Kazuya stood in the doorway of the Utsuro household as he entered and spotted Hikaru, i, Aoi, and Misaki in the living room.
"Mr. Utsuro," Hikaru said, bowing respectfully, with Aoi following suit.
"It's nice to see you again, Hikaru. Aoi," Kazuya greeted, before his eyes landed on i. "Oh? And who might this be?"
"Hello, Mr. Utsuro." i bowed politely. "My na is i. I'm a friend of Hikaru's. It's nice to et you."
Kazuya narrowed his eyes, studying her face for a mont.
"i? As in i Tomita? The volleyball setter?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Well," Kazuya smiled warmly, "it's an honour to et you."
"Thank you, sir!" i responded with a smile.
Then–
Kazuya's eyes shifted toward Misaki. He set his bag down gently and stepped toward her, taking a seat beside his wife on the couch. Hikaru, i, and Aoi silently observed.
"Honey," Kazuya said gently. "I think it's ti to let Hikaru and Aoi know the truth."
But...
Misaki remained silent. Her posture slumped slightly, and the cold expression she wore earlier was gone – replaced by sothing softer, sadder.
Kazuya sighed quietly, looking at her with concern.
"Is it because of Hana and Hinote?"
Misaki imdiately flinched at the ntion of those nas – Hana and Hinote Kanashii.
Aoi and i looked at each other, eyebrows raised in confusion.
"Hana?" Aoi asked.
"Hinote?" i echoed.
Hikaru turned to them.
"Hana Kanashii was friends with my mom and Mrs. Utsuro back in high school," he explained. "Hinote Kanashii was Hana's son."
"I see," Aoi murmured.
Kazuya turned back to the trio, his expression soft and understanding.
"Ever since Hana passed away and Hinote disappeared, it's deeply affected Misaki. She stopped opening up to people... except for your mother, Hikaru."
"My mom?" Hikaru muttered. Then – his eyes widened.
That's right... just like Mrs. Utsuro, my mom always looks down when they are ntioned...
Aoi glanced at Misaki, who still wouldn't et their eyes.
"Mrs. Utsuro," she whispered.
Kazuya turned to his wife again, still t with silence. He sighed once more and looked back at the group.
"It seems like Misaki won't be telling you the truth after all..." He turned to Aoi. "Aoi, you see–"
"No!"
Kazuya stopped mid-sentence and turned, surprised.
Misaki had straightened her posture, her eyes now locked on Aoi's with quiet resolve.
"I'll tell them the truth," Misaki said firmly.
Misaki let out a deep sigh and looked directly into Aoi's eyes.
"Aoi, you see..." Misaki began. "...your mother bullied Hana back in high school."
Aoi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Wha?"
"Miyu bullied Hana every single day," Misaki continued. "I never really knew the reason why. But Sayaka and I... we stood up for Hana. We fought back against Miyu every ti. It felt like Sayaka and I were protecting our little sister."
She paused for a mont, her voice tightening.
"Until–"
Misaki clasped her hands together, her grip trembling.
"Hana died."
The room fell completely silent.
Hikaru and Aoi stared at Misaki, their expressions softening with shock and sympathy.
"Her death... and Hinote's disappearance... it changed everything for Sayaka and ." Misaki's voice cracked. "And when Miyu found out that Hana had died... she ca to us imdiately. She apologized, begged us for forgiveness for everything she did."
Suddenly–
BUZZ!
Hikaru's phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it. His eyes remained fixed on Misaki.
"Sayaka moved on. She forgave Miyu. The two of them eventually beca close friends. But ..."
Misaki looked down, her voice quieter. "...I couldn't bring myself to forgive her for what she did to Hana."
i, who had been silently listening, gently spoke up.
"Can I ask why, Mrs. Utsuro?"
Misaki slowly turned to i, her gaze solemn.
"Because..." she whispered, "...she was apologizing to the wrong person. Miyu should've apologized to Hana. But she was too late."
She clenched her fists.
"And I... I just couldn't forget about the past."
Then–
Misaki suddenly stood up and stepped toward Aoi.
"Mrs. Utsuro?" Aoi muttered, confused.
To Aoi's surprise, Misaki sank to her knees and bowed deeply.
"Mrs. Utsuro, what are you doing?"
"I'm so sorry, Aoi," Misaki said, her voice full of remorse. "Because of my past with your mother, I gave you the cold shoulder. I projected my pain onto you – soone who had nothing to do with that happened back then. I took it out on you, and I was wrong for that. I'm truly sorry."
Aoi stood up from the couch and quickly kneeled down beside her.
"Mrs. Utsuro, please raise your head."
Misaki lifted her head, eyes glistening.
"It's okay," Aoi said gently. "I accept your apology. I understand now why you acted that way."
"Aoi..." Misaki whispered.
"When my mom cos ho later," Aoi said with determination, "I'll talk to her. I'll convince her to speak to you again."
Misaki's eyes widened. A small, heartfelt smile ford on her lips.
"Thank you, Aoi."
Then, after a short pause, she added, "But... can you do a favour?"
"What is it, Mrs. Utsuro?" Aoi asked curiously.
Misaki looked her in the eyes, a serious expression returning to her face.
"Please... take care of Yami."
Her voice trembled with sincerity.
"I'm sure you'll do it better than I ever did."
Aoi's eyes glistened with emotion as she realized what Misaki's words ant. She had finally gained her approval.
"Mrs. Utsuro..." she whispered, smiling through the tears.
Hikaru and i glanced at each other, smiling, happy that Aoi and Misaki had resolved their issues.
Then–
Misaki turned her head toward them.
"Hikaru." Misaki called out.
Hikaru looked up at her.
"Hmm? What is it, Mrs. Utsuro?"
"To answer your question from earlier – Yami has been in his room for the last few weeks, locked in." Misaki explained.
Hikaru's eyes widened as he suddenly stood up from the couch.
"Hikaru?" i muttered, standing up as well.
"Is Yami still in his room?" Hikaru asked.
Misaki shook her head.
"No. He left yesterday and hasn't co back since."
"O-Oh..." Hikaru muttered. "By any chance, do you two know where he went?"
He directed the question to both Misaki and Kazuya.
Kazuya, still seated with his arms crossed, shook his head.
"Unfortunately, Hikaru... we don't."
Hikaru's shoulders dropped, his expression dimming with concern.
"Is... that so?"
"But–"
Hikaru looked up at Kazuya quickly.
"Huh?"
"Just before Yami left the house, he muttered sothing," Kazuya said. "I can't rember it exactly, but... it was sothing like 'Te...shii.'"
"Teshii?" Hikaru, i, and Aoi all said at once, their eyes widening.
"Yes! Teshii. That was the na. Whatever that ans."
Misaki turned to her husband, her brows furrowed in thought.
"Teshii?" she murmured, placing a finger to her chin. "I rember Sayaka ntioning that exact na. She said he was one of your friends, Hikaru."
"I see." Kazuya nodded, then turned to Hikaru.
"Hikaru, what does this Teshii guy have to do with our idiot of a son?"
But...
Hikaru just stood frozen, eyes widened, lips parted.
Teshii?
What does Teshii have to do with Yami?
They barely talked to each other.
10 Minute Later...
The shining moon had risen in the dark blue sky, stars glimring softly above.
Hikaru, i, and Aoi now stood outside the Utsuro household, finishing their conversation with Kazuya and Misaki.
Aoi faced both Hikaru and i, then bowed respectfully.
"Thank you so much, Karu. i. I'm truly grateful."
Hikaru smiled, waving it off with a hand.
"Don't worry about it, Aoi. I'm just glad and i were able to help you."
Aoi stood up straight, her eyes still on Hikaru.
"Still... if it weren't for you and i, I wouldn't have known what to do."
Then – she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"Thank you, Karu! I'm so glad that I beca friends with you and Yam when we were children."
Hikaru smiled and hugged her back.
i watched the hug quietly, her arms crossed and cheeks puffed slightly – clearly pouting in jealousy.
Aoi finally let go of Hikaru and stepped back.
"Well then, I must go ho now." She turned and started walking away but looked back over her shoulder with a playful wave.
"Goodbye, Karu! Goodbye, i!"
Both Hikaru and i waved back.
"Yeah. I'll see you later, Aoi!"
"And good luck to both of you!" Aoi shouted, teasingly.
Hikaru and i both blushed as Aoi disappeared down the street.
After a beat, Hikaru turned to i.
"So, i, what do you want to do now?"
i smiled softly, eyes drifting up to the stars.
"I'm not really sure, Hikaru."
A peaceful silence fell – until–
BUZZ!
Hikaru's phone vibrated in his pocket.
"Huh?"
He pulled it out and raising it to his face to check the screen. i leaned in slightly, curious.
"Eh?" both of them blurted in unison.
To their shock, Hikaru had 14 notifications.
From Teshii.
Hikaru opened the ssaging app to read what Teshii had sent.
Teshii: Hey!!!
Teshii: Hey!!!
Teshii: Hey!!!
Teshii: You there, bro?
Teshii: Sunshine?
Teshii: Hello?
Teshii: It's , Teshii!!!
Teshii: Are you ignoring ? ☹
Teshii: My baby brother!!!
Teshii: Sunshine!!!
Teshii: Hello!!!
Teshii: Seriously? Are you there?
Teshii: Hello!!!!!!!!!!
Teshii:Sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hikaru narrowed his eyes and quickly tapped his screen.
Hikaru: What?!
A few seconds had passed.
Teshii: Oh!
Teshii: You are alive!
Teshii: Just to let you know, and the others are at the safehouse with Zephyr!
Hikaru raised an eyebrow and typed again..
Hikaru: Was that it?
Another pause–
Teshii: Yep! 😊
Hikaru groaned and facepald.
This guy...
i peeked at the screen and giggled.
"Awwww! Teshii is using emojis. So cute."
Hikaru blinked, realizing how close i was to him.
"Y-Yeah..."
Then–
"By the way, Hikaru..." i began shyly. "If it's okay with you, can I co to the safehouse with you?"
Hikaru blinked in surprise.
"Huh?"
i looked away, flustered.
"I'm... just curious about the people you're working with."
Hikaru stared at her, unsure.
What should I do?
I an... i already knows about the Elents and the Order.
It wouldn't really hurt if she cos with. If Satoshi and Reina get angry... I'll just bla it on Teshii.
Then–
Hikaru looked at i and smiled.
"Sure, i. You can co to the safehouse with ."
i's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Hikaru imdiately looked away, blushing.
Too cute!
He nodded shyly.
"Yay! Okay, let's go!" i bead.
Hikaru smiled and stepped forward – but his shoelace had co undone. He stepped on it and lost his balance.
"W-Woah!!!"
"Hikaru?" i turned toward him.
CRASH!!!
They both toppled to the ground.
Hikaru opened his eyes to find i's face directly in front of his.
And...
...they kissed.
Accidentally.
Hikaru imdiately pulled back and scrambled to his feet, blushing furiously.
"I-I'm so sorry, i!"
i sat upright, fingers on her lips, face as red as a tomato.
"I-It's okay, Hikaru."
Silence fell again.
A very awkward silence.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
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