Chapter 38 – Meal

Third person POV

 Akira was amazed, thinking, "He's just like me..." Then, Htet's mother called them for dinner. In response, Akira, Hachi, and Htet left the room and returned downstairs to eat dinner.

 Upon arriving, they saw that Htet's father, a Japanese office worker, had just come home, and Htet came forward to greet him in Japanese. "Hello, Htet," Htet's father greeted back as he took off his shoes. "How's your day at work?" Seeing their father-son relationship, Akira commented, "It seems they had a good father-son relationship."

 "Yeah, they are," Hachi responded.

Then, Htet's father saw the patches that covers his son's bruises. "What happened to you?"

Before Htet would say anything, Akira stepped in. "He was being beaten up by some thugs at an alleyway."

Htet's father was surprised. "What?"

Then, Htet finally spoke up, "Dad, I'll explain at the table."

To that, his father agreed with him.

 Not long after, Htet, his parents, and two youngsters are at the table. "Thanks for the food," they all said while making a prayer gesture. They then grabbed their chopsticks and began getting some food. The meal consisted of Burmese-style dishes, fish, and of course, vegetables. Akira and Hachi, being new to Burmese cuisine, tasted the dish Htet's mother made, and they were allured by its flavor.

 "Woah, this is so good."

 "What is this?"

 "This is Nan gyi thoke," Htet's mother responded. "It's one of my country's dishes. This is very good."

 "It's my one of my favorite dishes, guys," Htet said to them.

 "Yeah, my wife is really good at cooking," his father added.

Akira and Hachi then understand that, before diving back to the delicious Nan gyi thoke.

 After that, Htet explained to his parents how he got beaten up by some thugs in Tokyo. Because of that, Htet's parents suggested that he should file a report to the police.

 "Yeah, I did that for him," Akira said to them.

 "Oh, thank you so much," Htet responded with gratitude while bowing a bit.

 "Yes, thank you so much," Htet's mother added.

"You're welcome," Hachi responded positively, "my partner and adoptive brother is the best."

His adoptive brother was flustered by that compliment.

 Later, while Htet's parents are washing the dishes, it's time for Akira and Hachi to go back to Toshi's house. Htet was worried about their safety. "Um, how about staying here for the night?" But then, Akira said to him, "Our friend might be worried about us since we didn't come home early."

 "We'll take a train back home," Hachi added. "We'll be fine."

 "Oh, okay," Htet replied back with agreement.

After that, Akira and Hachi grabbed their belongings and left the house as Htet waved goodbye and good luck to them. Not long after, while riding a train to Tokyo, Hachi said to Akira, "Wow, that guy seems to be a bit older than us."

"Yeah, I saw it," Akira responded back.