Chapter 3 Eri
As much as he drives me up the wall, The Great Lord Usami Sensei has taught me many valuable skills, one of them being how to smile and act politely when you'd like to throttle the person you're talking to. And I'm not doing too badly with Takano Sumire. Thank you, Sensei.
By the looks of it, Masamune could use his workshop, but then again, it's his mother, and with their history I can hardly blame him if he's having a harder time holding it together.
We're at the restaurant - a perfectly good French restaurant. Because sorry, Takano Haha-san, Quintessence takes months to get a reservation and probably costs ten times as much as this one.
As I keep my smile plastered across my face while trying to appear as natural as possible, I'm reminded of my first date with Masamune. And to think that had been awkward. This is ten times -no - a hundred times worse. There's a goal here, though. Takano-san is going to get us to cough up the name of Masamune's father. And then - I'll think of that part when we get to it.
And after everything I've heard about her, I wasn't exactly thrilled to meet this woman. Okay, I only know one side of the story, but it's pretty damning. In the interest of maintaining a proper civility, I've tried to focus on how difficult it was for her to start her career when she was "raising" Masamune. Back then, it was even harder to have a child and a career. Still. she chose to keep him when she could have put him up for adoption. So, she keeps him and then ignores him his whole life?
Masamune looks annoyed as much as he's delicious in his black jeans and v-neck, and I'm feeling guilty for putting him through this. He hasn't sworn once or acted rude. He's just… not talking, which is eerie for someone as vocal as he.
Takano Haha-san and I have been talking about my background and career and I'm realizing where Masamune gets his direct manner of speech. She's now in deposition mode. She has a way of getting people to talk. She should have been an agent for Public Security. I've already told her about Eiji-san and how he died two months before our wedding, and she seemed genuinely sad for me. Maybe this isn't so bad?
"It's so difficult having a career, right? Everyone told me I was wasting my time with a higher law degree because I'd just get married and have children. But I've always wanted to make a change in the world."
"I agree 100%. I've been working hard since I was still in college, and even though I work with one of the greatest authors in Japan, I still get asked all the time when I'm getting married and quitting."
"It's nice to talk to someone who understands me." Well, about some things at least.
"Agreed. So, what brings you to Tokyo, Takano-san?"
"Ah. Well, I think you know Masamune was adopted by my husband. We have a complicated tax situation and our accountant suggested we consult a top tax lawyer and the best tax lawyers are here.
"My husband has two children from his first marriage. He adopted Masamune when he was 18, and most of the time Masa-chan was away from home." Masa-chan? He is not a Masa-chan. I wonder if he ever looked like one. He had to have been cute as a child. And maybe Takano-Haha-san wants to start anew. I can see us nestled in her home. She's showing me all the old photo albums and I'm smiling at little Masa-chan. Masamune's low impatient voice jolts me to reality.
"Just say what you want." Finally, he's spoken.
"Ah. You're right. It's a little… awkward, Masa-kun. My husband was wondering if it would be alright if you would be okay with not having an inheritance-"
"You want me to be taken out of your will. Why am I not surprised?"
"No, no, no. Not my will, your stepfather's. I'm asking you to relinquish your rights as his adopted child."
"What he's really saying is his kids are annoyed that I'm part of the inheritance to begin with, not that I never wanted an inheritance from Takano-san anyway so- what hell, Eri?" Because I might have accidentally, okay, so not so accidentally elbowed him while pretending to pick up my phone, because he was about to get rid of our leverage.
"Oh, sorry. My phone dropped and I didn't realize."
"Oh-kay."
"Family is an interesting subject. I was just talking to my father about how I'm like him. We're both detail oriented, and we both bite our lower lip when we're concentrating.
"In fact, I was just telling Masamune how nice it would be if he could find out who his biological father is."
"His biological father? Now?"
"Well, earlier would have been better really, but yes, now."
"I… uh… don't know about that… some things are better left alone." She looks nervous and guilty. Please don't tell me Masamune's father is Abe Shinzo-shuhshoh. Now that I think of it… no, they don't look remotely alike at all.
"I guess I disagree. Maybe it's because I've always had a good relationship with my father." I'll skip the parts where we've squabbled, but arguing in our family is how we show love. "So, I want the same for Masamune. That's one reason. Another important reason is his health. Doctors often want to know their patients' family health history. He has no clue if something might run in his father's family. I think it's important for him to know that."
"I see." She's wavering.
"Does his father know about him?"
"That he has a son? No. He left Tokyo before I even knew I was pregnant. I never tried to contact him." So his father doesn't know he exists. I peek a look at Masamune. He's looking his usual noncommittal self. It's so hard to read him sometimes.
"Shouldn't he be given the opportunity to know that he's been a father for almost 30 years?"
"Let me think about it."
"That makes sense. Think about it and Masamune will think about relinquishing his rights to your husband's inheritance. Ah. I'm glad that's over. Now we can move on. What do you like to do in your spare time Takano Haha-san?"
"No, wait."
"Hmm?"
"I'm not in Tokyo often, and this is already the third trip I've taken to see the lawyer. I'm trying to finalize things now." Wait. She's been here two other times and didn't contact her son either time? She only called him now to get something out of him. Okay. That settles it. I despise her. What little respect I have of her has gone out the window.
"That's a shame, because I think Masamune might need more time, right?" I'm smiling at him trying again to send an unspoken message.
"I do? Ah… wait, yes. I do. And in a few days, I'll be too busy at work for at least a week.
"Sometimes you're swamped for ten days when it gets really busy."
"Yes, that's true. Ten days, sometimes even more-"
"Harada Kohei."
"Harada Kohei?"
"You wanted to know your father's name. That's it. He was a partner in my firm. He lives in Nagoya. I'm pretty sure he's from there. He moved back to start a new firm with somebody. Masamune looks shocked. And so am I.
"Thank you. I appreciate it. What do you need me to do?"
"I have the papers here." She's already got a large envelope prepared. "I included an instruction letter. You just need to notarize them and mail them back to my lawyer. If you could do this by tomorrow, I'd really appreciate it."
"Fine. It's not a problem."
Somehow, we make it through dessert.
But by the time we get to the car I'm ready to burst.
"Harada Kohei? I am so itching to search online for this guy right now."
"But you're going to be patient and wait until we get to my place."
"Harada Masamune."
"That's not happening. Wait. Who said I'm even going to contact the guy?"
"Wasn't that the point of getting his name? Unless you're thinking she made it up?"
"No. I could tell the way she was speaking. If she says the name is Harada, that's his name."
As soon as we entered his apartment, and washed up, I commandeered Masamune's laptop and typed out Harada Kohei lawyer Nagoya.
And there he is! Well, the most likely candidate. He certainly looks like Masamune and his age seem to fit. Harada Kohei has excelled in family law for over 35 years. Principal founder of Harada and Nakamura, law firm specializing in Family Law.
Harada is smiling in the photo and it must be him, because he looks like an aged-up Masamune. Well maybe not his eyebrows. It's hard to tell.
"Shit. You've found him." It must be weird seeing a picture of the father you've never met.
"Yeah. Well, he looks enough like you and is around the right age to be him."
"He looks unnaturally happy."
"Well it's a professional photo. Let me find something else." And he doesn't look too bad in shorts either. Well, if you're into older men. "It looks like he's a regular participant in triathlons."
"Triathlons? Aw, crap. This guy's my father?"
"Well, he looks like you, doesn't he?"
"I guess."
"It's more than a guess. It's like If I put an ojii-san filter on your photo. He looks just like you! Only, older."
'And healthier. And probably happier, too. And, what the fuck, he even got a community award for excellence."
"You deserve an award."
"For what? Not screwing up in the last six months?"
"For willing to change."
"Seriously. What award would that even be? The award for a screwup who managed to stop being that much of an asshole?"
"I'd phrase that a little differently."
"So now what?"
"Now I call and make an appointment to see him. I was thinking if we got a Friday morning appointment, we could take the train Thursday night and spend the weekend. You could take a day off at the beginning of next cycle, right?"
"It's possible. I'd have to ask one of my subordinates to take the reins for the weekend. We should plan it for the beginning of the cyle and then there won't be much going on on the weekend. Could that work for your schedule?"
"I'm flexible. I could always bring my laptop if I have to do some work."
"Good. I should ask Kisa-san to substitute for me. He has seniority, but Hatori would work out better. But if I ask him first, Kisa's going to be pissed off because I overlooked him. What a pain."
"Which one's Kisa? The guy who always seems to have his eyes half closed or the guy who wears the suits?"
"Neither. He's the short one who looks like he's sixteen."
"Him? I thought he was the intern. Now that I think about it, I've seen him before. So ,what's the worst thing that would happen if he was in charge?"
"Nothing much. It's a good opportunity for him without much risk and Hatori-san will back him up."
The next morning I'm armed with possible appointment dates that work for both of us. It's amazing we see each other as much as we do. A polite but busy receptionist answers the phone.
"Hello. I'm calling to make an appointment with Harada-san."
"I can make an appointment for you with one of our lawyers. Can you tell me what you'd like us to help you with?"
"Ah. It's a little complicated. I was told to see Harada-san specifically."
"Harada-san usually doesn't meet new clients."
"Can he possibly make an exception? I really need to speak to him about my case."
"Can you hold for a moment? I'll see what I can do."
I keep looking at his picture from the law firm website as I listen to the hold music. I've got a good feeling from him. He has kind eyes. Or maybe I'm imagining it? What if I'm wrong about him and he's a jerk? What if he kicks us out like in Masamune's cynical scenario? He's been through so much. Is it worth putting him through something like that? Before I can come up with even more unlikely scenarios the receptionist is back.
"Hello? Harada-san has a few hours a week from Friday if you're interested in the morning." I scan the calendar. That was our top preference!
"Yes, please!"
We're going to Nagoya!