CHAPTER 81: MY SON’S NEW GIRLFRIEND IS A PERFECT ALIBI

Kimiko Nakano watched her husband gesture wildly, nearly knocking over his water glass as he described his most recent Gate expedition.

"So there I am, facing down this massive Crawler," Luka boomed, his broad shoulders practically filling his side of the table. "Thing’s got pincers the size of my torso! My shield’s cracked, Jenkins is down with a busted leg, and Miyamoto’s running low on ammo."

Kimiko smiled fondly, placing a bowl of steamed vegetables on the table. She’d heard this story twice already, but Luka’s enthusiasm never diminished with repetition. His eyes sparkled with the same excitement as when he’d first burst through their door three days ago, still wearing his dust-covered Hunter gear.

"What happened next?" Satori asked, leaning forward with genuine interest. "Did you use that kinetic redirection technique you mentioned last week?"

Kimiko paused, serving spoon midair. This was new. For years, Satori had endured family dinners with sullen silence or monosyllabic responses. He’d certainly never asked follow-up questions about Luka’s Hunter stories. Her gaze lingered on her son’s face, noting the alertness in his eyes, the engaged set of his shoulders.

"You remembered that?" Luka’s voice softened with surprise before returning to its usual boisterous volume. "Damn right I did! Waited until that ugly bastard lunged, then redirected all that force right back into its face!"

"Smart," Satori nodded, taking a bite of his salmon. "Exploiting its own momentum against it."

Luka beamed, clearly delighted by Satori’s interest. "Exactly! You’ve got a tactical mind, son."

"Must have inherited it from mom," Satori replied smoothly, offering Kimiko a warm smile.

Kimiko felt a flutter of pleasure at the unexpected compliment. This new Satori—engaged, pleasant, thoughtful—was still something she was adjusting to. Like finding a rose blooming in what had long been barren soil.

"Speaking of tactics," Natalia interjected, twirling her fork between her fingers, "Dad, what’s the protocol when you’re dealing with multiple spawns and limited visibility? I’ve been reviewing case studies for the entrance exam, but the manual is frustratingly vague."

"Protocol varies by guild, but the Aegis Prime standard is to establish a defensive perimeter first, then—"

Kimiko watched the conversation flow around the table, a warm glow of contentment spreading through her chest. This was what she’d always wanted—her family engaged, connected, sharing knowledge and experiences. Her gaze drifted between her husband’s animated expressions, Natalia’s sharp questions, and Satori’s attentive responses.

But something about Satori still gave her pause. The change in him was wonderful, yes, but sometimes when she looked at him—really looked—she caught glimpses of someone she didn’t quite recognize. Like now, as he listened to Luka with that small, knowing smile. There was a calculation behind his eyes that reminded her of...

She shook the thought away. He was growing up, finding himself. Of course he would change, evolve beyond the boy she’d raised.

"Satori, dear," Kimiko said during a lull in the conversation, "you’ve been training so hard lately. I worry you’re not making any time for yourself. For friends."

"You don’t have to worry, Mom," Satori replied, dabbing his mouth with his napkin. "Actually, I have a date this Sunday. With Emi Aoyama."

The table fell silent for a heartbeat.

"EMI AOYAMA?" Luka’s exclamation shattered the moment. He slammed his palm against the table, making the dishes jump. "The little blue-haired healer? Natalia’s friend?" His booming laugh filled the room as he reached over to slap Satori’s back with enough force to make him jolt forward. "THAT’S MY BOY!"

Satori coughed, recovering from the impact with a small smile. "It’s just a study date."

"Sure, sure," Luka winked conspiratorially. "I ’studied’ with your mother too, back in the day."

"Luka!" Kimiko felt heat rise to her cheeks, but she couldn’t suppress her smile.

She had worried, secretly, about the strange tension she’d noticed between Satori and Natalia. The furtive glances, the unexplained absences, the way they sometimes fell silent when she entered a room. Kimiko had allowed terrible thoughts to creep in, suspicions she’d immediately tried to banish.

But this—this was the perfect antidote to those fears. Satori was interested in Emi, a sweet girl from a good family. A healing Aspect, too—what a wonderful balance to his fire abilities.

"She’s a lovely girl," Kimiko said warmly. "Where are you taking her?"

"Mirai Central," Satori replied. "There’s a study café there with good resources for the entrance exams."

Mirai Central. The busiest, most public district in the city. A place you went to be seen. An odd choice for a quiet study session.

"A study café?" Luka groaned dramatically. "Son, you need to aim higher for a first date. Take her somewhere nice! Show some romance!"

"It was her suggestion," Satori shrugged. "She’s serious about the exams."

"Smart girl," Kimiko nodded approvingly. "Ambitious."

"Her healing Aspect is quite powerful," Natalia added. "She’ll be valuable on any team that recruits her."

Kimiko’s gaze drifted to her stepdaughter. Natalia’s shoulders were rigid, her grip on her chopsticks white-knuckled. It wasn’t the look of a girl worried about losing a friend.

"How did this happen?" Kimiko asked, unable to contain her curiosity. "Did you meet her through Natalia?"

"Something like that," Satori replied. "We crossed paths a few times. She’s easy to talk to."

"She likes your arms," Natalia muttered, stabbing a piece of broccoli.

Satori’s lips quirked upward. "Does she?"

"You’ve worked hard for those," Luka nodded proudly. "Nothing wrong with a girl appreciating the results."

"Luka, please," Kimiko chided gently. "There’s more to attraction than physical appearance."

"Of course, of course," Luka agreed readily. "But it doesn’t hurt! Remember how you used to look at me after gate runs, Kimi? When I’d come back all sweaty and—"

"I think that’s enough reminiscing for one dinner," Kimiko interrupted, feeling her cheeks warm again. "Satori, I’m simply happy you’re making connections. Emi seems like a wonderful girl."

"If things work out, she’d make an excellent daughter-in-law someday," Luka added with a wink.

"Dad!" Natalia exclaimed, her chopsticks clattering to her plate. "They haven’t even gone on one date yet!"

"I’m just saying," Luka raised his hands defensively, "healers make wonderful partners. In and out of gates."

Luka raised his glass in a toast. "To first dates with pretty healers!"

They clinked glasses, Natalia participating with noticeable reluctance. Kimiko watched her son over the rim of her glass, noting how he smiled and participated in the toast while his eyes remained watchful, absorbing every reaction around the table.

"So," Kimiko ventured after they’d resumed eating, "tell us more about this study date. What subjects are you focusing on?"

"Gate theory and classification systems," Satori replied promptly. "Emi’s strong on the practical aspects of Hunter operations, but she struggles with the theoretical underpinnings. I’ve been reviewing some of the Vance-Ishiguro materials."

Kimiko’s chopsticks paused halfway to her mouth. "The Vance-Ishiguro Model? That’s advanced material for pre-academy students."

"It’s amazing how some NewTube videos can simplify it for you."

"Excuse me," Natalia said abruptly, standing from the table. "I need to make a call."

"Right now? During dinner?" Luka frowned.

"It’s important, Dad," Natalia insisted, already moving toward the hallway.

As Natalia disappeared, Kimiko noticed Satori watching her go, a small, satisfied smile playing at the corners of his mouth. It vanished so quickly she almost thought she’d imagined it.

"Young people and their priorities," Luka sighed dramatically. "In my day, we showed up at the Nexus and they assigned us teams on the spot. None of this exam business."

"Times change," Kimiko said absently. "The academies are more structured now. More competitive."

"Too competitive," Luka grumbled. "They’re turning what should be straightforward—kill monsters, protect people—into some corporate rat race."

"It’s always been a rat race," Satori commented. "Just with higher stakes now."

Kimiko studied her son’s face, searching for traces of the boy she’d raised in this increasingly unfamiliar young man. "When did you get so cynical?"

Satori met her gaze, something old and knowing in his eyes. "When I realized how the world really works."

For a moment, Kimiko felt a chill run through her, despite the warm kitchen and the steam rising from their food. Then Satori smiled—that genuine, almost shy smile she recognized—and the moment passed.

"But that’s why we have to carve out our own happiness, right?" he continued. "Family dinners. Study dates. The good stuff that makes the rest worthwhile."

"Exactly right," Luka nodded approvingly.

As the conversation turned to lighter topics, Kimiko couldn’t shake a persistent feeling. Something fundamental had changed in her home, in her family. On the surface, everything seemed better—Satori engaged and thriving, Natalia and Satori finally getting along, her family whole and connected.

But beneath that perfect surface, currents were moving that she couldn’t quite identify. Like shadows glimpsed from the corner of her eye, gone when she turned to look directly.

She watched Satori laugh at one of Luka’s jokes, his eyes crinkling at the corners just like Kenji’s used to. Her son. Her beautiful, baby boy.

Secrets had already taken one man she loved. She would not let them take another.