Page 60 of Curses & Kitsune

I flinch from his anger. “I know, and I appreciate everything you did!” When my dad scoffs, I add, “I do, Dad. Really. I loved cooking, and I wanted to be a part of the business.”

Dad folds his arms. “And you chose not to because you’re selfish and ungrateful.”

Frustration heats my cheeks. “That’s not it! Dad, come on. Don’t you think it would have been so much easier to let you guys pay for my education, to graduate, and immediately have a great job waiting for me after school? I didn’t sacrifice all of that just for the fun of it!”

“I’m not interested in hearing your excuses!”

“Dad—” But I give up. “Fine. You have every right to be upset. I don’t blame you. I’m sure from your perspective, what I did was incredibly selfish and disrespectful, and I’m sorry you feel that way, both of you.” I do mean it. I’m sorry that my actions hurt them. “But I didn’t feel like staying was an option for me. It just seems, to me, that… I would have had to change who I was to make you happy.”

“That’s not true,” Mom interjects.

“So you guys would have let me openly date a man instead of the women you wanted me to date?”

“Well…” Mom trails off.

“Of course not,” Dad huffs. “You would have shamed our family. Two men together is just not traditional! You would have only done it to defy us like you always have.”

Wow. I don’t even have anything to say to that nonsense.

“Dear, calm down,” Mom placates, touching his arm. “But your father is right, Jinta. You have a responsibility to this family after all we’ve done for you. Come home, son. Be a part of our family again.”

And I want to say yes. I’ve missed my mother, and even though Dad and I have always had a rocky relationship, I’ve longed for him to look at me the way he looks at Katsuki—with pride and affection. This could be my chance to be the son they always wanted and earn their love.

“If I…” I swallow hard. “If I say yes, I’m not going to change who I am. I’m going to live openly. Is that something you can accept?”

Mom hesitates, frowning. “I… if that’s what you want.”

Dad scowls, nostrils flaring with a harsh sigh. “If we have to.”

I want to be a part of their family, want to belong to someone, and be accepted.

Except what they’re offering isn’t acceptance, and I do belong to someone, and he’s never asked me to change who I am, and his love never came with conditions. Yeah, things have been tough lately for both of us. We’re both as different as night and day… but somehow, he became my family, my pack, my very heart and soul.

To Raiden, I was enough just as I was, flaws and all. My own family has never loved me or accepted me the way Raiden Noboru did, even if he never said those three words. I knew it in my soul that he loved me—still loves me. He got scared and pushed me away, and I gave in to my insecurities and let him.

We’ve got to fix things between us. I’ll be damned before I let him self-destruct and run off on me. I deserve better, and so does he. We both do. I deserve someone who loves me for me, and I’m done accepting anything less.

Tamano materializes behind the sofa. She arches an expectant brow and motions for me to go on. And oh, I will.

“Mom, Dad,” I begin, voice shaking. “We both know I was never a part of this family.”

Dad’s jaw clenches. “What did you say?”

Mom looks hurt. “That isn’t true.”

“Yes, it is,” I insist, sitting up straighter in my seat. “Family are the ones who accept you and support you in whatever makes you happy. They cheer you on and encourage you. They lift you up and celebrate your successes, and they never make you feel lesser. And you both have made me feel so small and insignificant all my life.”

Mom hangs her head. “I… I didn’t know that.”

Dad scoffs. “Because it’s not true. You’re acting like a spoiled, selfish brat. We are family, and you owe us your support.”

My voice shakes when I say, “No. I don’t owe you anything.”

Dad’s lips thin. Childish fear rises in me because that’s the face he always made before he struck me. But I’m not a child anymore. He doesn’t control me with his anger, and Mom can’t manipulate me with her guilt. “Then get out. This discussion is over.”

Mom wipes her eyes. “We’re disappointed in you, Jinta.”

Heart racing, I rise, desperate to get out of here. Once those words would have cleaved me in two. Now, I just don’t care. I’ve wasted so much of my life feeling like shit because I wouldn’t be who they wanted. “I know,” I say, and even I’m surprised when a grin springs across my face. “That’s okay. I’m happy. I love my life. I don’t need anything from either of you.”

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