A few months passed since Yunxue had come to the UK. With Christmas coming closer, Yasushi found himself confronted by news that caught him off guard.
"Huh? W-what do you mean my grandparents from Dad's side are coming to visit?" he stammered, the words tumbling out as if his brain needed time to process them.
For as long as he could remember, his family had been limited to his mother and father. Not once in his life had anyone else from their lineage entered the picture. They didn't talk about relatives, not even in passing. As a kid, he used to wonder about it, but his tendency to keep to himself had always stopped him from asking.
Across from him, Yuji leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped together on the table. "We didn't say much, did we? I know you're curious, and it's fine to have questions, but hold onto them until they're here. What I can tell you now is this: most of our family didn't support our marriage back in the day. We've kept in touch with them over the last few years — met up a few times, quietly. Now, they've decided they want to meet you. That's all there is to it."
Yasushi's expression froze as the words registered. The revelation hit like a fast farm tractor, leaving no time for questions he hadn't thought to ask. His thoughts turned briefly to his mother's family, wondering about their side of the story, though he kept the question buried for now. Both his parents were watching him, their intent clear but patient.
Kohana broke the silence. "My parents, your grandparents, already passed away. That's why you haven't heard anything from them. As for my family," she hesitated, her voice firm but calm, "they still don't approve. But your father's family — well, they've come around. That's why you're hearing from them now."
"I see," Yasushi said, his voice low, the words a placeholder as he worked through the implications. After a pause, he glanced between them and asked, "Do I need to get ready for anything? Like…how to dress, or how to act?"
Both parents chuckled softly, shaking their heads. "No, not at all," Kohana assured him. "Just be yourself. They were against us because we got married young — they thought it was reckless. But we made it work. Seeing that, they've changed their stance. They reached out, apologized, and they want to reconnect."
"Are you sure it was... you know, real?" he asked, glancing toward the hallway where Yinhaie and Nandini sat with their children, Yue and Advika, the sound of laughter carrying faintly from the room. "You had me, then Himari, and now I've got kids with Yinhaie and Nandini. Yue and Advika wouldn't exist if things hadn't played out the way they did. You get what I'm asking, don't you?" His voice carried a seriousness that left little room for misunderstanding.
Both his parents exchanged uneasy looks before Yuji spoke up, his tone measured but firm. "When they first reached out, we doubted it. After all those years, it was hard not to. But over time — after a lot of talks, meetings, and even more doubt — we came to believe them. They're genuinely sorry for what happened, and we need you to trust our judgment here."
Kohana added, "They didn't act sooner because they were ashamed. The way they were raised, the ideals they clung to — it's no excuse, but it explains their hesitance. Therapy forced them to confront everything they'd buried for so long. That's when they began to change, to reflect on what they'd done."
Yasushi closed his eyes and considered for a moment before nodding. "I trust your judgment, but I'm going to stay cautious while they're here. Is that alright? I don't know how they'll handle hearing the truth about Nandini and Yinhaie. I helped them have kids through artificial insemination, and I'm engaged to Jingliu, so… you know."
The unspoken thought was clear — acceptance wouldn't come easily, just as it hadn't when his parents had struggled with their own family's choices in the past.
"We've already told them," Yuji replied. "It took them some time to wrap their heads around it, but from their responses, they seem okay. They're just happy to have grandchildren now."
Yasushi closed his eyes again and nodded slightly. He believed what his parents said, but trust didn't come that easily. These were the same people who had turned their backs on their own children for years. He would wait and see for himself when the moment came.
The three of them talked for a while longer about the matter before Yasushi left, mentioning that he'd share the information with the rest of the family. About an hour later, he gathered Yunxue, Yinhaie, Nandini, Jingliu, Layena, and Xinyi to relay the details.
"It's fine, and yeah, I think keeping tabs on them is smart," Xinyi remarked as she idly tapped at her phone screen. "By the way, Catherine messaged me earlier," she added, catching their attention.
Catherine, who worked for Xinyi's family as both her personal maid and a close confidante, was also well-known among the others. She had stayed behind in Japan, where she was engaged to Furuya, Yasushi's best friend.
"What did she say?" Jingliu asked, leaning forward slightly.
"She's pregnant," Xinyi said, drawing a mix of surprise and curiosity from the group. "They're planning to get married once Furuya has more financial security. But honestly, with all the money Catherine saved up over the years, they're set for a solid fifteen years without even needing jobs. She was pretty frugal while working for us."
They were caught off guard, phones already in hand as messages flooded their group chat. Congratulations came in quick succession, filling the screen with reactions and emojis.
Yasushi noted how the conversation had moved away from his intended topic, but he decided it could wait. This revelation about his best friend's rapid progress, even while they were apart, demanded attention.
Once the initial burst of activity settled, and they exchanged a few more words in the chat, the focus gradually returned to Yasushi. The atmosphere shifted as they began to tackle the situation he had brought to the table.
"So, the plan is to keep tabs on Himari, Yue, and Advika? Especially Yue and Advika, since their situation is a little harder to pin down?" Yunxue asked, glancing at the others for confirmation.
"Yeah, that's the idea," Yasushi replied, his tone carrying a burden of thoughtfulness. "I need Jingliu to handle things carefully with them, given everything going on. It's a mess. Two kids with two different women I'm not involved with romantically, while the person I'm actually engaged to doesn't have kids with me yet. You can imagine how that might look to them."
It wasn't just the older generation that would look down on him; even Millennials and those younger had no shortage of judgment to offer. It was messy, sure, but regret didn't factor into the equation.
This came from two people who mattered to him, who had been there for him when it counted. Doing this for them hadn't felt like a burden. If they asked again, Yasushi knew he'd probably say yes without hesitation.
"Anyway, the visit's coming up soon. Just keep that in mind, but go about your usual routines," he said. The others nodded in agreement.
The conversation shifted naturally back to Catherine's pregnancy and the logistics of her and Furuya's upcoming wedding — where it might be held and when.
Yasushi couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement creeping in. He was genuinely happy for them but also found it entertaining in a way. The next time he saw Furuya, he was determined to tease him about it.
After all, he had started dating Jingliu first, and yet here was Furuya, managing to propose, get engaged, and have a kid on the way all before Yasushi even got close to those milestones.
+-+
With only a handful of days left before Christmas, the city buzzed with preparations for the celebration. Yasushi found himself walking through the bustling streets, intent on gathering what was needed for the holiday.
He stepped into the mall at the city center, navigating the crowds to pick out gifts for loved ones, including those awaiting him back in Japan. Together with Xinyi, he wandered through one of the shops, their conversation punctuating the hum of the holiday rush.
"We're still heading to the other place, right? Xinyi and your folks know the plan?" Yasushi asked, glancing toward his fiancée and their friend as they browsed the shelves.
Xinyi gave a quick nod. "Yeah, my parents are in the loop, and they're fine with it."
"My parents are okay with it too, but…" Jingliu paused, a trace of unease slipping into her tone. "They're wondering if it'll be calm. I mean, I hope so, but you never know until it plays out."
"We'll see," Yasushi replied, crouching to pick up a box of condoms. He held it up briefly, turning it in his hands. "Not much use for those two, huh?"
Both girls flushed at his comment, quickly delivering a light smack to the back of his head. Yasushi chuckled, setting the box back on the shelf as though nothing had happened. They resumed strolling through the aisles, picking up the items they needed without lingering too long in one spot. After gathering everything on their list, they paid and stepped outside.
There were still more stores to visit before they could head home, which meant keeping their pace brisk. Leaving another shop with bags in hand, their attention was drawn to loud cheering somewhere nearby. The sound carried over the usual murmur of the street, enough to pull them toward the commotion.
"What's going on?" Xinyi murmured, her head tilting slightly as she observed the crowd. Ahead, two men were squared off, exchanging blows with an intensity that demanded attention.
"I don't usually see this here," she added, her voice just loud enough to reach the others.
Yasushi folded his arms, watching as one fighter swung wildly while the other sidestepped and retaliated. "They're not doing themselves any favors. Normally, you'd expect this sort of thing somewhere less... exposed. Looks like their tempers got the better of them."
"And the reason?" Jingliu asked.
Yasushi gave a small shrug. "Dunno. Could be something serious or something unbelievably dumb. I'd know. I was — well, you know." He stopped there, letting the sentence hang incomplete, and both of them nodded.
He used to be an Englishman, someone who died and ended up in this world. That past left him with a sense of how young minds worked, especially ones drawn to paths marked by violence and desperation. It wasn't a distant memory for him — he'd walked that road himself, fists clenched and knuckles bloodied.
Before long, the police showed up. Batons in hand, they didn't hesitate to break things up, scattering the fight and the crowd that had gathered to watch. Nobody wanted to risk getting hauled in like the two fighters now facing the consequences.
Yasushi and his group decided to move on, leaving the area behind and wandering through the stores. They spent another hour or so browsing, but before reaching the last shop on their list, they agreed to take a break for lunch.
+-+
"Thought we were headed somewhere nice, but here we are... McDonald's?" Xinyi muttered, biting into her food.
"And what's wrong with that?" Jingliu shot back, settling beside her. She turned slightly, catching Xinyi's expression with a glance that held no patience for complaints. "We've been shopping for hours. You were expecting a five-star restaurant?"
Xinyi huffed, setting her burger down. She didn't really have a counterargument. Jingliu had a point, and even she knew it was just a half-hearted gripe. Their families had more wealth than most people could imagine, yet their lives weren't all caviar and champagne receptions. They didn't spend every second at luxury venues, nor did they care to flaunt their status.
It was one of the things that made them stand out in the world they lived in — while others in their position used money as a way to bypass life's inconveniences, their families seemed more content just living. Even Yasushi's, for all its eccentricities, had fallen into that pattern.
Yasushi's words stopped mid-sentence as a loud bang reverberated through the space, followed by shouting. Heads turned in unison toward the commotion, the source unmistakable.
A woman stood by the counter, her voice booming as she unleashed a tirade at the staff. Her complaints rained down about her order being incorrect and the service being unbearably slow. Her fury drew the attention of everyone around.
If this had been an animated scene, she might've had steam shooting from her ears. Her face, flushed from anger, left no doubt about her mood. She didn't just stop at complaints — she hurled degrading comments toward the employees, zeroing in on the cashier, whose shaky demeanor made it clear she was at her limit.
Before anyone could process what was happening, a tall, well-built man marched into the scene with focus. He raised a fist and struck the woman directly in the face, sending her to the floor in one blow.
"What the hell is going on today?" Xinyi muttered, the disbelief clear in her voice as she stared at the developing drama.
Yasushi stared at the scene a little longer, letting the moment settle before he turned to the two girls. "It's the holidays. A lot of people, like us, are scrambling to finish shopping. Tempers are running high, and she's just part of that group that can't keep it together. You know, Karens?"
Xinyi let out a short laugh at the mention. "Karens" had turned into shorthand for a very specific kind of person — usually a woman, though the male version would be a "Kyle" or "Kevin."
"Yeah, makes sense. But, man, I couldn't do something like that. I'd be mortified. Still didn't think she'd actually go that far — just…knock her out like that," Xinyi replied, gesturing vaguely to emphasize her point.
"She might try pressing charges after this," Jingliu added, her words drawing nods from both Yasushi and Xinyi.
"Assuming she remembers any of it," Xinyi shot back, earning a quick nod from Jingliu.
And not long after, the drama escalated. The woman's eyes snapped open, moving in a way that seemed unnatural. She bolted upright and hurled herself toward the man who had knocked her out, her fingers clawing viciously at his face in a clear attempt to gouge his eyes.
The man, though, was both stronger and unexpectedly agile, twisting his body to evade her frantic strikes. Her movements grew slower as exhaustion crept in. Taking advantage of the moment, he grabbed hold of her and slammed her to the ground with incredible force, the sound of the impact drawing gasps from everyone around.
Once again, she went completely limp, her tongue lolling out as her eyes rolled back. She lay there, utterly still and unconscious.
"RKO outta nowhere!!" someone yelled from somewhere in the restaurant, but the remark didn't get much of a reaction.
"…Now what?" Jingliu asked, her tone displaying disbelief as she stared at the scene before her.
"Well, we're not part of it," Yasushi replied, taking a slow sip of his drink. "We came to eat, so I guess this is just... background entertainment."
Eventually, the paramedics and police arrived. Everyone gave their statements, Yasushi and his group included. They all recounted the same events, which were corroborated by the CCTV footage from inside the restaurant.
Afterwards, Yasushi and the others wrapped up their meal, tidied their table, and left. The strangeness of that moment remained somewhere in the back of their minds, but they brushed it off, chalking it up to the tension that often surrounds the holiday season.
Once their shopping was finished, the group decided to stroll through the city. With Jingliu and Xinyi enjoying a rare day off for Christmas, the evening seemed like a chance to relax. But the thought of Yasushi's grandparents visiting soon began to surface — a reminder that the next few days might not be as calm as they hoped.