Chapter 24The Christmas holiday came and went. The Tsuchino family celebrated with a hybrid of their two cultures. Christmas Eve—traditionally more important than the following day, a day Japanese media hyped as a time for romantic miracles—was slightly depressing for both Tom Alan and Erika as each waited for one of their own. Tom Alan felt like screaming “Bah! Humbug!” at the TV every time some host or alleged news reporter mentioned some cutie-pie gift that would be perfect for a lover or went on and on about whispering sweet nothings to a special someone at some fanciful rendezvous spot. He’d never been a fan of February 14th in America. December 24th in Japan had gotten just as bad. The possible soon-to-be newlyweds, rather than take part in any of that, spent most of the day—after pr
