Kare Kano vol 17

   In volume 16 Soichiro, with the help of his friends and loved ones, has been able to overcome the mental breakdown instigated by his birth mother.  Through conniving plots by his friends and direct confrontation by his adopted mother, the woman he wants to forget may finally give up trying to control him after all of these years of abandonment.  While he walks in a world of light for the first time, more open with those close to him than ever, Asaba feels his isolation and loneliness close in around him.

    Soichiro and Yukino are enjoying winter break with his parents at their cabin, enjoying all the winter wonderland has to offer. While exploring the attic of the main house they find a suitcase filled with old jazz albums.  When he asks his father about them he suspects they mayhave belonged to his birth father.  Later they explore outside of the house and come across a quest house that Soichiro remembers from his childhood, within it is a lone grand piano.  A distant memory returns to him of his real father playing the piano when he was little, the only time Soichiro can think of that he ever saw him.  At roughly the same time Maho is in New York, spending time with her dentist fiance.  He is able to get high sought after tickets to see a jazz pianist, Arima Reiji.

     In the evening, back at the Arima vacation home, they are watching TV when a special about a Japanese pianist making waves in America airs, the subject is none other than Reiji.   The special mentions that he will be returning to Japan for the first time in 13 years for some special performances.  The idea that his birth father is returning concerns Yukino, but Soichiro feels it would be a different situation than with his birth mother.  Concern lingers in her about his emotional well being, given how traumatic dealing with his mother was.  She is afraid to talk with him about the possibility of her being pregnant.

    Yin and Yang have been touring in America, on the success of their album.  Maho runs into the entire group, learning that they are also going to be attending the Arima Reiji performance.  At the show one particular piece causes Kazuma to begin singing along, not realizing how well his voice was carrying, Reiji picks up on the impromptu sing along and begins to play along to it.  After the performance Kazuma and the others are brought back stage to talk with Reiji..  They ask him if he might be related to their friend, Soichiro, showing him a photo.  To their surprise he tells them about being his birth father.

 Kazuma calls Soichiro to let him know they encountered his birth father and to warn him of his arrival in Japan. Soichiro doesn't seem concerned about it, not anticipating any hidden trauma like he experienced with his birth mother.  His adopted parents however are not happy with the sudden appearance of Reiji, particularly when the wounds left from his mother are still healing.  Yukino is the first to see Reiji when he arrives, running into him outside the gate to Soichiro's house.  She mistakes him for her boyfriend and gets more friendly than she should.  As soon as she realizes the mistake, Soichiro comes out to greet her, immediately concerned about her hanging off of his father.  Before that can be resolved his adoptive father steps out and punches his younger brother.  Telling him, in no uncertain terms, that he is not welcomed and should stay away from the son he abandoned long ago.  Reiji isn't going to be dissuaded so easily and approaches the young couple later on the street, presenting his son with a strange form of fatherly love...treating him with a hand gun.

    Reiji essentially kidnaps his one son with a fake gun and a motorcycle.  After giving the police a slip, he gives Soichiro an ultimatum, he knows he isn't capable of being a father to him and isn't interested in that.  He just wants to spend time with the young man for a few days while hes still in Japan.  Soichiro agrees and spends the next few days with the man he has no real memories off.  Yukino reports the bizarre incident back to his adoptive parents.  They are glad to know what happened but aren't entirely concerned for their sons safety, instead they are concerned about what type of influential effect Reiji may have on Soichiro, as Reiji is unpredictable and as intelligent as his son.