The kitchen was quiet. Only the sound of chopsticks hitting porcelain broke the silence.
Seiji sat at the head of the table. To his left, Yumi was eating slowly, her baby girl making satisfied noises in a crib next to her. Across from him, Haruko shuttled between the stove and the table.
Jun sat in his usual spot. He was hunched over, his eyes on his phone. As always.
He was scrolling through what Seiji assumed was his work email, looking busy and annoyed. As always.
He didn't look at his wife. He didn't look at his children. As always.
For once, Seiji didn't mind that. What was important right now was that Yumi and Haruko weren't glaring at each other like two animals ready to attack. They didn't exactly get along. But they didn't completely avoid each other either.
They co-existed.
Which is as much as I could've asked for.
Haruko set a plate of food in front of Jun. He didn't react. He didn't acknowledge Haruko or the food.
She paused and frowned.
"You should put down your phone," Haruko said.
Her voice was cold. It wasn't a suggestion.
Jun flinched. He slowly lifted his head. He looked at Haruko with genuine shock.
Over the years, she had always been silent and agreeable. She never made demands. She never spoke up.
Until today.
Just like this. Out of the blue.
"What's that?" Jun asked.
"I said put it down," Haruko repeated. She looked straight at Jun. "Eat your breakfast while it's hot. We're all sitting at the table."
Jun blinked. He looked at the phone, then back at his wife. He looked like he saw her for the first time.
Way to go, stepmom.
Seiji watched from his seat. He knew where this new confidence came from.
The inheritance. The money.
She wasn't just a dependent anymore. She had something of her own.
Something that gave her new power.
Yumi looked down at her lap. But Seiji saw the corners of her mouth twitch. She was hiding a smile. She must've also liked seeing Haruko push back. It made the house feel different. More like a real family.
Jun cleared his throat. He looked uncomfortable. He reluctantly set the phone face-down on the table. He picked up his chopsticks and looked around the room. As if he'd just woken up.
Welcome to the real world, Dad. Welcome to my house.
Jun glanced at Seiji.
"So," he said, feebly. "How's school going?"
"All is going well," Seiji said.
A confident lie.
Seiji thought about the marks on his last math test as he was saying it. He thought about Ms. Takumi's warning. If he didn't fix math, he wouldn't graduate.
But what was the point of telling dad? He didn't care for ages, why would Seiji bother him with such small details now?
Maybe later. Or maybe never.
"Good," Jun muttered. He took a bite. "Keep it up, son. Good grades are important."
He went back to eating. The conversation died down before it had even started. Jun kept glancing at his phone, but didn't dare to pick it up.
Haruko had won that round.
Seiji finished his food and stood up. He grabbed his school bag. He felt the amulet settle against his chest. It was warm.
Seiji looked at Haruko. She gave him a secret nod.
I made her cum. Twice. And she's going to give me the money for the expert.
The research into his grandfather was finally going to move forward.
Then Seiji looked at Yumi. She watched him with a lingering, hungry look.
I spent the night with her. She loves me more than anyone else.
Seiji turned around.
All was fine in the world.
He was the center of this house. The two women were his. Everything was falling into place.
Except for the grades.
He couldn't be the "Master of the House" if he was a high school delinquent. He needed the diploma—for his own self-respect, for the sake of Grandpa's legacy.
Seiji walked to the front door and stepped into his shoes.
He had a plan. He didn't need help. He didn't need a tutor.
He touched the amulet around his neck.
Today is the day to solve my math problems.