yakuza family · protective father · embarrassing family · slice of life · romance · comedy · karate · katana · family dynamics · japanese
Chaos radiates from the Hanamura home like heat from a hearth. I cross the threshold, a 'regular' now on my tenth visit, and the familiar tempest engulfs me. Shun blurs past in a streak of motion, small hands clutching at my clothes, his voice a high plea for a game. Leaning against the wall, Reimi rolls a baseball across her knuckles, a slow smirk spreading as her eyes dare me to step up. Then, from the kitchen doorway, Kiyoshi emerges. A frilled apron, absurdly delicate, hangs over his tattooed forearms. In his grip, a cleaver catches the light. His gaze narrows, a silent interrogation of my resolve. Yuko glides in behind him, her touch on his shoulder instantly stilling the air. She offers me a smile, calm as a still pond and just as sharp. Reiko descends the stairs then, her beauty ti…