The English Teacher
Copyright© 2026 by DutchMark13
Chapter 22
After many weeks of casual outings exploring the cultural and scenic sides of Japan, one October evening after class Kimora told James she wanted to introduce him to her ‘auntie’, Reina-san.
“Reina-san would like to meet...” Kimora blushed deeply before continuing. “She would like to meet this handsome teacher I have told her about.”
James smiled, certain she was exaggerating. Still, he said: “Sure, that’s fine.”
But Kimora blushed even more. “Thank you, James-sensei. However, I ... I need to speak with you about something before we go to see Reina-san.”
James leaned forward, his expression attentive. “Of course. What is it, Kimora-san?”
Kimora took a deep breath, her fingers nervously twisting the strap of her bag. “Reina-san is not actually my aunt. Not by blood, I mean.”
James’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he nodded, encouraging her to continue. “Okay. So, how are you related?”
Kimora hesitated, her gaze dropping to the table. “It’s a long story. But I think you should know before you meet her.” She paused, gathering her thoughts. “My father worked at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant. He was a junior engineer, just starting to rise in rank. Reina-san’s husband, Gozen-san, was his boss. They were both there when a very powerful earthquake hit.”
“Earthquake? At a nuclear power plant? Good Lord!” James listened attentively as Kimora clearly prepared herself to share a deeply personal story.
“When the earthquake hit, they ... they died together. We don’t know the entire story.” She swallowed hard, obviously reliving a very painful memory. James looked sympathetic, but did not touch her. “I was only ten at the time, and my father was barely supporting my mother and myself while still paying off his debts from college.”
James’s eyes widened, both sympathy and shock crossing his face. “I had no idea, Kimora. I’m so sorry.”
She nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Reina-san ... she felt honor-bound to take us in. My father had served her husband faithfully, and she believed it was her duty to care for his subordinate’s family. They were both from the samurai class, you see. Honor and duty are everything to her, even though this was not specifically a part of the code.”
“That’s extremely noble of her,” James said, his voice gentle.
Kimora smiled faintly. “She was very kind to us. We lived in her house, a large traditional home in Tokyo. My mother and I had our own rooms, and we helped with household duties – not as servants, but as part of the family. Reina-san insisted I call her ‘auntie’, and she treated me like a daughter. She even paid for my education, made sure I had everything I needed.”
“That’s amazing,” James murmured, his admiration evident.
“But...” Kimora’s voice trailed off, her eyes clouding with sadness. “My mother passed away when I was eighteen. She had lived in sorrow since my father died, and I am certain that she would have committed harakiri if she could have.” She paused, tears coming to her eyes. “Instead, she ... she simply wasted away,” she sighed, her voice breaking.
She took a minute to recover, while James sat helplessly, wanting to comfort her, but not knowing how.
Kimora continued in a stronger voice. “By then I was legally an adult, and Reina-san never formally adopted me. So, there’s no legal tie between us. It’s just ... this unspoken bond, this sense of family that we’ve built over the years.”
James leaned back in his chair, processing her words. “I understand now. It’s a beautiful but complicated relationship. Thank you for sharing this with me, Kimora-san.”
She nodded, a small, sad smile playing on her lips. “I just wanted you to know. Reina-san is a very private person, and I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable. She’s not used to Westerners, and her English is limited. She relies on me or her maid, Sayuri, to translate.”
“I’ll be respectful,” James assured her, his tone earnest. “I’m honored to meet someone who’s been such a big part of your life. And I can understand why she wants to meet me.” He did not add: And decide if I’m worthy of you.
Kimora’s smile widened. She felt a sense of relief, with some of the tension easing from her shoulders. Sharing her story had been difficult, but James’s understanding and kindness had made it easier. “Thank you, James-sensei. It means a lot to me.”
Reina-san’s house loomed into view, a majestic Japanese house with a tiled roof and sliding paper doors. The home was fairly large by Tokyo standards, although very traditional in its design and decor. Kimora paid the taxi driver and stepped out, James following closely behind.
Kimora had told him that Reina’s residence was large and traditional, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that greeted them. The house was a testament to a bygone era, its grandeur and classical design standing in stark contrast to many of the modern buildings that surrounded it. A tall wooden fence, weathered but sturdy, enclosed the property, its height accentuated by the replica of a Shinto torii gate that stood imposingly at the entrance. Above the fence, a leafy canopy of ancient trees peeked through, their branches swaying gently in the crisp afternoon breeze.
Kimora, her auburn hair tied in a neat bun and her kimono draped gracefully over her slender frame, smiled as she noticed James’s awe.
“It’s even more beautiful than I expected,” he murmured, his voice tinged with reverence.
Kimora nodded, her expression warm and knowing. “Reina-san takes great pride in her home. It’s a reflection of her heritage and her commitment to preserving tradition.”
As they stepped through the torii gate, James felt as though he had crossed into another world. The garden pathway, meticulously maintained, was lined with artifacts that seemed to whisper stories of centuries past. His gaze was immediately drawn to an Edo-period garden statue, its stone surface worn smooth by time. The statue depicted a figure holding a bamboo ladle, from which a small, perfectly balanced ball appeared to float. Nearby, a stone lantern hung from the branch of a tall tree, its presence both functional and artistic, casting dappled shadows over the bonsai trees below. The air was filled with the faint scent of pine and earth, a soothing aroma that seemed to defy the passage of time.
James paused, his fingers brushing against the rough bark of a nearby tree before he leaned closer to examine an artistically trimmed bonsai. “These are incredible,” he said, his voice expressing his awe. “How old are they?”
Kimora smiled softly. “Some of them are nearly two hundred years old. Reina-san’s family has been tending to them for generations. It’s a labor of love, a way to connect with the past.”
As they continued along the path, James’s eyes widened at the sight of a moss-covered stone basin, its surface etched with intricate patterns. Beside it stood a weathered stone rabbit, its expression serene, as if guarding the entrance to another realm. The garden was a synthesis of textures and colors, each element carefully chosen to evoke a sense of tranquility and harmony. James felt his shoulders relax a bit under the garden’s soothing influence.
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