17. Family

"Yes Oji-san I have decided and come to a decision. I would like to stay with you."

I looked straight into his eyes which were filled with happiness to the brim. He exhaled in relief and said with a smile, "That's great Rei, you can come and stay with us."

I stood and bowed to show my gratitude and replied, "Yes thank you Oji-san. Please take care of me from now on."

He then slapped my back and laughed, saying, " Don't be too formal anymore Rei we are about to become a family. So, don't mind it."

He then stood up and took out a bottle of juice from the cover he brought. He took out two glasses from the cupboard and came to sit back. He poured some juice in the two glasses and handed me one.

"Let's drink juice to remember the occasion."

I nodded and drank it. After drinking the juice, his face turned a bit serious as he faced me and said, "Ok! Then Rei. I'll tell you about the members of the family."

I nodded and he continued, "Ok! Then, there are 4 members in the family-Me, my wife, and my two children. You have already met my wife Kamizato Narumi. She is a housewife and looks after the kids. She is very kind but also very strict when it comes to studies. You can go to her if you ever feel uncomfortable with anyone in the family, she will help you.

I then have 2 children- one boy and another is a girl. First my elder daughter, Kamizato Meiko. She is 12, right now meaning 2 years older now. She also plays baseball. She is a bit mischievous and plays pranks on her brother but still very caring.

Then comes the last member of the family, my son, Kamizato Sora. He is 11 years and older to you by one. He is well... very strict when it comes to baseball and simply loves the sport. You can also ask him anything you want and he will help you. This is my family, the Kamizato household."

I felt a bit jealous in me, hearing him tell me about his family. But this jealousy was quickly swept over with happiness as I would start living with them. Unintentionally a smile crept on my face which went unnoticed by Shirogana-san.

He continued, "Ok!, Rei now that you know the family structure, I will tell you some important news. As you know I play for the Saitama Crushers baseball team and that I'll probably mostly stay here in Tokyo as my team mainly plays here. But lately, my wife's father has become too old and my wife should go and take care of him as he is alone without care. So, now my whole family except me will move towards Kami town in Hyogo prefecture. You will join the same school as my children but the primary division in it."

I nodded but thinking over his words I felt shocked. I asked him, "So, you won't stay with us." I was scared of this arrangement. It means that he won't be able to stay with us and I should stay with his family in an unknown environment. I only knew Shirogana-san in his family and now we will be divided. My body shook a bit thinking about it.

He then kept and hand on my head relieving me of some of the tension. He spoke with a gentle tone, "Don't be scared Rei. I'll stay with the family for a week to settle you down, and the family would still be very welcoming of you even without my presence."

That eased the tension in my body stopping it from shaking. He then smiled seeing me relieved a bit and said, "Ok then let's go out and have lunch outside."

I looked at the clock and its already lunchtime. We both closed the door and went to the car. He started the car and drove off. We talked as he was driving. It was mainly Shirogana-san talking and me giving some small answers.

We reached the restaurant and we got out. I immediately guessed what restaurant it was, An Italian. I liked Italian food since dad taught me pasta. A waiter showed us the way to an empty table. I ordered pasta while Shirogana-san ordered a Rossetti. After a while the waiter came back and presented the food.

Seeing the food my mouth watered and I started to wolf it down. I heard Shirogana chuckling in the middle, so I lifted my head to see him trying not to laugh.

He then said, "Tensei also used to eat like this when it came to Italian."

My face burned up but I didn't stop eating. We both came back home and saw a movie on television.

As the movie ended it was also Shirogana-san's time to go home. So he stood and said, "Ok! Rei, pack your bags and all your valuables in a week. I'll take you to my home so you can get closer to the family. The family will move towards Kami about a week before the new school session starts as we should take care of your transfer to the school. You would go to the same school as Sora and Meiko. You would enter the primary school division. The school's name is Sensen."

I then nodded my head and he went his way. I closed the door and then went towards my room to sleep without eating dinner as the pasta didn't digest yet.