Back at home (Monday afternoon)

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hide-icon-believeOn the way home, we stop at a tempura stall – I let Makoto indulge in her favorites and have a taste of Tokyo street life – even on a cold day, around the stall with other lunchtime business it’s warm and comfortable.
“Makoto-chan,” I tell her as we walk back home, “you’re going to start school this week, but because you’ve not been to school, you’re going to have to work hard, but Chichi and I will help you.”
“Did I do bad on the tests, Okaa-san?” ? She looks sad and my heart wrings for her.
“This is a very… -good- school. ? Your school it Ito was, but this one is one of the best in the country. ? So it’s going to be harder. ? But you did get in, so we’re very proud of you.” ? Hopefully Hajime will have some guidance, I don’t know much about educating children in modern methods aside from Makoto’s short time in school before – after all, my brothers and I had all been home- or temple-educated, at least until my brothers went on for further schooling.
“Oh.” ? She’s quiet as we get to the gate, and I unlock it.
Then she tugs on my sleeve and looks up at me. ? “So you and Chichi are proud of me, even if I didn’t do everything right?” ? Before I respond I lock the gate back. ? The heavy door needs both hands to get closed again.
I nod. ? “Always, as long as you try your best.” ? I kneel down so we’re at the same level, and brush her hair out of her eyes. ? Hair straight and jet-black like her father’s, eyes the same color as mine, but framed like his, tipping up at the ends. ? Eyes that look troubled. ? “And Makoto-chan, you have to tell your father and I all the time how you feel about it. ? How the other kids are, how the schoolwork is… if anything is ever wrong, please, tell us.” ? I know she carried a lot in Ito silently… ? Takimi-sensei didn’t press the point about the blank on the form; perhaps there is something to Tokyo’s permissiveness and Makoto won’t face what she did in that small town.
I hug her tight to myself. ? “Promise?”
“Yes Okaasan. ? I promise.” ? She hugs me back, and as I let her go, I see a -resolute- look in her eyes. ? So serious for a little girl… my little girl is still our -child- so I quickly reach to her side and tickle her, causing her expression to break into a wide smile, as she giggles and shrieks. ? “No fair, Okaasan! ? Hugging and then tickling!”
I stand up. ? “No fair? ? Okaasan is always fair.” ? I grin at her, and taking her hand I lead her into the house. ? Hajime and I have a lot to discuss… but for now, we need to finish getting the house ready for our guests.
(OOC: ? Hide and Makoto are now at home)

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2 thoughts on “Back at home (Monday afternoon)”

  1. (Yukiko)
    We’re finally here… I didn’t think Tokyo would be so big and with barely any hint of the provincial life. In fact even half the buildings are no longer made of wood. How strange…
    (Kinnosuke)
    “I think this is it.” I try to look into the yard but there doesn’t seem to be anyone in the house. It doesn’t help that there’s no name on the front door.
    Placing Yukiko’s bags down I start to knock on the door. “Is anyone home? Yama… Fuji…-san…” I grimace a little at Yukiko. What name does her uncle really go by?
    “Just call Yagi-san.” She smiles at me.
    “Yagi-san?! Are you in there?”
    Yukiko is laughing at me. I can’t help but laugh a little myself.

  2. I hear someone call out, and then laughter. Okaasan puts down her comb, a smile that turns into another smile as she looks out the window. “That must be your cousin and her friend. Go let them in, I’ll be down in a minute.” I’m already all ready to go out, but she’s “fussing” over herself, since we are going out tonight.
    Long hair takes too much time!
    I run downstairs and at the gate, pull on the heavy latch until it comes out, and it opens! It is them. “Welcome, Yukiko-san, Kinnosuke-san.” I bow. “Oh, Yukiko-san, I start school this week, I did -alright- on the test. You’re staying in my room, too!” I think that will be fun.
    By the time we get to the house, Okaasan is at the door, welcoming them as well. “I hope you had a good journey,” she says, showing them where they’ll be sleeping. “If you’d like to freshen up, Hajime should be here shortly to take us out to dinner shortly.”
    (OOC: ends thread, moving to evening)

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