Hana's birthday was in just 2 days from now, and I had no idea what to do. Of course besides getting her a gift I had never really been to anyone else's birthday before, beside my cousin's obviously. As I walked back home I had realized that my total savings was about 15,000 yen, enough for a family to eat at a restaurant but not enough for a grandiose gift, not that I think she would particularly enjoy something like that anyways, Hana was really humble and didn't like feeling indebted to people, but I didn't want to get her something cheap and low effort.
And then I had an idea.
The shopping district near me had loads of gift shops and general stuff that I could browse and find a gift in to get for her. However I would want to be quick about it, I didn't want Hana to suspect I was missing if I was off my computer after she was done working. Hana loved to game with me after work so It would only be natural she would want to today too. As I reached the front door of my house I slowly turned the knob and peered in, the lights were on despite me having turned them off as I was leaving the house. I cautiously took a single step into my home, my finger hovering over the speed dial to the police. My mother was never here this early, this had to be someone else and I quickly had that suspicion confirmed as I rounded the corner and found my father hunched over on the dinner table, digging into a pint of ice cream.
"What?"
My father hastily turned around and squinted at me.
"Hi Masaichi."
He was acting like this wasn't abnormal for him to be here, despite him working in the self defense force all away across Japan.
"Don't you have work?"
"I was forcibly retired."
My jaw went slack, I was stunned, my father must have felt destroyed.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Me and your Mother have enough money saved up to pay for college if you choose to go, your mother is still able to work and it's more than enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table, I cannot work however."
"Why?"
"I have Spinal arthritis."
My dad was 38 years old, he was not an old man by any means but despite that he had a disease that was rare in young men.
"How bad is it?"
My father stared at me, he had probably repeated this same conversation to my mom.
"At times the pain is bad enough to the point where I struggle to walk, one of the guys I worked with saw that, and relayed it to my commanding officer."
My father paused
"Soon after I was forcibly retired, I moved out of the apartment I was living in today and came back here, you saw me yesterday because I needed to get a CT scan."
"Are you ok?"
My father, who tended to have a strong uptight demeanor from his service, quickly broke down crying. I quickly ran over to his side and hugged him.
"Dad?"
"Sorry, I just need a moment."
"That's ok, just breathe."
My father quickly recomposed himself, wiping the droplets of tears off his face with the sleeve of his jacket.
"Things will be different now around here, I can be here more often, you won't have to do as many chores now because I will be doing them."
"What about other forms of employment, you graduated in economics at college right?"
My father who had now finished his ice cream nearly dropped his empty container to the floor, and chuckled.
"I am not getting a desk job, I would sooner step on a floor of broken glass with my bare feet than do that."
"That sounds extreme."
"Gets the point across though, doesn't it?"
I paused, I guess there really was nothing else for him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what, you think you're responsible for my arthritis?"
"For your circumstances."
My father stood up and patted me on my shoulder.
"Masaichi, I'm proud of you."
I froze, why was he saying this to me?
"Why?"
"Because you have, despite me not being around often, have kept your grades higher than mine have ever been, you joined a club and made friends that care about you, you even got a lady. When I had you I didn't want you to feel like you needed to meet the expectations my parents put on me, and despite the lack of expectations you have grown beyond what I was, that is why."
You know when the stereotypical father-son talk you see in dramas and stuff like that, you would usually cringe at it or just try to ignore it entirely, but this was real life and for some reason I felt elated, and it was hard not to show on my face a sly smile quickly spread across my face, and I didn't try to hide it.
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Then what is she to you?"
"I-"
What do you call someone who you aren't exactly in a relationship with but you have been on a date with, I thought to myself.
"I like her, but we are still friends."
My father raised his eyebrow, as he stared into my soul.
"Do you love her?"
"God, yes I do."
"Do you think she does too?"
I knew for a fact that she did, she had expressly told me so too in fact.
"Yes."
"Then ask her out."
"I don't want to rush things, now isn't the right time."
"Then when do you think that would be?"
I brought my hands to my head and rubbed my temples against my palms.
"Her birthday, maybe?"
Suddenly after hearing what I said, the edges of his mouth arched into a large grin, which was an extremely rare sight from him.
"Want to know something funny, Masaichi?"
"What?"
"I proposed to your mother on her birthday."