Hana
Hana walked up to the chief surgeon’s office. As embarrassing as it could be that her dad was chief surgeon, she didn’t particularly mind, most of the time. In fact, she often came up just to talk to him, or her mom.
She opened the door to the office. Her father was sat at the desk, writing. His head whipped up when she shut the door.
“Hana, knocking is polite, you know.”
Hana smiled. “Aw, vater, don’t be so uptight.”
“Sit down, I suppose. How was work today?”
“Oh fine. Not too busy. I got to watch mom do an endoscopy, which was amazing. She’s really talented.” Hana moved and sat on the sofa in the office.
“Well, she is chief endoscopic surgeon for a reason. What brings you up here? If it’s a discussion about your salary, I’m not giving you a raise just because you’re my daughter.” Erhard put his pen down and clasped his hands.
“I know, vater. I was going to ask if you and mom wanted to come over for dinner today.”
Erhard sighed. “I don’t know...I really need to rest soon, as does your mother. We’re on the night shift today.”
Hana nodded. She rarely was put on night shift herself, being only qualified in endoscopic surgery, but she knew from other doctors that getting a nap in the afternoon was vital.
“That’s okay. I’ll just bring some ramen over!”
Erhard smiled at his daughter. “That would be nice, thank you. But make sure to get rest yourself, okay?”
“Don’t worry about me, vater. I’ll be fine.” Hana stood up and brushed off her kimono. Like her mother, she preferred to wear the traditional Japanese clothing. It was almost as if she kept a part of her heritage alive, even if she had extremely limited contact with her maternal grandfather. “I’ll see you later.”
She left the roof, gently closing the door behind herself. As it shut, she got a glimpse of Erhard looking at his notes, then the computer, then back at his notes, and sighing frustratedly.
***
Hana placed the noodles in her bag, before climbing on her bike. It was getting dark and she didn’t want to have to be out for much longer. She pushed off of the drive and onto the pavement. When she had visited Japan with her mother, Naomi Kimishima and her children, they had cycled everywhere. It held a special place in her heart, as did many of her childhood memories.
She arrived at the hospital fifteen minutes later. Hana parked her bike outside of the hospital and locked it, before checking that the two ramen containers hadn’t spilt. When she was sure they were still airtight, she entered the hospital.
“Back again, Dr. Müller?” Jesse Williams walked over to her. The EMTs he had left behind looked slightly irritated. He held out his hand for a fist bump.
“I’m just dropping some ramen to my parents,” Hana smiled, lightly bumping her knuckles against his.
“I’m glad to see that your German/Japanese mash of a childhood didn’t completely leave out American things like fist bumps,” the EMT joked. Hana laughed.
“My dad was brought up in America, he barely remembers being in Germany. And he lived in the same orphanage as Maria Torres for a while,” Hana raised an eyebrow, waiting for Jesse’s reaction. Frustratingly, he only looked slightly impressed.
“Mom mentioned working with Maria for a while, with the Rosalia thing in 2020.”
“I still can’t believe that happened. And came from the woman who would’ve been my tante as well.”
“Tante?”
“Aunt. She was vater’s sister so I probably would’ve used the German name for her.”
“...you do realise their adoptive father was French?”
“Yes. Look, I should be going, it’s getting dark and I need to cycle home after I’ve dropped the food.”
Jesse stepped aside. “Sorry, I won’t keep you. Have a good evening.”
“And you, Dr. Williams.” Hana walked on, towards her father’s office. She opened the door, forgetting to knock. Inside, her mother jumped away from her father.
“Hana! I said to knock earlier, did I not?!” Erhard had gone an embarrassed shade of pink.
“I brought the ramen!” Hana held up her bag and pulled out two Tupperware pots of homemade ramen. “And hi mom. Your operation earlier was amazing.”
“Thank you,” Tomoe went over and took the ramen boxes from her daughter’s hands. “This smells delicious.”
“I hope you enjoy it. I can’t stay, sorry, I have to get home before it’s dark.” Hana looked apologetically at her parents.
“That’s quite alright Hana,” her father said. “You’ve done a lot of work today, thank you.”
“It’s my job, vater. Stop talking about it like I’ve done overtime!” Hana whined. Her father just smiled and reached out to squeeze her shoulder.
“Night Hana.”
Hana turned and left, smiling. She did love her parents. They were amazing people, and even better surgeons. They both showed her love, even if they were busy and working constantly.
***
At her house, Hana put some of the leftover ramen in a bowl and went to sit down at her table. She wasn’t keen on eating anywhere else, it felt too relaxed and uncomfortable for her. Pulling out a book, she began to eat. The story was written in Japanese - her mother said it was important she learnt it as a child. Her father hadn’t been too bothered about whether she knew German or not since he barely remembered any himself. So she knew a couple of phrases and that was about it.
She finished eating and was he cup her bowl and the chopsticks immediately. Hana moved to the living room, where she quietly turned on some classical music in the background. She found it easier to read while music was playing, which was odd but something she valued as part of herself nonetheless. As she finally settled into a good reading rhythm, a message popped up on her phone
Okaa-san: Thank you for the ramen Hana! It was delicious and definitely what we needed to keep us going! Have a good morning!
Me: No problem mom, I’m glad you enjoyed it :)
Okaa-san: Hana! Why are you still up?!
Me: I was reading the Japanese book that you got me for my birthday. It’s really good!
Okaa-san: Bed. Now. Before I have to come and put you to bed.
Me: Mom, I’m twenty-six
Okaa-san: Bed.
Me: Fine.
Hana turned her phone off, marked her page in the book and stopped the music. She sighed, and went into her bedroom. She found it ridiculous that she was still listening to her mom’s threats at her age. But when she climbed into bed, her eyelids instantly started drooping. Maybe she needed the sleep more than she thought.