Broken Songbird

Chapter 30 Hiding Adolescence

It was the end of Meito's Sophomore year in high school. He was growing up and maturing very quickly. I almost lost track of time he's already, 15 and his sisters are already 10 and I'm 53. Sakine is pregnant and is expecting her son around Christmastime. She's naming her son Sami.

Meito sometimes struggled to keep his grades up but he managed to make Principle honor roll. His friend Luke who ends up in all the same classes with him, was an overachiever. So, Principle Honor Roll wasn't too hard for him. The two got along but Luke was dared to dye his hair pink but he kept it because some girls found him attractive. He looked exactly like his mother. Lucania told me how his teachers thought he was her.

"Anna are you enjoying your summer?" Meito asked while his voice was cracking every now and then.

"Yeah it's fun too bad Sakine isn't here. But at least we still have Meito." Kara says.

"So we are going to the beach. Meito do you want to come?"

"Yeah I'm coming, I just hope my bathing suit still fits." Meito told me.

"It should, but if it doesn't we could stop by the surf shop and get you a new one." Mike tells him.

Meito goes to his room to start changing. Mike put on his bathing suit which was an orange colored swimming trunks. I put on my red and white striped bikini which still fits me. Meito's swimming trunks didn't fit him so we had stop by the surf shop to get a new one. He will most likely get a red and black lined swimming trunk.

He was applying the sunblock on his pale body. We all got into the van, Meito helped his little sisters buckle in as he sat in the far back.

"So Meito are you excited that your Sophomore year is already over?" Mike asked.

"Yeah I am but Luke and I can't wait for college. We get to meet all the girls." Meito says.

"So what kind of girl do you like?" I asked.

"Preferably a German girl who speaks fluent German." Meito says.

"You're lucky because I never cared about them when I was your age. Most of my friends said that I would make a great businessman who's a mobster. Mostly because I'm Italian, but I never joined because I met your mother when I was just 20." Mike says.

"Papà you sort of do look like a mobster, with your hair and facial hair. I don't even have a beard yet. Luke has a full grown beard already." Meito says.

"Well you have hair on your chest that you got from your father, but be glad you don't have facial hair yet. At least you don't go bald later in life. Your body is going to adjust to the changes."

"Yeah but it would complement my slightly long hair. All I have is an 8'clock shadow"

"You may get something because you are technically 25% Irish, 50% Italian, and a 25% Japanese. You have a 75% chance if your traits work how you want it." Mike tells him.

"Alright I'll just avoid shaving it." Meito says relaxing.

We finally arrive at the shop, Meito and Mike quickly grab a swimming trunk. Meito changes into in the bathroom for swimmers. He comes out and he no longer had the skinny body of a child but the body of man. He has slight chest hair but it's not like Luki's who has a matt full of hair on his chest. Some teenage girls were looking at him and complimenting his body.

Meito got in the car, Anna and Kara didn't recognize Meito for a second because he looked so different. However, they realized it was him when he spoke and told them to get out so he could get to his seat.

As we went to the beach Anna and Kara went with their father to our regular spot. Meito had some dating questions for me since he's already 15 and is starting to notice girls.

"So okaasan where you ever into boys as a teenager?" Meito asked me.

"Yeah I was into them but not that many good ones in my school that I found myself attracted to. Your father-in-law, Aitök was my boyfriend before I met your father. I left him thinking he loved your mother-in-law more than me."

"Do you regret leaving Japan?" Meito asked me.

"Not really because I have your father now and everyone doesn't reject me like I was in Japan."

"A lot of people in my school said I look similar to Meiko Tanako who's a former teen star. So as a joke they decided to pitch up my voice for a song she sang. I did a cover of the song she did." Meito tells me as we walked and started to set up the chairs.

"What was the result?"

"The funny thing is that I sound exactly like her with my voice pitched up." Meito tells me.

"Next year, tell them that she's your mother." I say.

"What you're a popular star and you never told me." Meito tells me.

"Yeah because I didn't think your voice would sound like mine pitched up. Look it didn't matter to me anymore if I was a former popstar or not." I tell him.

"Alright because everyone kept saying I looked like you if my eyes brown rather than blue like dad's." Meito says.

"I guess your friends would be surprised that she turned out to be your mother."

Meito and I finally finish setting up. Some girls compliment him and some college boy thought I was in college. Mike was with the twins playing; I spoke to Meito and he went to swim in the ocean. I sit in the shade putting on some sun screen. Meito is growing up and I can't deny it anymore. He's grown up to be a strong man and his face is maturing.

I watch my surrounding and enjoy life. My life wouldn't have been complete without Mike by my side. Life always tries to find your matching counterpart whether its racial or non-related. If it can't fate will take a firm hand and find your other half; you need to be complete. In the end you find your ideal half. Noon arrives and we start to eat food we brought. Anna and Kara were eating their apricots and bread. Meito was drinking a can of soda and his hair was drenched. His cross was necklace was dangling on his neck.

There was some strawberry cream pie we made last night. Meito was a good chef but he may need some improvement. Whenever he makes sushi he would use a rubber ice tray instead of the bamboo roll to form the rice and put the fish on top. He just got a record label and is going to become an American Pop-star at the age of 16. I'm not worried about it since he's getting a vocaloid. He gets vocal rest and can focus on his studies without having to tour every day and transfer in and out of different schools.

"So Meito where are you planning on going to college?" Mike asked.

"I haven't figured it out yet." Meito says.

"Don't worry about it yet you still have your vocaloid who you frequently give vocal samples to."

"Yeah but he's not even popular. Allen and Rillianna's are more popular than mine."

"Don't worry about it, maybe your vocaloid will get paired up with some Russian girl or there may be a language bank that suddenly becomes popular and you could be the first to have that voice bank." I tell him.

"Come on your fame will eventually be noticed. Everyone always thought your mom was this NND dubber who actually turned out to be her long lost sister who had the same name as her." Mike says.

"Yeah but okaasan would you come to the interviews with me and see if anyone recognizes you." Meito asks.

"I'll come but only as a surprise guest." I tell him.