-In 2023, not all parents hold their children to traditional standards for love and marriage, but modern lifestyles are still not always accepted. Especially not when your younger sibling is getting married first and your parents are practically jum...
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The following Wednesday you're summoned to spend more time yet with your family. Though it's often torture to be around one parent, let alone two, you suffer through it for the sake of Sawamura and Fuyuko. Besides, it's at Sawamura's house and he actually has a television there like a normal human being so your dad will most likely be distracted.
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up with the spirit in the sky
When your song ends, you put your car and park and take the key out of the ignition. You sigh as you look over at the front door, dreading what's to come. But like the big girl you are, you pull yourself together and open the car door.
When your finger reaches the doorbell, you pray to the clouds above that Sawamura or Fuyuko will answer the door. However, no such luck occurs when you find your mother's botox-looking face open the door.
"Y/N, honey, you're here. I thought you weren't going to show. It was almost a quiet night," she hums passive-aggressively.
"Yeah. I was just about to ask who died," you smile back fakely at her. But when her smile drops into a frown, you pull out your fake laugh to complement. "Only kidding!"
After that, you push your way through the door and drop off your things. You say hello to Sawamura and Fuyuko, who also look surprised that you've actually shown up. Then, you hear the television coming from the family room. Knowing it can only be one person, you begrudgingly shuffle over.
When you see the back of his head from behind the couch, you take a deep breath before approaching him. "Hi dad," you smile as you walk around the side of the couch.
"Oh, hi Y/N! Wasn't expecting you here. I didn't know your mother invited-"
"Will you shut up," your mother intervenes before he can finish his sentence. "Of course I invited her. She's always invited here."
"Yeah, 'cause it's not her house," you smile at your dad, hoping he'd side with you. But sadly enough, he never does.
"Y/N, why do you always have to make everything about you," he sighs. "You know your mother loves you. She's just looking out for you."
"Do you even know what you're saying or is that just your default response?" you grumble. However, just when he sits up in his seat- meaning trouble's about to start- Sawamura saves the day.
"Dinner's ready!"
You break your eyes away from your dad as you make your way over to the dining room table. If there's one thing good about tonight, it's the food. Or else, yeah, you might have been too busy to make it.
Thankfully, the table is quiet as everybody eats. And that your mom doesn't say something corny like "it must be good since everyone's so quiet" like she used to when you and Sawamura were kids. But that was back when you all actually wanted to be around one another.
"Are the two of you almost ready for the wedding?" she then asks as you all finish up your plates. "Anything we can help with?"
"Actually, if you could double-check my numbers for the final guest count it would be really helpful," Fuyuko speaks up. "All that math makes my brain go crazy."
"Oh, well, Y/N's good with numbers. She is a teacher, after all. I'm sure she'd be happy to," your mother volunteers for you.
"I would love to, don't get me wrong, Fuyuko, but I'm going away with my friends this weekend. To the beach. Sorry," you tell them. No way you're going to let your mom push you into helping out for a wedding that's not even yours against your will. It's not that you don't want to help. Sawamura's your brother. But volunteering you? God, she gets on your nerves.
"The beach? You didn't tell me that," your mother scoffs.
"Didn't think I needed to seeing as I'm a grown woman and all," you roll your eyes as you look down at your empty plate.
"Grown woman?" she chuckles aloud. "A grown woman would be able to find herself a date to her brother's wedding without needing him to go out of his way to get one for you!"
"A grown woman shouldn't need a date in the first place," you hiss. "And I certainly don't need you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
"Settle down. God, can't we ever just have one peaceful dinner? One fucking dinner without screaming at each other?" your dad begins to escalate the situation, slamming his hands and utensils down on the table. "Why can't we ever just get alone for one fucking night?"
With that, he storms off leaving the rest of the group in a stunned silence.
"I'm going clear my plate," you nod in Sawamura's direction before standing up and taking your dishes to the kitchen.
"I think I'll do the same," Sawamura nods back. "Fuyuko, Mom, I'll take yours, too, while I'm up."
"Thank you, son," your mother smiles up innocently at him.
You shake your head as you walk to the kitchen where you place your dishes in the sink and your trash in the garbage.
"Well, that went better than I thought," your brother sighs as he follows suit.
"Mhm, it was nice and quiet after dad stormed off. Hey, Sawamura, you know, if you and Fuyuko ever want kids maybe you could adopt mom and dad," you tease with a big grin.
"No way in hell," he chuckles at your comment. "Besides, I think they'd rather be with you."
"Yeah right," you scoff. "Only right thing I ever did in their eyes is go back for my Master's so I could teach at the university. I can't think of a single other decision they've approved of. You, however, Mister Detective, are their pride and joy."
"It's not a competition, Y/N," he shakes his head as he leans up against the sink and crosses his arms.
"Do mom and dad even know you smoke?" you then ask.
"Of course not. You know mom used to be a cop, too. Who's to say she wouldn't turn me in? She knows some of the older guys around the station," he whispers back to you.
"Well she never did anything about it when she found out I was smoking back in high school. Except, you know, smashing my phone on the ground with her foot and dad cursing out my boyfriend at the time. Hey, maybe if he never did that then I'd have a date to your wedding."
"Yeah, 'cause any guy with a J name is such a catch," he laughs.
"Beats going with some guy I don't even know. Are you okay with me going with him anyway?" you then ask genuinely.
"Of course I am. He's a good guy, I think you'll have a good time with him. And I'm happy it'll get mom off your ass. I know how that stresses you out," he replies, meeting your level of sincerity.
"Thanks, Sawamura," you smile. "When you put it that way, I appreciate the help."
"Anything for my little sister," he nudges you. "Now, let's go back out there. We can't hide forever."
You let in a deep breath before nodding your head and exhaling. "Ready when you are," you respond as you follow him out.
