JUNJOU ROMANTICA / SEKAI-ICHI HATSUKOI

Chapter Three – Past, Meet Present… Present, Meet Past…

Timeline: August 5

Usami Country Club

"I'll be damned… A hole in one…."

Ryuichiro Isaka had a smile from ear to ear as he heard Michael Ishino's comment along with the latter's sigh, his golf club resting on his right shoulder as he basked on how well his golf game had been all morning.

The entire morning was scheduled for golf among trusted friends whose respective businesses crossed paths with the others. Business mingled with personal matters were discussed over golf, the tradition originated by the fathers and now expanded to include their respective children. Among its regulars were the fathers and sons from the Isaka, Ishino, and Usami families along with Akifumi Onodera and Asahina Kaoru. At times, the core group members would widen its circle to invite certain outsiders so that transactions and talks could happen over a game of golf.

Today, however, was a smaller circle with its players comfortably enjoying the game and each others' company. The group was simply comprised of Isaka Ryuchiro, Onodera Akifumi, and Ishino Michael.

"Well, Michael, I guess you and I will be splitting the brunch bill to celebrate today's winner," said Akifumi Onodera with a chuckle.

"Ah, I'm just lucky today," a grinning Isaka graciously replied after giving the two men a teasing wink.

"Too bad that your father couldn't make it today, Ryuichiro," said Akifumi Onodera with a kind smile on his face. He looked more relaxed now as he stretched away the tension that built up on his body during this entire work-week – most of the tension un-knotting through this game of golf with friends. "Well, that was a good game! By the way, how come Fuyuhiko and Haruhiko aren't joining us even for brunch?"

Michael Ishino pulled out his smart phone from his pocket, quickly browsing through his emails and text messages. He then focused on a handful of messages along with one email, read their contents, and then said, "Father and son have another meeting to go to, since AJ's negotiations went well."

"Well, I'm sure Usami-san's happy about that." Isaka then sighed, handing the golf club to his assigned caddy. "AJ-kun's a master of all trades. Good head for data and strategy. Great persuasion skills to boot. Strong sense in bringing out the best from his teams. He worked very well with my editors-in-chief as well as sales, finance, and information technology teams. If he ever knocks at Marukawa door looking for a job, I'll hire him in an instant."

Michael Ishino let out a hearty chuckle. "Ah, my son and main successor's too busy and happy working with me. Same goes with Em and Troy while they're juggling other endeavors. They're skilled, sharp, hard-working, and driven. They each have different approaches and strengths that benefit the company."

"Well, they're not just good students. They also have a good teacher in you, Michael-san,"commented Isaka.

Onodera Akifumi pointed behind him, specifically at the tables located in the patio area of the country club. "And why is Kaoru not golfing with us today?"

Isaka said with a smile, "He's feeling under the weather. He and AJ-kun are wrapping up things before we pick up Em and Troy from the airport."

"Time sure flies so fast, huh, Michael? Just imagine, all the kids are grown up and so accomplished!"

"Heck, I'm happy for all of us," said Michael Ishino to Onodera Akifumi, pleased that AJ did well with the negotiations. "Soon, Marukawa and Onodera Publishing Houses will be in North America. Usami Group will handle the architecture, development, and real estate. Ishino Consulting will oversee the entire expansion from start to finish. And all our kids will be working together towards our joint expansion. Such proud days, indeed!"

"AJ's a tough negotiator, Michael. The setup that he laid out is a win-win for all of us."

"All the kids are tough negotiators. The best team from my firm's directly handling this project. AJ and I in Southeast Asia. Em and Troy in Europe. The four of us combining efforts in North America. Any of the four of us can transact, negotiate, and consult anywhere and in anything, even though each of us has a niche."

"Speaking of transactions, Michael-san... Did AJ-kun, Em-chan, and Troy-kun say yes to my proposal?"

Michael asked Isaka, "About your magazine doing exclusive interviews and photo sessions on Em, Troy, the band, and AJ along with select talent from Marukawa Shoten, Onodera Shuppan, and Usami Group? Or is it about AJ, Em, and Troy saying yes to be character studies for your authors?"

"All of them, maybe more. The creative muses keep on inspiring me. Depending on tonight's meeting with the creative teams, then more may be added to the list."

"Well, each of them said yes. Em's very excited. Apparently, she's been reading a lot of manga and books lately. She's a huge fan of Akihito Usami, Sumi Ryouichi, Ijuuin Kyo, and Yoshikawa Chiharu. It's a relief for me to see her read something simply for fun and entertainment. To me, it's a good sign that's she's taking much-needed breaks in-between her crammed schedule."

Recalling his recent trip to England as well as his stay at Em's estate, Isaka commented, "Manga, novels, light novels, and tankubon… Asahina and I didn't know that she's that fluent in Japanese until I hung out with her all that time."

Michael gave Isaka a knowing smirk, his response having a nostalgic ring to it as he said, "Ah, Em's multilingual just like Troy and AJ. She's been fluent in Japanese since she, AJ, and Troy were kids. After I became her guardian, she spoke and wrote to me only in Japanese. Now that she's grown up, she and I speak in English. However, she speaks or writes to me in Japanese whenever the conversation we're having is serious."

Once he heard Michael let out a meaningful sigh, Akifumi asked,"What's up with those two? You still haven't given up hope on AJ and Em, have you?"

Michael's sad reply to the elder Onodera was, "Four years and counting. No resolution yet..."

"Well, my friend, you know how love is. People fall in and out of love."

Michael said, "It's more complicated than that, Akifumi. AJ, Em, and Troy were childhood friends. They were all curious, precocious, inseparable. They did things together...private tutoring session, at play, parties, social gatherings, hobbies, mischief…you name it…. Troy and AJ spent half the year in England, and the remaining half in Japan as young as they could remember. When her parents were still alive, Em's time was split mostly between Japan and England. She insisted on staying wherever the two boys were. Those three grew up way too fast – with Em leading that path when she turned nine. She was too much in a hurry to be out there on her own."

"Nine years old? Was that when she became your ward?"

After a nod to the elder Onodera, Michael continued, "Yes…that was when Em became an orphan. Her parents left me as her main guardian. That girl earned her degrees as fast as she could, and continued her parents' research as an archaeologist. The two boys, ever competitive, followed suit. Years later, AJ and Em started dating. Troy continued being their friend. Then all of those bonds were severed four years ago. Since then, AJ and Em are civil at best. If it weren't for good-old-fashioned respect for elders and for Troy intervening from time to time, AJ and Em would've killed each other in front of me a long time ago."

Isaka frowned, asking, "What caused their rift?"

With a sigh, Michael responded, "A series of very big misunderstandings. Jealousy. Suspicion. Much hurt dished out on both sides. Em was seriously injured in an archaeological dig. Troy became the convenient scapegoat although he didn't do anything to betray any friendship. AJ believed otherwise and wouldn't listen to reason. I can't say that I blame any of them, though. It was a bad time for each of them. I guess any love or friendship between the three of them wasn't enough to withstand what happened back then."

Isaka raised an eyebrow for a few seconds, trying to understand what he just heard. He gave the elder Onodera a meaningful glance. When a realization dawned upon Isaka, he muttered, "So, you want me to see where their hearts individually lie? Intervene if I see opportunity... Am I correct?"

The elder Ishino nodded and then smiled. "Nothing escapes you, does it?"

After giving the situation before them much thought, Isaka proposed, "Well, you said that Em-chan respects you as her father. Why don't you speak to her about giving AJ-kun another chance?"

"It was AJ who broke up with Em." Michael then let out a sigh. "And as to Troy, he has control over his temper. He and Em are still close friends. She didn't allow her break-up with AJ affect her friendship with Troy. Troy still considers AJ as his close friend in spite of AJ's antics towards him. As to Troy and Em having a relationship...? The two of them haven't moved beyond being friends. If they have, they would've told me."

Isaka and the elder Onodera looked at each other, and then Isaka chuckled a bit. "So, you want me to play agony aunt and love doctor for three prodigies who are the future of your company – a business strategist, an archaeologist turned singer and songwriter, and an international business lawyer who also happens to be the lead guitarist and business manager for the band? You think too highly of my abilities, Michael-san."

"You got Usami Akihiko out of his shell years ago and look at where he is now. I'm confident that you can work that same magic for the three of them." Michael then gave Isaka a grateful smile. "We'll kill two birds with one stone with your intervention. One, your literary talents at Marukawa would get inspiration for their muses. Two, your efforts and their work with your folks will help clear their heads. Troy's the level-headed one. The challenging ones are AJ and Em."

"I'll see what I can do. Em-chan and I have a good rapport with each other." Isaka then added by asking, "But what happens if what I do steers Troy-kun and Em-chan towards taking that next step you're talking about? What about AJ-kun?"

Michael allowed a rueful smile to escape from his lips. "Those three are the future of Ishino Industries just as it was generations ago. The three of them are my kids. They must get along well. I just want what's best for the three of them…what would make them all happy and be at peace with each other."

The three men continued to talk, deciding to take the long walk towards where Asahina and AJ were situated.

As Asahina busied himself typing away on his laptop, AJ accessed Skype through his own laptop and reached out to a familiar business and personal contact.

Once the video and sound connection was successfully made, AJ started the conversation in Japanese, "Did you catch some sleep yet? I'm recording this meeting so that Dad and I can refer back to our conversation. Will that be all right?"

The owner of a female voice replied, sounding as if she just took a stretch followed AJ's lead in conversing in Japanese just as she and AJ would customarily do out of courtesy. "No problem. What's up?"

"If you're too tired, I can call you later once Dad's golf game is over."

"Hmmm… 1:05 AM London Tme. So it's now 10:05 AM in Japan. That meeting of his should be over now," thought Em as she looked at the bottom right-hand corner of her laptop. This prompted her to reassure the video caller, "I'm still too wired to sleep, AJ. Just keep talking. So how did your negotiations with Nobutsuna and Olson turn out?"

"It all went well. If you ask me, they're willing to sell."

When AJ finished what he had to share, Em commented, "You and Usami-san called it right, even though Nobutsuna and most especially Olson sound as if they want to play hardball with the negotiations here in England. How your meeting went down just showed that our hunches were right all along. If everyone on our side is agreeable, and you think we're at an advantageous position, then let's take the next steps that you and Dad have originally planned."

Troy, who sat beside Em, stirred awake from hearing her conversation with AJ. He then closed his eyes, focusing his attention on the conversation and choosing not to speak or join in unless asked.

"Well, Em… It's all set for you and Troy to talk to Olson. He leaves Japan two days from now, and I've set up the meeting on your behalf. Dad and I are on standby in case you or Troy need us."

"Thanks – I'll keep that in mind." Em then let out a sigh, rubbing the fingers of her right hand on her forehead for a few seconds. She then said, "How about Isaka-san, Asahina-san, or Dad… Are any of them around?"

Asahina chimed in, "I'm here, Em-chan…"

"Good morning, Asahina-san!" said Em with a soft, genuine smile - her voice taking a more cheerful tone. "I miss you and Isaka-san already. You two should visit me more often in England."

Along with his own smile veiled on his lace and his tone, Asahina replied, "Good morning to you, too! Your plane will land a few hours from now. We'll make up for lost time. Isaka-sama, Onodera-sama, and Ishino-sama will join us shortly. They're finishing their golf game as we speak. Usami-sama will contact you soon once you arrive in Japan."

"By the way, let's coordinate our schedules. Change of plans. The private jet will land at the airport at 2PM on schedule. Instead of the airport pick-up we've planned, let's instead meet up at my pad around 6:00 PM Tokyo Time. Let's have food delivered at the pad, if that's fine. The address you've given me is less than 20 minutes away from my place. There's business that I need to wrap up before we all meet with your staff to kick off this project early this evening."

Accessing his electronic calendar as well as Isaka's schedule, Asahina told Em after browsing through the schedules, "Yes, Em-chan. Your proposal will work out well for us. That'll give Isaka-sama more time to talk with Akihito-sensei."

AJ nodded, checking his electronic calendar as well as Michael's. He was available, but Michael had prior commitments that could not be moved and would not be available until the evening. "The meetings are already on my schedule, but Dad can't join us until tonight."

"Oh, okay… Troy and I will catch up with him later, then…."

AJ then blinked for a couple of seconds, his expression lightening up as he remembered, "By the way, did you read your email already – the one about the favor I was asking you and Troy to do?"

"Yeah, I saw that – the one about Kirishima Hiyori and Takahashi Misaki?" was Em's reply with a light smile escaping from her lips. "I don't mind it at all. I'll reach out to them after the kick-off meeting, if not sooner. Knowing Troy, he'll agree with me."

Em paused for a few seconds, glancing sideways and then downwards to her left forearm where Troy's right hand now rested. She looked towards Troy.

Troy, without opening his eyes or making too many changes to his comfortable seated position, gave Em a nod.

AJ waited until Em's eyes focused back on him. He let out a quiet sigh, murmuring, "Thanks for doing this for them. I'm sure they'll appreciate it, too."

"Birthdays only come once a year." Em's smile became warmer still. "Thanks for letting the band know about them."

Asahina was fully focused on typing once more until an object bounced against his shin. Being snapped out of his concentration, he blinked and looked down to his right leg, thinking, "A soccer ball…?"

"I'm so sorry!"

Asahina glanced over his right shoulder, seeing a child who he estimated to be around seven years old having a worried look. Once he stood before Asahina, the boy respectfully nodded and said, "That's my ball. I'm so sorry to have caused so much trouble. Did I hurt you, Sir?"

Gazing at the child with such kindness, Asahina said, "I'm all right. No need to apologize."

"What's your name?"

"Hiroshi…. You can call me Hiro. And you, Nii-san…?"

"Kaoru…. And the one beside me, his name is AJ."

AJ blinked a bit, looking at the child that now stood between him and Asahina. He gave the child a smile and a nod of acknowledgement as he continued talking to Em.

Giving Asahina such an innocent and beaming smile, Hiro said, "Thank you, Nii-san Kaoru! You and Nii-san AJ are so nice!"

AJ looked sideways and told the child, "And it's nice to meet you, too, Hiro…."

Em stopped for a minute, looking at her laptop screen and listening in on the conversation. She leaned back, whispering just loud enough for only Troy to hear, "You have to see and hear this. Tell me if you're seeing what I'm seeing…."

Em and Troy listened in, the three engaged in a conversation.

Em then interjected with a happy tone, "Hey, AJ, Asahina-san – who are you talking to?"

Still in a light mood, AJ said, "Oh, this cute kid over here."

Matching AJ and Asahina's respective light-hearted moods, Emrys said, "So you're both seeing …talking…to him…."

The child playfully pushed his way in front of AJ's laptop, waving while saying, "Hi!"

Emrys' eyes narrowed out of curiosity for a split second, with her eyes glancing momentarily to AJ, Asahina, and then back to the boy. Her expression, though, had a welcoming smile. He spoke to the boy, "Now, aren't you a cutie pie! What's your name?"

The boy's eyes lit up when he heard Em speak. "My name's Hiroshi… Hiro, for short…. And yours?"

"Alexandra Emrys. Call me Em."

With admiration and amazement, Hiro blurted out, "For a foreigner, you speak Japanese very well."

"I read, speak, and write fluent Japanese since I was a kid," Em told the boy with a heart-warming smile, her tone playful and engaging. "I consider Japan as my second home country. Not bad for a gaijin, huh?" She then gave Hiro a teasing wink.

The boy stopped for a minute, as if he was mulling over the new piece of information. "Em-chan…." He then gazed at Em, his eyes and the tone of his voice reflecting the happiness that swelled in his innocent heart when he inquired, "Is it okay if I call you Nee-san?"

Em's grin became warmer still. She leaned forward, her right index finger tapping on her lips as if she was giving herself time to think. Truthfully, though, she already knew the answer to his request. "Well…. If you call me Nee-chan Em from here on out, then you've got yourself a deal. I'm sure that I won't be your only older sister from here on out."

After nodding vigorously, the boy declared as if he had just achieved victory, "Today's such a really good day! It's sad being an only child. Now, I have lots of older siblings to look out for me!"

Emrys kept her eyes glued on the boy, making Asahina and AJ wonder as Em asked the boy, "You know that you can always talk to Nee-chan Em at any time – right, Hiro?"

"Yes, of course! Where do you live?"

"In England, but I'm flying over to Japan and will be there for a handful of months. You're always welcome to visit me anytime. We'll talk whenever and wherever you want to…."

"Yay! I'll take you up on that, Nee-chan Em!"

"Okay, Hiro… I'll see and talk to you very soon. Let me speak with your older brothers there, please…."

Sounding a bit sad, not wanting his chat with Em to end, Hiro said, "All right…." He then retreated, but cheered up again once Asahina rested a comforting hand on Hiro's back.

Emrys told Hiro, her voice more comforting, "Please don't be sad anymore, Hiro. We'll talk some more whenever you wish. You can tell me more about yourself when the time comes. You know where to find me…right?"

Hiro nodded, and then smiled again after he wiped the single tear that streamed down his cheek.

AJ and Asahina wondered about the conversation between Em and the child, but both felt respectively relieved when the child cheered up a bit.

"Now, Hiro… Let me speak with your older brothers. It's about this really important business deal that our families are involved in."

Hiro quietly nodded. "Whatever it is, I want it all to work out too, Nee-chan."

Putting her palms together before her and taking a boy, Em then lifted her head and gave the boy the most gentle smile that she could muster at the time. "Thanks, Hiro. Keep watching out and praying for our success, all right?"

Asahina felt the sadness in the child. He saw himself in this child…the day when his father attempted a family suicide. All that he remembered was that he was dead for a moment, and he revived minutes later thanks to the paramedic who resuscitated him. He never told Isaka as to how much it thoroughly affected him them, nor did he tell Isaka as to how it still affected him although most of the deep wounds have healed over time.

Asahina held the child's hand, seeing as to how sad the boy was that he was not the center of attention anymore.

Business talks continued via Skype, with Hiro feeling more settled in since Asahina, AJ, or Em did not show any misgivings about his presence as they continued their video meeting. For the most part, Asahina and he engaged in conversation in-between responses given to either Em or AJ as required.

"Say, Nii-san Kaoru… Are you feeling okay?"

Asahina stirred a bit, his gaze focusing on Hiro. "Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Looking sad and concerned, the boy said, "You just look like you need more rest today. You're pale."

The secretary's sheepish reply as he rested a hand on the back of his neck, "Oh, do I?"

"Seriously, Kaoru-san… I should know. I get pale all the time."

"I'll take your advice after this meeting." Asahina then let out a sigh, and smiled. "Em-chan and Troy-kun are arriving today from England. I'll do my best to rest tonight."

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise…."

As Hiro and Asahina locked pinkies to seal the promise, Asahina saw some bruising on the boy's right forearm. His eyes narrowed, asking as he lifted the short white sleeve of Hiro's shirt and confirmed deeper bruising, "Hiro… Those bruises…. Where did you get them…?"

Hiro looked at Asahina, and blinked….

The silence in the air disappeared as a chipper Isaka declared with his usual bravado, "We're back! Guess who won the game hands-down, Asahina?"

Michael Ishino let out a hearty laugh. He gave Isaka a friendly pat on the back as he said, "Ah, bragging rights coming from the small fry."

Elder Onodera joined in by saying, "Let Ryuichiro gloat. It's only once in a while that he gets the privilege."

Asahina stirred and then blinked as he felt Hiro's cold hand tap on his arm. The boy asked, "Is he the third older brother you were telling me about?"

"Ah, yes. Isaka Ryuichiro. He's my boss and a long-time friend."

Isaka, smiling and yet having a curious look on his face, inquired, "Who are you talking to, Asahina?"

"AJ-kun and I are just talking to Hiro. Em-chan is also on Skype talking to AJ-kun and me right now."

Lightly shaking his head and blinking, all that Isaka could manage to ask was, "Hiro…?"

A frown creased Asahina's forehead, the light sheen of sweat now seen on his forehead "Yes, Hiro! He's right—" He then got startled when he now saw exactly what the three new arrivals from the golf course were now seeing.

There was AJ talking to Em via Skype…

There was Asahina….

There was Hiro's soccer ball….

And there was no Hiro….

"Are you sure you're all right, Asahina?" asked Isaka, seeing that his lover was pale.

"He was just right here, Isaka-sama. AJ-kun and I were talking to him…" was all that Asahina could manage to say.

Asahina's eyes scanned once more, looking for Hiro….

On the table with AJ and Asahina's reach laid five pieces of colorfully-wrapped chocolate – one for each of them. It was chocolate that Asahina was very familiar with – very expensive, made by a European-based confectioner who married a Japanese pastry chef, and were hand-crafted. The note, written with a child's hand, which accompanied the chocolates said:

For my five new older siblings Kaoru, AJ, Em, Troy, and Ryuichiro

Glad tidings and stay safe,

Hiro

Asahina froze as his gaze locked on the chocolate that Hiro left behind, thinking, "Where did Hiro get these when these have not been made for at least 20 years? Where is he?"

Disclaimer

All the wonderful characters for Sekai-Ichi Hatsukoi and Junjou Romantica are owned by their wonderful author Shungiku Nakamura. In the series (whether it be manga, anime, light novel, or drama CD), Ritsu's Dad is unnamed, and little is known about him, and so I gave him a name for the purposes of this fic – Akifumi Onodera.

Based on the manga countdown from Takano Masamune's December 24th birthday, there would be 224 days left until Ritsu's Love Declaration Countdown (the end of the manga said that there were 222 days left, but Takano's birthday fell two days before that countdown number, so it's 224). Taking that number, Ritsu's Love Declaration Countdown date would be August 5 (not taking into consideration Leap Year)…lol… So for the purposes of this fic, August 5 is Ritsu Onodera's Love Declaration Day as well as the anniversary date for Takano and Onodera becoming a couple.

The original characters Andrew James (AJ) Ishino, Tsuuri Troy, Michael Ishino, and Alexandra Emrys and any other original characters are properties of PJ Zatken.