Take me to San Fransokyo

Chapter 19: Riley Anderson

Hiro's P.O.V.
"Niseko is beautiful, isn't it?" Mika asked me. I nod in agreement, gazing at the falling snow. "Yeah, I'm gonna miss this place." I say. Wasabi calls us to get inside the van. My phone starts ringing: Aunt Cass is calling.
AC: Hiro! How's it going? Are you at the airport yet?
Me: No, not yet. We're just about to leave the hotel.
AC: Oh, good, good. How's the group?
Me: They're fine, I guess.
AC: Did you have fun?
Me: Yeah, actually. We all did.
AC: Listen, I gotta tell you something really surprising...
Me: ...Yeah, what is it?
AC: My sister Jill moved to San Fransokyo, she used to live in Minnosaka.
Me: Minnosaka? It's snowing there, right?
AC: Yes, and here's the surprise: You have a cousin living here.
Me: ...Wait, here? I thought my cousins lived Taiwan.
AC: But she's new in the family, she's 12.
Me: What's her name?
AC: Riley. Riley Anderson. They're planning to come over after you get here.
Me: Oh. That's cool. I'll be there soon. Love you.
AC: Likewise. Can't wait until you get here!
The call ends. As I put on my seatbelt, Mika asks me, "Who called?"
"Aunt Cass. She says I have a cousin who moved to San Fransokyo. Her name's Riley." I answer her. "Her? A girl?" she asks curiously. "Okay, don't get jealous! She's only twelve! Jeez..." I say. "Haha, I'm just kidding. I'm just curious." she laughs. A few hours later, as we arrive in the San Fransokyo International Airport, Aunt Cass and an unfamiliar woman wait for me at the terminal gate. I run into her arms, and she covers my face with kisses. I'm glad she has no lipstick on.
AC: Oh my goodness! Welcome home, sweetie!
Hiro: Hey, Aunt Cass.
???: Hello, Hiro, is it? My daughter Riley is excited to see you. Nice to meet you!
Me: Oh, hello. What's your name again?
???: Jill Anderson. I'm your Aunt Cass's sister. So, you can call me Aunt Gil.
AC: Is this really your first time with a teenage boy?
AJ: Hahaha! I'm so experienced.
AJ & AC: *laugh loud*
AC: I missed you so much, sis.
AJ: Me too...
Me: *clears throat* Uh, Aunt Cass?
AC: Oh! I completely forgot about you, I'm so sorry. Let's get going! Come on, chop chop!
AJ: *sighs* My sister is quite forgetful to be honest. *laughs*
Me: Hehehe.
AC: I'll get your bags, Hiro. Just stay here with your Aunt Jill, have a little chit-chat, perhaps. Be right back!
Me and Aunt Jill just stand there quietly, she starts talking.
AJ: Hey, who's that girl? Is she with you?
Me: Yeah, Mika Tsukishima. She's-
AJ: Your girlfriend?
I feel my face getting hot, until I realize my face has turned slightly red. So red, in fact, it's incredibly obvious. Mika turns her head and giggles at my face as she waits for her bag at the carousel. That made me feel better: her laugh. My face is still so hot, I start sweating, in a large, air-conditioned place. I'm embarassed now. 'This can't get any worse, can it?' I think quietly.
Me: Uhh, well, if you put it that way...
AJ: Haha, I'm just kidding. Actually, there's a guy named Jordan who likes Riley. He lives here, too.
Me: That's nice. What's he like?
AJ: He's got hair like Clementine's. I mean, if you've ever played The Walking Dead, you probably know the reference.
Me: Oh, he looks like Clementine? That's cute.
AJ: One time, he came over to our house, and my husband freaked out!
Me: I can imagine.
AJ: Do you like it here in San Fransokyo?
Hmm. That's a quick subject change.
Me: Yeah, pretty much. It's fine here.
AJ: Huh, I'm wondering why Riley hates it here. She badly misses Minosaka.
I can imagine Riley yelling, 'I hate San Fransokyo!', even if I've never met her yet.
Me: That's sad. I like it here at home.
AJ: *sighs* Almost every person loves their old home. Almost.
Me: I understand that. She reminds me of myself when I was younger, when he was still here...
AJ: He?
Me: My older brother. Tadashi Hamada. He's...not around.
AJ: ...Oh, I'm sorry, I should've-
Me: No, no, no, it's fine, it's fine. I just haven't completely moved on yet.
AJ: It's hard moving on, is it?
Me: M-hmm.
AJ: You know, Riley plays hockey back at home. She's a natural.
Me: Cool.
Aunt Cass carries my bags and walks to me. "I'll help you, let me carry them." I tell her. "No, no! Let me carry them, you're more tired than I am." Then out of nowhere, Riley approached her mom with Jordan and her father, Bill Anderson.
UB: Hey Hiro! Nice to meet you! I'm Bill, Riley's dad, and that bastard who can't have my Riley is Jordan *cough* I mean...This is her friend Jordan.
Riley angrily hisses at her dad, "Dad! What the heck?!"
Jordan hangs his head in shame, with a red face. Mika and I giggle quietly, even Aunt Gil's laughing.
(NAPOV)
Meanwhile in Riley's head, Anger is on the wheel.
A: That man just insulted me! And Jordan!
D: He said a swear word, too!
J: Everyone! Calm yourselves down! We can still turn things around, right? Sadness! Please get Anger away from the controls and take the wheel. I'll make sure he doesn't do that again.
S: Umm, excuse me, Anger. I just need to-
A:Grrr...
F: *squeals* Anger, p-p-please calm down! We don't want anyone to get hurt.
J: *sigh* Sadness, how's Riley doing?
S: She appears to be crying a little...
Riley's eyes start to fill with tears, and she frowns.
J: Oh, no! Hold on-
Joy presses a button, and Riley bursts into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Dad, stop fooling around! Plus, Jordan's here, we don't want offend him, don't we?" she says. "Ahaha...ha..." Bill laughs nervously. "Sorry for calling you a bas-*clears throat* you know..." He says in a serious voice, patting Jordan's shoulder. "I-it's fine, sir." he answers politely.
J: Phew! That was a close call. Great job everyone!
F: Indeed. I just hope no one saw Riley almost cry.
J: Hey, where's Sadness?
D: Over there.
Disgust points to the direction of the library full of mind manuals.
J: Sadness, get over here! We've got work to do.
S: ...Okay. Sorry, I think I'm addicted to reading those manuals. I'm so stuck with them, it's scary...
J: It's okay. Anyway, guys! Huddle up! Okay! Fear, make sure Riley prevents getting accidents and getting embarassed on the way home. Who knows, the car might be tight in there, and Riley's dad might blow up! If you know what I mean...
F: Affirmative!
J: Disgust! Make sure Riley does a good first impression in front of-what's his name?
S: Hiro Hamada, I think.
J: Okay! In front of Hiro. Got that, Disgust?
D: Yup.
J: Alright, Anger! I need you to...umm...
Joy strains her mind to think of a task.
J: Maybe you can...Oh! You should rest after all that work you did last time.
A: What work?
J: Don't you remember? That time a few hours ago, when Jordan came over, and Riley overheard he and her dad speaking?
A: What did he say? I can't put my finger on it...
J: Something like, 'Don't you dare get your dirty hands on Riley just yet! She's a fragile girl, and she's been through a lot', I think? I remember you made Riley stomp to her room, and yell in embarassment.
A: ...Oh, that. I guess I'll just rest a bit.
J: *breathes deeply* Okay, Sadness, come with me! We'll make sure Riley stays happy and proper during the whole visit, okay?
S: Okay.