Ikigai ⌈Fast and Furious⌋ (✓)

六

Reminder: All italic words are spoken in Japanese unless stated otherwise.

┈ ┈ ┈ ⋞ 〈 東京 〉 ⋟ ┈ ┈ ┈

Eyes widening, Takana drops the basket of items in her hand. This couldn't be real. No. It was still all a lie, right? Her dad was her dad. Her mom hadn't cheated. She didn't have an American father. No. She refused to believe any of it.

The three weeks that she had used to recenter herself were blown to smithereens as the Hispanic man stands in front of her.

"I don't-" Takana shakes her head, taking a step back.

"Takana, please. I'm not here to cause any issues. My dad, your real father, just heard about your mother dying. He wanted me to come check on you."

Seeing Takana's shaken state, Neela steps in front of her. "This isn't the place to do this. How about you give me your number and she'll call you when she's ready. Alright?"

He nods. "I can do that. My name is Diego, by the way."

Neela nods as she hands him her phone and he types in his number. A moment after Diego hands the phone back, Takashi comes into the store, most likely to investigate what was taking the girls so long. At the sight of Takana clearly looking upset, he rushes over.

"What happened?" His eyes immediately find Diego and narrow. "What did you do?"

Diego backs away, hands held up. "I didn't do anything. We just bumped into each other. I swear."

Takana, looking up to find a tensed Takashi in front of her, snaps out of her inner battle with her thoughts. "Takashi. Brother. I'm okay. He didn't do anything."

Turning around to face her, Takashi examines her from head to toe. Whatever he sees leads him to not believe her. "He did something for you to look that upset."

"I promise that I'm okay."

Neela, who had been picking up the basket that had slipped from Takana's grip, stops next to Takashi. "We have everything we need. Let's get checked out and head home."

Takana nods and, with another moment of hesitation, so does Takashi. He gives Diego another glare then wraps an arm around Takana and leads her to the front.

Neela waves for them to go ahead of her while she pays. Takana protests, wanting a moment to regain control of herself before letting Morimoto see her.

"You look like you're about to collapse," Takashi says. "Let's get you out to the car."

Takana sighs but doesn't argue, allowing him to lead her out the Morimoto's car. He opens the door for her and she slides in, avoiding Morimoto's questioning eyes. Closing the door, Takashi walks around the front of the car, leaning on the driver's side door as Morimoto rolls his window down.

"Something happened in the store that upset Takana," Takashi tells Morimoto. "I'm sure she'll be fine soon, but keep an eye on her."

"I'm right here." Takana huffs. "And I told you that I'm fine."

"And I don't doubt that little sister, but you seemed shaken up so I'm worried. Let me be a big brother, okay?"

"Fine."

Takashi smiles and taps the car door before stepping away as Neela comes out of the store with the purchases.

Morimoto looks over at Takana. "What happened that had you so shaken up?"