CITRUS ~ A Long Way From Home / Trust

Chapter 10

<<Speaking English>>

Mei and Yuzu sat alongside Mr. Fredrick, April and Frank Mills at his dinner table at his request, along with a few other businessmen from other companies invited to the conference. Yuzu was surprised by the offerings of steak, potatoes and vegetables at hand while Mei chose a salad.

There was also a lot of talking around the table. Mostly random conversations, but some business as well. Of all the people at the table, there was someone Yuzu and Mei only knew as Mr. Aimes, who talked a lot. Sometimes he was talking too fast that Yuzu couldn't understand what he was saying, but it didn't bother her.

Mei sat beside Mr. Fredrick as he spoke with her through dinner. He was very intrigued by the strong willed young woman as she told him about Aihara Academy and all that it accomplished to be one of most renowned schools in Japan and the work her grandfather had done to promote it that way.

She also told him of her position as Student Council President and the hard work she does to make the academy a jewel of the community.

But most important, she told him of her desire and intention of one day taking over the academy as the first female chairman after her grandfather steps down and of her work to continue the legacy of the Aihara family name.

Mr. Fredrick felt a sense of respect towards Mei, and felt that Chairman Aihara should be very proud of his granddaughter, just as he feels towards her now.

April sat beside Yuzu as they talked and laughed through dinner. As Yuzu was enjoying herself, she would talk to Mei just to hear if she was doing alright, but thanks to Mr. Fredrick and a few others, she seemed to be feeling better.

As Yuzu looked around the table, she couldn't help but notice Mr. Mills often staring at Mei from across the table. He always took a quick glance at her while mingling between guests. She thought that maybe Mills thought that Mei was beautiful, which was kinda creepy.

'This guy must be 45 or 50 years old' she thought. 'Mei's still a teenager you perv!'

She knew she'd have to keep an eye on him while he was around, but he didn't seem to be doing anything wrong at the moment.

<<Yuzu?>> said April. <<Is everything okay?>>

<<Hmmm? Oh I'm sorry. I was just thinking of something... haha>> said Yuzu, trying not to make her observation noticeable.

All Yuzu wanted was to make it through the evening with Mei, hoping to see a chance to help make the week go by smoothly.

As she tried to take another bite, she and April couldn't help but overhear Mr. Aimes talking from across the table.

<<... and that's why all our major factories have moved overseas since the late 1980's, because it's cheaper now>> said Aimes. <<But back in the day, it was a whole lot different.

<<I mean, look back at our history. Ever since the 1950's, other countries from around the world were buying our products all the time. Cars, refrigerators, airplanes, TV's... we made the best stuff, long before any other country learned to make their own. They only learned how to make their own stuff from watching us.>>

<<But other countries were already building products like those early on as well>> said another guest from across the table.

<<Yes, yes. But it wasn't until the 80's that they caught up with us>> continued Aimes. <<Let's face facts, America always had it going on. Europe didn't have any real factories, and even when they started building them, they were still buying from us.