Collision of Heaven and Hell ✅

Chapter Two

May 25th, 2029

"—have to think of Mai!"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry."

I heard Mama and Papa arguing when I entered the apartment. I quickly took off my shoes and hurried inside. When I entered the living room, they both perked up and forced smiles at me. "Oh Mai, welcome home!" Mama said.

"I'm home," I greeted them quickly. "Papa, what happened? Am I in trouble?"

"Oh no, not at all!" Papa said, waving his arms. "It's just...your uncles won't be picking you up from school again is all."

My heart sank and I quickly looked at Mama. "D-Did Kouchou-sensei call again?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about," Mama quickly reassured me, coming to my side and putting an arm around me. "You're not in trouble in any way. But...yes. Sumire Suzuhara-kouchou-sensei called us personally and said that either you can drive yourself to school and park in Shirahime's student parking lot, or either your papa or I need to pick you up. Or you can take the train."

I didn't have my driver's license, and I honestly never saw the need to have a driver's license while living in Tokyo. Even after Papa offered to buy me a car. "I-I'll take the train then," I said.

"No you don't," Papa said, wagging his finger at me. "We can make time in our schedules to come and pick you up from school."

"That's right," Mama said, her smile relaxing. "But it will probably be me, as I'm the homemaker and Papa works."

Papa's cell phone began buzzing in his pocket, and he jumped a little. "Answer it," Mama told him.

"Right," Papa said quietly, pulling his cell phone out and hurrying towards his bedroom. I knew why Papa was nervous. Any calls that came over on his cell phone were "work" related and were always very important. If he was receiving a call like this now, when it was nearly 7 o'clock at night, then Mama and I both knew that Papa would have to leave shortly and would be gone for hours. Possibly all night.

"Dinner's ready," Mama said, directly my attention towards her as she led me towards the dining room. "I made donburi tonight."

"Oh, Papa's favorite!" I laughed. "Hopefully Papa has enough time to eat it!"

"I do, too. Go ahead and sit, I—"

"YATTA!"

Mama and I jumped in shock when we heard Papa scream from the master bedroom. He threw the door open and raced into the dining room. I had never seen him so excited in my life. "Tae! Mai-chan!" he screamed our names. "That was Aniki! The Oyabun, he—he personally invited us to a party tomorrow night!"

"EH?!" Mama exclaimed, pressing a hand over her heart. "Are you serious, Baku?!"

"Yes, I'm definitely serious! Fumitaka-aniki said that Oyabun is hosting a HUGE party tomorrow! A double celebration, because Oyabun's son has returned to Japan, and his nephew just got married last week! His nephew—Fujimasa-sama—and his bride heard about Mai-chan winning last year's Culture Festival choreographing a dance for her Dance Club! They want to see the dance!"

I couldn't help but gape at Papa in shock. "They...They want to see me dance?" I breathed. I wrung my hands a little. "But Papa, I—I wasn't the only one who came up with the dance!"

"But you came up with the concept," Papa reminded me proudly. "And you did choreograph the finale!"

"I-I..."

"Baku," Mama said, her tone turning serious. "You have the shatei rank in the organization. Awaosamu-sama's party is honoring his only son, and his nephew. This is..." she shook her head. "I have never heard of a shatei being invited to a party of such significance!"