FAMILY GAME NIGHT

**Family Game Night**

The evening had settled in with a warm glow inside the house as Kyoshi, his father, and younger brother, Hiro, gathered around the living room table. After their long day together, instead of retiring to separate corners of the house, Kyoshi’s father had suggested something different.

“How about a game night?” his father had asked, rummaging through the family closet to pull out a stack of old board games. Hiro’s eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect. "We haven’t done this in forever!"

Kyoshi smiled, feeling the lightness of the day’s bonding still fresh in his mind. A board game sounded perfect—simple, fun, and another opportunity to spend time with his father and little brother. He sat down at the table, watching as Hiro eagerly picked the game they would play for the night.

“Let’s do this one!” Hiro declared, holding up the well-worn box of **Monopoly**. It was an old classic that had seen plenty of playtime over the years, with its bent edges and missing pieces replaced with makeshift substitutes from other games. Hiro was clearly excited, bouncing in his seat, and Kyoshi could feel the nostalgic charm of the moment.

“Monopoly it is,” their father said, smiling as he unfolded the board on the table.

---

The game began smoothly, with Hiro quickly picking the top hat as his game piece. Kyoshi went for the race car, and his father picked the dog, chuckling at the silliness of it. They rolled dice, bought properties, and argued over who got the best spots on the board. Hiro, being the youngest, was especially competitive, determined to wipe out his older brother and win big.

“Kyoshi, you’re in trouble now!” Hiro exclaimed gleefully as he landed on **Boardwalk**, immediately snatching it up.

Kyoshi grinned, looking at the smug expression on Hiro’s face. “We’ll see about that,” he teased, rolling his own dice and trying to land on one of his strategic properties.

Their father, ever patient and calm, watched the two brothers with a smile on his face. He played methodically, though he let them both win small victories to keep things fun. The evening went on with the clattering of dice, the shifting of money, and the occasional groans as someone got sent to jail or had to mortgage a property.

---

Halfway through the game, Hiro’s competitive streak was in full force, but Kyoshi couldn’t help but notice his father’s peaceful demeanor. There was something comforting about playing this game with him—something grounding. In the past, these family game nights often turned into arguments or complaints, especially when Kyoshi was younger and quick to anger when things didn’t go his way. But today, it felt different. He wasn’t here to win; he was here to enjoy the moment with his family.

“Dad,” Kyoshi said casually as he placed a hotel on **Park Place**, earning a groan from Hiro. “You used to play this with me all the time, didn’t you?”

His father smiled softly. “Yeah, I did. You used to get frustrated when I wouldn’t let you win all the time.”

Kyoshi chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was a bit of a sore loser.”

“A bit?” Hiro quipped, earning a playful nudge from Kyoshi.

Their father laughed. “It’s part of growing up. But I’m glad we’re doing this again. It’s been too long since we’ve had a night like this.”

Kyoshi looked at his father, seeing the warmth in his eyes. He could feel the importance of this moment settling in. These kinds of memories—simple, everyday activities—were the ones he had missed the most when he had been so caught up in his own world. The day spent fishing had reminded him of the connection he shared with his family, and tonight’s game night was only reinforcing it.

---

As the game continued, Hiro’s luck began to run out. He landed on one of Kyoshi’s well-developed properties, sighing dramatically as he handed over his last bit of cash.

“No way! I was so close to winning!” Hiro complained, though he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

“That’s the game,” Kyoshi said, patting him on the shoulder. “You’ll get ‘em next time.”

Their father, who had been quietly amassing his own fortune on the board, chuckled. “Don’t count me out just yet.”

Sure enough, Kyoshi soon found himself facing off against his father in a final battle of wits. They both eyed each other playfully across the table, while Hiro, now out of the game, watched with excitement.

In the end, Kyoshi lost to his father’s well-timed strategy, but he couldn’t be upset about it. The laughter and teasing that filled the room were worth more than any win on the board. As the game came to a close, and they began packing it up for the night, Hiro was already asking if they could do it again sometime.

“I think we could make this a regular thing,” Kyoshi’s father said with a smile. “What do you boys think?”

Kyoshi nodded, feeling a warmth in his chest. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Hiro grinned ear to ear. “Me too! Next time, I’m totally winning.”

Their father laughed, patting Hiro on the head. “We’ll see about that.”

---

Later that night, after the game had been put away and Hiro had gone off to bed, Kyoshi found himself sitting with his father in the living room, a comfortable silence between them. The bond they had built today felt stronger than ever.

“Thanks for tonight,” Kyoshi said, breaking the quiet. “It was fun.”

His father nodded, his eyes soft with pride. “I’m glad we could do it. It means a lot, Kyoshi.”

Kyoshi didn’t need to say anything else. The unspoken understanding between them was enough. As they sat together, Kyoshi realized that these moments—these small, everyday experiences—were what truly mattered. It wasn’t about the fishing trips they didn’t take or the game nights they missed; it was about the ones they were having now. And those were the memories Kyoshi would hold on to.

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**End of Chapter**

Chapter end