Shiro barked and jumped excitedly at the sound of the buzzer.

Mr Takeda meekly attempted to calm the large dog, but to no avail. Mrs Takeda returned from the toilet already saying, ‘Has that dog not been trained? So loud! What will your neighbours say?!’

Mara abruptly rushed past to answer the buzzer. With a gentle embrace, Mr Takeda pulled his wife closer to him. ‘Try to give Ma-chan a little break this time. This is our first visit to her home, and she’s trying her best. Also, Shiro is a big help to her. He’s just helping Ma-chan know when there is someone at the door.’

Her frown slowly faded into a small pout. ‘Yes… I forgot for just a moment. I was just worried for the neighbours.’ She replied.

Mr Takeda smiled and gave her a comforting squeeze. He knew his wife all too well. If only she were more honest with herself, admit how over-protective she was. Mrs Takeda resigned herself and reached for her handbag. Nothing a bit of crocheting couldn’t fix, so she got her hands busy. 

                                                                                                        *

It was Haru Ito.

After a short, quiet greeting, Haru walked into Mara’s living room to find her parents. An immediate and bright smile came from Mrs Takeda.

‘Ah, if it isn’t Ito-san! It is so nice to see you again! Welcome, welcome!’

The sudden mood change in her Mother took aback Mara. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes and gestured for Haru to sit down.

Haru greeted softly. ‘It is very nice to see you again as well, Takeda-san. How was your journey? I hope you didn’t find it too troublesome around the stations.’

 ‘So polite. We were fine, thank you for asking. How have you been? Always the handsome young man. Ito-san, you take good care of yourself.’ The older woman appraised him.

‘Okaa-san, you’re embarrassing Ito-san.’ Mr Takeda attempted, but she dismissed him almost immediately. ‘Nonsense! If it’s the truth, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.’

 ‘It is indeed nice to see you again, Ito-san.’ — Mr Takeda this time. — ‘As always, we are in your debt for Ma-chan. We thank you for always looking after and supporting our daughter. We hope you will continue to look out for our Ma-chan as you have been.’

Haru’s amiable smile brightened the room. ‘Please, Takeda-san. You’re too kind, always. It is me who should be thankful to you for allowing me to represent Mara.’

Mrs Takeda blushed at Haru’s smooth voice and well-spoken words, while Mara’s disdain only grew. She wondered if her mother saw sparkling little stars around Haru’s face every time she looked at him. Mara had messaged Haru to come over, hoping that he would serve as a nice, charming buffer; divert attention away from her, but this was getting ridiculous.

After some continued exchanges of compliments, Mara finally brought out the tea and began serving them. She tried to be as graceful as she could, but seeing her mother’s quick frown gave her clumsiness away. Still, the moment was too precious to be ruined with lectures on tea etiquette.

‘Tell me Ito-san, do you believe in our Lord and Saviour?’ Mrs Takeda said brightly.

Mara thought for a second that she had misread her mother’s lips. Haru, unsure of what to say, pulled up his sliding glasses. 

‘Er… Lord and Saviour?’ He managed.

‘God, Ito-san. Do you believe in God?’ The older woman said bluntly now.

Haru’s smile strained as he replied: ‘Well, I can’t say I entirely disbelieve… I frequent the temple every so often. I’m more spiritual, I suppose.’

 ‘Mm-hm. I also don’t see a ring on your finger.’ Mrs Takeda zeroed in on his finger.

Another pause.

‘A ring?’ Haru’s discomfort now plain to see, unsure, but at the same time certain of where this conversation was headed.

 ‘Yes, you know, a wedding ring or a commitment ring. Are you perhaps still single?’ Mrs Takeda insisted, a small grin across her face.

Mrs Takeda cleared his throat before adding, ‘O-Okaa-san, I think that’s prying too much into Ito-san’s business-’

‘Mother, please!’ — Mara interrupted with quick gestures. -- ‘I’ve asked you to stop this kind of thing. You’re embarrassing me.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! I’m just making conversation! A handsome man like Ito-san; it’s a normal question!’

Mara ignored her mother and signed exaggeratedly while intensely looking at Haru. ‘You don’t have to answer that. No, in fact, it’s better that you don’t answer that.’  She knew where this was going. She resorted to communicate with her eyes, but the more she tried, the confused Haru seemed and chuckled nervously. ‘Haha, unfortunately, I’m not married, Takeda-san. Tokyo life makes it quite difficult to slow and settle down. But my mother is introducing me to a young lady next week. They believe she will be a good match for me.’ He nodded politely.

‘Eh? Really? That is such a shame! But you know sometimes, parents are wrong about these things. I mean, women of all kinds must flock to you at every opportunity. The lord forgive me, but such a fine, good-looking young man such as you… you’d be better off and certainly facing no trouble in finding genuine love. I can’t imagine you marrying someone you’ve never met. And love is usually closer than you think.’ — After a pause and a furtive look at her daughter, Mrs Takeda giggled. — ‘Sometimes you just have to look around you.’

‘Alright, that’s enough!’ Mara quickly gestured and crossed her hands.

Not intending to back down, Mrs Takeda tried to continue, but Mara was already on her feet and pulling Haru by the arm. This time, she spoke aloud now and directly to Haru. ‘Haru, come. I need to show you the details on the last frame.’

His eyes widened in surprise. Mara hardly used her voice.

Mrs Takeda frowned, dumbstruck. She looked at her husband with contempt, as if he had cheated her out of a card game. Mr Takeda searched his pockets for a cigar. ‘Don’t look at me. I was trying to tell you to stop.’

‘Otou-san! Don't you want to see your daughter happy? Don’t you want grandkids??’

‘I do. I never said I didn’t.’ He dismissed.

‘Then why don’t you help me?! That girl needs to find someone. She’s just waiting around for someone to fall from the sky; perhaps for one of her paintings to come to life and romance her away. God already made his miracle happen when he put that gorgeous man on her path! If she does nothing, she will lose him and not even God’s miracles will help her then.’

Having found his cigar, Mr Takeda stood up and moved towards the balcony. ‘This is not the way. And Ito-san already has a path he’s following on his own. Ma-chan needs to find hers too. She is only twenty-four years old.’

‘Soon to be twenty-five! How old were we when we married? You’re just too easy on her!’

‘Different times, different lives.’ The husband shrugged.

 Mrs Takeda furiously resumed her crocheting; he relaxed too much for her taste. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly and she paused, as though recalling something. ‘You wouldn’t let anything stand in our way when we started off. We went through all that hardship to build our family. Why can’t you wish the same for your daughter? She is so stubborn, that girl. She would move worlds for her Art! Why can’t she use some of that tenacity to be with someone?’

Mr Takeda listened to his wife, but knew there was nothing more to say. Their path had been a difficult one, but they had forged it together. At their young age, they had fought his family just to be together and, as a result, his parents renounced him for choosing to be with an orphaned, foreign woman; a North Korea defector to make it worse. He didn’t care; he fought for her; for their love and their future together. He loved the woman. He loved her then and loved her as much now.

Their first years together ended up having more sorrows than joy.

It was as if they’d been cursed: Mara gradually lost her hearing at five years old and they had two stillbirths after her. It forced them to stop trying for more children. His wife’s body wouldn’t cope anymore. Their dream of having a large family slipped by silently and it nearly broke his wife. They pulled through, somehow. Later, in Kanazawa, they finally settled anew and life started being kinder. The large family they so wanted found its way to them when the neighbouring children entered their shop and even their house, filling everywhere with noise. The younger kids flocked to Mara and called her Onee-chan, and they all played around in their enormous garden. He knew Mara’s life was miserable at school, but they filled their home with joy. For that, he was always grateful.

As he gazed out onto Mara’s balcony, he wondered Mara was an adult now, independent, and about to become a famous artist; all at the back of her own efforts. He was an immensely proud father. What else could he ask for? He knew that happiness would follow her. She had fought her way this far, after all.

He blew out smoke and with a lighter tone, said, ‘Ooh Okaa-san, the view from here is the best! Look, you can even see Tokyo Skytree! The tallest tower in all of Japan, you know?’

Mrs Takeda kept her eyes on her crochet, but replied begrudgingly. ‘Ah, is it? You should go with your daughter. It might bring you both closer to God!’