Page 79 of Secrets & Sake

Relief blooms warm in my chest. Pushing myself onto my toes, I peck his cheek, then snatch up his hand and lead him inside.

The restaurant is packed. My family rented out the whole space. There are lots of employees and staff from the hotels my family manages at the venue. A pianist plays a piece from a Hayao Miyazaki movie. I think it’s from Howl’s Moving Castle.

When I see them, my breath catches. I haven’t seen my parents in years. Instead of feeling glad, my muscles clench like I’m bracing for impact. We’ve never been able to sit down to a meal together without drama of some kind. I can’t imagine today will be any different.

Maybe it’s not too late to leave. That’s it. I can just walk out. I don’t need their approval.

“Jinta! Over here!” My mom, Fumiko, calls, waving at me.

Raiden looks at me in surprise.

“I changed my name when I moved,” I explain, having already anticipated this. “I wanted a fresh start.”

He nods his understanding.

I force a smile, wave, and walk over to the empty seat on legs that shake.

“How are you?” Mom hugs me tight.

The familiar smell of her perfume is nostalgic. I hug her, surprised to find that I missed her. “Good, Mom. I’m good.”

And then, I see him. Katsuki, my big brother. The sight of him hits me directly in the stomach. Then, old wounds tear wide open. Suddenly, I wish I’d never come. On his arm is his fiancée, a pretty white lady with a diamond ring sparkling on her finger.

“Hi, I’m Katsuki’s brother, Hiro.”

My mom frowns at that, and Katsuki glowers at me.

She bows. “Nice to meet you.” Her Japanese is good. “I’m Dina. Katsuki’s told me so much about you!”

My molars squeak together as I fight not to say, Did he tell you that he’s gay and a cheater?

Katsuki eyes me cooly as he leaves his fiancée’s side.

“Hey,” he grunts. “Been a while.”

I hum my agreement, squeezing my hands into fists in my pockets. “Congratulations.” I tip my chin toward his betrothed, then in a quieter voice, I say, “I didn’t know you were dating women now.”

A muscle tics in Katsuki’s jaw. “Not all of us get to run off and disgrace our family. Some of us have obligations.”

Tacking on a smile, I say, “I like being in Tokyo. I like my life.” By the bar, his fiancée smiles and chats with my mother. Even though I tell myself not to say it, it slips out anyway. “So. I guess you and Takahiro didn’t last.”

Just saying his name makes my stomach twist painfully.

Katsuki snorts. “Nah. He was good in the sack, though. I could see why you liked him.”

Fury boils my blood. “I loved him,” I snarl the words through clenched teeth, heart roaring in my ears. “And you knew it. You knew how I felt, and you—” Even though it’s been years since then, a lump forms in my throat.

Someone coughs by my ear. Isshin Onodera glowers at me. “Hello, Jinta. Have a seat.”

Ah, my father. So warm and welcoming. Could it be any more obvious he’d rather be dining in hell than with me? Or maybe dining with me is his own personal hell.

I motion Raiden to sit beside me. “Everyone, this is Raiden Noboru. My boyfriend.”

Mom looks surprised. Dad wrinkles his nose. Katsuki glances up from his phone and does a double take, then rakes his eyes down Raiden’s body. Fighting back an actual growl, I wrap my arm around Raiden and kiss the back of his knuckles. He’s mine, damn it!

Raiden bows. “Nice to meet you.”

“Y-you as well,” Mom says, bowing politely, though she looks shell-shocked.

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