Oh, So Cousins Are Fair Game in Japan
Of course, the moment I returned to Japan I had to face my mother’s stunned expression.
“Son, what on earth happened to you? You’ve shot up in height and your face… it’s gotten so much more handsome.”
It was only natural. Her son had come back from Korea nearly ten centimeters taller and noticeably better-looking. On top of that, my body had packed on serious muscle, so her shock was understandable.
“I went hiking in the mountains and found some wild ginseng. I ate it on the spot.”
It was obviously a ridiculous excuse, but telling her the world was actually a game and I’d consumed an item from it would have sent me straight to a psych ward. A ridiculous excuse was my only option.
“Aigoo! Didn’t I tell you not to eat random things you find?!”
Smack! Smack!
Mom slapped my back with surprising force. No matter how much my physical stats had risen, a mother’s hand still stung like hell.
“But what are we going to do? You have to pay respects to your father at the main house tomorrow, and none of your suits will fit anymore.”
“I figured that would happen, so I had one made in Korea.”
Japanese custom required visits on the seventh, thirty-fifth, and forty-ninth days after a funeral, which meant another trip to the Taira family estate tomorrow. I’d bought the suits in Korea because I knew I wouldn’t have time once I arrived. I’d even purchased two full sets—one for the family visit and one for company wear. Han Yugyeong had helped me pick them out, so the designs were exactly to my taste.
“I’m not going, just so you know.”
“You’re really not coming?”
“That’s right. He was your father, not mine. I was never his wife, and I’m sure his actual wife would be annoyed if I showed up. I already fulfilled my duty by attending the funeral.”
She had a point. They had never been legally married, and Mom had been an unmarried mother. Going to the funeral had been more than enough. I, on the other hand, was connected by blood, so I had to go.
“The big guys will probably come pick me up again tomorrow, right? I don’t remember the address.”
“They know you don’t have a car, so they’ll likely send someone.”
Better to be sure. I sent a text to the number I’d received from Taira Danzo’s secretary last time.
“They said they’ll come at ten tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll already be at work by then. Have a safe trip, okay?”
Going alone felt a bit awkward, but I could endure one day of discomfort.
“Please get in, young master.”
Maybe because I had officially become a member of the Taira family at the last funeral, the black-suited men didn’t grab my arms and shove me into the car like before. Not that they could have overpowered me now even if they tried. I could feel them flinch when they saw how much I had changed; their usual poker faces cracked for a second.
On the way to the main estate in the back of a Taira Motors limousine, I messaged the only relative I was actually close to.
Chatting with Aris—and occasionally with Han Yugyeong—made the trip pass in the blink of an eye. Apparently Yugyeong had also been summoned to the Shin Gang Group main house today. She stopped replying after that, probably busy with family matters.
I stepped out of the limousine and entered the main residence. Inside, the family had already gathered. Taira Ichiro and Taira Jiro were there, along with a cold-looking, thin, tall man in his mid-thirties wearing gold-rimmed glasses I hadn’t seen before. That had to be Taira Ichiro’s eldest son, Taira Tabenobu. Taira Ichiro’s second son, the Hispanic-looking blond Taira Kensuke, was also present. Taira Jiro’s children were nowhere to be seen.
There was also a middle-aged woman I hadn’t met yet—most likely Taira Danzo’s second child and eldest daughter, Taira Kokoro. She was a slender, sharp-featured beauty who had clearly undergone extensive cosmetic work; her skin looked flawless. Despite her actual age, she could have passed for early thirties. Beside her stood her children, Taira Kisa and Taira Akio.
“Hello,” I greeted politely as I approached the group of Taira family members. Everyone except Taira Tabenobu and Taira Kokoro—who hadn’t attended the funeral—looked visibly shocked.
“Is that you, Ryuta? You seem to have grown quite a bit in just a week…?”
“I ate some medicinal herbs while traveling in the Korean mountains. This is the result.”
“Herbs…? Hmm…”
Their eyes clearly asked whether I had undergone body modification, but since I insisted it was from herbs, they had nothing to say. About seventy percent of that statement was actually true, anyway.
“So you’re Saburo’s son, Ryuta. I’m your aunt, Taira Kokoro.”
Taira Kokoro stepped forward and looked me up and down.
“It’s nice to meet you, Aunt.”
“Hmph. Not bad at all. If you ever want to become an entertainer, contact me. Modeling would suit you too.”
She handed me a business card. It read: Taira Entertainment President Taira Kokoro. As expected of the Taira Group chairman’s daughter—she ran Japan’s top entertainment company.
“Sister, modeling? Ryuta will be entering the Human Resources Development Center next week at Father’s command.”
Taira Jiro’s words earned a loud snort from Taira Kokoro.
“Father won’t care whether Ryuta joins the development center or comes to my Taira Entertainment.”
“That’s only what you think, sister.”
The two of them glared at each other. Mom had warned me that Taira Ichiro and Taira Kokoro had a different mother from Taira Jiro, and their relationship was terrible. The tension certainly proved it.
“Hahaha, this is nothing new. Shall we introduce ourselves? I’m Taira Tabenobu, the eldest grandson of the Taira family.”
Taira Tabenobu extended his hand for a handshake. I took it.
“I’m Taira Ryuta.”
“So you really are Uncle Saburo’s son. You’re very handsome. There’s even a resemblance.”
I had only ever seen Taira Saburo’s face in the funeral portrait, but he had indeed been good-looking. I personally thought I took after my mother more, but the Taira relatives seemed to think I resembled my father.
After greeting Taira Tabenobu, I exchanged pleasantries with the rest of my cousins. Every single one asked how I had grown so much in a week. When I repeated the wild herb story, none of them looked convinced.
Soon the doors opened and a white family entered—the FitzGeralds. Oliver FitzGerald, who appeared to be Aris’s father, and Nae FitzGerald, a white-Japanese hybrid who looked no older than her early thirties despite being much older, walked in.
She had lighter hair than Aris and striking lime-green eyes, looking more Western than Asian. The Taira family really was something else—how long had they been intermarrying with foreigners?
Now I understood why Aris looked almost fully Caucasian. If Nae was half-white, then Aris was only a quarter Japanese—a genetic quarter. That explained everything.
I had heard that all of Taira Danzo’s wives except the current one had died young. Apparently he had taken a Western wife somewhere along the way.
Aris’s older brother, Alex FitzGerald, had also returned for the memorial. He stood beside her.
The entire FitzGerald family greeted the others first, then approached me. I bowed deeply.
“Hello, my name is Taira Ryuta.”
“We’ve heard so much about you from Aris. My, you really are handsome.”
“I hear you’ll be joining the Taira Group soon?”
I exchanged greetings with Nae and Oliver FitzGerald, then with Alex as well. He was a sturdy college student around 178 centimeters tall and a promising American football player in the university league. He had missed the funeral because of an important game. His personality was bright and cheerful.
“Aris.”
“Ryuta.”
We simply spoke each other’s names in greeting. Since we had already made plans to meet tomorrow over LINE, there was no need for long conversation.
“Thank you all for coming to pay respects to my late husband.”
Taira Yukiko, my father Taira Saburo’s widow, was greeting the relatives. Her figure was still jaw-droppingly voluptuous. The tight black mourning kimono she wore only emphasized every curve. She started with the highest-ranking elders and worked her way down, eventually reaching me.
“Ryuta… thank you for coming.”
“It was only natural.”
Her gaze toward me was strangely complex, as if looking at me brought back memories of her husband. Sorrow, anger, affection, and longing all swirled together in her eyes.
“Um… what should I call you?”
“You can call me Mother.”
Technically she was my father’s wife, so calling her Mother made sense. Still, I already had a mom. I’d just use “Mother” specifically for Taira Yukiko.
“Understood, Mother.”
“Hic…!”
The word seemed to hit her hard. Tears welled up in Taira Yukiko’s eyes. I knew I shouldn’t think this way, but seeing her cry made something stir below my waist, a heavy, aching heat I couldn’t ignore.