"I'm sorry, Mama... I'm so sorry..." Kaede whispered through her tears, her small hands clutching the edge of her mother's night dress.
Hana, sitting beside her on the futon, gently stroked her daughter's hair, trying to soothe her. "It's okay, Kaede. You don't have to apologize. Everything's going to be alright."
Kaede sniffled, burying her face in her mother's lap. "I didn't mean to spill the food on the big brother. I ruined his clothes, and now we're in trouble because of me..."
Hana's heart ached as she listened to her daughter's words. "Don't worry about that, Kaede. He's a kind man, and he wasn't angry at all. He even said it was just an accident."
Kaede looked up at her mother, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "But his clothes were so expensive, Mama. How are we going to pay him back?"
Hana forced a smile, trying to keep her own worries at bay. "We'll figure something out. The important thing is that you're safe and sound. Clothes can be replaced, but you can't be."
Kaede nodded, though her expression remained troubled. "I just wanted to be helpful... like a good daughter."
"You are a good daughter," Hana assured her, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "The best daughter a mother could ask for."
Kaede's tears began to subside, and she clung to her mother, finding comfort in her warmth. After a few moments of silence, she spoke again, her voice softer now. "Mama, do you think the big brother is a good person?"
Hana's thoughts drifted back to Ryo, the man who had so kindly forgiven them for the accident. He had been calm, understanding—qualities that were rare in men she had known. She smiled softly at her daughter's question. "I think he might be. He was very kind to you, wasn't he?"
Kaede nodded eagerly, her eyes brightening. "Yes, he was! And he's really handsome too. Like a big brother from one of those Television dramas!"
Hana chuckled at her daughter's innocent admiration. "Maybe he is, Kaede. Maybe he is."
As she said this, her gaze fell upon the business card Ryo had given her. It lay on the small table beside the futon, its stark white surface a reminder of the offer he had made. An offer that could potentially change their lives—if only she had the courage to accept it.
But then her thoughts darkened as she considered their current situation. The restaurant was barely getting by, their income barely enough to cover the costs of daily living, let alone the upcoming expenses for Kaede's operation. She couldn't help but feel the weight of their financial burdens pressing down on her, suffocating her hopes for a better future.
Just as Hana was lost in these thoughts, a sudden, loud thud echoed from the front door. Her body tensed, and she instinctively pulled Kaede closer to her. She knew that sound all too well—it was the sound of her husband, stumbling home drunk, just as he did every night.
"Stay here, Kaede," Hana whispered, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. "Mama's going to check on Papa."
Kaede looked up at her with wide, worried eyes but nodded obediently. "Okay, Mama..."
Hana stood and made her way to the front door, her heart pounding in her chest. As she opened it, she found her husband lying on the ground, his face flushed from alcohol, and the stench of booze overpowering.
"Not again..." Hana muttered under her breath, a mixture of frustration and sadness welling up inside her. She knelt down beside him, gently shaking his shoulder. "Wake up, dear. You can't sleep out here."
Her husband stirred, groaning as he opened his bleary eyes. "What... what do you want?" he slurred, his voice thick with alcohol.
"Please, let's get you inside," Hana urged softly, trying to guide him to his feet.
But as she touched his arm, he jerked away, scowling at her. "Leave me alone! It's not my fault!" he shouted, his voice harsh and filled with anger. "Those bastards cheated me out of my money! It's not my fault!"
Hana winced at his outburst, knowing full well what he was talking about. She had heard the stories from the other shopkeepers—the illegal gambling dens run by the Kurosaki Family, where men like her husband went to lose what little they had left. And each night, he came home with empty pockets and a heart full of bitterness, taking it out on her.
"I... I know it's not your fault," Hana said, her voice trembling. "But please, you have to stop gambling. We need that money for Kaede's operation..."
Her husband's eyes narrowed, and he glared at her with a mix of resentment and drunken fury. "Shut up! I'm doing everything for this family, and all you do is nag me!" he spat, his words laced with venom. "You should just be quiet and do what you're told!"
Tears welled up in Hana's eyes, but she bit her lip, refusing to let them fall. She knew better than to argue with him when he was like this. Instead, she nodded silently, helping him to his feet and guiding him inside.
He continued to grumble and curse under his breath as she led him to their bedroom, his body heavy with the weight of alcohol and disappointment. Once she had laid him down on the bed, Hana stood there for a moment, staring at the man who she consider her husband.
But now, all she could see was a shadow of the man he used to be—a man consumed by his demons, lost in a cycle of self-destruction. And she, too, was trapped in that cycle, unable to break free.
With a heavy heart, Hana wiped away the tears that had finally escaped and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. She returned to Kaede, who was still curled up on the futon, waiting for her mother.
"Mama..." Kaede whispered, reaching out for her.
Hana quickly slid back into bed, wrapping her arms around her daughter and holding her close. "It's okay, Kaede. Everything's going to be alright."
Kaede snuggled into her mother's embrace, her small body trembling slightly. "Mama... I'm scared. What if Father gets angry again?"
Hana's heart broke at the fear in her daughter's voice, and she tightened her hold on her. "Don't worry, my love. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."
She once again gave an one last look at the shiny business card on the table before falling asleep beside her daughter.
***
Just as usual Akemi, Yumi, Saki, and Miho were seated in one of the trendiest western style restaurants in Tokyo. The warm ambiance, soft jazz music, and the dim lighting made it the perfect setting for their dinner gathering. However, what was supposed to be a girls' night had taken an unexpected turn.
Ryo hadn't planned on being there. He had been at the office, drowning in work when Akemi called him, her voice filled with distress. She had gotten into some minor dispute with a shop about a dress she bought earlier in the day, and despite her exaggerated claims of an "emergency," Ryo knew it was nothing serious. Still, here he was, sitting next to Akemi, who was practically glowing as she clung to his arm, smiling like she'd won the lottery.
"Thank you for coming, Ryo! I knew you'd fix it," Akemi grinned, her voice filled with pride.
Ryo sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. "Akemi, you shouldn't call me for small matters like this. I have important work to do," he said, trying to sound calm, though irritation was bubbling beneath his polite facade.
Akemi just grinned wider and leaned in, hugging his arm tightly. "Oh, come on, I knew you'd come. You always do. In fact, I made a little bet with Yumi, Saki, and Miho that you would."
"This damn woman... She bets on whether I'll come running to her beck and call?" He forced a smile, hiding the annoyance simmering inside him. "Of course, Akemi. I'll always come for you," he said smoothly, though his mind screamed otherwise.
Across the table, Yumi and Saki exchanged looks, their eyes glinting with envy.
"I swear, you're so lucky, Akemi," Yumi said with a dreamy sigh. "Ryo is such a gentleman. I wish I had someone like him. My boyfriend is always busy, he doesn't even pay me attention."
"Seriously! He's so reliable and, ugh, just look at him," Saki added, eyeing Ryo appreciatively and ready to snatch him. "How did you manage to land someone like him?"
Miho, the more grounded one of the group, looked at Ryo with a worry. "Um, I don't know, guys. He might be busy...shouldn't we let him go now?" she pointed out hesitantly.
Yumi waved her off. "Oh, come on, Miho! You're too sensitive. He's just happy to meet us, right Ryo?"
Ryo nodded, forcing another smile. "Yeah, I am so happy," he said, his voice even and ironic at the same time.
But as the women chatted away, Ryo's thoughts drifted. His eyes darted between Akemi's friends, sizing each of them up. Yumi… definitely has the looks. A little too eager, though. His gaze shifted to Saki. Saki's got a nice figure, no doubt. She's got a lot of energy too, might be interesting. Then, his eyes landed on Miho. Miho's the sensible one. Might be harder to sway, but she's got that quiet, serious vibe. Probably the most loyal and managble of the three.
Ryo's mind began calculating, wondering if any of these women would be worth the effort. Could he charm one of them? Would they be easier to handle than Akemi? But before he let the thought go any further, he reminded himself of one crucial fact: They're Akemi's friends.
He let out a small sigh, shaking his head. One Akemi is already more than enough to handle. Another one would probably kill me.