Nanako and Kumi sat in Nanako's apartment, enjoying their takeout meal and catching up. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed, until Nanako's phone rang, breaking the calm.
Nanako glanced at her phone and saw the incoming call from their mother. As she answered the call, Kumi's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "It's Mom," Nanako informed her.
Kumi's stomach sank as she realized the call could only be about one thing. She blurted out, "Don't answer it!"
Nanako raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Kumi's reaction. "What? I can't just not answer her call," she replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. "Kumi-chan, did you do something you weren't supposed to?"
Kumi shrugged, a mixture of guilt and defiance in her eyes.
On the other end of the call, Jhene's voice was filled with frustration and anger. "Kumi needs to come home right away," she instructed. "She's in big trouble. And your dad is not happy either, Nanako. You let her use your phone for it? How could you?"
Nanako sighed, feeling the weight of her mother's disapproval. She explained that she and Kumi had had a minor argument, and things had escalated from there. "Kumi took it upon herself to do the rest," Nanako admitted, a touch of resignation in her voice.
Jhene's stern tone shifted slightly as she scolded, "As her big sister, you're supposed to protect her."
Nanako nodded, though Jhene couldn't see it through the phone. "I know, Mom."
Jhene's voice switched to English, and Kumi knew that meant serious business. "Do you understand? Get both of your asses over here."
Nanako sighed again, realizing the extent of the trouble Kumi had gotten herself into. "I understand."
Kumi, listening to the conversation, couldn't help but interject with a touch of humor, "You know it's bad when she starts speaking English."
Nanako couldn't help but chuckle at Kumi's observation. "Yeah, you're right about that."
As the call ended, Nanako looked at Kumi with a mix of amusement and concern. "Well, it looks like our little vacation is over."
Kumi huffed, rolling her eyes playfully. "Yeah, thanks to me."
Nanako grinned. "Hey, that's what little sisters are for, right?"
Kumi smirked back. "Yeah, making big sisters' lives interesting."
With their bond as sisters stronger than ever, they finished their meal, knowing that no matter what trouble came their way, they could always count on each other for support and a bit of mischief.
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At the Dojima residence, tension hung heavy in the air as Ryotaro, Jhene, Nanako, and Kumi faced each other. The room felt charged with a mix of frustration, disappointment, and a touch of humor as Jhene greeted the two girls in her characteristic style. "Hello, my little children of the corn," she quipped in English, an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.
Jhene's gaze turned serious as she continued, her voice carrying a stern edge. "Explain yourselves."
Nanako took a deep breath, her guilt evident on her face. She admitted to letting it slip about Kumi's biological father during an argument. She explained that her emotions got the best of her and the truth came out. However, she quickly added that Kumi had taken things into her own hands.
Kumi, seemingly irritated by Nanako's confession, blurted out, "Well, Nanako has a boyfriend!" She shifted the focus onto her sister's personal life, hoping to divert attention away from her actions.
Ryotaro's eyebrows furrowed at the sudden change of subject. "We'll discuss that later," he stated firmly, clearly not amused by Kumi's attempt to sidetrack the conversation.
"Do you realize the seriousness of what you've done?" Dojima's voice held a mixture of concern and sternness as he addressed Kumi. "I found out from the call logs that there was an incoming call to him from your phone, Nanako." He directed his attention to his older daughter, his expression demanding an explanation. "How did you get his information?"
Nanako looked genuinely surprised. "I didn't know. I couldn't have known," she answered truthfully, her confusion evident.
Jhene chimed in, her voice tinged with skepticism. "But you must have connections at law school. That's the only way." She too looked at Nanako, her eyes searching for any sign of deception.
As the scrutiny continued, Kumi's nervousness grew. She shifted on her feet, feeling the pressure of the situation. She had hoped to keep her actions hidden, but it was becoming clear that her efforts were unraveling.
Nanako's realization dawned as she reviewed the call logs and message history on her phone. Her eyes widened as she saw a few messages from Kumi and her boyfriend. Kumi had been pretending to be Nanako and texting him, asking for favors. As she scrolled through deleted messages, the truth was undeniable.
Nanako's frustration reached a breaking point. "Kumi? Are you serious?" Her voice tinged with disbelief. "Well, it's clear who the budding detective in the family is," she added, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Jhene's mind raced as she considered the implications of the recorded call. What had been said between Kumi and her biological father? The thoughts gnawed at her.
"Don't you dare contact him again. If you do, I'll make your life unbearable," Jhene warns Kumi.
Kumi's defiance flared as she tried to justify her actions. "Why? He's my father, my real father," she protested. Her voice quivered with emotion. "Dad is barely ever home, all he cares about is work. He doesn't even come home sometimes. At least my real father wants to talk to me."
An uncomfortable silence settled in the room. The weight of Kumi's words was palpable, resonating with Nanako's own feelings of neglect.
Jhene's fury ignited at Kumi's words. Without hesitation, her hand met Kumi's cheek, the resounding slap filling the room. "Never speak about your father that way again," she said icily. "The man you're referring to is a criminal. Your true father has done things for you that you can't even fathom. Your comfortable life? It's his doing."
The room fell into an oppressive silence. Kumi's tears welled up as she absorbed the weight of Jhene's words. The harsh reality of her actions and the pain she had caused hit her hard.
Ryotaro interrupted the tense silence, his voice gentler as he spoke to Jhene, Kumi's mother. "Jhene, that was harsh."
Jhene exhaled heavily, the tension in the room still palpable. She turned her gaze towards Nanako, her expression a mix of disappointment and understanding. "One day, when you have kids, you'll understand."
Ryotaro nodded, his tone measured as he addressed his older daughter. "We'll talk later."
As the heavy conversation came to an end, the family members were left to grapple with their emotions and the complex dynamics that had been brought to the surface.