Page 135 of Kotori
A soft knock at the bedroom door interrupts our conversation. "Okaa-san? Otou-san?" Aya's voice, still slightly formal despite a year of marriage making me officially her mother. "Hayashi-san says breakfast is ready, and Mizuki-nee is asking about university brochures."
"Tell her we'll be down in twenty minutes," Kaito calls back. "And remind her that patience is a virtue."
"She says to remind you that early admission deadlines wait for no one, even yakuza oyabun who like to sleep late with their pregnant wives."
I muffle laughter against Kaito's shoulder as he sighs with the long-suffering air of a man outnumbered by intelligent women.
"Nineteen years old and already planning to run the world," he mutters.
"She gets it from her father. Though I suspect university will be good for her—a chance to be brilliant around people who don't automatically defer to her because of the family name."
"As long as she remembers where home is."
"She will. They all will. This is their anchor, their safe harbor. Just like it became mine."
We dress together with the comfortable intimacy of a couple who've learned each other's rhythms, preparing for a day that will blend domestic concerns with the complex business of running a yakuza empire. I choose a flowing silk dress that accommodates my growing belly while remaining professional enough for meetings, add the jade pendant Kaito gave me after our wedding, slip my black diamond wedding ring onto my finger beside the matching band we exchanged at the altar.
The woman in the mirror looks polished, confident, every inch the yakuza oyabun's wife. But it's not a costume anymore, it's simply who I am.
Downstairs, controlled chaos reigns in the dining room. Mizuki has spread university materials across the table, comparing programs while eating breakfast. Kohana reads study notes in three languages, switching between English, Japanese, and French with casual expertise. Aya draws elaborate pictures of what she insists are "baby brother's nursery designs," complete with crayon dragons and cherry blossoms.
"Okaa-san!" Aya abandons her artwork to throw herself into my arms. "Look what I drew for the baby!"
I study the colorful chaos with appropriate seriousness. "These are beautiful, sweetheart. Very dramatic."
"Baby brother needs to know he's part of a warrior family," she explains. "But also that there are pretty things, so he won't be scared."
"I think he'll love them."
"How are you feeling this morning?" Mizuki asks, looking up from her applications with the concern that's become habitual since we announced the pregnancy. "The baby was active during dinner last night—I could see your dress moving."
"He's definitely energetic," I say, placing a hand on my bump. "Dr. Fujiwara says that's a good sign."
All three girls have embraced the idea of a baby brother with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Aya is unreservedly excited, already planning elaborate games and activities. Kohana approaches it with quiet anticipation, occasionally asking thoughtful questions about infant care and development. Mizuki tries to maintain teenage cool, but I've caught her researching child development and making lists of "educational opportunities for optimal cognitive growth."
They'll be wonderful big sisters.
"University decisions?" I ask, settling into my chair and accepting the bowl of miso soup Hayashi provides without being asked.
"I'm torn between Law at Kyoto University or the Legal Studies program at Tokyo University," Mizuki says, spreading out glossy brochures. "Both have excellent reputations, but the specializations are different."
"What does your heart tell you?" Kaito asks, appearing in the doorway with the casual authority that still makes my pulse quicken after all this time.
"That I want to understand every legal framework that impacts our family interests, both traditional and modern. I need to know how to protect us in changing times."
"Then either program will serve that goal. Choose based on which professors you want to learn from, which environment will challenge you most effectively."
"Tokyo University," she says without hesitation. "Their program includes international law and business regulation. Weneed someone who understands both Japanese and Western legal systems."
"There's your answer."
It's a perfect example of the parenting style Kaito's developed, offering guidance without imposing his will, helping his daughters find their own paths while ensuring those paths honor family loyalty. They'll all grow up strong and independent, but they'll never doubt where they belong.
The morning passes in a blur of domestic efficiency and business obligations. The meeting with the Yamazaki group focuses on territory negotiations and supply chain logistics. Mizuki's university planning session yields concrete application strategies and deadlines for law school entrance exams. The quarterly business review reveals steady growth across both legitimate and shadow operations.
Through it all, I move with the confidence of someone who's earned her place at the table. I provide insights on international markets, offer diplomatic solutions to potential conflicts, and manage the complex social relationships that keep the yakuza ecosystem functioning smoothly. No longer the frightened outsider, but a respected voice in our world.
"Successful day," Kaito observes as we finally retire to our private suite.
