Saturn
Usami Akio is not a happy man. Equally, he’s not particularly unhappy.
He’s just not bothered any more. He’s never been, really.
It’s a nice day; the sun is high in a cloudless sky, and there’s a light breeze sweeping through. Akio wonders about going outside, but then remembers the several meetings he has to attend. He’s rich enough to have the meetings outside though, isn’t he? But he tells himself not to be so silly and turns around to face the air-conditioned sterility of his office.
Sitting at the table is one of his grandchildren, Akihiko. And Akio can see the past starting to repeat itself with that silent, blank look. He sits down opposite the boy and stares at him until blue eyes meet his darker ones.
“So...” he says slowly. Akihiko has inherited his eyes from his father, Fuyuhiko, and Akio admits that the slightly snake-like gaze is very worrying. “Why are you here again?” He really doesn’t remember. Akina called him the night before, shrieked something about taking care of his grandchild before the boy got himself killed, and now here they were.
Akihiko slides a sheet of rumpled paper across the desk and sits back again, sullenly. There’s a set of red scratches across his cheek, and Akio curses the fact Akina has inherited her mother’s temperament.
Hannah had been a lovely woman; blonde, leggy and gorgeous, but absolutely insane. Absently, Akio smiles as he remembers meeting her at a society party in London. He’d been absolutely awestruck. As time went on, as they had courted, married and divorced in rapid succession, Akio had continued to be struck, because Hannah had a seething, angry mess of paranoia for a mind and exceedingly good aim.
Despite her obvious flaws and the breakdown of their marriage, Akio had clung onto contact with her desperately, until Akina was eighteen, rebellious and sick of living in England with her mother. Once his eldest daughter was in Japan, she demanded that Akio never speak to Hannah again or she would leave. He’d reluctantly agreed, cut off all lines of communication, and then swiftly married Akina to an up-and-coming star of a salesman whom she couldn’t stand, shredding the tattered remains of their relationship as well.
And now - he sighs bitterly - his daughter’s back in Japan and a drunk, his son-in-law is undoubtedly brilliant but rather untrustworthy and his two grandsons... Well, one isn’t really his and the other’s suffering. At least he has a list of girlfriends as long as his arm to call upon - after all, the main reason he’s never called Fuyuhiko out on his dalliances is because of his own behaviour.
“Grandfather?” Akihiko’s voice interrupts his Akio’s reverie. The man picks up the paper, the reason for this unexpected visit, and flattens it. It is a list of test results.
Bad test results.
Zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, ninety-six, zero...
“I see.” He looks up at Akihiko. “This is why, presumably?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you fail them all?” They aren’t particularly important exams, but nevertheless... It’s clear the boy hasn’t even tried. In fact, it’s clear that the boy didn’t even pick up a pen.
“They were boring.”
“That’s not an answer.” He puts all of his natural authority into his voice. Akihiko blushes and looks down. “Try again.”
The boy mutters something inaudible. Akio sighs exasperatedly and raps his knuckles on the table. “Speak up, boy!”
“It doesn’t matter,” says Akihiko, more clearly. “Because no one cares how well I do. Not anymore.”
“Well, clearly your parents care. Otherwise I would be able to do my job, and you would be back at home writing.” Akio’s very aware of his grandson’s favourite pastime. He does nothing to dissuade him either - Akihiko does not show any interest or any talent in business, and Akio can’t waste time and effort in training someone who won’t work. Fuyuhiko does not seem to understand this yet; one of his main failings.
“They only care when I do something bad,” says Akihiko in a monotone. “And, anyway, Haruhiko always does better than me. I can’t match that, so I don’t see why I should try.”
That attitude is also part of why Akio is happy to let the boy do what he wants. He sighs.
Akihiko adds, “I just can’t be bothered anymore.” The old man closes his eyes and groans quietly. This is not what he wanted to hear. He stands up again and turns back to the window.
“You’re too young not to be bothered.” He glances down at the street below and then looks back at his grandson. “Akihiko, you have to bother. Otherwise you’ll be stuck with your parents and your brother for the rest of your life. I know you do not want that. Go home and work, do your best, get into a safe position and then leave them behind and live your own life for you, instead of for spiting your family. Understand?”
Akihiko nods sharply. Akio can see a spark returning to his grandson’s eyes; the beginnings of a wild, risky plan, he hopes. Maybe the boy has inherited some of the required business skills that made the Usamis so rich. The ability to do something dangerous and win.
After that thought, worry immediately strikes up in Akio’s mind. The child is young and already broken by his environment. There may be no recovery from that, that spark might just be a trick of the light. Akio loves this child because he’s the underdog, the trapped and unhappy one with a talent his family refuses to accept, and he won’t see his grandson stuck being miserable all his life.
He says, “I’ll watch over you, got that?” and tries to ignore the paternal feeling welling in his chest because it’s soppy and not recommended in a hard businessman. It’s difficult, but he continues, “I want you to get yourself out of this. But... if you can’t... I’ll make sure you’re all right.” He blinks and grits his teeth and says, “I promise.”
A corner of Akihiko’s mouth quirks up. He stands up and nods. “Yes, grandfather.”
“Go on. Have fun, boy. Good luck.” He turns away before he hears Akihiko close the door, and leaves his grandson to live his own life as best he can.
Notes: In astrology, Saturn is associated with ambition, career, practically and authority. It is also involved in the ability to overcome hardships and represents long term planning. The planet Saturn is named after the Roman god of agriculture and the founder of civilisations, with associations to justice and strength. He was the father of six gods, among them Jupiter, who it was said would overthrow him. The grandfather of the gods.