06.5 - Back to the family

In his former life, Lucas Tanaka wasn't very close to his family. However, growing up and moving away from them hurt more than he could have imagined.

He had a mother who ran the household. A woman with delicate features, almond eyes, and black hair. Her name was Ayumi Tanaka.

Ayumi was traveling to the United States when she met Lucas' father, John Tanaka, an American with black hair and blue eyes.

John was a man of medium height, with an air of seriousness that was often intimidating, but a gentle smile that could warm anyone's heart.

Lucas also had a younger sister. Hana was her name, a bright and vibrant girl, only three years younger than Lucas, or thirteen. They had always been close, perhaps because they were close in age.

Although not a family with much conflict, the Tanaka family had its challenges. John worked relentlessly at a patent office, putting in long hours to provide a stable life for his family. Ayumi, on the other hand, devoted herself to the home and the small flower shop she owned in the neighborhood.

Running the flower shop took a lot out of Ayumi, often leaving her exhausted at the end of the day, so Lucas and Hana always helped her keep the house organized.

Lucas grew up seeing the sacrifices his parents made. He would see his father go out early and come back late, almost always looking tired, yet trying to hide the dark circles under his glasses and his exhaustion with a forced smile. This was one of the main reasons why Lucas had so "easily" given up his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. He didn't want to burden his parents with his decisions.

"For these reasons, I need to become a professional as soon as possible and secure a salary! That way, my parents can enjoy life more!" Lucas said to himself as he stood at the door of his house.

Then Lucas looked at his house again and admired it. It wasn't an immense house, but it was the house he lived in until he moved to Tokyo to go to High School, so it brought back so many memories. He touched the doorknob in front of him, turned it, and saw his house after so long.

The door creaked softly as it opened, like a welcome. He entered slowly and stood there in shock. Everything was just as he remembered it. The bright yellow walls of the foyer, the familiar smell of fresh flowers, and the cozy feeling of being home again filled his senses. However, the house seemed empty, shrouded in a silence that almost made him doubt if anyone was really there. He took a few tentative steps, listening to the muffled sound of his own shoes on the wooden floor, and began to remove his shoes.

Then Lucas heard the faint sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, followed by an excited cry.

"Lucas!" Hana, his sister, appeared at the top of the stairs. Her face beamed with joy.

She quickly descended the stairs, skipping the last two steps to fall straight down, and excitedly approach her brother.

"How many goals have you scored today? Six?! No, seven?!" she asked excitedly.

Just then, Ayumi Tanaka appeared at the end of the main corridor, drying her hands with a dishcloth. She looked at her son and said, "Son, I'm glad you're okay," she said. "Welcome back."

Lucas felt an overwhelming emotion when he saw her. He blinked quickly to keep the tears from forming. The sight of his mother and sister contrasted sharply with the memories of the loneliness of his small apartment in Tokyo, where he felt so alone every night.

"How are you, Mom?" he asked, his voice cracking a little.

"We're all fine, aren't we?" replied Ayumi, looking a little worried.

"It's nothing. I'm just a little tired."

Ayumi smiled proudly. "That means you're hungry. Get out of your sweaty clothes and take a shower, then come down for dinner."