The heavy condo door clicked shut, leaving Kimiko alone with Luka in the suddenly quiet living room. Natalia's words—"We're adults, we can handle shopping for a suit by ourselves"—still hung in the air. Kimiko stood motionless, caught in that peculiar mixture of pride and loss that had become so familiar since Satori had turned sixteen. Her children were growing up. No longer needing her to fuss over them or guide their every decision.
Luka broke the silence with a laugh that seemed to shake the entire room. "Did you hear that, Kimi? He called me 'Dad'!" His massive arms encircled her waist, lifting her clean off the ground in his excitement. "And did you see how our Nattie was trying to act all tough? But she's going shopping with her brother! Willingly!"
Kimiko smiled against his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne. "Put me down, you big oaf. You'll throw your back out again."
