Setsuko pulled out a rice ball from one of the machines. “Cool. He seems like a nice guy. Now back to business. Let’s figure out a way to make the party happen.”
Her class president side sure had a way of pouring out sometimes. I walked to my favorite machine and bought my usual breaded chicken. Gina had finally decided on octopus. She pulled out a container of plastic-wrapped tentacles all lined up in a row.
Setsuko took a bite of her rice ball. In two mouthfuls, she had almost finished.
“Aren’t you hungry for more than that?”
“I’m watching my girlish figure.”
This was hysterical. Setsuko weighed all of ninety-five pounds.
I glanced over at Gina and lost my appetite fast. Her octopus slid around on her container plate as she picked up a big sucker-covered leg and happily munched away.
Thankfully, the campus bell tolled, sparing me from further food torture. Gina gulped down her last tentacle as we headed for our Japanese class. We were finally learning something useful, hiragana, the basic written language. Having ventured far from my normal train routes, I realized hiragana was a must. Once you traveled far outside of the suburbs of Tokyo, English signs were almost non-existent.
After several hours of writing practice, class was finally over.
Gina touched my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Erin. We’ll think of something for your birthday.”
I fidgeted in my seat. “We can just go out to dinner. Let’s not make it a big deal. After you turn seventeen, the rest of the teens are just a wasteland.”
Gina shook her head. “No way! Your teen years are the best. You get away with being stupid because you’re still figuring stuff out.”
I stifled a laugh as we headed out the door. “Gina, that’s brilliant! Who told you that?”
Gina rolled her eyes. “My brother.”
“What did you say he does for a living? Philosopher?”
She laughed. “He would tell you he’s a structural integrity technician, but in the real world he’s a car mechanic.”
“Well, with his philosophy, I don’t think I want him working on my car.”
“To be truthful, I always get scared when he messes with my Honda.” She looked at her watch. “Hey, Setsuko should be here any minute. Wonder if she’s come up with a theme?”
Just then, Setsuko arrived. “My ears were ringing. Don’t you guys have anyone else to talk about but me?”
I laughed. “You’re such an endless subject. We don’t need another one.”
Setsuko stuck out her chest. “Well, soon-to-be birthday girl, you have to give me credit because I have secured a location for the party. One you thought was impossible.”
I hated to admit she had me going. “Don’t tell me we’re flying off to Paris for my birthday.”
Setsuko was still beaming. “My location is definitely not as glamorous. I spoke with your host mother and she said it was fine to use her home for the party. I’m a miracle worker.”
I guess all my extraordinary efforts to appease Okasan had worked. I was officially out of the doghouse. Somehow, I still didn’t trust that the party would actually happen.
“I want to announce the theme for the party.” Setsuko said this as if everyone in the student lounge wanted to know. “We’re doing a Taco Tuesday party!”
Now I knew Setsuko had to be secretly knocking back the booze. “Taco Tuesday in Japan? Are you crazy?”
“Gina said you were really missing Taco Tuesdays, so I thought what a great theme.”
“Okay, and where are you going to get tortillas, avocados, and salsa?”
“Already handed. I googled taco supplies, and there’s an International foods market near the American Embassy. We can go there and get everything we need.”
I had to give Setsuko an A for resourcefulness.
“Well, that’s settled.” Gina grabbed both our arms. “Let’s go celebrate with some chocolate.”
Now she was talking. We speedwalked to our favorite bakery. Between bites of our desserts, Setsuko told us of her party plans. I thought the Taco Tuesday theme was going to be rather hard to pull off. Where was she going to get the taco shells? As I watched her enthusiasm for the theme grow, I realized appointing her the birthday planner might be the perfect thing to win her over.
As we finished our treats, I asked Setsuko what Okasan’s reaction was to her birthday party proposal. I couldn’t imagine she gave her immediate approval.
“She was surprised to hear your birthday was coming up as you hadn’t said a thing to anyone in the family.”
I suddenly realized she might have said yes so she wouldn’t lose face. Situations like this were a lot more complicated in Japan because of the codes of behavior everyone lived by. With so many people living so close together, at least on the surface, people had to get along. The Japanese tried to avoid confrontation at all costs. Even if they couldn’t stand someone, they were supposed to smile through their dislike. Especially if the person was someone older and more experienced. As usual, Okasan broke the mold. I’d find out how she really felt once the party was over.
The girls waved good-bye and I headed into the subway tunnel. Something was missing in the homeless cardboard town. The painting with the slightly open door was gone and, in its place, stood a copy of the Mona Lisa. I looked closer and noticed she had a knowing glint in her eye. I wondered what the artist was trying to say. Maybe he had gone through the door and discovered the reason why the Mona Lisa had such a smirk on her face.
I rode the train home with the famous smile on my mind. My life in Japan felt like it was turning a corner. With my birthday approaching and the semester half over, maybe I, too, had reached an epiphany.
I took off my shoes, put on my slippers and tried to sneak upstairs. I didn’t want to talk to Okasan without Aki, so as not to lose our temporary peace.
Halfway down the hallway, Hiroshi came bounding out of his room. “Y’all habe birthday soon.”
Word sure got around in the Mori household. I wondered if Hiroshi had announced the big event on his Twitter feed.
Hiroshi blocked my path. “Yes, next week Saturday. Y’all habe party that night.”
Well, I guess Setsuko and Okasan set the date. I stared at Hiroshi. “You coming?”
“Yes, and Fudo, too.”
Good news. I hadn’t seen Fudo in a while. “Fantastic.” I squeezed past Hiroshi.
At least I knew I was going to have two more people besides the girls and myself at the party. My birthday might be fun after all.
My good mood didn’t last long. I walked into the living room and stood facing a house full of people. A familiar face beckoned me to her side. Her hair was piled high on top of her head like a crown, exactly like in the photos that were prominently displayed throughout the house—Okasan’s mother.
I was finally going to meet the grandmother that Aki called “a bit difficult.”
I bowed to Okasan’s mother before sitting next to her on the floor cushion she held open for me. Aki introduced us. “This is Mrs. Kasai. My grandmother.”
She looked me up and down. “Hajimemashite, how do you do?”
I wondered what I was in for as Okasan cowered quietly in the corner as her mother shouted at her. Could she be worse than Aki said? Then Mrs. Kasai’s voice grew into a pleasant lilt when she turned and continued talking to the rest of the clan. Suddenly, my opinion of Okasan changed. Maybe her domineering queen of a mother dictated her personality. When she was out from under her mother’s iron grip, Okasan took her rage out on her family.
I had zero tolerance for people like Okasan’s mother, whose greatest enjoyment in life was making other people miserable. Maybe standing up to her would win me major points with Okasan. I had to admit, O-B-N hadn’t worked so far.
Everyone sat chatting with Mrs. Kasai as she orchestrated the direction of the conversation. She sat straight up on her cushion, with her crown-like hair making her look particularly regal. The spectacle fascinated
me. Yet, as she chatted endlessly with her court, all I could think of was how much I wanted to excuse myself and escape to my room.
Fate had other plans. She turned and asked me questions as Aki dutifully translated.
“What do you think of Japan?”
I gave my usual answer. “The country is very beautiful and interesting. I like it very much.”
Aki picked nervously at her skirt hem as she translated the second question, “Are you enjoying yourself in my daughter’s home?”
“Yes. I was surprised how grand her home is. I thought most people lived in small cramped places because of the shortage of land in Japan.”
I knew this would win brownie points with both Okasan and her mother. Who wouldn’t want to hear their house was enormous?
Aki tugged on a long thread on her skirt as she asked the next question. “My daughter is an amazing cook, but I hear you spit out her food. Why?”
Figures Okasan would tattle to her mother. I guess my repeated apologies weren’t enough for her. I’d even had her silk blouse dry cleaned.
I shifted on my floor cushion. “Your daughter is a very good cook. It’s just that in America we don’t eat live food. So, I had an unfortunate reaction.”
A few in the court let out a chuckle. Mrs. Kasai threw back her shoulders. “I see. What do you think of my wonderful grandson?”
Aki had almost chocked on the question. I felt sorry that her grandmother hadn’t even thought to mention her. I’d show the queen. “I think your granddaughter is the most amazing person. So smart and talented. I’m sure you are very proud.”
A huge smile swept over Aki’s face. She stopped fidgeting with her skirt and sat up straight.
Mrs. Kasai’s reaction was not nearly as pleasant. The crown of hair shifted on her head as she threw her body towards me and launched her next question, “Why did your country fire bomb my ancestral home during the war?”
Wow! That wasn’t the only bomb that fell. Shifting on my floor cushion, I contemplated my answer to such an outrageous question while Aki and Okasan hung their heads in shame.
With nothing left to lose, I decided to launch my own explosive. “I thought Japanese people had a reputation for being polite. If you can ask me that question, then I’ve been told the wrong information.” Most of the court whispered in hushed tones as Aki translated. My answer might have just started WWIII.
The looks of shock on the court’s faces were priceless. Most of all, Mrs. Kasai’s face was a Snapchat moment. For once, her flawless features seemed strained as she sat speechless.
I looked over at Okasan and she had a subtle grin, not unlike Mona Lisa’s. I don’t think anyone had ever challenged her mother before. Even Aki enjoyed the moment.
I slowly stood and took a deep breath. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to study.” I turned and walked up the stairs. By the sounds of the gasps coming from the living room, I must have pulled another first by leaving the queen before being granted permission.
I didn’t know if I had just guaranteed my permanent exile from the doghouse or not, but I felt great about putting Okasan’s mother in her place.
A few minutes later, Aki knocked on my door. She gazed into my eyes. “Thank you.”
Having come face to face with their dragon, now I understood why the Mori family was so dysfunctional. For one small moment, I had stuffed some of Okasan’s mother’s fire down her throat.
I lay on my bed reveling in my small victory, when I noticed a blank space on the corkboard above the desk. Tori’s list was missing—again! I shot out of bed and raced over to my desk. A small stack of torn pieces of paper sat on top of my history book. My triumph had been short lived. Who would do such a thing? Aki surely knew how important the list was to me because she had asked me all about it. As my mind mulled over the list of possible suspects, something caught my eye at the bottom of the pile of torn paper. I pushed the pieces aside, and there sat a sliver of tangerine peel just like the one I’d spied in the shrine room. Goosebumps formed on my arms as the temperature in the room suddenly dropped ten degrees.
A blast of cold air rushed over me as someone whispered in my ear, “Yamete.”
I swallowed hard as the chill lingered in the room.
So the Heavenly Burger ghost had followed me to the Mori’s house after all.
The cold breath whispered in my ear again. “Yamete.”
My mind reeled. The ghost clearly wanted me to stop something.
But what?
To be continued…
Thank You from the Author
Thank you for reading Tokyo Academy-First. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read my book. I love writing fantasies and paranormal romances and it’s because of people like you that I have my dream job. I’m eternally grateful.
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An Excerpt of Tokyo Academy-Reality Strikes
Preorder available now click here!
Chapter One
Life Changer
November 1-11:30 PM
I stared at the Golden Pavilion painting as if it knew the answer to my question. My breath formed a cloud from the artic-like temperature in the room as I called out to the spirit that still lingered close by. “Tell me what you want me to stop?”
I heard a faint mumble, and then the freezing cold air vanished. The ghost had fled the room. Why wasn’t I petrified that I just spent time with the spirit of a dead person? Had watching Supernatural on the CW neutralized the impact of the moment when I had actual contact with a ghost—probably. I told myself I watched the show because of how hot Dean and Sam were, but something else compelled me to binge watch all the seasons. Something deep inside me was sparked from the first moment I watched the show. I never had anything supernatural happen to me in Magic Valley. Yet, it felt like watching the show was preparing me for something.
It blew my mind that I had to come all the way to Japan to find out what it was. But would I truly ever learn anything from a shy spirit? I smiled to myself as the goosebumps receded from my arms and the room’s temperature returned to normal. A vision of my grandfather’s face popped into my mind. He always had a saying for life’s memorable moments. I knew what he would say to me now—time will tell you the answer.
About the Author
Karin De Havin writes action-packed fantasy, and paranormal romances with kick-ass heroines who love showing villains who’s boss. Writing is Karin's dream job.
Karin De Havin is known for her unique books that explore celestial fantasy worlds, time traveling genies, a girl shifter, her artist vampire boyfriend, and their crazy life filled with witches and wizards.
Find out more about her books at her website karindehavin.com. Follow her as author karindehavin on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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First Contact Page 13
