Japan: 2:00 PM
In a traditional Japanese Shoin room, men in suits sat quietly on the floor across from each other. Tension hung in the air as silence reigned in the room. Among the men was Haines.
Haines, now age 51, lifted the cup of tea to his mouth.
"Haines, are you sure you're leaving?" asked the man seated across from him. The man looked older than Haines, but his bulk physique was enough indicator his age was never a problem.
"Penny wants to branch out, and it's been a long time since I've visited our family home," Haines answered calmly. "Wild, it's time to let her be. Penny is old enough to marry…"
"NEVER!" Wild and the rest of the men yelled in unison, but Haines only chuckled in response.
