Chapter 23

'Father I need to talk to you about something.' Said Rui taking a seat opposite his father.

'Speak.' said Mitsuike Hanazawa.

'I want to get engaged to a girl.' said Rui stoically.

'Sure. I'm sure he Todou's will be very happy.' Said Mitsuike leaning back.

'The Makino's you mean. I want to marry Tsukushi Makino'

'Rui you should know the intricate planning's of the elders. Miss Makino is betrothed to Nishikado, as you are to the Todou's. It's a fact and a pact made a long... long time ago.'

'I didn't make it. I'm sure Tsukushi didn't either… who I am to marry is none of anyone's concern. Only me and my bride.' Said Rui standing up.

'You forget yourself son… you're neither a middle class man nor a blue collar worker. What you do is not decided by you. It's by us.' Said Mitsuike sighing.

'You and who ever we are can't make me say yes in front of the judge.' Said Rui leaving the room.

'You will soon see my boy they can… They can.' said Mitsuike turning away.

'Miss Makino Madame is waiting for you in the hall.' said the maid.

I nodded in acknowledgement and dismissed her. I take slow steps to the hall amongst many…

'Mother.' I said stepping into the light.

She shut the folder at hand and gestured for me to sit down.

I take my seat and cross my legs.

'I'm sure you want to know why I told the maid to ask you to meet me once you awoke.'

'Not really. I don't see anything that we need to discuss. The project is well underway, school's fine…'

'You know what we're here to talk about so stop dodging the issue.' Said my mother in all seriousness.

'Sorry I might have a hearing disorder talk? I did I actually say talk or was I hallucinating?' I replied leaning forward to pour myself a cup of tea while continuing, 'you don't talk mother you order.' I said finishing my sentence with a sip of tea.

'Good that you know that this time I know it's your favourite dish.' Said my mother with a lame attempt at a joke.

'I do need to get to work today you know…'

'And I need to go to shanghai in 40 minutes. So I shall cut to the chase.'

'Snip away.'

'As you know all of the children in our clique are betrothed to one another since young, and get engaged at about well… now.'

'Mother snip... snip' what she was actually snipping was my heart.

'You are betrothed to Soujiro…'

'Wah- What! As in Nishikado Soujiro?' I said dropping my jaw/

'Why are you so surprised? You've been playmates since you were toddlers… now you're in the same school…besides both of you get along.'

'mother getting along has been hard since I've been cut off from him for ages thanks to god knows who… and getting along does NOT constitute a marriage. L-O-V-E does.' I said standing up.

'You know full well that love does not have anything to do with it.'

'So you're finally admitting that you don't love daddy is that it?'

'Enough!' said my father walking into the room.

'Keita... Daddy' I and mother said in unison.

'Both of you can be heard from the porch. Sit down,' ordered my father.

'Keita… I was just-'said my mother before my father signaled to keep quiet.

'This is absurd. Daddy-'

'Silence!' roared my father.

Both I and my mother looked down.

'You should ease her into it.' Said my father looking at my mother.

'And you…. You should understand that this is bigger than yourself. This is a business rapport that has been built years ago. The deal has been sealed, so has both your fates.' Said my father looking at me in turn.

'So I'm just supposed to accept who I am to be with for the rest of my life?'

'Is it really that bad? Soujiro is a responsible, talented, and good-looking and he's your friend as it is.' Said daddy.

'How long will he stay faithful to me? How long?' I said tears glistening in my eyes.

'I love another and you ask me to seal my heart and give it to someone I see as a brother.'

'That's exactly what needs to be done.' Said my father leaning back into the armchair.

A single droplet fell on my lap and for once we did something as a family… we resigned to fate.