Harumi's mom was still hugging her when she noticed, over her shoulder, two kids standing there with polite-but-terrified expressions.
Mei was scared.Takeru was wondering why am I here?
Their mom blinked.
— …Harumi.— Hi, mom.— These… children… are…?
She turned to her husband, eyebrow raised.
— Are they from your side of the family?
Their dad jumped like a fish out of water.
— WHAT?? NO!! What do you mean?!— I don't know! — she snapped. — Maybe you had kids running around, Makoto! I stayed six months in Brazil and you had a party?!
Harumi panicked, hitting her chest.
— Mom, MOM, calm down! They're NOT dad's kids!!— Oh, thank God. — her mom said, relieved for half a second. — Then whose are they?
Harumi froze.
Mei waved politely.Takeru looked away like I don't know this woman.
— So… mom… I'll explain in the car—— Great! — her mom replied. — Where's the car?
Harumi pointed.
Her mom looked.
Blink.Blink again.Blink a third time, like rebooting her brain.
— …Harumi.— Yes?— Is that the car?— It is!— Harumi, that's MY car from when I was twenty-two!— I know!— I bought it when I came to work in Japan!— I KNOW!!— And I left it behind your father's house because IT DIED!
Harumi proudly pointed at herself.
— SO!! I revived it!!— HARUMI, THIS ISN'T A POKÉMON!!
Their dad tried to help:
— It runs… kind of…— Makoto, this car is TWENTY YEARS PAST ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY. It's alive by divine miracle!— Technically, it coughed uphill… — Izumi muttered.
When they realized the car didn't fit six people
Their mom crossed her arms.
— Fine. Where's my luggage?
Everyone froze.
— …Harumi.— Mom…— How many people came to pick me up?
Harumi raised a finger.Wrong.Paused.Counted.
— Five.— And going back…— …Six.
Their mom took a deep breath.
— Harumi.— Yes?— Where does MY luggage go?
Harumi looked at the car.Then the sky.Then the ground.Then a pigeon, like it had the answer.
— Mom…— Don't say it.— Maybe… like…— DO NOT EVEN THINK about putting my suitcase on a child's lap.— I was gonna say the roof! I have rope if needed!— EVEN WORSE!!
Dad tried again:
— Well… it's just one suitcase, right?— Two, Makoto.— …oh. — he whispered.
While Harumi struggled with the luggage, her mom pointed at Mei and Takeru again.
— Harumi. I'm waiting.— Mom…— Where did these children come from? How? From whom?— Mom, it's complicated, I'll explain later!— Harumi…— I KNOW, but can we focus on the CAR right now PLEASE?!
Her mom grabbed her chest and cracked her neck like it might snap.
— …Makoto.— Yes. — he replied, already defeated.— Did you know about this?— I thought… I didn't ask whose kids they were…— MAKOTO!!
After ten minutes of failed spatial magic, they decided:
— The luggage goes on Makoto's lap.— ME?!— Dad, you're the strongest… your belly's soft!— That's not a compliment…— And mom rides in front with me!— With you?! — her mom widened her eyes. — Harumi, you drive like a kidneyless dog.— MOM?!— I'm saying it lovingly!— THAT WAS LOVING?!— In Portuguese, yes!
Everyone got in.
Front:— Harumi driving in slippers— Her mom strapped in like a torture device, wearing sunglasses (it was still dark)
Back:— Dad crushed by TWO suitcases— Izumi crushed by dad— Mei crushed by Izumi— Takeru squished against the door like an emotional sardine, clearly regretting all life choices
Harumi started the car.
The car made a sound like a chicken being abducted.
Her mom screamed:
— JESUS MARY JOSEPH TAKE ME BACK TO BRAZIL!!!
Dad:— Honey, calm down—— CALM DOWN??? CALM DOWN, MAKOTO???
Mei:— You're so nice!!— Ohh you're sweet, my love… but we're going to die.
Takeru muttered:
— Why am I here?
Harumi shouted:
— GUYS, I'M DOING MY BEST!!
Mom:— Your "best" is dangerous!Izumi:— Agreed.
The car moved.
Coughed.Shook.Cried.
But moved.
And meanwhile—
Mom, in Portuguese:— Makoto, why did you let our daughter drive THIS car?!
Dad, in Japanese:— She said she wanted independence…
Mom, in Portuguese:— Independence from life, maybe.
Harumi, in Japanese:— MOM, I UNDERSTAND PORTUGUESE!!
Mom:— I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IT!!
Mei, in Japanese:— Her language is pretty.Takeru:— I don't understand anything.Izumi:— Welcome.