One last chance

What should we do now?

"Are you kidding me?" a feminine strong voice asked when she heard the new position her dear son told her about. The voice belonged to no other than Kirishima Rumi, the 60 years old mother of Kirishima Zen, who looks 40 due to her features and lack of wrinkles on her face. When he was done with work at 18.00, Kirishima returned home only to see his mother cooking dinner in the kitchen, forgetting the fact that her little granddaughter would spend the entire day with her best friend doing girly stuff.

Once the dinner was ready, she fished a can of beer from the fridge and a glass of water and put them on the dining table. They said there prayers and dig in, chatting slightly about their day in work and respectively in the house, doing chores and drinking tea with friends from the neighborhood association. Everything were good and calm, until Kirishima told to Rumi about the position the president of Marukawa wanted to give him. In that, the mother widen her eyes and stopped her chopsticks right in front of her lips which were parted.

"No mom, I'm not kidding. Isaka-san told me that I am the only one that can help them in the Shonen department and of course lead the team."

"But you can't go in Sawara! You have Hiyori-chan here!"

"I'm well aware of that, but this is a one chance opportunity. I can't waste it!"

"But still Zen, where will she be attending school? She doesn't want to leave her home or her friends! Everything she has are here!"

"Yes, I know that but-"

"And don't forget the fact that Sawara is a small town. I don't think you will find a bride there!"

"Arghhhh!! Mom, not again!", the editor in chief said and wiped his face with his palms while exhaling a very loud and dramatic sigh.

Yes, he forgot about that.

Or so he seemed to...

Some weeks ago, a relative of his was getting married in Teito hotel in which Hiyori was the ring bear, a moment of happiness not only for the doting father but for her grandparents too. That day, even though he was having a good time, he became frustrated with the questions they asked him about getting a new mom to Hiyo.

Every time, they would ask him 'why aren't you remarried? Don't you want Hiyo to have a mother to take care of her when she is alone in the apartment, doing her homework, her hair, making with her food and of course taking her from school?'.

He was so pissed that day that he took Hiyori in bride style and walked her outside the hotel while she was protesting at first for being a silly papa but then she was giggling aloud.

"Why not again? You need to find a new wife Zen! I'm worried not only about Hiyori-chan, but also about you! You've been lonely for 10 years and although you had some relationships with women, they didn't last more that 2 weeks! I wonder if you introduced them to Hiyori-chan what would happen... "

"First of all, nothing would happen if I introduce them to my daughter. I would again broke up with them. Secondly... Because I'm in no search of a potential bride mom! That's why."

"B-But -"

"My first goal is to make Hiyo happy. I once asked her if she wanted a new mom and do you know what she said?"

"Huh... What?"

"She told me that she is used to not having a mother and she said that if I ever want one, she will try and accept it"

"Saying that doesn't mean she doesn't want a mom Zen. God, sometimes you are so naive -"

"I TOLD YOU WE ARE FINE", he said and slammed his hands on the dining table, causing the plates to bounce a little and the drinks spilling over it. Rumi was surprised by that reaction and did nothing else than watching his son breathing hard and narrowing his eyes, a completely scary display for the old woman.

For some seconds the atmosphere was thick but then they heard the front door opening and closing, with light footsteps being heard in the genkan and then the corridor which leads to the living room.

They turned to see Hiyori humming a happy tone and putting her sack on the couch carefully. When she raised her head, she gave a big closed smile to her usually grinning father and the somehow quiet woman across him.

"Tadaima Obaachan and Papa!"

"Okaeri nasai Hiyo!" the doting father said while rising from his sit and went towards his daughter, ruffling with care her hair and giving an even big grin when he heard giggles coming from her.

"Do you want dinner or did you eat at Yuki-Chan's place?"

"I'm fine. We ate at her place the curry Obaachan taught me one day. Obaachan, I didn't know you would - ." she said while tilting her head but stopped to see her still queit grandma. She approached the old woman and gave her a hug from behind.

"Is Obaachan alright? She seems very quiet"

"I-I'm fine sweety..."

"Hiyo", she heard and turned to see her serious now father crossing his hands on his chest. "We need to discuss something"

"Oh, um alright. I can go for a bath later"

"You can go now -"

"Please mom. We need to talk now and then Hiyo can do whatever she wants", he said and sat on the lime couch, motioning to his daughter to sit next to him. Once she did it, he brought her closer and put his arm around her shoulders while giving a kiss on the top of her head.

"W-What does papa want to tell me"

"Well, my boss in my work offered me a job at another publishing company in which I will have the role I have now. It is a big opportunity to take, but I want to ask you because you will come with me"

"What?"

"Sweety, this publishing company is in Sawara..."

"S-Sawara? B-but it's outside Tokyo. That means -"

"We have to leave from our apartment and stay at another one in Sawara. We will be staying there for 4 months and once things settle, we can come back to our home. However, it's not nessecary to accept the offer. I can decline it immediately and stay here without leaving." he said and stopped when he saw the furrowed eyebrows of his little girl. That meant she was thinking. He gulped the lump that stuck on his throat when she looked at him with confusion.

"I know how work is really important for papa and I don't have a problem to move with him. But, my friends are here and my school and everything I love. I-I don't know..."

"Don't worry princess. I'm going to decline" he said and stood up, but he didn't move when he felt a tug on his sleeve

"Papa, wait!"

He turned to see his daughter's sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. What she is going to say now?