Chapter 1 - Hikaru's Wish

"So, how? Have you decided?" Hikaru gasped when he heard his mom's voice suddenly. Not only her voice, she also surprised Hikaru because her head stuck out between the slightly open door of her son room.

"Ah, that ... I don't know. I'm still considering it." Hikaru answered casually with both hands busy fixing the sheets of paper on his desk.

"I understand, it's an important decision. Indeed you better think carefully. Just relax, okay?" His mom continued to smile, even though Hikaru's current position was turning her back.

"I know. Mom is the best." Hikaru now turned around and returned the warm smile of his mother. His mom immediately left Hikaru's room after reminding about the upcoming dinner time.

Hikaru began to feel bored with his routine all this time. After graduating from high school, he decided not to immediately continue his education to university. Not because of a poor final grade or not getting a recommendation to enter any university. However, it was caused by his own choice. He felt bored studying this and that.

At least this brain needs some rest and refreshment, he thought.

Apart from being tired studying, Hikaru also felt that he was not sure whether he would continue his education and study major. Actually, he wanted to be a journalist or a writer. However, he still had doubts himself, was that what he would really persevere in all his life? Given its changing nature, it is not impossible that their interests will also change over time. Hikaru won’t regret it.

Yet another month Hikaru will turn 20 years old. The age at which he is no longer a teenager, but a prospective adult with thoughts that should be much more mature. But, it seems that the doubt is not because he is still unstable about determining the future. Hikaru's perfectionist nature plays a role in this. He became too careful about anything, including his own future.

Luckily for him, his parents have not complained much about his decision so far. They highly respected Hikaru's decision and fully supported him when Hikaru said he didn't want to rush to choose a university. Both of his parents are very open minded and give complete control to Hikaru to determine his own future. He was pleased with his parents attitude like this, although he also realized that both of them must have their own expectations in Hikaru, their only son.

Hikaru glanced at the clock in his room, then put the papers he had just tidied up in one corner of his desk. These papers are material to improve important articles he wrote for a mass media. As long as he hasn’t yet decided on a destination university, Hikaru has indeed worked as a freelance writer in several print and digital media. At least that way he can continue to hone his thinking skills so as not to be blunted.

"Hikaru ... dinner time!" His mother's scream came from downstairs, making Hikaru hurry to finish his activities.

Dinner is indeed the most important time for Nishigawa family. Their habit of having dinner together has never changed since then until now, when the grandma who was the figure they respected the most was gone.

Yes, for Nishigawa family, dinner is the perfect time for the whole family to gather and chat casually. The most intimate time, where they can exchange stories of their activities that day or discuss if there are problems that really need to be discussed. This is believed to be able to strengthen emotional relationships between all family members, foster mutual trust and help each other if one of their family members is in trouble.

Before leaving, Hikaru checked his desk one more time to make sure the mess of papers was completely resolved. He planned to finish the work on the sheets of paper after dinner. To be honest, he had been feeling really hungry since 30 minutes ago. Thankfully, now his mom's dinner menu will soon be presented.

Hmm, what's the dinner menu for today? Hikaru imagined delicious menus that would immediately drown out the roar of his empty stomach. Even though his mom was a foreigner, in fact she is quite good at cooking Japanese specialties. She learned this from her husband and her mother in-laws.

"I hope today menu is katsu*." Hikaru muttered softly as he left his room.

The pounding of Hikaru's steps half running down the stairs could be heard clearly in the wooden-floored house. From the direction of the dining room, came his mom's voice warning to be careful and not to rush. However, Hikaru who was already very hungry ignored that warning. As a result, he tripped on his own feet as he descended the bottom rung. Luckily, his body balance is quite good.

The dining room at the Nishigawa family home is attached to the kitchen. The dining table is rectangular in shape made of wood which looks sturdy but the design is not old-fashioned. The table is equipped with 4 chairs according to the number of previous family members. There are grandma, dad, mom and Hikaru himself. But now, these seats are only occupied by 3 people.

His mom and dad have sat in their respective places. His dad sat beside his mom, while Hikaru used to sit opposite to his mom and next to his grandma. Sometimes, Hikaru secretly missed his grandma's presence at that table. A good grandma … a grandma who often gives half of her side dishes to her beloved grandson.

"Ah, sorry, I'm late again. What a disrespectful kid, huh." Hikaru laughed at himself to cover up his mistake. Indeed, there is no written rule that the youngest must come to the dinner table first. However, it felt impolite to make those who were older wait for his presence.

"Yes, you’re rude child." His dad pretended to be firm while pointing his index finger at Hikaru. His face did look serious for a moment, but then he laughed to himself as if what he was doing was very funny.

"Dad is just not up for being assertive." Mom laughed too.

Hikaru responded by nodding in agreement with a smile, then pulled out the chair opposite his mom. In front of him was served a bowl of rice, vegetable soup with broth and katsu. It was a menu that had in his mind.

"Stop laughing and let's begin to eat. Hikaru, you want tomato sauce?" Her mother thrust a bottle of ketchup towards Hikaru. It has become a habit for Hikaru to eat katsu with tomato sauce instead of mayonnaise.

"Ah, mom you’re the best." Hikaru's face was beaming receiving the ketchup bottle. For Hikaru, the delivery of a bottle of tomato sauce is more joyful than the procession of handing over a roll of his graduation certificate during high school.

"You ketchup kid!" His dad said softly as he teased his son. Indeed, for Hikaru's father who is a professional chef, ketchup is an enemy that can spoil the authentic taste of food.

"Then, dad is the ketchup. Right?" Hikaru teased his dad back.

"Never mind. Come on, hurry up and eat it. Cold food won't be as delicious when it's still steaming." Mom reminded. "Why do you guys like to fight like little kids?"

The two men immediately obeyed the queen's orders at Nishigawa Palace. Then they do gasho* and say "Itadakimasu*" to each other before starting the dinner in a relaxed manner. During the meal, dad, who is currently leading his own restaurant business, began to open a conversation about the continuity of his culinary business. Dad also said that the growing business made him need the help of an assistant other than his wife. It was then that suddenly an idea flashed into Hikaru's head.

Should I continue my education in business major? Hikaru thought with his mouth busy chewing his food.

***

Hikaru was busy helping to wipe the dining table while his mom was washing the dishes. Hikaru seemed very focused on scrubbing the table that already looked shiny, even though his mind was actually preoccupied with the idea that had suddenly popped into his head a while ago. Without Hikaru knowing it, it turns out that his mom is watching his movements. As if she could read her son's anxiety, the woman then asked.

"What are you thinking? It's obvious, you know?" His mom's words shocked Hikaru in the middle of his reverie.

"E-eh? What?" Hikaru stuttered.

"I can see that you're thinking of something. You haven't been able to hide anything from me. So, what's wrong?" His mom smiled warmly as if she wanted to comfort Hikaru to talk about.

"I do want to discuss it with mom and dad. But, not now. Oh, it's not that I want to keep it secret, but tonight I have to quickly finish the pile of papers. You saw it, didn't you?" Hikaru tried to explain the reason as best as he could and tried to remind his mom about the papers that had piled up on his desk.

"Ah, the papers that you fixed earlier, huh? Work?" His mom's memory still seems very good.

"Right. I hope you don't misunderstand." Hikaru folded the table cloth he had just used then he headed for the sink to clean his hands.

"Of course not. I understand."

"I'll tell you as soon as possible. Maybe tomorrow night, we'll discuss it with dad. Okay?" Hikaru kissed his mother on the forehead before saying goodbye to return to his bedroom on the second floor.

When passing the living room to the stairs, Hikaru saw his dad was watching the evening news broadcast. In accordance with eastern culture full of polite behavior, Hikaru approached his dad first. He said goodbye and apologized for not being able to accompany his dad as usual.

"Dad, I'll be back to my room soon, I have work to do tonight. Oh yeah, make sure you set aside time tomorrow night. I have something to discuss with you and mom." Hikaru said goodbye and conveyed his plans for the next day.

"Eh? What is it? Seems like something very serious, huh?" His dad looked surprised. It was unusual for Hikaru to ask for a special time to talk about something like this.

"Ah, that's not it. It's just that … I think it is better to talk about it casually and not rush. Tonight I can't do it." Hikaru tried to explain the situation.

"I see. I was in shock. I thought you were going to say something very serious. I was already thinking something serious might have happened to you. Could it be that you were in a criminal case or something." His dad laughed.

"What the hell? What a nasty accusation." Now Hikaru, who looked surprised at his dad's thought.

"Just kidding. Get over there, he said there is urgent work, right? Don't sleep too late. It's not good for your health." Behind his cruel joke, it turns out that his dad still pays a lot of attention to his only son.

Dad, sorry … but it looks like I'm not going to sleep tonight. Ah, it’s very annoying! Hikaru grumbled to himself.

***

[to be continued]

Footnote:

* Katsu: Japanese cuisine with cutlets wrapped by gratin.

* Gasho: the movement of joining the palms of the hands (clapping softly) before eating and giving thanks.

* Itadakimasu: Japanese society's gratitude for the food that has been served, generally used before eating food.