Lesson Learned

An Uncomfortable Subject

Dad's eyes narrowed. "Well, we both can't be emotional wrecks."

"Dad!" Both Gakushuu and Mitsuko chided.

Mom bristled. "At least I'm not a detached robot!" She looked angry. "You know he barely even tells the children he loves them."

Dad's eyes narrowed. "That is not relevant."

"It is perfectly relevant, this is why we're here," mom snapped, looking upset. "We're meant to be here to fix things!"

"We're here because you can't control yourself," Dad snapped back.

"Enough, please!" Dr Yokoyama started to look annoyed. "Any disagreements in this room have to delivered with respect, so please try to be courteous with one another as to set an example for Gakushuu and Mitsuko."

Both their parents instantly quietened like scolded children.

Gakushuu rolled his eyes. "It's fine we're used to it."

Mitsuko grimaced. "They'll fight over anything these days..."

Mom winced, ducking her head, looking ashamed while dad shifted uncomfortably.

There was a long stretch of silence until Dr Yokoyama sighed.

"Well, from what I've seen, each one of you seems to have a large issue communicating with each other," Dr Yokoyama told them curtly. "So let's see what we can do to mend this." He turned back to her dad. "Chairman, you said that Mitsuko and her girlfriend need to have boundaries, so have you sat down and discuss exactly what these boundaries should be?"

Dad stared at him blankly. "...Excuse me?"

"I am asking if you have had a conversation about it with them." The therapist sighed. "You're worried about them engaging in sexual behaviour too early, but have you talked and explained why it's important for them to be careful?"

"...These are things they are already well aware of, or at least should be," her dad replied stiffly.

Dr Yokoyama blinked slowly. "I'm sorry, I don't quite follow?"

"I have already been firm in what I do not approve of too much outward affection," dad said firmly.

"No, you haven't," Mitsuko replied, frowning. "You just glare and make us feel bad if we kiss or hold hands."

Dad frowned at her. "Which should make it clear that I don't approve of you both rushing into a sexual relationship."

"No it's not," she complained. "You just make it feel like it's all a bad thing—that's our relationships wrong, which is just what that homophobic guy made us feel like!"

Dad looked offended. "That is not my intentions at all, of course, there's nothing wrong with you being with a girl. I have completely no issue with that."

Mitsuko's eyes narrowed. "Except for when I hold her hand and kiss her."

"That's because it's a spiral down a road to inappropriate behaviour," dad stressed. "Nakamura is too...loose. She keeps pushing you towards behaviour which you shouldn't be taking part in until you're an adult."

"Why do you keep insisting Rio's the one initiating everything?" Mitsuko argued. "I kiss and hold her hand just as much and I'm the one who..." She blushed and quickly trailed off. "Uh..."

Dad's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're the one who what?"

She looked down, embarrassed, feeling her stomach twist as they all stared at her. "I'm the one who...who wants to take it to the next level!" she blurted out. "But Rio keeps saying we should wait!"