Not All Relative

-Present Day-

Isao’s situation grew worse. Why was she here? Mai sat across from him at the table. She glared at him the whole time. Raija clapped his hands together.

“This is nice,” he said. “The family is all together. No distractions. Good food. Just us together.” The family didn’t speak. Mai glared at the men. Isao frowned with his fork in hand. Tomoe kept her eyes to her plate.

“So,” Raija said. “How is everyone tonight?” Silence at first. Isao gritted his teeth.

“Pissed off,” he muttered. Mai snorted. Tomoe mumbled to herself. The new man of the house smiled.

“Okay,” he said. “This is just the first dinner. We’ll get used to it.” Isao looked at him. Was he for real?

-Two Hours Earlier-

Isao had just recovered from his shock when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Tomoe said. Her son shook his head.

“No, I’ve got it!” he shouted. Isao stood up and walked to the front door. He looked through the peep hole. A woman stood outside, frowning. Confused, Isao opened the door.

“Excuse me, miss, are you…?” He froze with a confused look on his face. Mai stood outside with her nose wrinkled.

“Huh?” Isao asked. She looked up when he spoke.

“You,” she said. “Why are you here?”

“I live here,” Isao said. “What are you doing here?” Mai tossed back her hair.

“My uncle invited me,” she said.

“Uncle?!” Isao asked. Just then, Raija walked into the living room.

“Hey!” he said. “You made it! How is my niece?” He tried to pull him into his arms, but she pushed him off.

“Fine,” Mai grumbled. She rolled her eyes. Her face said, “Why the hell am I here?” Isao glared at her.

-Now-

Raija took a bite of his miso.

“You know something?” he asked. “I wasn’t a fan of miso before. When I’ve had it, it’s been too salty or sweet. But yours is the best, my dear.” Tomoe kept her head down.

“Thanks, honey,” she mumbled.

“Oh come on,” Raija said. “Don’t be so modest! I love your cooking. Maybe I can cook some Indian meals with you sometime.”

“Enough already,” Isao hissed. His stepfather eyed him.

“Excuse me?” he asked. The male vocalist glared at him.

“Cut the bullshit!” he snapped.

“Isao-kun,” his mother said.

“No!” her son barked. “This is not fine.”

“Sweetheart…” Tomoe pleaded.

“No!” he shouted. Isao slammed his hand down on the table.

“How is any of this fine?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Raija asked.

“All of it!” his stepson shouted. “You eloped? You really eloped?! Unbelievable! What about Dad?!” Tomoe lowered her head.

“I got lonely,” she said. The tip of her nose almost touched her miso. Her son’s face turned redder.

“But what about dad?” he asked.

“That’s enough,” Raija said.

“Shut up!” Isao shouted. “Are you tying to con her or something?” The older man gritted his teeth.

“Of course not!” he barked. “I love your mother! You’ve already upset her!”

“Me?! Why are you even here?!”

“Stop this right now!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

“Sit down and finished your dinner.”

“You aren’t my father!”

“Sit down and finish your dinner.”

Isao clicked his tongue and walked out of the dining room. He threw his napkin on the table.

“This is some bullshit,” Isao muttered under his breath.

“Get back here!” Raija shouted. The male vocalist flipped him off as he disappeared down the hall. Mai sat frowning at the table the whole time.