or shrug or shake your head!"
"Sorry," apologised Sojiro, "I'm thinking of some stuff." Akira sighed. "Rui is back in Paris and Tsukasa is away in Boston," he said, "Don't tell me the F4's really..." Sojiro raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with you?" he asked as Akira picked up his cup of coffee. "Nothing," replied Akira, "By the way, you haven't been partying a lot lately. What have you been actually up to?"
Sojiro shifted uncomfortably. He wondered if he should tell Akira that he's seriously dating. Akira is after all his best friend and they have been since young. "Akira..." he began, "I think I should let you know..." Akira straightened and looked intently at him with eyebrows raised. "Er..." he swallowed, "I'm seriously...dating a girl now...or rather, we're going out regularly at the moment."
Akira's eyes popped. "What?!" he exclaimed unbelievingly, "You what?" Sojiro frowned. "Will you keep your voice down?" replied Sojiro annoyingly, "I've told you before - I'm no longer playing the field." Akira calmed down and then, grinned. "So, who's this girl?" he asked cheekily, resting his elbow onto the table and propping his chin on his hand. Sojiro smiled. "Someone you know," he answered, "Makino's good friend."
"Makino's good friend?" repeated Akira. Sojiro nodded. "You've got to be joking," said Akira, "You know what you're into if Makino finds out?!" Sojiro raised his eyebrows. "Look," explained Akira, "If things don't work out between you both...I mean, if you hurt her friend...mind you, it's her good friend we're talking about...she'll...she'll come after you!" Sojiro sighed, his shoulders drooping. "I did consider that...but I'm serious about this...or at least, let us try to work things out," he replied, "I don't think Makino has a right to interfere...does she?"
Akira looked intently at him for a while. "I really don't know," he answered, picking up his coffee cup. Sojiro frowned and retorted, hitting Akira on the head, "Then, why did you say that she will?!" Akira choked and coughed, spilling coffee over the table. "Ouch!" he cried out, "That was uncalled for." Sojiro ignored him and looked out the window.
************
Tsukushi picked up her jacket and put it on as Tsukasa stepped into her room. "Yo," he greeted, "Can we go yet? We're going to be late." Tsukushi nodded, grabbing her bag as Tsukasa opened the door for her.
"What time is Tsubaki-oneesan arriving?" asked Tsukushi, walking alongside him down the corridor. "About noon, I think," replied Tsukasa absentmindedly. "I see," said Tsukushi, "Do we meet her at the airport?" Tsukasa shook his head. "We've got classes, don't we?" he commented. "Oh, right," replied a sheepish Tsukushi.
The duo was going to spend their holidays in Beverly Hills with Tsubaki and she had insisted that she picked them up personally from Boston. "Come on," he urged, "We've got to hurry." Tsukushi nodded. Despite the cold winds, the duo braved it and hurried to their last leg of lessons before the holiday season begins.
************
"I'm home," called Yuki as she entered the hallway. "Welcome home," replied her mother, "What's in that bag?" Yuki smiled and answered, "Nothing. Just some stuff I need for school." Her mother shrugged. "Well, dinner is almost ready," she informed, "We can have it once your father's home."
"All right," nodded Yuki, ascending the stairs to her room. "That will be about an hour from now. I can start on the pattern for the back first," she thought. Entering her room, Yuki placed the package on her bed and reached out for a box underneath it. In that box laid her knitting needles and accessories that was a gift from her grandmother. "Now, I need to pick a pattern that will be most suitable," she muttered, opening her drawer and pulling out a file. Yuki spent the next hour working on the sweater for Sojiro and stopped only when it was time for dinner.
************
Shigeru paced the entrance of the cinema and wondered where Tomoya was. They were supposed to meet at seven o'clock for a quick bite before catching the movie at half past seven. "Where the hell is that guy?" muttered Shigeru impatiently, "It's already fifteen minutes past seven." Pulling her jacket tighter, Shigeru looked left and then right for him. "It's so cold," she muttered under her breath, "And that stupid idiot has the nerve to let a girl wait!" Her impatience was surely brewing and so was her anger as she paced along the entrance. "Wait till he gets here," she muttered angrily, "Just wait till he gets here..."
"Yo!" greeted Tomoya. Shigeru spun around; her face red with anger. "Where the hell were you?" she yelled, "You're supposed to be here 15 minutes ago and you're not supposed to let a girl wait!" Tomoya pulled out a bouquet of flowers. "Here," he said sweetly, handing it over, "Got these for you on my way here." Shigeru stared at the bouquet speechlessly; her anger subsidizing to embarrassment. "Shall we go in now?" asked Tomoya as he took a glance at his watch, "We can grab a bite after the movie." Shigeru nodded.
"How can I get angry with such a sweet fellow?" thought Shigeru, looking at the flowers. "I'm sorry you had to wait out in the cold," apologised Tomoya, handing the usher their tickets, "Dinner's on me later." Shigeru smiled and replied teasingly, "But, of course! Don't expect me to pay for dinner." Tomoya took her hand and led a redden Shigeru into the cinema. "Anything for you," he replied.