The next week saw Charlie getting to know more about Ushio , he learned that Ushio loved all sorts of pastries including anpan and that her grandparents and her mother had a bakery back in her hometown, he also learned that Ushio is quite tomboyish in nature and likes alot of things Charlie likes including baseball, sports in general, similer TV Shows (Action, Anime and Dramas). In many senses Charlie and Ushio had a lot in common.
A week after getting to know Ushio and two weeks after introducing Ushio to his friends, Charlie was invited over to Kotomi's place for dinner.
He was invited by Ushio as she wanted to see him after constantly seeing each other these past two weeks, Ushio after since first meeting Charlie constantly wanted to see him as she found him to be enjoyable and kind and the week after, Ushio and Charlie went back to the mall to hang out together as well as hanging out with each other at the park and at school.
Charlie turned up at Kotomi's, he was wearing a smart polo shirt with shorts (it was summer in California) and Air Jordan's on his feet.
He knocked on the door to find Kotomi standing there.
"Hello Charlie, its a pleasure for you to join us tonight" said Kotomi
"Hi Miss Ichinose, is Ushio home" said Charlie
"Yeah she is upstairs, please come in" said Kotomi gesturing for Charlie to enter her house
Charlie entered and Kotomi said "I'm going to be making dinner, it will be ready in 15 minutes" before heading to the kitchen
"Sure" said Charlie
"Charlie, its so good to see you" said Ushio as she came rushing downstairs and hugged Charlie
"Good to see you too Ushio, what were you just doing" said Charlie
"Oh I had just finished my homework and now just playing video games before you arrived" said Ushio
"What were you playing" said Charlie
"MLB the Show" said Ushio
"I have that game, were you doing a Franchise mode or playing online" said Charlie
"I was playing Franchise mode, I'm trying to create a Moneyball style Franchise mode with the Oakland A's" said Ushio
"Ahh have you played online" said Charlie
"Yeah, although I usually lose all of the time" said Ushio
"Do you practise before playing online on MLB The Show" said Charlie
"No, I don't play online as much as Franchise Mode though as I enjoy it more as it makes you feel like a Baseball Owner" said Ushio
"Fair Enough, I play more Call of Duty than MLB, but I usually will play online and I have actually got a winning record" said Charlie
"Whats your record" said Ushio
"57 Wins and 15 Losses" said Charlie
"Wow thats really impressive" said Ushio
"Yeah, although I've been playing the MLB games for years" said Charlie
"USHIO, CHARLIE, DINNERS READY" Shouted Kotomi from downstairs
Ushio and Charlie went downstairs to find roast beef and Chicken with salad and french fries.
Kotomi, Ushio and Charlie said grace before starting their food.
"So Charlie, how are things doing with you" said Kotomi
"Well things are doing good Miss Ichinose..." said Charlie before being interrupted by Kotomi
"You can call me Kotomi, we are not in a formal setting" said Kotomi
"Sure Kotomi, but yeah my father is currently on a buisness trip with the Alien Research Institute" said Charlie
"The Alien Research Institute I've heard of them, Whats your fathers name" said Kotomi
"Dil Pickles" said Charlie
"I've met him before" said Kotomi
"Really, how" said Charlie
"He was one of the people I gave research about the Illusionary World as well as the Light Orbs" said Kotomi
"Thats cool, I never knew my dad was that famous" said Charlie
"Well he was one of their Senior Alien Researchers when I gave Research to them, I heard he became ARI's (Alien Research Institute) Vice President recently" said Kotomi
"A few months ago preciously, I remember we celebrated it via going out for dinner" said Charlie
"Ah that sounds nice, Charlie do you know what you want to do after you leave school" said Kotomi
"I don't know, maybe a computer programmer or something IT related, very likely to go to college" said Charlie
"wow that sounds like you've got your life all set out, I wish Ushio knew what she wanted to do" said Kotomi
"Hey" said Ushio
"From what i've seen, Ushio comes across as very intelligent and open-minded, i'm sure she will have lots of options when she leaves school" said Charlie
"Aww thanks Charlie" said Ushio
"But its true, your open-mindedness allows you to be creative and you have a good heart which can take you far in the future" said Charlie
"And thats why I couldn't let Ushio fail, after she was expelled from Hikarizaka Private High School, no other school nearby wanted to take her, so I decided with permission from her parents Nagisa and Tomoya, Ushio was enrolled at the High School here in the United States where she would be given a second chance with me watching her as her Guardian" said Kotomi
"Thanks guys, so Charlie I hear your going to Japan in August" said Ushio
"Yeah I going to see my mother for the first time in 14 years" said Charlie
"are you looking forward to it, Charlie" said Kotomi
"Of course I am, in fact I'm counting down the days until I go to Japan" said Charlie
"I hope you didn't sell that violin that was Kaori's original violin" said Kotomi
"I didn't, it still stored away underneath my bed" said Charlie
"Good, where in Japan is your mother from Charlie" said Kotomi
"Tokyo, in particular Nerima district" said Charlie
"Your mother was from the capital, have you ever been to Japan" said Kotomi
"No, it will be my first time" said Charlie
"Me, Ushio and her parents are from Hikarizaka which is around a hour and 30 min away from where Nerima is" said Kotomi
"What's Hikarizaka like" said Charlie
"Small, but has many good people" said Kotomi
"Depends on what sort of people" said Ushio
"What do you mean by that" said Charlie
"Like my parents along with Kotomi, Uncle Youhei and his wife Kyou, Ryou, Fuko, my friend Yanako Takasu and her younger brother Leo and Yuji and then of course you (pointing at Charlie) and your friends" said Ushio
"Aw thanks Ushio" said Charlie
"Yeah, so Charlie have you looked for many part-time jobs around here" said Kotomi
"Well not really as I sometimes have to look after Holly if both my father and stepmother are working, although sometimes Imget paid to help repair computers if someone needs it" said Charlie
"Oh, I was looking for Ushio to get a part-time job" said Kotomi as Ushio frowned
"There are plenty around, although it would be better for Ushio to get used to the area before getting one" said Charlie
"Charlie, have you watched the recent baseball games" said Ushio
"Yeah, the Dodgers looked good in that game, shame about your Astro's" said Charlie smiling smugly
"You Dodgers were lucky, you literally won in the last inning" said Ushio
"Not our fault, the Orioles are awful and we underpeformed, you had the Marlins, you should of thrashed them" said Charlie
"I see you like baseball too Charlie" said Kotomi
"Yeah I'm a Dodgers fan as well as 2 other of my friends, do you like baseball Kotomi" said Charlie
"I'm not really into sports, although Ushio loves it" said Kotomi
"I tried getting her into it, but Kotomi apprantly finds them boring" said Ushio as both her and Charlie chuckled slightly
"We have differing interests Ushio, I prefer more scientific stuff" said Kotomi
Charlie, Ushio and Kotomi enjoyed their dinner talking about various things about the area and the people around it.
Afterwards Charlie headed home to find Lil sat with Angelica and Chuckie.
"Oh Hi, Aunt Angelica and Uncle Chuckie" said Charlie
"Hi Charlie, how was your date" said Chuckie
Charlie blushed in embarrassment and said "It wasn't a date, just Ushio invited me to dinner at her place and it was fun"
"That's a sign that she likes you" said Lil
"What makes you think that" said Charlie
"It pretty obvious Charlie, if a girl constantly wants to spend time with you as well as inviting you over her place, that's a telling sign that she likes you" said Angelica
Charlie went slient for a bit before saying "It might be possible, although I may like her as well"
All 3 of them smiled before Angelica spoke "Well at least your doing better than Jake"
Jake Finister was the son of Angelica and Chuckie and was two years older than Charlie, he was a university student that studied Mathematics at MIT, he was smart and awkward like his father, but also very assertive like his mother.
"Hasn't he still not found someone, even at university" said Charlie
"Not yet from what he's told me, he's more focused on his work" said Chuckie
"Ahh, Lil, when is dad going to be back from his Alien Research Trip" said Charlie
"Its unfortunately been extended to an another month, so he might miss seeing you off to Japan, sorry about that" said Lil
"Its okay, how come it got extended" said Charlie
"He wouldn't say, but he did say that the trip heavily involves him as well as the Alien Research Institute's relationship with the Intergalactic Research Organisation" said Lil
The Intergalactic Research Organisation were on/off rivals with the Alien Research Institute as they did the same purpose, but as Alien/Interdimensional Research was now only semi-regulated, they generally had become government backed buisnesses competing with one and another.
"So Charlie, are you looking foward to seeing your mother again" said Chuckie
"Yeah I am, it has been so long since I seen her" said Charlie
"How many years has it been" said Chuckie
"14 Years" said Charlie
"Thats a long time, are you all packed for it" said Chuckie
"Not all packed yet, but pretty close, I am going for a full month" said Charlie
Charlie went to his room, mostly to play video games where Lil, Angelica and Chuckie spoke
"Have you told him on the reason why Dil is on the Alien Research Institute trip" said Angelica
"No as I will let Dil explain it when he gets back, but its something to do with a Joint Alien Research Institute/Intergalactic Research
Organisation Summit 13 Years Ago" said Lil
"Can't believe Charlie is reuniting with Kaori, do you know how much it hurt Dil when Kaori left him" said Angelica
"Yeah Dil told me, it hurt him when Kaori left, but I can't deny Charlie the right to see his mother" said Lil
"I remember the day when Kaori left Dil and Charlie to go to Japan" said Chuckie as he began to recall events
Flashback
It was a bustling afternoon in the Java Lava, Chuckie had just graduated from MIT and was sat down in the Java Lava with his girlfriend Angelica Pickles and his Childhood best friend Tommy Pickles.
"Congratulations Chuckie, you've now got your mathamatics degree, what are you gonna do now" said Tommy
"Well I just got a job interview for a large buisness in New York City" said Chuckie
"Wow, does it pay well" said Tommy
"The starting salary looks good, but got to get the job first" said Chuckie
"What about you Angelica, have you begun looking for jobs in New York" said Tommy
"Yeah I have and I found a job" said Angelica
"What is it" said Tommy
"Sales Manager in a Retail Company, I got the job" said Angelica excitingly
"No way Ange, thats amazing, I'm so proud of you" said Chuckie as he hugged and kissed Angelica
"Yeah, I sent over my CV via email and the employer said I had the right amount of quantities and experience to get it" said Angelica
Soon Jake Finister ran up to them and said "I wonder when Charlie is coming"
"Not sure, his daddy said that he would come here to offer his congrats to Daddy for his Masters Degree" said Chuckie
"Yeah Speaking of which where is Dil" said Angelica
"I'm not sure, he hasn't responded to any of my texts this morning" said Tommy
"Thats unusual of him, he always is usually the first person messaging you to wake you up" said Chuckie
"Did he have a last minute Alien Research shift" said Angelica
"No, he would of told us and they aren't on any active assignments" said Tommy
Soon Tommy's phone rang and Tommy looked at it to find his mother calling him
"I'm going to take this call outside if you don't mind" said Tommy
"Sure Tommy, go ahead" said Chuckie
Start of Phonecall
"Hi Mom" said Tommy
"Hello Tommy, I've got some sad news to tell you" said Didi in a somber tone
"What has happened" said Tommy worringly
"Kaori has left Dil " said Didi
Tommy mouth gasped in shock, He could of never imagined it happening especially considering how kind Dil was
But then another concern rose, what had happened to Charlie, did she take her with him or left him as well.
"Has she taken Charlie with her" said Tommy
"No, he's with me, Dil and your father at the moment" said Didi
"Okay, If Dil is feeling up for it, would he like to join us at the Java Lava to cheer him up" said Tommy
"I will try and get him and Charlie over there" said Didi
"Thanks, can't believe Kaori left him" said Tommy
"Yeah its shocked us as well, she is no longer welcome at our house for leaving in that way especially to reunite with this long lost love in Japan" said Didi raising her voice
"I don't blame you, but don't try and turn Charlie against his mother, its never his fault that she left Dil" said Tommy knowing his mother well
"I won't, but I want you guys to cheer him up" said Didi
"We will" said Tommy as he hung up the phone
Tommy entered the Java Lava and both Chuckie and Angelica could tell by his somber face that something had happened
"What happened" said Chuckie
"Kaori Left Dil and Charlie and returned to Japan" said Tommy
Angelica and Chuckie jaws dropped
End of Flashback
"Yeah I heard it was pretty sudden like Kaori left at around 4am and got on her flight at around 6am" said Lil
"I think she should of told him though then it may of hurt him less" said Angelica
"I don't know, I think it was more she didn't want Charlie to see his parents arguing
" said Lil
"Although Charlie saw her leave" said Angelica
"Yeah I remember him telling me about it" said Lil
Suddenly Charlie came downstairs all excited
"Guess what, everyone" said Charlie
"What is it" said Lil
"Ushio just asked me on a date" said Charlie with joy
"Way to go Charlie" said Chuckie
"When is the date" said Lil
"Next Saturday" said Charlie
"Not long until it happens, are you excited" said Lil
"Yeah I am" said Charlie
"Have you got smart clothes to impress Ushio" said Angelica
"Yeah I have, although I dont think that matters too much" said Charlie
"Charlie, that always matters if your dating a girl" said Angelica
"Ignore her Charlie, are you going to get Ushio a present for the date like flowers" said Lil
Charlie Blushed and said "Maybe, I will have a look in the week"
During the Week
Charlie was looking for a present to get Ushio for the date.
He first thought of getting Ushio some large flowers, but he wasn't sure if Ushio would have room for large flowers and he wasn't sure if they would survive until the weekend.
Then he thought about getting her a dress, but he didn't fully know Ushio's fashion taste or dress size, so it wouldn't be worth it if she wouldn't wear it.
Finally he saw a store selling chocolates and he went inside only to find that they had a sale where you could get a customised box of chocolates for a reduced price.
Charlie knew that Ushio liked the Big Dango Family, so he decided to get a box of Dango shaped chocolates and he managed to pay for using the money he gained from help repair computers.