Hikari stepped into the house, his voice slipping out in routine habit. "We're home!" he called absentmindedly, the lingering chill of the evening still clinging to his skin. The dim lighting didn't bother him—after all, he hadn't walked that eerie road alone.
"Son! Welcome home!" His mother's voice rang out with warmth, instantly making the house feel livelier. Her eyes then landed on Mitsumi, lighting up with an enthusiasm that could rival a festival. "So, you're Yukine Mitsumi, am I correct?" she beamed, the energy in her tone akin to an in-law meeting her son's fiancée for the first time.
Mitsumi offered a polite bow. "Yes, ma'am, nice to meet you."
Before Hikari could process the situation, his father burst into the room with equal excitement. "Oh-ho! So this is the young lady!" His grin stretched from ear to ear, and the way his eyes twinkled sent a shiver of apprehension down Hikari's spine. "So, what did your parents say?"
"Um, they allowed me to," Mitsumi answered, a touch of shyness slipping into her voice. "I told them what happened when Hikari saved me. Usually, they wouldn't let me go to an invitation, but they said it was fine as long as he was the one accompanying me home." She turned to him, her voice lowering. "I'm sorry, Hikari. I didn't ask you first."
"It's fine," he replied, forcing a small smile despite the warning bells ringing in his head. If anything, his dad would've killed him if he had refused. His parents had wanted a daughter for as long as he could remember. Seeing Mitsumi here, it was almost as if they were adopting one on the spot. Not that he was complaining—but still, something about the way they were looking at them sent an unsettling feeling through his chest.
His mother's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Oh, they're really close, just as you told me," she murmured to his father, as if Mitsumi wasn't standing right there.
"When did they meet?" His dad rubbed his chin in exaggerated curiosity.
Hikari scratched the back of his head. "Uh, yesterday. I mean today—wait, no, yesterday."
"Yesterday, I mean today," Mitsumi simultaneously said, her voice overlapping with his.
She peeked at him apologetically, clearly worried about making a mistake, but all he could focus on was how naturally cute—
No. Stop. Shut up, brain.
"I met her at the Love Bridge," he clarified quickly, before his thoughts spiraled further.
That seemed to be all his parents needed. Their smiles widened, as if their suspicions had just been confirmed. As they ushered them inside, Hikari noticed his mother's gaze flickering downward. Then his father followed her stare and let out a small chuckle.
Only then did Hikari realize—his fingers were still intertwined with Mitsumi's.
Color drained from his face. Why? Why was this happening again?! When did he even take her hand?! Was he cursed to always be caught in these situations?!
He quickly yanked his hand away, his voice stumbling into an apology. "I—I didn't notice, sorry."
"It's fine," Mitsumi said with a gentle smile, completely unbothered.
His mother clasped her hands together, eyes twinkling. "Well then, take a seat in the living room. Your father and I will prepare dinner. Tonight's a special day!"
Hikari was about to ask why this was a 'special day' when his dad pulled out his phone and connected it to the house speakers. Moments later, classical music drifted through the air, filling the room with an atmosphere so formal it almost felt like they were expecting the president.
Yeah. They were definitely up to something.
"Hikari, Mitsumi, dinner's ready!" his mother called from the kitchen.
Before Hikari could stand, his dad clapped him on the back. "Come on, son, let's eat! Hehe."
Guiding Mitsumi to the dining area, he felt a growing sense of unease. It wasn't as if she needed directions—the dining table was right beside the living room—but the way his parents' eyes sparkled made it clear they were treating this night as something grander than just dinner.
"Let's eat!"
Hikari's jaw nearly dropped when he saw the table. Eight massive, perfectly grilled steaks glistened under the light, their juices pooling onto the plates. Surrounding them were an assortment of dishes—his mom's finest cooking, ones she only prepared for special occasions.
Then his dad, as if revealing the final act of a grand performance, waltzed in with two bottles of sparkling wine.
This wasn't just dinner.
This was a feast.
He sat down, glancing at Mitsumi to see her reaction, but she simply smiled and clasped her hands together, clearly appreciative of the meal before them. His parents, however, looked far too pleased with themselves, their gazes flickering between the two of them like they were waiting for something.
As he chewed on a bite of steak, his dad grinned. "I'm quite surprised, son. Never thought you'd make friends with a girl."
Hikari almost choked.
His dad continued. "So, how did you introduce yourself to her?"
What? Introduce himself? His mind blanked. Did he even introduce himself properly? No, wait—she was the one who spoke first. But he couldn't just say that, right? That would sound weird. His mind scrambled for an answer, but before he could come up with anything—
"Actually, I was the one who introduced myself first," Mitsumi said. "Hikari saved me when I was being robbed at the love bridge. He hurled himself at one of the robbers so I could run away. I wasn't able to thank him yesterday, and he lost all his monthly allowance trying to protect me. That's why I came here today—to properly thank him. I can't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't shown up."
Silence.
Hikari stared at her, mouth slightly agape, until the words finally registered.
"Wh—What are you saying, Mitsumi?!" he sputtered, nearly inhaling his food.
"Oops, sorry, Hikari," she said with a smile so pure it felt like she had no idea what kind of chaos she had just unleashed.
His mother gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Really?! My baby boy is growing up!"
His dad wiped an invisible tear. "I'm so proud of you, son."
Hikari dropped his head onto the table in defeat. There was no hiding it now. They would've found out eventually, but still! He hadn't been prepared to deal with it tonight of all nights!
He sighed, cutting another piece of steak and deciding to simply focus on enjoying the meal. At the very least, his mom had worked hard to prepare all this food. It would be a shame not to appreciate it.
A sudden movement caught his eye. He turned just in time to see his mom holding up a slice of steak, offering it to his dad.
"Here, ahh."
His dad beamed, taking the bite. "Thanks! Here, have some too."
Then, to make matters worse, his dad turned to him and gave him a knowing wink.
Hikari clenched his fists. This wasn't dinner.
This was emotional warfare.
He glanced at Mitsumi, expecting her to be weirded out, but instead, she was simply smiling, enjoying her meal without a care in the world. A small warmth spread in his chest at the sight.
Maybe this wasn't so bad.
Still, he shook his head and returned to his food. If he focused hard enough, maybe—just maybe—he could get through this dinner without completely dying of embarrassment.
One thing was certain, though.
His parents were never going to let him live this down.