Only Hemi I need

After the show, Keiji returns backstage and is greeted by a smiling Himiko. He can't help but smiling back, as he approaches.

Keiji: Well, Hemi. You enjoy the show?

Himiko: Yup! It was so much fun! Thanks for the ticket, big brother!

Keiji: Heh, y…yeah, no worries. Lucky for you I always have a couple waiting at the box office, you know just in case.

Himiko: In case what?

Keiji: Um, well that's compliment. But, don't worry about that. Hey, that nice guard guy, was he able to contact your parents?

Himiko: You mean our parents? Mhm, he said daddy is coming, boy did he sound upset.

Keiji laughs nervously, not sure what to expect when this kids dad showed up. He wanted to believe what she was saying was true, but at the same time he wanted to believe his parents wouldn't keep a sibling from him. He didn't have to wait long for an answer, though, as a voice booms out from across the room.

Kiyoshi: Himiko! Why did you run off like that? You're lucky this nice young man…you.

The older man sees Keiji standing there, and his eyes bore into the side of his head. Meanwhile, Keiji clinches his jaw, and looks ready to burst.

Himiko: Sorry, daddy, I wanted to visit big brother.

Keiji: Say, Hemi, I got an idea. You like snacks, there's a catering area over there, why don't you go see what they got.

Himiko lights up, and skips her way towards catering, Keiji and the older Japanese man glare at one another awkwardly for a moment, until Keiji breaks the silence.

Keiji: So, want to tell me anything pops?

Kiyoshi: Not really, you made your choice.

Keiji: Yes, but that's not why you're mad. You're mad that I didn't make yours. Even so, how the hell, do you not tell me about a sister? What kind of monster does that!?

Kiyoshi: Ah, I see. So that's where the confusion is. That's easily cleared up, she doesn't have a brother. I don't have a son.

Keiji tilts his head to the side, his hand instinctively making a fist at his side, however he gets ahold of himself and takes a deep breath.

Keiji: Yeah, not sure she sees it like that. I'll make it really simple, I'm going to be in Himiko's life, like it or not. You took everything from me once, I'm not letting you do it again.

Kiyoshi: Everything, Kuma? I remember letting you keep that old pile of junk, you call a car.

Keiji nods, and reaches into his pocket, he pulls out a pair of keys, and tosses them in his dad's face, he shakes his head and leans in close.

Keiji: Fuck it, it's yours. I don't give a shit about that, the only Hemi I need, is getting a snack right now. A car is just a thing, I can replace that. I'll be seeing you around, pops.

Kiyoshi: No, you won't, I forbid it!

Keiji starts to say something, but rather than let his anger take over he walks away, and forcefully shoves his way through the exit. Kiyoshi smiles to himself as he watches this, until a little voice speaks from behind him.

Himiko: Daddy, that was hurtful. You said we shouldn't be like that.

Later that night, Keiji finds himself across the road at a hotdog place owned by some dude named Don. He sits alone in a booth, staring into the table, replaying what had happened earlier over and over in his mind.

Cherry: Yo, you good kid? Earth to quack.

Keiji: Yeah…no, not really.

Cherry: So spill it, man. What's wrong?

Cherry slides into the booth next to him, pulling him close with a friendly side hug.

Keiji: Easy, wouldn't want people to think I'm you're friend. You got a rep to keep.

Cherry: I don't give a fuck about any of that, Keiji. You ARE a friend. Now out with it.

Keiji: Well, I uh, met my sister today.

Cherry: Wait, the kid from Destiny? That was legit? I saw that, on the TV, figured it was some kind of goof.

Keiji: Yeah, that's what I thought too. But, when her dad came to get her…

Cherry: Oof, you're fucking with me right. That's rough, I mean I'm happy for you, but that's a hell of a way to learn some shit like that.

Cherry looks around, when she figures the coast is clear she pulls a bottle out of her inside jacket pocket, and a couple of shot glasses out of the outside one. She pours them each a shot.

Keiji: You…carry rum around with you?

Cherry: You don't?

Keiji: Fair enough, thanks.

Keiji sighs deeply, glances at Cherry, then back to his shot. He downs the drink, and nods at Cherry as she does the same.

Keiji: The old man, he's telling me to cut ties, basically.

Cherry: Yeah? That what you want to do?

Keiji: No, absolutely not. Kid l has never met me until today, but from the way she talks she looks up to me. And, uh, I think that scares him. As soon as I chose combat sports, over school he sent me packing. I think, he sees her going down the same path.

Cherry: That's free will, quack. If that's what she wants, he'd be an idiot not to encourage her, else she'll just resent him. I mean, look at you.

Keiji: The kicker, I brought up how he treated me, how he just tossed me aside when I wouldn't follow his path. He had the gaul to say, he let me keep the car.

Cherry: I'd of told him to shove it up his ass.

Keiji: Yep, pretty much. Hope you're mo..Don doesn't mind me hanging out for a bit, I'm kind of waiting on a ride, but Nate is on the way from Japan so could be awhile.

Cherry: Don't worry, Kid. I'll take care of Don, you're good. And for the record, if you ask me, you just need to keep trying. No matter what your dad says, that kid is your family.

Cherry gets up to leave, leaving the rum on the table. She turn to walk away, looking over her shoulder.

Cherry: Tell anyone I was nice, I'll deny every bit of it.

Keiji: Yeah, love you too Blackman.

Cherry smiles, and walks away, as Keiji manages a weak grin, and downs another shot.