Sons of the Fathers 3: Wataru
After getting on the phone with the local sperm donation clinic in Tokyo after revealing that he donated some of his essence to his wife and daughters, Yusuke learned that his donation went to a family who lived all the way in Sapporo, one of the northernmost areas in Japan. The only other information Yusuke got was the name of the family that got his donation; Koyama.
With an idea on what to do next, the Kitagawa Family bought tickets for the next flight to Sapporo, packed their bags, and made their way to the airport so they could make their flight and get to work on finding Yusuke's donation child.
Towards the end of the flight, the four Kitagawas start going over their plan on how they're going to find the donation child, and what they're going to do when they find him.
"So all we have to go on is the city where this guy lives and what his last name is," Mitsu asked.
"We don't even know if the person we're looking for is a guy," Yusuke said, "Could be a girl."
"Or in this day and age a woman transitioning into a man or a man transitioning into a woman," Mana added, "Just saying, we gotta be prepared for any possibility. But regardless, somewhere in the big beautiful city of Sapporo is a beautiful blue haired individual that looks like you, dad."
"We don't even know if dad's donation child has his blue hair," Haru said.
"So what's the plan?" Mitsu asked, "How are we going to find this guy?"
"We could ask around," Haru suggested, "Sapporo is a big city, someone might know a thing or two about who we're looking for."
"Could we go to City Hall?" Mana suggested, "They might have some records about who we're looking for."
"I don't think they'd be that willing to give someone's personal information to total strangers," Yusuke said, "Besides, you're forgetting we have a pretty skilled hacker on our side. Once we land, I'll call up Futaba and she'll hack into the Sapporo City Hall database where she'll give us a list of anyone with the last name Koyama, along with their phone numbers so we can call them up. One of them should be the person we're looking for."
"I like this plan, dad," Mana said.
"Good thinking, darling," Haru chimed in.
"That's how you use your noodle," Mitsu concurred.
"Thank you," Yusuke said proudly.
"Attention passengers," the pilot said over the intercom, "We are now making our final descent into Sapporo. Please turn off all electrical devices, fasten your seatbelts, and put all tray tables in the upright and locked position."
"This is it," Haru said.
"Are you girls ready to meet your half-sibling," Yusuke asked.
"If we can find him," Mitsu said.
"Don't worry, we will," Yusuke said confidently.
The family of four got off of their plane, claimed their luggage from the baggage carousel, and left the airport, taking a taxi into the city so they could get started on their search for Yusuke's donation child.
The taxi dropped the family off at the local library, a quiet place where they could work. Once there, the family sat down at a table so Yusuke could call Futaba so she could hack into the Sapporo City Hall database and give the Kitagawas a list of all of the citizens with the last name Koyama. It took some time for the orange haired girl to provide them their requested list, but she did it.
Once the Kitagawas had a list of all Koyamas living in the city, the four of them got to work on calling each and everyone of them. Unfortunately this was the hard part as every person they called either wasn't the person they were looking for, or they hung up immediately before denying ever being a donation child. The Kitagawas made it halfway down the list before they took a break.
"I knew doing this would be hard, but I didn't think it would be this hard," Yusuke admitted.
"Don't give up, dad," Mitsu said, "We still have half of the list left. I know one of them has to be your donation child."
"Still, we've been at this for a while now," Haru said, "I could go for something to eat. I say we have some lunch and then pick up where we left off."
"Okay," Yusuke, Mana, and Mitsu both nodded before they got up and started to make their way out of the library.
On the way to the exit, however, they passed by someone who looked at Yusuke with intrigue.
"Pardon me sir," the man said, stopping the family of four so he could get a proper look at Yusuke's face, "You look very familiar. But from where, I wonder?"
"Well it's a big city, sir," Haru said, "Two people are bound to look alike."
"I've got it!" the man said with the snap of his fingers, "You look just like Sapporo's number one radio personality, Wataru Koyama!"
"Wataru Koyama?" Mana asked.
"You folks aren't from around here, are you?" the man asked, "Wataru, A.K.A the Waterboy, is only the greatest radio DJ to ever grace the soundwaves! He has such charisma and energy when he's on the air, and he's not short of any jokes or fun games to play with awesome prizes at the end of them. He usually offers movie or concert tickets, but sometimes the prize is an invite to the radio station's party mansion in Okinawa over the summer. Sometimes it's a ride in the radio station's helicopter, and other times it's a new car. The studio pays for all of it, of course, but it doesn't change the fact that Wataru is an awesome DJ for offering up these prizes."
The man looked back at Yusuke.
"Since you look a lot like him, you must be his father," the man deduced.
"I might be," Yusuke said.
"Well, you must be very proud of your boy," the man said, giving Yusuke a pat on the back, "If you see him, tell him to keep up the good work."
"Will do, sir," Mana said, "Uh, do you know which radio station he works at?"
"WFAN 66 AM, miss," The man said before leaving.
"Well, we know where we need to go next," Yusuke said, "Shall we head over there and see if Wataru is working today?"
"Can we go after we get something to eat, darling," Haru said, rubbing her growling stomach, "I'm very hungry right now."
"Alright," Yusuke said as the Kitagawas left the library to go find something to eat.
After grabbing some lunch, the Kitagawa Family finds the WFAN building where Wataru works. As they enter the building and walk up to the receptionist desk, Mana is heard singing a little song.
"Hey baby I hear the blues a callin', tossed salad and scrambled eggs, mercy," Mana sang, "And maybe I seem a bit confused, yeah maybe, but I got you pegged. But I don't know what to do with that tossed salad and scrambled eggs."
"What are you singing?" Haru asked.
"Just the theme song to an old show that Minato introduced Mitsu and me to," Mana said, "I figured being here at a radio station, singing it would be appropriate. You know, we should show you some episodes of that show sometime. It's really good."
The family made it to the receptionist and Yusuke stepped forward to talk to her.
"Excuse us," Yusuke said, "But we're looking for a Wataru Koyama."
"Oh, you must be more of the Waterboy's fans," the receptionist said as she looked at Yusuke, "And you actually went out of your way to look like him. How…creepy."
"Is he working today?" Haru asked.
"He should be wrapping up his show soon," the receptionist said, "He's up on the third floor if you wish to see him."
"Thank you, miss," Yusuke said as he, his wife, and daughters went up to the third floor to find Wataru.
When the family made it to the third floor, they see a window. They look on the other side and find a young man in his early 20s, about two years older than Mana and Mitsu, in a soundproof booth. The young man had gelled back blue hair, a lean build, reddish-brown eyes, and black framed eyeglasses. This was Wataru Koyama. He was currently wrapping up his show.
"Once again, I'd like to congratulate Rin Sakata of Asahikawa for winning the tickets to next month's Madame Go-Go concert (Lady Gaga), I hope you and your daughter have a good time," Wataru said in a chill but enthusiastic manner, "That's all the time we have here, folks, I'm going to have some 'Black Eared Corn' (Black Eyed Peas) play me out today, and when their song wraps up it'll be time for Fujitaka the Forecasting Fool with your weather forecast for the week. Until next time, I've been your host Wataru Koyama: The Waterboy!"
Wataru presses a button on the soundboard, and a loud splashing noise can be heard.
"Have a splash-tastic day, everyone!" Wataru said as he took off his headphones, pressed the button that made the music play over the radio, and shut off his microphone, "Whew! Another rockin' show, courtesy of the Waterboy!"
Wataru turns to look out the window of his booth, and he yelps with surprise when he sees Yusuke, Haru, Mana, and Mitsu looking in on him. He calms down almost immediately when he notices Yusuke however; a similar hair color and facial bone structure to his. His eyes widened in amazement, almost as if he realized then and there that the person who donated him when he was just a wee seed is standing right before him; his true father.
"Daddy?" Wataru asked himself.
"Come on out here, Wataru," Yusuke said.
In a flash, Wataru ran out of his booth and out to the hallway where he ran up to Yusuke and gave him a hug, which Yusuke himself returned.
"My parents always told me that I was donated by a kind young man," Wataru said, still hugging Yusuke, "I just didn't think I'd run into him."
"After hearing about how one of my other friends donated some of his essence, it got me thinking about you and what kind of person you grew up to become," Yusuke said.
Wataru and Yusuke stopped hugging so they could look at each other.
"Man, this is just like a dream I had one time," Wataru said, "Except we're not on a cruise ship on the way to the Bahamas…and you're not dressed like Abraham Lincoln…and you don't have three girls following you around."
"Wataru, these three girls are my, I mean, our family," Yusuke said, "This is my wife Haru, and my daughters, as well as your younger half-sisters, Mana and Mitsu."
"Pleased to meet you," Haru said, kindly.
"Nice to meet you all too," Wataru said as he shook the three females' hands, "Man, I can't believe I have sisters. I mean, yeah, they're half-sisters, but they're still sisters. Man, this is all so sudden."
"Sorry to spring all of this on you so soon, Wataru," Yusuke apologized.
"Don't worry about it, man, uh, dad." Wataru said, still excited, "Oh man, I don't know what to call you."
"Just Yusuke is fine," Yusuke said.
"Okay, uh, Yusuke," Wataru said, calming down a little bit, "So, uh, what do you guys want to do? I'm off of work now. Did you guys eat?"
"We had lunch a few minutes ago," Yusuke said.
"That's a shame, because I know this bakery that makes the best doughnuts in Sapporo," Wataru explained.
"Doughnuts you say?" Mana asked, "I've got a little room for dessert."
"Oh, Mana," Mitsu said while shaking her head.
Later at the bakery, Wataru was learning all there was to know about Yusuke, Haru, Mana, and Mitsu.
"So let me get this straight," Wataru said as he pointed at Yusuke, "You were under the control of the formerly renowned artist Ichiryusai Madarame, until the renowned Phantom Thieves helped you break free of his control before they changed his heart. And after that, you dedicated your whole life to painting to the point where you're one of the most famous artists in all of Japan."
"That's right," Yusuke said before Wataru moved on to Haru.
"And you're the daughter of Okumura Foods late CEO, Kunikazu Okumura, and you were inspired by your grandfather to open up your own cafe back in Tokyo," Wataru asked.
"And, while I'm not one to brag, business is booming," Haru smiled.
"Good for you," Wataru smiled back before looking at Mana and Mitsu, "Mana over here is an aspiring artist who also hopes to take over your cafe when you retire, basically looking to do the art thing on the side. Meanwhile, Mitsu is an aspiring violinist, and both of them share a boyfriend in the form of this Minato Amamiya character."
"Yes," Mana and Mitsu said, Mana taking a bite from her doughnut in the process.
"Can't imagine how a throuple would work, but you seemed to have found a way," Wataru said.
"Minato loves both Mana and I equally," Mitsu said, "And we both offer aspects one could look for in a girlfriend. I'm the more responsible, career-driven girlfriend while Mana is the laid back, fun-loving girlfriend."
"We balance things out for Minato very well," Mana chimed in.
"Interesting," Wataru said, "Well, more power to you girls. Anyway, now that I feel like I've known you four very well, I hope you don't mind if I give you all my life's story."
"Let's hear it," Yusuke said.
"Well, I was born to a family of blue-collar workers and accountants," Wataru explained, "I had a pretty normal childhood. Hung out with normal friends, went to a normal school, and did normal kid things. But one of my friends was very interested in music, and that interest rubbed off on me. I'd go to concerts, bistros that had a musical guest, and whenever I was watching T.V I was usually watching rockumentaries about my favorite bands. Unfortunately, my folks didn't share a similar passion as me. I explicitly remember my father saying to me, 'No son of mine is getting into music! It's a road to nowhere!' Eventually, things boiled over with me and my folks and I moved out a few days after my 18th birthday. I haven't really talked to any of my family since then."
"That's horrible," Mana said.
"A parent's job is to support their children and their passion," Yusuke said, "I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that."
"A friend of ours, Ichiro, could probably relate to you," Haru said, "He's a gymnast, but his father didn't like the idea of his son being into gymnastics. He's doing fine now, but like with you and your folks, he's not really on speaking terms with his father."
"At least he fully realized his dream and became a gymnast," Wataru said, "Me, I was out on my own, living with one of my friends until I made enough money to move into an apartment of my own. That's when I interned for WFAN. The manager noticed all of the hard work I put in and he offered me my own show. And, well, I guess that brings me to where I am now."
"Well, you seem to be doing well with where you're at," Mana said, "From what we can gather, you're kind of like a celebrity in these parts."
"Yeah, it is nice having a slew of adoring fans," Wataru said, "But I never really imagined myself being a simple disc jockey. What I really want to do is be a singer."
"A singer?" Yusuke asked.
"Yeah," Wataru said, "I remember joining my high school chorus behind my parents' back, and the conductor even let me sing a solo or two."
"That's pretty cool," Mana said.
"I could sing you a song if you'd like," Wataru said.
"You mean, like, right here right now?" Mitsu asked.
"Yeah," Wataru said, "It's no big deal. Look."
With that, Wataru got up from his seat and walked over to the center of the bakery. He cleared his throat before he started to serenade the whole establishment.
Wataru: Moon river, wider than a mile. I'm crossing you in style some day.
The Kitagawa Family looks impressed as Wataru sang the beautiful song, and some of the other patrons in the bakery look in his direction, impressed by his singing too.
Wataru: Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're goin', I'm goin' your way.
Some of the other bakery employees stop working so they could listen to Wataru's singing. Some of the bakers in the kitchen even poked their heads out from the doorway to give him a listen.
Wataru: Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see.
Wataru's singing was so beautiful that some of the folks outside of the bakery come inside to listen to him.
Wataru: We're after the same rainbow's end. Waitin' round the bend. My huckleberry friend. Moon river and me.
When Wataru finished everyone gave him a round of applause before everyone went about with their day. Wataru sat back down with the gobsmacked Kitagawa Family.
"Wataru, that was impressive," Yusuke said, "You really can sing!"
"Thank you," Wataru said, humbly.
"If you can sing like that, what are you doing working at a radio station?" Mana asked, "Seriously, you can go places with that voice!"
"You really think so?" Wataru asked.
"It's not everyday we hear voices like that," Mitsu said, "You have a real talent."
"I'm flattered, guys," Wataru smiled, "Really, I am. And I'd love nothing more than to sing for the masses…but just because you and everyone here liked it doesn't mean others will. Besides, I already have a nice steady job at WFAN and I don't want to throw it away by chasing some dream."
"Some dreams are worth chasing, Wataru," Yusuke said, "You never know where they'll take you. We know that if you stick with your passion for singing and music, you have a fulfilling life ahead of you."
Wataru gave Yusuke's words some thought before he gave a response.
"I mean, I guess I could give it a try," Wataru said, "You know, go to an audition or two and see what they think."
"That's the spirit," Mitsu smiled.
"But where would you even go to audition?" Haru asked, "To my knowledge there aren't any auditions going on in Sapporo right now."
"Hey, you guys, look at the T.V over there," Mana said as she pointed at the T.V in the corner of the bakery, catching the group's attention. On the T.V was an advertisement for a singing competition.
"Hello, Sapporo, do you have a drive to be famous?" An announcer on the T.V was heard saying, "Do you think you can sing? And do you think have what it takes to reach #1 on the charts? Then you should try out for the 61st annual Sapporo Singing Competition! If our judges like your performance, there could be a record deal with your name on it along with a ¥148,000,000 cash prize. The contest is being held in the Sapporo Civic Center! So if you think you have what it takes, apply now! The contest takes place on the third Sunday in September, so hurry up!"
"The third Sunday in September?" Haru asked, "That's tomorrow!"
"There's your answer, Wataru," Yusuke said, "All you have to do is participate in that contest and wow the judges. You think you can do it?"
With a confident smirk, Wataru smiled and said, "I was born ready, Yusuke!"
And with that, the group of five left the bakery so Wataru could sign up for the singing contest. After Wataru got signed up and paid the entry fee, Wataru returned to his apartment, while the Kitagawas checked into a nearby hotel for the night. Before either Wataru or the Kitagawa Family drifted off that night, all they could think about was the contest and how Wataru could very well have a promising future ahead of himself.
The next day, everyone gathered at the Sapporo Civic Center to take part in the contest. Since Wataru was one of the last people to sign up, he was in the back of the line with the Kitagawa Family right next to him giving him words of encouragement and helping him with vocal exercises while everyone in front of him did their best to impress the judges. The first contestant walks out on stage, ready to sing her song.
"I will be singing a song from one of my favorite movies from my youth," the first contestant said before clearing her voice so she could sing,
Female Singer: The hills are alive with the sound of music! With songs they have sung for a thousand years!
After her comes a punk rocker.
Punk Rocker: I'm the ghost, you're the night! I'm the shadow, you're the light! I am paralyzed!
After him came a chubby nerd type character
Nerd: Oh, the misery! Everybody wants to be my enemy! Spare the sympathy! Everybody wants to be my enemy!
After him came a teenage girl
Teen Girl: I come home in the morning light, my mother says, 'When you gonna live your life right?' Oh, mother dear, we're not the fortunate ones. And girls, they wanna have fun! Oh, girls just want to have fun!
After her came a frat boy
Frat Boy: Hey now, you're an all star! Get your game on! Go play! Hey now, you're a rockstar! Get the show on! Get paid! All that glitters is gold! Only shooting stars break the mold!
The frat boy ends his song and the judges clap.
"Thank you very much," the frat boy said as he took a bow and walks off stage.
"And with that, we have only one more singer left," one of the judges said as he looked at a clipboard, "Up next is Wataru Koyama!"
Backstage, the Kitagawa Family and Wataru are seen.
"This is it, Wataru," Yusuke said, "Get ready to make your dreams come true."
"I don't think I can do this, guys," Wataru said, having second thoughts, "I don't think I can compete with these other guys. I'm starting to think this whole thing was a mistake. Maybe I should just go home."
Wataru was about to leave when the family of four stop him.
"What kind of attitude is that to have in life," Haru asked.
"We know there's a chance that you may lose this competition, Wataru," Yusuke said, "But you want to know how you'll definitely lose…by not trying at all. You said it yourself, singing is your dream. Are you really about to abandon your dreams out of something as simple as fear?"
Wataru thought about what Yusuke said to him, and he looked back at him, fire in his eyes and determination filling his soul.
"You're right, Yusuke," Wataru said, "I'm not about to be one of those sad sacks that lay awake at night wondering what could've been. I've got to try!"
"Wataru Koyama!" One of the judges was heard calling for him.
"This is it!" Wataru said, "Wish me luck!"
"You got this, Wataru," Mana said as she gave her older half-brother a thumbs up.
"Knock 'em dead!" Haru said.
"You can do this, Wataru," Yusuke said, "I know you can."
"Thanks guys," Wataru said before walking out on stage to face the judges.
"There you are," one of the judges said, "I was beginning to think you got cold feet and forfeited."
"Believe me, I was close," Wataru said, "But like a wise man just said to me, I'll definitely lose if I don't at least try."
Wataru looked to the side of the stage to find Yusuke, along with his wife and daughters, watching him. He then faced the judges again, awaiting the go-ahead.
"Well, whenever you're ready," one of the judges said.
"Thank you," Wataru said, "I like to dedicate this song to all of the people who said I couldn't do this."
Wataru took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and started to sing.
Wataru: We were good, we were gold. Kind of dream that can't be sold. We were right 'til we weren't. Built a home and watched it burn. Mmm, I didn't want to leave you, I didn't want to lie. Started to cry, but them remembered I…
Wataru eventually gained enough confidence to start dancing as he sang, impressing the judges and the Kitagawa Family.
Wataru: I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand. Talk to myself for hours, say things you don't understand. I can take myself dancing, and I can hold my own hand. Yeah, I can love me better than you can!
The judges and Kitagawas start to bop to the beat as Wataru continues to sing.
Wataru: Can love me better. I can love me better, baby! Can love me better. I can love me better, baby! I didn't want to leave you. I didn't want to fight. Started to cry, bu then remembered I…I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand. Talk to myself for hours, say things you don't understand. I can take myself dancing, and I can hold my own hand…
Yusuke: (Spoken; off stage) Go get 'em, Wataru!
Wataru: Yeah, I can love me better than…Yeah, I can love me better than you can! Can love me better. I can love me better, baby! Can love me better, I can love me better, baby! Can love me better. I can love me better, baby! Can love me better, I can love me better. I…"
At the end, Wataru poses as the judges gave a thunderous applause, some of them in tears with how beautiful his singing was. Wataru smiles warmly as he listened to the judges praises before looking off stage to find Yusuke, Haru, Mana, and Mitsu applauding him from off stage. He smiles at them warmly too, grateful that they inspired him to chase after his dream.
A few moments later, all of the singers are gathered on stage as one of the judges is seen holding the check for ¥148,000,000 in his hand, and next to him is a man in a suit and carrying a contract that contains all of the details of the winners' record deal.
"You all did a wonderful job," the judge said, graciously, "But in the end, the rest of the judges and I thought long and hard and who deserves the money and record deal more, and we came to a decision. The winner of this year's singing competition is…Wataru Koyama!"
"I won?!" Wataru asked in disbelief before become more elated and excited, "I-I won! I won!"
Wataru was laughing gleefully as happy tears came to his eyes while the judge handed him his prize money and the well dressed man showed Wataru the contract for him to read. As Wataru read the contract, the Kitagawa Family came on stage to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, Wataru," Haru smiled.
"We knew you could do it!" Yusuke said.
Wataru didn't say anything. All he did was hug the family of four before finally talking.
"Thank you so much for believing in me, you guys," Wataru smiled, "I think that's all I really needed; someone to believe in me. And now look at me. I'm ¥148,000,000 richer with a record deal to boot! For encouraging me to follow my dreams, I'm forever grateful to you four. I'll be sure to pay you all back somehow for this."
"No thanks are necessary," Yusuke said, "We're just happy to see you living your best life."
"Hey, Wataru, if you're not too busy, maybe you'd like to swing by my cafe back in Tokyo," Haru suggested, "You're always welcome."
"I appreciate that, Haru, thank you," Wataru smiled.
"Well, what are you waiting for Mr. Big Shot?" Mitsu asked her older half-brother, "Aren't you going to sign that contract? Your destiny's calling."
Wataru finished reading the rest of the contract before asking the well dressed man for a pen. With that, he signed his name on the dotted line before handing the contract back to him.
Later that night, after celebrating with Wataru at a fancy restaurant, the Kitagawa Family took the next flight back to Tokyo, happy that they not only got a chance to meet Yusuke's donation child, but also help him become the singing superstar that he was always meant to be.
TO BE CONTINUED…