Asami takes a spoonful of udon then grabs her phone again.
“You really couldn’t wait a whole ten seconds?” I ask.
“Kuso kurae,” Asami snaps.
“Guess I’ll just eat your udon, since I’m already done with mine.” I reach for her bowl and she swats my hand away.
“Oh my gosh, the results are in!” Her knee bounces under the table and, with trembling hands, she clicks on the results.
I close my eyes, silently praying that she passes. Even though I have a funny way of showing it, I do love my sister. She’s been busting her ass in medical school for the last few years, and it would make me incredibly happy to see her succeed.
“I passed.” Her mouth falls open and she places her hands on her head. “I PASSED! AHHH!” She squeals, leaping from the chair and bouncing up and down. “You are now looking at San Francisco’s newest dermatologist—Dr. Asami Kamado.”
“That’s amazing,onee-chan!” I say, beaming. “I’m addressing you as Dr.Bakafrom now on.”
“Shut up.” She chuckles, shaking her head.
Okasan wraps her arms around Asami, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “This makes me so happy. You’re going to be the best dermatologist in the nation.”
“Now I can tell everyone we have a doctor in the family. I’m so proud of you, Asami,” Otosan says, his eyes gleaming.
My father has never once uttered those words to me. Despite all of my achievements, in his eyes, I’m still a failure. I thought he would start respecting my career once I got drafted into the NBA, but I was wrong.
He still hasn’t come to any of my games. At every home game I look to the crowd, hoping he’ll show up, but he never does. Nothing I ever do is good enough for him. All I’ve ever wanted was for him to accept me.
“Is your fiancé almost off work? You should tell him thenews and invite him over. There’s still plenty of udon left,” Okasan says.
“I texted him earlier, and he said he had to stay late to finish working on a case,” Asami answers. “He doesn’t know when he’ll be home.”
Hotaru Tsukino—Asami’s fiancé—works at a major corporate law firm, and recently got promoted to junior partner. He’s an arrogant prick who doesn’t deserve my sister, but my parents seem to like him—especially my dad.
“I’m so glad my future son-in-law is someone who is worthy of you,” he says.
“I don’t know. I kinda thought she would end up with Steven—the guy who claimed the multiverse is real and that he’s from Earth 119,” I say, adding a smirk. “I think attending a wedding there would’ve been dope.”
Asami rolls her eyes. “I need to start finalizing my guest list soon, before we send out save the dates. Have you thought about who you’re going to bring as your plus-one?”
I shrug. “I’m not bringing anyone—I already told you. My date for the wedding will be a bottle of champagne.”
“Ugh, come on,” she groans, slapping her hand on the table. “There has to be someone you want to bring.”
“I know someone who he could bring.” Okasan waggles her brows suggestively.
Asami crosses her arms. “It’s not Mrs. Tanaka’s daughter Hina, is it? She’s so stuck up. I can’t stand her.
“No, not her,” Okasan replies. “I would never let that gold digger anywhere near my son.” She reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “You should ask Annalise, Masashi.”
I shoot her a look, and she just chuckles.
“Wait—Annalise is in Cali?” Asami asks. “I thought she was living in New York.”
“No, she’s back now. As a matter of fact…” Okasan looks at me, a smile hovering her lips. “I saw her the other week. She was over at Masashi’s place.”
“Wait, what?” Asami sits up straight, her eyes widening. “Why didn’t you tell me y’all were back together?”
“Because we’re not,” I reply, my tone firm.
“Yet…” Okasan nudges me in the side with her elbow.
