Chapter 33: A Lovely Family

I add the data from the recent place to my flowchart, which details all of the apartments I've viewed as potential homes. I started it when I resolved to be more thorough with my search this time. With any luck I won't have to experience another flood in my bedroom.

Given all of the places I've seen, the housing market isn't too terrible for students with low standards of living. It probably helps that Tokyo has a lot of small apartments at affordable prices. The trade offs aren't bad, and it's not like I'll be living in my next place forever. 

Just to be sure, I give my parents a call before making my final decision. 

My mother picks up before the first ring even finishes. 

"Moshi moshi! Oh, Mai! How nice of you to call. We were just talking about our trip to Tokyo. Have you found a place yet? Hopefully we can stay at yours."

I fight the urge to facepalm.

"Not yet, Kaasan, but I think I've found one that I really like. It won't be big enough to host people, though."

"Oh, that's alright. So long as you find somewhere safe and sturdy. But it's a shame that you won't get to stay at Ema-chan's house for longer."

I pause. "Hang on, Kaasan. Aren't you the one said it'd be a good idea to move out as soon as possible? I don't want to overstay my welcome any longer."

"... Well, to be honest we looked up Sunrise Residence on the map."

"You what?" 

Did I even give my parents the address of where Ema was staying? I try to think back to our numerous texts and calls since the flooding.

"It's a lovely area," Kaasan continues cheerfully. "I'm happy for you if you found another place, but it's a shame that you can't simply rent a room at the mansion. If you're paying rent then no one should complain about you staying there."

"Kaasan, this was only meant to be temporary. Also, I don't think any of their bedrooms are for rent. I'm not their family."

"I thought you said not all of them lived there, though. Aren't you staying in an extra room in the first place."

"Ema-chan has a lot of brothers, Kaasan. A lot. They've even offered to help me move my stuff. I can't just turn around and say that I want to stay here instead."

As much as my stay at Sunrise Residence has been great (free food, board, and company and all) it's time to move on. I've already stayed way longer than I'd hoped to. So much to the point that a certain pink-haired boy had to call me a freeloader.

Gah, why are his words so irritating? I don't even know the guy! 

Besides, living with a whole bunch of people all of a sudden was a big change for me. It'll be nice to live on my own again.

And I won't need to use the same shower as a bunch of men I barely know.

On the other side of the phone my mother sighs. 

"You're right. Sorry. Do you want your father and I to look over the place before you sign the lease?"

"Yeah. I'll send you the link. I think this place is legit."

I type the link into the chat and hit "send."

There's static on the line as my mother fumbles to open the link. She calls my father over to take a look, and I hear his usual grunt as he shuffles over to see.

The two of them take a few minutes to look over the listing. I imagine my mother will further research the area later for good measure. She'll no doubt be happy by its proximity to a train station that happens to be close to where she and Tousan easily reach for their visit. 

"It looks good, Mai," Kaasan says. "I didn't know there were any good places in that area."

"One of Ema-chan's brothers recommended it to me."

"Does he live in residence, too?"

"Nah. He's one of the few who doesn't live here."

"Oh. Does he live in the area, then? It would be nice to have someone you know close by."

How well does she think I know the Asahinas? 

"I don't know. He said he knew it from when he looked for a place himself. He's already done school, so I think he'd rather live in a nicer area."

"Well, he sounds like a very nice man! Is he Ema-chan's older brother or younger brother?"

"Older," I say.

"Oh? How old?"

"I don't know, Kaasan. I've only met him a couple times."

"But he has a good job?"

"I think so. He works in the gaming industry."

"Oh, like those fighting games that Shin plays!"

"... Probably."

"He must be a very successful person, then."

"I don't know, Kaasan. Why are you asking?"

Is she worried I got advice from a NEET or something?

"No reason," Kaasan chirps. "I was just curious. I hope to meet Ema-chan when we come to visit. I want to thank her myself for helping out. Her brothers, too. They sound like a lovely family."

"Lovely" is certainly a specific word to describe them. I'd say they're a good family and they get along pretty well. 

As for "lovely", well... How to describe a family where more than one brother harbours strong feelings for his stepsister?

But Kaasan doesn't need to know about all that.

I clear my throat. "If it all looks good then I'll email the landlord tonight. I want to get the lease signed as soon as possible and move out."

"Alright, Mai. Let us know if you need any help."

"Got it. Thanks, Kaasan."

I move to hang up when Kaasan's breath hitches. 

I pause, my finger hovering over the icon of a red phone. 

"Is everything okay, Kaasan?" I ask. Did she forget an update she wanted to mention?

My mother exhales. "It's nothing."

"Okay then..."

"I just wanted to say that you've been doing good," she says, surprising me.

"What do you mean?"

The line muffles as Kaasan adjusts the phone. "You've always been determined when it came to school. So determined that you were willing to move away from home at such a young age. I'm happy that you're taking this next step in your life, but I still miss you, my little girl."

Her voice cracks, and it sounds like she might cry. Part of me is apprehensive about my mother getting emotional. On the other hand, I know that she wouldn't say this if she didn't mean it.

"It's alright, Kaasan. I'm doing fine, really. And I miss you guys too."

"Keep doing your best, Mai. I know that you'll do just fine no matter how much I worry."

"Thanks, Kaasan. Don't worry about me too much, okay? We'll see each other during summer vacation."

My mother sniffs. "That's right. Your father and I can't wait! Shin's asked us to bring back souvenirs from the trip."

"I'm sure he has."

Internally, I think: Why doesn't he just come to Tokyo for vacation himself?

"I'll talk to you again soon, 'kay?" 

"Alright. Goodbye for now. Darling, say goodbye to Mai. She's hanging up now."

My father mutters his closing remarks over the phone. It warms my heart that he'd wish me good luck in his own way.

"Thanks, Tousan, Kaasan. Talk to you guys soon."

I hang up and lie back on the bed. 

Talking to my parents always stirs up a few emotions—mostly on my mother's end. We've been in contact the whole time I've been away, and it isn't like we haven't seen each other over the holidays or special occasions. But even with our calls, texts, video chats, and seeing each other a few times a year it's not the same. 

Being separated from your family even by choice is hard when you're starting out. I always knew I'd have to move away someday, and the fact that it came early for me wasn't so much a downside at first. I was excited to move to Tokyo and experience big city living for school. Having come from a smaller town, I wanted to experience more. 

Now that I've lived in Tokyo for some time I'm quite used to it, but it's not like I can forget the place where I grew up, nor the people I grew up with. 

"Maybe I'll go home before the end of the year," I think out loud. Sometime between semesters would work. Even a couple of days might help keep any homesickness at bay. 

I sit back up and open my laptop. 

There's work to do before I get to see my family again, so I better stay on top of things or else I won't be able to enjoy summer vacation. 

I type out an email to the landlord of the place I went to see with Yusuke, explaining in the politest and most concise terms that I like the place and want to sign the lease. I proofread the email before finally sending it off. 

Once the email is sent I let out a sigh of relief. There's nothing more I can do now but wait. 

"Oh. I should probably cancel the other tours I have booked," I remember. I make a list of the people I'll need to email once I have confirmation on the lease. 

No sooner than my list is complete does Ema message me for dinner. Tonight we're having cutlets, and Wataru is going to help us wash the lettuce.

Be right there, I text back. 

I'll tell her my news after dinner. No need to make a big announcement before anything's set in stone.