Chapter 33: Original Sin
Meeting with his dad was like a dream come true. All his fears and worries moments vanished when he saw the tall, brawny man. Like a movie, they ran to each other, knocking their heads by accident. They laughed, squeezed each other, and cried.
"I missed you," his father said, American accent slipping between the cracks. They repeated the same words many times over until they lost meaning and their voices broke down.
His dad invited him to the sofa, keeping his tight grip until they stood up and made their way. "Does Sayuri know?" Was the first thing he asked. His eyes were a gentle blue and puffy from crying, facial features sculpted like most from European origin. So this was the person Kiyoshi took after. It felt like the first time he was seeing his predecessor.
"No, she doesn't. As if I would tell her." He grinned mischievously.
Dad was chill about it and didn't bring the issue up again. He was a pretty cool and accepting person in general. He asked basic questions Kiyoshi felt comfortable answering for the first time. School, hobbies, sports, things Shino-san casually asked.
The 2LDK he and lived was small but cozy. They didn't have much--their closed kitchen was better equipped in comparison--but neither complaint about poverty. "This is the kind of life I wished we lived," Kiyoshi said. "A small house full of happiness. And love," he added.
Kiyoshi was glad to hear he was always welcomed and meant it. In their moment of marked silence, he noticed the humble man bore a lonesome expression while staring down at his cup of coffee. It was gone the second when he spoke.
Kiyoshi gratefully accepted staying for dinner and offered to help, Miyu-chan promptly rejecting him, pushing him back to the chair with her words. Dad thanked her with a gentle, sincere smile.
"Soooo," Dad drawled comically after the delicious meal. "Do you have a girlfriend? A boy is fine too!"
"Um." Kiyoshi fidgeted with his shoes, blushing. "Gi-girlfriend." Dad's cheery grin made him blush further. "Is it. . . possible to like. . . um, both?"
Dad perked up. "You are bisexual?"
Kiyoshi tilted his head. "Bi? Both?" Dad nodded. "So that's how it's called!" He hugged his knees and sunk his mouth. "You don't mind?"
"'Course I don't. I know men who like men and women that look like them. The world is big. I met many people when I was traveling around Europe. The company I work for isn't based on Japanese standards. Everyone is open about these things." Kiyoshi was at awe. His dad was so cool. He promised to bring Miki soon.
Miyu-chan opened the door of her private bedroom and provided herself a glass of water, taking it back. "About Miyu-chan . . ." Kiyoshi said.
"How did you guys meet?"
Kiyoshi told himself it would be impossible to determine what his father was thinking the first day. Because the man seemed nervous. Kiyoshi described their fateful meeting, taking out the part about the mission. "She's so smart," he said fondly. "We talked about whether we had changed or not. She's more outspoken than I remember but most of her mannerisms were the same."
"Like what?" The foreign man asked with a vague expression.
His voice hitched for a moment. "I. . . shouldn't find this strange but I noticed I didn't evade her gaze as much--must be because it's Miyu-chan." He stopped. "Miyu-chan. . . has always been the cold type. Not like mother," he stopped hintingly.
"Do you love her?"
Kiyoshi gripped the fabric on his arm. He replied, "Yes. Yes, I do."
Dad intertwined his fingers on the table. "I think you should know this as soon as possible. Miyuki is unlikely to stare at you in the eyes and express her feelings. She has a condition that makes her different. Neurodivergent, to say it simply."
Kiyoshi frowned. "But she's super smart."
Dad agreed. "She is. You have always been looking out for her. I know you haven't been together for long but I hope you can show her the same love and concern."
Kiyoshi set his chin on his knees. "I admit she's different." He flinched as the inside of her room shuffle. A moment later, she emerged from the room.
"Don't talk about me as if I'm a freak."
"I wasn't. I--"
"You were! Neurodivergent?! Who would understand that?" She glanced at Kiyoshi. "I see, this is why some people pity me."
Kiyoshi felt the pressure in the room weight down his body. He stared at his dad, wearing a painful expression. If this was true, he had been living with a child who didn't fit in. All. These. Years.
"I hate you," she spat.
Kiyoshi jumped off the chair and strode to her. He called her name. The girl's blazing eyes set on him; full of hatred. Kiyoshi froze. If the little girl was a protective tiger, then Miyu-chan was a wounded lion. "I don't care if you are different. I love you." His chest began to ache as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "You are so much better than me. Clever, beautiful, strong. I'm none of those things."
She gripped one of his wrists and bit her shaking lip. "You are also broken," she realized. "It's that woman's fault."
"Uhn, I don't know if you can love someone like me the same way I do." His chuckle cracked. "To be honest, I always thought you hated me. But I finally care about that."
Miyuki let out a trembling breath, hiding her gaze behind the tips of her sidebangs. She grasped Kiyoshi's frail shoulder and wheeled him around. "You should ask him. He's the one who has been waiting for you." Miyu-chan had told him the previous day, "he has always loved you."
The confused man dubiously stood up and approached. His confident and friendly facade was no more. This was a man who, born and raised in another culture, witnessed his family break apart and was forced to bring up a child while worrying about the other. Kiyoshi didn't know what else he had suffered. He could only guess so much.
"Dad," he called.
"I'm technically not your father--"
"I don't care!" Kiyoshi stepped forward. "I need you! I missed you! I'm sick of looking for a replacement!" He grabbed his father's dress shirt and tugged but when the man didn't bend, he threw himself and hugged him tightly. "I just want someone to love me!"
"Are you sure?" His dad asked.
"Of course it's fine!" Kiyoshi yelled. "I don't care what the registry says, you are my dad!" His chest was on fire. He wouldn't accept no for an answer.
"Thank you, Kiyoshi." The man returned the hug, broad, reassuring arms wrapping around him. "You're my son. I love you."
Kiyoshi aggressively made a grabby gesture to Miyu-chan. A moment later, he felt her presence behind him. He searched for her hand and tugged her in.
"Why do you need me?"
"Because I'm greedy! But I don't only want you to love me. I want to love you too. You are precious to me." He felt the absence of dad's arm, lasting a second for Miyu-chan was brought into the hug. He coiled one arm around her. "You kept the ribbon. Even if you never say you love me, I want to believe you do." She may have not replied, but Kiyoshi felt the air around her change. The shy nuzzle under his chin was enough.
⚽️🐰⚽️
"You want to stop being a spy?"
Kiyoshi nodded. "I want to step down." The Coach stood silent for a long moment, gazing down at him from his high and mighty desk.
"Do you not care about soccer anymore?"
Kiyoshi shook his head. "I do but this is not how I want to do it."
"This is the path you chose. Only a fool would think they can run away from their actions."
"It's not like that!" Kiyoshi collected himself and spoke carefully. "I don't want to step down to look away from what I have caused." He stared at his hands. "I can't hurt Gouenji-kun. I won't." He gazed at the Coach. "So I lost. Sumire wins. That's all."
The Coach reclined on his seat, considering Kiyoshi. "A soccer player who gives up is no better than a third-rate team. Why should I consider you are appropriate for the promising second team? No one who aims to climb to the top of the soccer world can afford to give up. You won't get anywhere in life with that mentality."
"Maybe, but that won't break my decision. I won't harm an innocent person for my desires. That desire came from desperation. I don't feel that way anymore so I don't want to go to extremes."
"I'm sure the other half of your family will be pleased," the Coach said flatly. "In particular your younger sister."
Kiyoshi stiffened. "You knew the whole time?"
"You underestimate Teikoku's intelligence. You don't care what might happen to your younger sister if you leave now?"
At the sound of rattling chains, Kiyoshi felt something inside him change. "You touch her and I kill you."
The Coach chuckled darkly. "Family bonds make a person weak."
"I'll fucking kill you!" The Coach provoked him again. Kiyoshi approached, slamming his fist on the desk. "It's those bonds that make me different from you! It's those bonds that won't make me like you!"
The man stood silent. Kiyoshi stepped down's when his rage pacified.
"With the commotion you caused, you won't be back anytime soon. No one wants problem children."
"I will accept the direct consequences of my actions." He noticed the Coach frown under those sunglasses. "But my family doesn't have to suffer because of me."
"Get out." The Coach grimaced. "You are useless."
"I don't want to be used anymore," Kiyoshi stated, marching out after savoring the man's broken mask for a second more.
"Sprouts are fragile in the face of misfortune." The door closed after those ominous words.
Original Sin | End