Family Ties

A Good Scolding

As Yoko said, it took about an hour and a half to drive from Maiami City to her parents' house, by which time all six members of the family were anxious. As they were pulling into the drive of the house, they saw several people waiting for them.

The family got out of the car, and the two oldest people waiting approached. As they got closer, Yoko greeted them stiffly. "Mom. Dad."

"Yoko," her mother said gently. "We know you may not forgive us for kicking you out and disowning you, and we won't pressure you to do so. But just know, we've regretted it for a long time. We're so sorry."

Her father nodded. "We've felt guilty for years. We wanted to talk to you and make amends, but we weren't sure if contacting you after what happened would bring back bad memories for you. But when we found out that you're married and have kids, well, we decided it was high time we at least try to make things right. We're not going to force you to rejoin the family, and we completely understand if you take your husband and kids and never speak to us again. We just wanted to try to make amends."

Yoko was quiet for a few moments, considering her parents' words before responding. "Whether I'm willing to forgive you depends entirely on the events of our visit and how you treat my husband and kids."

Her parents nodded in understanding. "We would love to get to know our son-in-law and grandbabies!" her mother said, smiling warmly at Yusho and the boys. "Come, let's go inside. We've made breakfast!"

They started to lead the way to their house, and the other people outside smiled warmly at the Sakaki family. Well, most of them. One man who appeared to be slightly older than Yoko was scowling. As the Sakaki family started to pass him, he grabbed Yoko's arm. He spoke quietly to her, but her husband and sons could just hear what he said. "Remember your place. You're still the same delinquent you were back then. You've brought shame to our family."

Immediately, the boys rushed to their mother's aid. Yuri and Yugo shoved the man away from her furiously, and the four boys crowded around her protectively. "LEAVE MOTHER ALONE!" Yuri yelled at the man, immediately catching the attention of the rest of the people. Yoko's parents immediately rushed back to them, glaring at the man.

"What did you just do Haru?!" her mother said angrily. The man quickly replied, "Nothing! I just—"

"He called my wife a delinquent and said she brought shame to your family," Yusho said, glaring at the man. Immediately, everyone else got mad, and Yoko's mother started furiously scolding Haru.

"How dare you say such a thing!" she yelled. "She's not the one who's brought shame to the family! Sure she was in a motorcycle gang, but she didn't actually do any of the things we thought she did! If anything, she's done things to be proud of! What have you done, huh? At least she made a name for herself, and she married a good husband with a respectable career, and she gave us grandbabies! FOUR grandbabies, in fact! What about you? When are you going to give us grandbabies? Plus, you had affairs with multiple married women! And got fired from your job for sleeping with the CEO's wife! All while you were engaged! And you had the audacity to spread rumors about your fiance being the cheater after she broke off the engagement when she found out! If anyone's brought shame to our family, it's you!"

"She gave you ONE grandbaby!" Haru protested. "The other three are just adopted!"

Yoko's mother shrieked in outrage, pulled off her sandal, and began smacking Haru over the head with it. Yuya, Yuto, Yugo, and Yuri watched in varying degrees of amusement at the mean man's yelps and pleas for his mother to stop. Yoko, meanwhile, seemed stunned that her mother was punishing Haru.

"Come, let's go inside," her father said to the Sakakis. "I'm sure you're all hungry!"