OMAKE: The Kimura Files: Episode 00
Shinjuku, Tokyo
March 2018
Okada residence
Lucas folded his hands in front of his face as he stared down the stern-looking man across his kitchen table. Ichiro Kimura: Minako's older brother, lawyer, widower, father of his adorable little niece, and a general pain in his ass for about six years now.
"So." Lucas said, raising an eyebrow. "Why exactly are you in my home?" He asked with just a hint of hostility as Minako sighed next to him.
"Lucas, behave." She raised a cup of tea to her lips and took a sip before she glared across at the table at her brother. "And don't be a jackass, nii-san."
"That was completely unnecessary, Minako." Ichiro huffed. "But fine, I'll get to the point. How would you two feel about taking Marina to live with you for a few years? I'll be paying for her high school once she enters into one, and I'll send you two a monthly stipend as compensation."
Lucas narrowed his eyes. Considering his own shaky history with both of his parents doing much of the same to him, his brother-in-law was treading on very shaky ground here.
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"Lucas, I'm sending you to go live with your father in Japan. I'm sorry, but if I want to get anywhere in this journalism career, I need to devote all of my time to it. Your father is well-off enough to take care of you, which I can't do."
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"Boy, you'll be living with your grandmother. I don't have the time or inclination to take care of a child from a failed relationship, especially when I have two others from a woman I did marry."
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"So...why exactly are you trying to get us to do your job as a parent for you?" Lucas hissed, all pretense of civility gone from his expression.
Next to him, Minako winced. Based on what Lucas had told her about his childhood, this was sure to set him off. And if she was honest, she was inclined to agree with him on this one.
"You enrolled Marina in one of the best private girls' schools in Kyoto," Lucas said, still glaring at his brother-in-law. "And now you mean to tell me you transferred her into a public middle school. This is idiotic, even for you. Why do you want your own daughter gone so badly from your home?"
"I'm a busy man, Lucas." Ichiro glared back, unfazed by Lucas's obvious anger. "I have a law firm to run and very little time to devote to raising a child. And given that my wife passed away, there's no one left at home to take care of her. Are you saying that I should simply leave Marina unattended at home instead of having you two raise her? I trust my sister to raise a child correctly, even if you're there."
"You could at least try, Ichiro." Minako snapped, looking rather annoyed herself. "Think about how your daughter feels. Marina just lost her mother six months ago, and now her father's sending her away. Think about how this looks from her perspective. She can't lose another parent now. The girl's eleven, for God's sake. Could you at least try to show her that you care?"
"...You don't care." Lucas interjected at his sudden realization. "Your child's never been much more than a burden to you, has she? Something to interfere with your career? And now that Asami's dead, you can't just hand Marina off for her to take care of. So you turn to the next closest person, your sister. Tell me, Ichiro, who's your backup in case we say no? Are they even related to your daughter?" He hissed coldly. This was starting to remind him too much of his parents for him to stay calm. Looking over to Minako, he raised an eyebrow, questioning her silently. When she replied with a nod, he turned back to Ichiro. "We'll do it. But not for your sake, you neglectful ass. When's the earliest you can bring her over?"
"Ten minutes." He said without even batting an eye at Lucas's accusations. "I left her to entertain herself at the local arcade for the afternoon while we sorted things out here."
"You manipulative ass!" Minako slammed her hands down on the table. "You've been this way since we were kids! Knowing you, you were probably going to tell us that you were leaving Marina in Tokyo to guilt us if we said no, didn't you?!" When her outburst was met with only stony silence, she threw up her hands and stood up from her chair. "Unbelievable. Mom and Dad would be so proud if they could see you now, you know. Once this is done, I don't want to see you around for a long time, Ichiro." She spat, leaving the room.
Lucas closed his eyes, sighing. "Get the fuck out of my apartment and get my niece over here already."
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Fifteen minutes later, after Ichiro had dropped off and left his daughter without even so much as a goodbye, Lucas looked at his niece. Before he could even say anythiing, she looked up at him gloomily.
"...He doesn't want me anymore, does he?" She asked quietly, looking as if she was on the verge of tears. "He never really talked to me, even before Mom died. I don't think he's even smiled at me once."
Damn it. When Lucas looked at Marina, all he could see was another child, asking the same questions with the same expression on his face. Damn it. The damage had already been done, but maybe he could still help. If anything else, he wouldn't let her suffer more.
"Hey," He knelt down to his niece, embracing her in a hug. "It's going to be alright. We want you here. If your dad doesn't think the same, it's his loss, and he's an idiot for thinking so." He patted Marina's back as she burst into tears. "Come on, let it out. I know it sucks. Let it all out, kiddo."
When she finished, Lucas stood back up, putting a comforting hand on Marina's shoulder as she wiped away her tears. "There we go. Anyways, while your aunt's out getting you new clothes, you want to go get dinner? Tell you what, how about we go get some curry? Sound good to you?"
Marina shrugged. "I-I've never really had curry, but okay..."
Lucas shook his head. "Christ, you haven't had curry before? Well, whatever. It's pretty good comfort food." He extended his hand to her, opening the door to his apartment. "Ready to go?"
Nodding, Marina gave a small smile as she took her uncle's hand.
