Prologue: Shedding light in the past [continues]
The day you decide to do it is your lucky day
1. When Debora brings the Naokis into the picture
The ongoing romance of Andy and Koichi cannot be kept secret for long, especially when
they do nothing to protect themselves from the prying eyes.
One day Andy will urge Koichi to meet...
... and will express his worries about the situation. Koichi will listen carefully but he will not share Andy’s anxiety. In an attempt to take his lover’s mind off the subject, Koichi will chat about one of his discoveries: a study based on Alien technology, found at Kiku Heaven’s Library, according to which men are capable of reproduction. Andy’s curiosity is intrigued and he will soon forget anything else.
The winter is nearly over. A spell of good weather, sign that the spring is not far, gives Debora a good excuse to visit her next door neighbour, Naoki Gero.
Being a single father and poor Gero cultivates vegetables and citrus trees to save on living expense.
When Gero goes out to tend his vegs, Debora slips to the back of the house and takes the opportunity to spy on her neighbours.She will soon spot Koichi kissing passionately… Andy?!?! Isn’t Andy supposed to be at work at this hour? She is still in shock when a furious Koichi rushes into Gero’s yard.
She has some explaining to do…
Debora: I was trying to increase my science skills…
Koichi: Science skills my ass! Next time you spy on me get ready for a slap or two.
We do not know if Debora is really scared of Koichi’s threats or by the prospect of a lonely life now that Andy’s little secret has been leaked out, but
... she will immediately rush into the house and throw herself in Gero’s arms submitting to a tender kiss.
And this is how Debora moves to the Naoki household. She will not listen to Andy’s pleas to stay with him and the kids; she will not listen to Ceci’s threats that she is not moving with her; she will not even bother with Stephen’s plan of how to make things work for all of them. She is moving and this is final! Andy is very upset as he feels partly responsible for the way Debora found out about Koichi-san and himself. The least he can do, if Ceci stays firm in her stubborn refusal to follow her mother, is to take care of her… Besides, he has never thought of Ceci being anything less than a daughter to him.
Ceci: I don’t understand her. Happiness is not all about having a man by your side. There is so much in life to make a person happy.
Ying who is visiting the Wus feels embarrassed with the fuss in the house.
Ying: It depends on the definition of happiness.
Tenzen: My mother wouldn’t agree with you, Ying-chan. She would probably say my father is an asshole.
Let us doubt Tenzen’s statement, for his mother would never use these words for Koichi. Reiko Akiko is an open-minded, generous woman who has understanding of life’s surprises and will not cry over a wrong turn. “Every cloud has a silver lining” is Akiko’s creed, and one of the reasons Koichi fell in love with her at a very young age. Needless to mention Akiko will not be surprised at all as she is well aware of Koichi’s affair from day, or rather night one, when Koichi took Andy to his attic. But she will not utter a word; instead, she will wait patiently for her husband to make the first step. She knows that once he makes up his mind and reaches a decision he will tell her everything.
2. A decision not for the faint-hearted.
A decision must be made indeed. Andy is careless enough to try the Alien formula and as a result he gets pregnant with Koichi’s baby. The study also mentions a “next morning pill”... should Andy take it and get rid of his pregnancy pretending it never happened? He has his son, Stephen, and Ceci, who is being raised like his own child… does he really need one more around? Koichi-san’s advice is required. Urgently.
Koichi: Why the long face?
Andy: Err… I’m pregnant?
Koichi: I don’t know -- are you?
Andy: I am *sob*
Koichi: I suppose this is good news. [silence] There’s nothing to worry about. Look at me. [silence again] I said, look at me!
Andy: ...
Koichi: Hey, baka! [*kiss*] Whatever you decide to do is alright with me. But I was thinking... it's time we give our relationship its rightful place and take the decision we’ve been postponing for a year... it’s time we lived together, don't you think?
Andy can’t think at all, he needs to take deep breaths. He has been wishing for this to happen for so long and yet, now that his wish is unexpectedly granted, he feels confused, terrified and guilty... There are things needing his attention, and first of all to announce the news to Stephen and Ceci.
Koichi has lot to do as well. His concern for Akiko’s well-being in the future calls for a visit to the Strifes.
Koichi: Akiko is a fine woman...
Koshiro: ...a fine woman whom you abandoned
Koichi: ...because I found a fine man. Baka, you’re hopelessly slow.
Koshiro: I don’t like your older son. The other day he picked on Kazuo and dropped him unconscious with his ventrillo farts.
Koichi: I don’t like Tenzen either, he reminds me of that jerk, my father, but the good news is he is leaving for College soon. So, don’t worry about him.
3. Storm over Kiku Heaven
In the meantime Kazuo tries to convince Ceci to go on a date with him...
Ceci: Are you nuts? The forecast said the snowstorm is heading to Kiku Heaven... Look! It’s snowing already. Let’s stay home and make a cake for Andy. He loves cakes.
After doing some exercise to overcome her stress, Debora still can’t stop thinking of her daughter and whether giving in Ceci’s stubbornness makes her a bad mother. Gero is adamant when it comes to emotional support:
Gero: Eggplants!
Debora: Huh?
Gero: The secret to increase your skills is hidden in eggplants. Their juice...
Debora: I worry about Ceci.
Gero: Tatsuya is a nice kid, they will get along just fine.
[Apparently Gero hasn’t noticed Ceci is not living with them.]
Tatsuya does not mind Debora’s sudden appearance in their home, neither does he mind how recklessly his father falls in love.
He is in a hurry to complete his on-line application for scholarships to Kiku Heaven’s University, and then to reach Yokito’s house before the storm comes.
Tatsuya has made it a habit to spend the nights at Yokito’s and next morning the two of them to leave -always late-- for school together.
Koichi left two hours ago and nearly everyone at the Strife household has gone to bed, except Kazuo and Cloud’s brother, Nobu, who has gone downtown.
In his new black outfit, Nobu tries a new pool technique, and says to himself: I think I look cool in this pose.
Kiku Heaven is silent and only the strong wind, rustling the leaves of the trees and forming snowdrifts, can be heard. Cloud will wake up in the middle of the night disturbed by a dream that involved Yamasaki Nenki. Unable to explain it, he will go downstairs, turn his computer on...
... and search the net for ideas to create new robots, one of his hobbies, and forget the rest.
Tomorrow there will be a glorious sun high on the sky warming Kiku Heaven’s heart.
[ TO BE CONTINUED ]