Life changes

Chapter 10


Sunshine falling on my face woke me up the next morning. I blinked at its brilliance and sat up. The clock said a few minutes after eight in the morning, but my taste buds were spelling c-o-f-f-e-e to my sleepy brain. It was a normal urge that I had each and every morning, but I contemplating just staying in bed to snooze for a while longer.

I just finally made up my mind just to get up and face the day. I dressed casually after a quick shower, then headed down stairs to have a cup or two of java before I proceeded to find out just what the day would bring.

No one was at home once again, as I rattled around the kitchen and found the coffee pot on and full. I looked for a note to see where Yuko was. I did find a note, outlining the fact that she had taken a few days off for some sort of an emergency and my uncle knew about it. It also said my Uncle wanted me to meet him for lunch this afternoon at his favorite restaurant, before he had to fly to Yokohama for a group of meetings over the course of a few days.

Snuffing, I made a mental note to call the car service close to noontime to meet my Uncle at his company’s headquarters. I just turned back to the kitchen counter to continue getting my liquid breakfast. That was the main thing on my mind.

Coffee in hand, I headed out to the front step, to check and see if the newspaper had arrived, and my Uncle had miraculously left it so I could just sit on the step to enjoy the mornings breath of fresh air. This would be a treat, he usually scooped it up in the morning.

I found the paper stuffed in the mail box on the side of the house, and just sat to thumb through it while sipping my drink. I was lucky, Uncle either was in a hurry and left it or he had not been home to gather the news up for himself. Either way, it was my lucky day.

The warmth of the sun was magnificent, even at this juncture of the morning. It just felt like it would be a hot one today, as the air seemed to hang like that to announce its heat before hand, all the while keeping the breezes to a absolute minimum.

After while, a voice from a ways away brought me out of my intense reading to see just who was beckoning me.

It was Seia on the stoop of her own house, bringing in her family’s newspaper. She was dressed in the simple, yet lovely blue jean outfit I had picked out for her the night before. Even her hair was done tastefully in a pony tail so her pretty face could be seen, her large glasses seemed to now to accent Seia’s face rather than hide her from the world at large. She smiled and did a pose like a model, to show off what she was wearing.

In what she had on, she was just so radiant. It could have been from what had happened last night, or the fact that the outfit really did give her confidence... either way, but she beamed. She even gave a sexy pout that I could see, making me smile even more broadly. This was a changed person, and for the better I’d say. Sexy as well as smart, she was ready for the world now.

She wiggled her hips in a playful sweep, then threw me a kiss thought the air while mouthing the words “ Thank you.”

I waved back, taking in how impeccable she looked. I thought that she was simply beautiful, and that part of her was fully realized and was not going to disappear into her frumpy past any time soon. She smiled then entered back in to the house, clutching the paper with a bound in her step. She’s really had blossomed.

I chuckled, as I knew boys would definitely see the change in her, but hoped that it would not go to her head. Knowing her family, I thought, that was not a real possibility. She was grounded... but now has the spirit to be who she wanted to be, or more exactly, who she was all along.

With that, I headed in to the house to finish the paper and get a warm up on the java situation. I thought some breakfast was in order too, as my stomach was beginning to rumbling up a storm. I was glad of my mother’s insistence of learning how to cook. I was no five star chef, but I would not starve.

A half hour before noon, I met my Uncle at his large office complex in the very heart of the city. Surprisingly, he was ready to go and have our meal on time. We left to go to his favorite restaurant in all of Tokyo, The Silver Swan of the Orient.

The place was crowed, but as usual, the waiter made sure that we got a table as quickly as we could. As a affluent patron as he was, guess the place could not afford to really piss him off any and my Uncle not only knew that, but seemed to revel in it, in his own quiet way. Not in any way overbearing, but he carried himself almost like a blue collared person, yet had the coolness of the wealthy. I never knew a wealthy person who was that way, but it still was our family’s way to have humility. My uncle was the poster boy for that.

As a business man, he was a stern son of a bitch, I heard, yet he did have a humane side that did come out often. That alone, I reasoned, was the thing that made him stand out from the others in the business world. Simply put, the man was a amazing person, in and out of the world of business

We just ordered and ate at leisure, talking about his plans for the trip. He was interested also in my entrance exams for school coming up in a scant twelve days.
“ Do you think your ready for your entrance tests that are coming up, Hiroyuki?” He asked.
“ I’ve studied quite a lot more than I ever have before...” I started, nodding with each word I said. “ And I just might take advantage of the quiet of the house to do a heck of a lot more, when I can.”
“ You think you will go on to college after this?” He inquired, a hopeful look was on his face.
“ Yeah, I want to... If I can get through the high school and pre- college school before I even think about that.”
“ You have a major in mind already?” He asked, his demeanor was one of interest in what I would want.
“ Computer graphics for business applications, I was thinking about...” I said, thinking out loud, adding. “ Or into sports medicine perhaps... Even a simple doctor would be just fine for me”
“ All of them would be a fine choice...” He added, then asked with a small smile tinging his face. “ How about a business degree?”
“ I would like to look in to it too.” I said, knowing he was suggesting out of love, but never really thinking on his thought. “I never really thought about that option, but it can’t hurt to check it out.”
“ When the time is right... we shall help you pick that all out.” He said, smiling at me. “ Perhaps you might come and work for my company, part time of course, while your in school.”

I paused to think on it for a second. It seemed like he was poking me in the direction of business, but to be honest, I was interested in some way. It might be really something to check in to.
“ We’ll talk about it after you get back from your trip.” I said, knowing that he could be a wealth of information on just what to take if I went on. “ I promise I will definitely keep that choice open.”
“ We will.” He said, a smile painted his usually stone but still friendly face. “ I promise that I will not try to pressure you...” He said, then snickering. “ Much!!”

As I just returned to my meal in front of myself, Uncle Taji’s cell phone went off. He answered it as I began in to the sushi plate I had. His conversations usually to quite awhile.

My eating was interrupted about five minutes later by my Uncle handing his cell phone over to me. Confused, I stared at him with I guess I could call it a blank look. Why was he handing me his phone?
“ Its for you, Hiroaki...” He said. “ It’s Mr. Nakano.”
“ For me?” I thought to myself. This was unusual to say the very least.

I took the phone, curious of who would phone me, and on my Uncles phone too. The smile my Uncle had gave me reason to believe that it was a something just a little different in nature.

Mr Nakano was on the line. His voice was deeper than I had ever heard it.
“ Hiroaki...” He started, obviously wanting to go straight forward with it “ I have a favor to ask of you, since I am in a bit of a jam here.”
“ Ask away, sir.” I said, curiosity now peaked.

The man began.
“ I find myself in need of someone to look after Emi for me for a day or two.” He said. “ I just found out that I am needed for a important collection of meetings for my company in Honolulu for a day or two.” He paused for another second or two. “ Misako is on assignment for my company in another city in the north, Mio is at a track meet and is not due back for a week and Seia is on a study retreat starting today.”
“ That is a jam and a bit, sir.” I said, realizing just how much of a pickle he was in. Quite a quandary, as my mom would have said. “ What would you like of me?”
“ All you have to do is come over and stay in the guest room on the main floor, see to it that she studies for her entrance tests, has her meals and just look after the other usual day to day things. I thought of you because all of the girls seem to really be comfortable with you.. And I feel like I can trust your maturity.“ He paused for a long moment. “ So, will you do it? I will pay you very handsomely for all of the trouble at this late notice.”

I paused for a moment, looking at my Uncle, to try and begin to explain all of this to him I had to ask..
“ I know all about it...” Uncle whispered, obviously over the table. He leaned over the table to speak directly at me. “ I said it would be all right with me, so it is all up to you. Beats being alone in our home for the next few days.”
“ It does.” I said, agreeing that it would be nicer than rattling around my Uncles empty house again, even though I do enjoy my solitude.

I just took a deep breath, as I just had one thought to conclude my thinking on this matter. It was one of those decisions that I did not have to ponder in any way for long. I returned to the phone.
“ I will do it, though I do not expect to be payed anything for it.” I outlined, seeing that was the correct way to go. “ I see it as just a neighborly act or just helping out a friend, so paying me is the way.”
“ I just wanted to pay you for this, it would make me feel better.” Mr Nakano said, relief was through out his voice.” When you go home, just grab a few things and come over... I leave in a couple of hours.”
“ I will be there right after lunch.” I said, in a reassuring tone.

A sigh came over the phone, as if a big weight was removed from the man. He spoke to someone that seemed to be in the same room as he was, then he returned.
“ Splendid, young Hiroyuki!!” Said the man, a chuckle of happiness could be heard.

He thanked me again, then he hastily said his goodbys and the phone went dead. I handed the cell back to my Uncle and returned to my meal. My guardian smiled at me as he popped the phone back in to the inside pocket of his suit coat, as I could see a twinkle in his eye.
“ I am proud of you... and of your mother’s upbringing of you. “ He said, checking his watch. “ We will have you back to the house in a hour, so you can honor your word to Mr. Nakano.”
“ Sounds good to me...” I said, as my smile beamed
“ Good.” Uncle said. “ Now let us finish off this meal so we can promptly get you back.”

The talk went back to the topic of school as we finished our meal. At that moment, I felt good about myself, and of the life I have right then and there. It was one of optimism and promise.