The moon shone brightly in the night sky, casting a soft glow over the quiet neighborhood as Hikari and Mitsumi finally arrived home. A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, their leaves whispering as though sharing secrets with the wind. The streetlights flickered faintly, illuminating the pathway leading to the front gate where his parents stood waiting.
Even in the dim light, their happiness was evident. The moment their eyes landed on him and Mitsumi, they began waving enthusiastically, their energy never faltering.
The metal gate creaked open as his mother hurriedly let them in, her face beaming with warmth. Beside her, his father grinned, arms crossed as he watched his son with an amused glint in his eyes. It was rare for them to appear so overjoyed all at once, but tonight, they radiated excitement that was impossible to ignore.
"How was school, son?" His father's voice carried a hint of expectation. "Made any progress?"
The question struck a nerve. Immediately, Hikari recalled Mitsumi's words from lunch—words that had echoed in his mind ever since.
You do know you have me, right, Hikari?
His chest tightened slightly at the thought. That moment, those words, the sincerity in her voice—everything had replayed in his head multiple times throughout the day. Before he could dwell on it further, he felt a gentle squeeze on his hand.
Startled, he turned to find Mitsumi beside him, her fingers wrapped around his own. Her face was tinged with a deep shade of red, her grip tightening slightly as if bracing herself. Averting his gaze, Hikari felt heat creep up his own cheeks, worried that locking eyes with her might only make things more awkward.
"Thanks for the lunch, Mom. It was delicious." His words came out faster than expected, a desperate attempt to divert attention elsewhere.
His mother's smile widened. "Glad you liked it! I'll be using those bento boxes from now on. It would be such a waste to keep them locked away in the cupboard, don't you think?"
His father perked up at that, eyebrows rising in curiosity. "Bento boxes? Wait... don't tell me—" His voice trailed off before realization struck. "Hold on, is it those bento boxes?"
"Yes, darling, the ones we used back in high school." His mother chuckled, casting a nostalgic glance at her husband.
A loud laugh erupted from his father. "The ones I bought? I still remember telling you that they were for couples!"
Hikari groaned internally, his shoulders tensing. This was the last thing he needed right now. Mitsumi's grip on his hand loosened, and when he glanced at her, he saw that her face was now burning even brighter than before.
"Anyway, it's getting chilly. How about we all head inside while I prepare dinner?" His mother changed the subject swiftly, though her playful grin remained.
A sigh of relief escaped him. They were enjoying this far too much, but given the situation, he couldn't entirely blame them. If he were in their position, how would he react? If he had a son and saw him walking home with a friend like Mitsumi, wouldn't he be just as eager to tease?
Wait. What am I thinking?
Shaking his head, he cleared his throat and hesitated before speaking. "Um, about that. I was already invited to dinner."
His words came out carefully, deliberately omitting any names, hoping his parents would simply nod and let him go without question. But, of course, things were never that easy.
"Oh? You got invited to dinner?" His father leaned in slightly, his tone teasing. "And who, may I ask, invited you?"
"Is it Mitsumi?" His mother chimed in with a knowing smile. "I think it's Mitsumi."
His pulse quickened. They had cornered him. He had no way out. He had promised himself long ago that he would never lie to his parents, no matter what. Even now, a part of him wanted to confess everything—not just about the dinner invitation, but about his secret, his abilities, the truth he had been holding in for so long. But he couldn't. Not yet.
"Um, actually..." Mitsumi's voice cut through the moment of tension. "My mom invited us to dinner."
Hikari shot her a quick glance of gratitude, realizing she had stepped in to save him. However, as soon as the words left her mouth, her face turned an even darker shade of red. His parents exchanged glances before leaning toward each other and whispering.
His father spoke first. "To think that Hikari's progressed so quickly. I couldn't be happier."
"Yeah, and to think he used to be so unsociable. We couldn't be prouder," his mother agreed.
"Yup, this is better than I could've hoped for. Getting invited to her house already?" His father chuckled under his breath.
They were doing this on purpose. Whether to tease him or not, their whispers were loud enough for him to hear, and judging by their grins, they knew exactly what they were doing.
"Sure, go ahead, son," his father finally said, flashing a knowing smile. "Just make sure you get home safely. And protect Mitsumi at all costs."
His mother, ever the thoughtful one, suddenly disappeared into the kitchen before returning with a small bag filled with tangerines. "Here, give these to your mom," she said, handing them to Mitsumi.
"Yes, mom." Mitsumi took them without hesitation.
Hikari blinked. Wait. Did she just say mom?
His enhanced hearing caught it perfectly, and his brain nearly short-circuited processing the words. Did she really just call my mom— No. No, no, no, I must've misheard. He shook his head quickly, trying to dismiss the thought before it completely overwhelmed him. Too much. This was too much.
"Thanks, Mom. Dad." He forced himself to speak normally. "We'll be heading off now."
"Wait, aren't you going to change?" His father raised an eyebrow.
"Um, I'll just change when I get back later."
"Oh, okay. Take care!"
With that, they set off toward Mitsumi's house, their parents waving at them until they were out of sight. The night was peaceful, the sky a vast expanse of dark blue, peppered with countless stars. A shooting star streaked across the heavens, leaving behind a faint, shimmering trail.
Hikari hesitated before closing his eyes briefly. Please, let me make a good first impression on Mitsumi's mom.
Wait—what did I just wish for? His eyes snapped open in horror, his face heating up as he mentally scolded himself. What am I even thinking?!
His train of thought was abruptly cut short when Mitsumi tugged on his hand. He blinked, realizing that he had been walking absentmindedly.
Clang!
A dull pain shot through his forehead as he staggered back, clutching his head. He had walked straight into a streetlight.
Laughter bubbled out of Mitsumi as she helped him up, her giggles contagious enough that even he found himself chuckling at his own misfortune.
A few minutes later, she pointed to a house on their right. It was a beautiful, western-style home, two stories tall, exuding an air of elegance. Hikari stared in awe as Mitsumi opened the front gate and knocked on the door.
She never once let go of his hand.
"Mom, we're home!" Mitsumi called out.
The door creaked open, and a cheerful woman greeted them with a smile so familiar that Hikari felt a jolt of recognition. His breath hitched as he took a second look at her face.
Did he know her from somewhere?
Her gaze landed on him, and her expression froze.
"Y-y-y-you…" she stuttered, her eyes widening in shock.
Hikari's heart pounded. Wait. Don't tell me…