4/7 Early Morning - Matsushida Household
“Kaori, sweetie, you need to get up or you’re going to be late.”
“I’m already up!”
Kaori Matsushida had been up for a few hours, she’d had difficulty sleeping the night before. So as she often did when she couldn’t fall asleep, she picked up a book or started studying and then before she knew it the night had flown by. It wasn’t exactly what a lot of people might call a successful solution since she didn’t actually seem to get any rest but Kaori’s mind was far too active for its own good. Once it started racing she was never getting it to slow down until it decided for itself it wanted to. So now she stood in front of her mirror fixing her hair up into a ponytail. Deciding that she looked presentable enough for the day Kaori made her way out of her room and into the kitchen to help her mother serve up breakfast before her father and two brothers, Kasumi and Kakeru, joined them.
“Wow, this looks good!
“I’m digging in! Thanks, mom, you too Kaori!”
“Don’t just gannet your food down like that it’s disgusting.”
“What I’m hungry?! I skipped dinner last night.”
“That isn’t an excuse for poor manners Kakeru.”
“Look out guys, Kaori’s become the manner police.”
“Well maybe if I didn’t live with two pigs I wouldn’t have to be the manner police.”
“HEY!” Both of her brothers called out in unison.
“Well, that STILL doesn’t explain why you’re so stuck up Kaori.”
“Yeah!”
“I am not stuck up!”
“Are too!”
“Am not!”
“MOM!” All three siblings called out at the exact same moment as their argument came to a head.
“Kids, behave at the breakfast table. It’s too early for this kind of behaviour.” Junko Matsushida was an expert at ending her children’s arguments as quickly as they had begun and this morning was seemingly no exception. As per usual Kaori’s father, Tatsuya Matsushida, just flipped through the morning paper as he let his wife handle the situation. It didn’t take long before everyone was at the table enjoying their meal and exchanging pleasant small talk.
“By the way, I’ll be home late tonight, I’ve got plans with Suwa tonight.”
“Kasumi’s going out with his boyfriend again.” Kakeru jeered earning a chuckle from Kaori.
“I told you guys SO many times that it isn’t like that!” Kasumi immediately jumped to defend himself from his sibling’s accusations.
“But you two DO spend an awful lot of time together and we know from the fact you always come home alone you’re not out picking up girls now are you? So what ARE you doing Kasumi? And when was your last girlfriend again?”
“Shut up Kaori, no one asked you! Dad, tell them!”
“You two leave your brother alone about being gay.” Tatsuya said without looking up from his meal or his paper.
“I’m not--!”
“Besides, at least Kasumi has someone special in his life. You two are totally alone.” Junko added pointedly, causing Kaori and Kakeru to choke on their breakfast in unison.
“Mother! That’s hardly fair! Please don’t lump me in with Kakeru; I’m actually busy. I have archery practice and I’m close to qualifying for nationals. And on top of that, I have to study if I want to be top of my class this year AND not only that I have a part time job. Kakeru is just unappealing and lazy, plus he works in a fish market so of course, he doesn’t have any luck with girls.”
“Yeah! Exact—Wait, what?”
The sound of laughter at Kakeru’s expense filled the Matsushida household as the subject of the joke himself turned bright red and started sulking.
"I-I just don’t have a girlfriend because it’s hard to meet girls since I’m not studying or anything. I’m just a working guy! But what about you? Kaori’s surrounded by boys all the time and she just doesn’t seize the opportunity.”
“That is not true! I’ve done plenty of seizing thank you. I just happen to be single right now. There ARE a few nice boys at my school--”
“No there isn’t” Tatsuya interjected and lowered his newspaper for the first time in the conversation. “Boys this age are nothing but trouble Kaori, just stay single like Kakeru forever or copy Kasumi and be gay. That would be easiest on your old man. My heart can’t take the thought of you falling in love with some boy and getting notions of love and running away to the big city to elope!”
“FATHER” All three of the Matsushida children shouted at his dramatics and the family back and forth continued until Kaori excused herself.
“I’m heading to get some practice in before work later today. I’ll see you guys later.”
With a goodbye to her mother and father and several zings between her brothers Kaori headed out towards her practice dojo.
4/7 Late Afternoon - The Silver Dragon Restaurant
Kaori let out a heavy sigh as she made her way to work. Despite her best efforts, her practice had been a total bust. She’d barely been able to hit a single target it was a poor performance for anyone, but a national hopeful and captain of the school archery team it was even worse. Kaori certainly expected better of herself. As she approached the restaurant where she worked she could see plenty of children playing, young couples making their way around the town and the kind of bustle that wasn’t usually around such a small town. Summer brought this kind of life out in the world, everything seemed lighter and people seemed to be much happier. Kaori loved the summer herself as she was pretty partial to summer festivals and beach trips herself. But most of her friends had gone on trips with their boyfriends or with their family and so there wasn’t too much for her to do over the summer. Minus the family vacation to see her grandparents on both sides and the two trips to the city that she managed to snag with her friends and the group picnic.
It was strange, but in a way Kaori felt desperate for something to happen to her life. Perhaps romance? Maybe a thrilling adventure backpacking. Kaori had often thought about travelling when she left high school before heading to college but her parents weren’t too thrilled with the idea – especially since she had no one to go with. Kaori was so consumed in thoughts that she barely noticed when she arrived at work. The Silver Dragon was a medium sized restaurant with a noodle bar. The food was good and the prices were pretty low and so it was popular with students and Kaori had seen a lot of classmates while she’d been working over the summer. Kaori herself was a fan of the food and often took leftovers home with her for her family.
Stepping inside and making her way to the back to change into her uniform, greeting her various co-workers along the way, it didn’t take Kaori long to be ready for her shift. Looking around she saw that the restaurant was having a promotion on set meals for two, so the dining area was filled with young couples looking for a nice meal out. ‘Must be nice.’ She thought to herself with a slight twinge of jealously before noticing she was being waved over by a table that hadn’t ordered yet.
“Hi, Welcome to the Silver Dragon. What can I get for you both?” She asked, notepad and pen in hand. At the very least work was always a good way to pass the time.
