[Fanfiction] - Like Fathers Like Sons... Sometimes Chapter 2b
t
---------------------------------------------------------
"Mom, you need help?" Shin asked as he entered the bakeshop's kitchen.
" What do you need Shin?" his mom asked back.
"Nothing mom. What makes you think I need something. Can't I just help you? Coz I think kneading bread and making pastries the entire day is a tiring job." Shin replied as he sat on a stool.
"Shinichi Gabriel Ohno. I carried you for 9 months. Gave birth to you, reared you, fed you ,changed your diaper and stayed up every night to watch you sleep. I think I know you better. So spill it out what do you need?”
" I'm that obvious mom?"
" No son, I just happen to be your mother. So what is it?" His mom asked again.
Shin smiled as he watched his mom decorate a batch of cupcakes.
Shin has always been baffled by the fact at how his parents get along so well despite the difference in personalities. His dad is as quiet as a mouse while his mom can talk for the entire day non-stop.
His mom graduated from college, his dad dropped out of high school on his third day to concentrate on being an idol.
His dad is known for his artistic abilities while his mom can't even draw a straight line. But when he sees them together it's like they're made for each. They seem to compliment each other's personalities. Not to mention his mom realized his dad's lifelong dream of owning a bakeshop.
Being the only boy and having two younger sisters, Shin grew up being overprotective of his sisters especially the youngest. He is a hero in their eyes. Strong and brave. But what they do not know is that he is one hell of a scaredy cat. Shin does not like watching scary movies let alone sleeping without the lights on.
He is scared of the sight of blood and has never been inside the horror house before. People ,especially those close to their family, think that he would be just like his dad. Not easily scared. But no, he only has his dad's looks but not his courage.
However, talent wise, he happens to be his dad's exact replica. Some even say with the proper push and the right motivation, he would even be better than his dad. But Shin seems to have no interest in dancing, singing or creating art. Ever since he was young, he has always dreamed of being a racecar driver. Watching fast cars gives him a different kind of rush. But that will have to wait until he comes of age and leave their house, since he is quite sure his mom would never allow him to race.
"So what is it that you want?"Shin's mom asked again.
"Ummm... Well..." Shin began but can't seem to get the words out.
"Mom wait... I need back up." He said before disappearing into the shop's front.
He got back after a few seconds with his dad in tow, who was stuffing his face with bread.
"Baba, did you change the recipe for this bread? It tastes different." His dad asked as he settled on a stool beside his mom.
"Dada why do you insist on calling mom 'Baba'? It actually isn't pleasant to the ears. My father calling my mom an old lady or worse a witch." Shin asked his dad unbelievingly.
"Shin, let your father be. That's the only word in his vocabulary that rhymes with 'dada'. And yes Satoshi, I changed the recipe. It's more cost efficient. So what was it you were going to ask Shin?"
"Ok, here goes... Dada, Mom, the guys and I would like to watch a concert. It's actually in celebration of Hiro's birthday so all of us are going to watch the concert. It's Hiro's favorite band and it's a one night concert only. So we decided to watch it with him. It's actually a concert of a band that Hiro likes a lot and the concert is just for one night. So we really want to watch the concert of Hiro's favorite band and because it's for Hiro's birthday we wanted to watch the concert with him since he likes that band so much and..."
"Shin stop! You're saying the exact same thing over and over. We get it. You want to watch a concert together with your friends. Why do you have to be so redundant." His mom stopped him midsentence.
"I was?" he asked.
"Yes you were. Why are you so anxious? You were only asking permission to watch a concert. What's the big deal?" His dad asked.
" So you were going to say yes?" Shin asked his dad.
"Why would I say no?" His dad asked back.
"So you would say yes? Regardless of the conditions, you would still say yes? You see Dada, saying yes without hearing the entire clause is like signing a contract without reading the entire provisions. In this case, since you asked me "why would I say no?" when I asked if you were going to say yes, is equivalent to saying yes to my question and all the fine print that goes along with it. So I'm concluding that you just gave your permission when..."
"Shinichi, if you don't stop blabbing I'm going to plug your mouth with this french bread! Geez, you talk too much, where did you ever get that?" His mom said.
"You're wondering where he got that from?" His dad asked.
" Don't you even say it Satoshi or I'm going to whack you with this rolling pin."
"I'm not saying it..." His dad said trying to hide his amusement.
"Mom, please let me watch." Shin begged.
"Shin, I don't see anything wrong with watching a concert with your friends. What's the fuss all about.?" His mom asked.
"The ticket costs 25000 yen." Shin replied softly.
"What?" His parents chorused.
"Shin that is too expensive." His mom said shaking her head.
"Shin I don't think it's reasonable to buy a ticket that costs that much." His dad added.
"But that is the exact same price as Dada's new fishing rod which he bought last week." Shin reasoned.
"You bought another one? You said the one you bought 3 weeks ago was the last one." His mom asked his dad.
"Well, I... Shin how did you know?" His dad asked.
"I saw the receipt when you asked me to return one of your rods back into the storage room." Shin replied.
"And mom, 25000 yen is equivalent to that new crafting machine you bought online 3 weeks ago. Not including the shipping. So I'm guessing it costs more." Shin added.
"Wait. You bought another one too? Baba, you have 5 die cutting machines already why do you need another one? You said you're set with the machines and all you need is paper and other stuff." His dad interrogated his mom.
"It's the newest version. There are more upgrades on the new machine. How did you find out I ordered a new one?" His mom answered his dad before asking him.
"I accepted the delivery mom. I saw it on the paper on top of the box." Shin asnwered smiling to himself.
"But Shin what we bought are fixed assests. We could use it anytime. It’s not a one time thing. You're going to a one night concert."
" Baba, maybe there's another way."His dad said.
"Actually Dada, I have thought of another solution. You see I have thoroughly thought this over, just in case you would say it's not within our budget. I have planned this out and even calculated how much..."
"SHIN! Just tell us what the plan is. Stop beating around the bush!" His parents chorused.
"We~ll we could sell "Nitoushin" on eBay. I'm sure I'ts going to fetch a price more than 25000 yen. Or even just one of Dada's figurines." He said while shifting his gaze between his parents who were listening closely.
"NO! You are not touching, much more selling any of your father's paintings, drawings or figurines. Why would that even cross your mind? That drawing is older than you and belongs here, not at somebody else’s house. No, you are not selling 'Nitoushin'." His mom protested.
“But Mom...”
“I said NO Shin. And that’s final!”
“ Dad please... please... please...” Shin begged his father.
“ Baba... let’s say yes. He never really asks anything from us. So I guess this counts as his first time. Don’t worry we’re not selling ‘Nitoushin’. Ok?” His dad turned to his mom smiling.
His mom sighed in resignation before saying,
“Whatever you say. You’re the boss.” then turned around and continued with decorating the cupcakes.
“ Thanks Mom.” Shin said as he hugged his Mom from behind.
“ Thanks Dada, you’re the best. Though I’m still wondering how you could always get Mom to say yes even with a personality like hers.” Shin whispered as he hugged his Dad.
“ Now that’s a secret I’m not yet ready to share with you. Come on, help me close the shop.” His dad replied as they walked towards the shop’s front.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“ Dad, I know this will come as a shock but please hear me out.” Ryke began.
“ Dad, the guys and I have decided to celebrate Hiro’s birthday by watching his favorite band who happens to have a one night concert here in Japan. We know this will be the best birthday gift for him. Unfortunately, the tickets are expensive, so I am wondering what are the chances of you shouldering my ticket? if you’re going to ask, the price the ticket is 25000 yen. I know it is quite expensive but I’m going to propose a bargain. Can this be my Birthday, Christmas & New Years gift?” Ryke explained in a serious tone.
“What are you doing? Why are you talking to dad’s old uchiwa?” His sister asked as she stood by the door with her hands on her hips.
“ Ruri! What are you doing here?” Ryke asked his sister as he hid the uchiwa behind his back.
“ Mom’s been calling you but you weren’t asnwering so she asked me to come and get you. What are you doing anyway?” She replied.
“ Nothing.” he said gloomily as he sat on his bed.
“ Oh... I get it. You’re practicing a speech. What for?” She asked again.
“ For Dad.” he answered.
“Why?” She asked as she sat beside him.
“ The guys and I are going to watch a concert and I’m rehearsing what I’m going to say and how I’m going to deliver it to dad.” Ryke replied.
“ What concert? You want me to ask him?” His sister offered.
“ Thanks , but no thanks Ruri. I need to do this on my own.” he sighed.
Growing up with a father like Jun Matsumoto is both a blessing and a curse in Ryke’s opinion.
A blessing since, to put it simply, being the son of a celebrity has a lot or perks and priviledges not to mention the free stuff that’s always delivered at their house. On the other hand it becomes a curse since he has a lot of putting up to deal with. As his sister would say, “they have to live up to the legacy that is Matsujun.”
Don’t get him wrong. His dad is the best father there is but sometimes putting up with his eccentricities and rules is a lot for a 13 year old to deal with.
One of which is fashion. His dad is a sucker for anything fashionable. There are times that he thinks his dad is too flamboyant which is so in contrast with is love for anything simple. His dad is so into colors while Ryke likes things in black and white.
His dad is so particular when it comes to his face, while he has suffered 2 broken noses, and a 3 stitch cut near his eye. All because of his love for martial arts.
Rules in the Matsumoto household is like etched in stone. There’s no going around them. If the curfew says 7pm, he has to be home at least 5 minutes before 7 pm. It doesn’t matter whether his dad is home or not since at exactly 7pm his dad calls to check on him and his sister.
His dad is a sucker for perfection while Ryke likes the imperfection in things. He thinks that’s what makes it unique. Once when he was 7, their class made fathers’s day cards to be given to their dad. When Ryke handed his card to his father he commented that Ryke colored outside the line. Ryke got hurt by what his dad said that he replied
“If I wanted it perfect, I wouldn’t have made it myslef, I would have bought one from the store.”
That earned him his first punishment ever. And since then Ryke tried so hard to be like his dad, but whenever he’s with his friends, he feels so free and acts the way he wants.
His dad tamed down a little when his sister was born. Jun’s attitude towards Ruri is the exact opposite of how he used to be with Ryke. Whenever Ruri gets into trouble he just lets it slip. That’s how Ryke learned to use his sister. He knows it’s unfair but it works and his sister loves the fact that her brother depends on her.
To point it out, Ryke has been instructed never to practice his karate moves inside the house as his dad has a lot of glass on display. Being the spirited boy that he is, he tried to do a roundhouse kick beside his dad’s collection of vases thinking he wouldn’t hit one. Unfortunately, as he was landing his foot hit one of his dad’s newly acquired vase which shattered into pieces.
Ruri was the first to arrive at the scene and mouthing to his brother that their dad heard the crash. Jun’s brow couldn’t be more scrunched up as he saw the glass on the floor. He looked at his children and asked who broke the vase in his most terrifying voice.
Ruri instantly began to cry.
“ Oh well, things like this happen. Get away from the glass.” Was all Jun said when he realized his daughter did it.
Or so he thought. LIttle did he reliaze that the reason for Ruri’s crying was the fact that Ryke was pinching his sister so hard that she cried.Once they were out of their dad’s earshot, Ruri hit Ryke hard on the the arm.
“ You did not have to pich that hard. It felt like my skin was about to come off.”
“Well I had to do it so you could act more realistic. I owe you one Ruri. Thanks.” He said.
“What do you mean you owe me one? You’re doing my turn in washing the dishes for a week.” His sister replied as she turned he back and headed towards her room.
So now, asking permission on his own feels like being on a weighing scale. Not knowing which side his dad is going to tip over.
“ You sure you don’t want my help?” Ruri asked once more as they both headed towards the dining room.
“ I got this.” He said smiling at his sister.
“What took you so long?” their mom asked as they sat.
“ Oh nothing, Nii-chan was showing me some of the remote controlled cars in the magazines.” Ruri lied.
“So Ryke, when’s the quarterly tournament again? I need to make my schedule for this quarter so I have to know so I wouldn’t miss it.” Jun asked his son after saying grace.
“ The coach hasn’t given us the exact dates but I will tell you as soon as it’s out.” Ryke replied.
Ryke looked at his sister who was sitting in front of him mouthing the words.. DO IT.
“ Ruri? What’s that?” his dad asked when he saw his sister mouthing.
“ Nothing Dad.” She replied smiling sweetly at her father.
“Ryke what is?” His dad turned to him nstead when he got not asnwer from his sister.
“ Eh?”
“ What is Ruri mouthing at you?” his dad asked.
“Anou... ehhh... ummmm...”
“ Ryke...” his dad said warningly.
Oh what the hell. It’s now or never. Ryke thought.
“Dad, the guys and I are thinking of watching a concert to celebrate Hiro’s birthday. I was wondering if it would be alright. But the ticket price is quite high. It sells at 25000 yen per ticket.” Ryke finally said.
“25000 yen? That’s the same price as your dad’s new shoes. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Right Jun?” Ryka asked her husband.
“What’s the name of the band?” Jun simply asked.
“ See Ryke, he doesn’t mind shelling out 25000 yen. All he’s concerned about is the name of the band.” His mom added.
“ What’s the name of the band Ryke?” his dad ignored his mom and asked again.
“Hell’s Angels.” Ryke whispered.
“What?” Jun asked again.
“ Hell’s Angels.” Ryke answered. this time loudenough for his dad to hear.
“ Hell’s Angels? What kind of band is that? It is a pop band, a rock band? what kind of band?” Jun interrogated.
“ I don’t know...” Ryke replied softly.
“You’re going to watch a concert without even knowing what kind of music they play? And don’t give me the reason that it’s Hiro’s favorite band and not yours. You should at least do some research on what kind of band it is. Ruri, google it.” Jun lectured before turning to his daughter.
“ Dad can we do that later? I’m in the middle of a meal.” Ruri reasoned.
“No Ruri I mean it. Google it now.”
“ But Dad...”
“ Sinjun, NOW!”
Ruri knew that it was not worth arguing with her father especially when he starts calling her her second name.She stood up and logged on using the family laptop.
“So what does it say about them?” Jun asked his daughter who was busy searching for answers.
Ryke was looking at her sister shaking his head as if tellingher to make up some stories. Unfortunately Ruri was too engrossed scrolling down a website.
“ Ok Dad, here it is... according to this article, Hell’s Angels is the world’s most popular heavy metal band. it’s composed of three girls who are named after Angels. The drummer is Mikayla named after Michael the archangel, the bassist is Gabriella, after angel Gabriel and the guitarist and vocalist is Luciana named after Lucifer. Wait... isn’t Lucifer a devil?” Ruri asked.
“ He was an angel before he became a devil sweetheart.” Her mom answered her motioning her to go on reading as their dad’s eyebrows have now become a unibrow.
“Ok... moving on, Their current tour is a comeback tour after going on hiatus for almost two years since the horrible riot in Los Angeles that has caused the death of...” Ruri trailed at her sentence while looking at her dad.
“ Go on Ruri.” her dad said warningly.
“ ...caused the death of 7 individuals. The authorities have cleared the band of any liabilities and have charged the concert promoters accordingly. The Angel’s next stop in their world tour is in Tokyo, performing a one night concert only at the Tokyo Dome on September 16.” Ruri finished reading the article.
Jun looked at Ryke who was not busy fiddling with his fingers.
Jun stood up, picked up his plate and started to move towards the kitchen as he said firmly.
“You’re not going.”
“But Dad, everyone’s going. I don’t want to be left out.” Ryke reasoned.
“Didn’t you hear what was on the article? People have died watching their concerts. You think I want my only son to die while watching a concert?” Jun asked as he placed the the plate in the sink and faced his son.
“ Dad that was two year ago.”
“ What difference does it make? What happened then can still happen now Ryke.”
“Jun, let him go. The incident happened in LA. This is not LA , this is Tokyo so loosen up.” his mom came to his rescue.
“ Ryka, I can’t loosen up thinking that my son might die in that concert if I allow him to go.”
“ You are over reacting. I’m sure the security at Tokyo Dome will be doubled, tripled even to avoind these kind of incidents.”
“ You don’t understand me Ryka...”
“ No YOU don’t understand. You’re treating your son like a kid. He’s a young man and needs to be trusted with some responsibilities.”
“ This is not the responsibility I have in mind.”
“ Then what is? Are you going to decide everything for him? Jun, you need to let go.” His mom insisted.
“ NO!. My answer is still NO!.” Jun said with finality.
“ MATSUMOTO JUN, YOU ARE AN IMPOSSIBLE MAN!” His mom screamed at his dad.
“ No amount of screaming will let me change my mind Ryka. This boy nows that you’ll always side with him that’s why he isn’t always thinking.”
“ That is not the point here Jun.”
“ Then what is? I don’t care what you say but my answer is still NO!”
“ ARRRGGGHHH... I hate you. You are sleeping on the couch tonight.”
“ Oh no... I can’t sleep on the couch tonight, I slept on the couch last night. Rules are rules remember? You can only have me sleep on the couch once a week.” Jun said sheepishly.
“ Fine I’m sleeping with Ruri then.”
“ Dad... can’t you reconsider and let nii-chan go?” Ruri asked her dad.
“ Your magic’s not going to work this time Ruri. This is a different situation.” Her dad told her.
Ryke gloomily stood up, whispered an inaudible ‘gochisousama...’ before heading to his room.
Once inside, he took his cellphone and started conposing a mail.
To: Aki; Jirou; Hiro; Shin
From: Ryke
Subject: Emergency!!!!
______________________________
Let’s meet at secret place tomorrow. 10 a.m. Don’t be late
He read the mail one last time before hitting the send button.
CHAPTER 3