Mixed Emotions - Hiroshi's Humanity Arc

Hiroshi felt relieved when Wisteria told him that the dinner was cancelled. It was too short notice for her parents. However, he couldn't wiggle his way out of the dinner for the next month.

"Stop stressing. She's just a friend," Kuro-Yami told Hiroshi. He didn't like that Hiroshi was having feelings for Wisteria. He knew that love would make him soft.

"Yeah, but meeting her parents feels so...weird?" Hiroshi responded, fixing the collar on his shirt. He had bought himself a smart shirt with a button up collar. He also wore smart, beige coloured slacks and neat, brown shoes with thin laces. It felt as if he was a new boyfriend meeting her parents for the first time.

Boyfriend...

Eventually, Hiroshi gathered up enough courage to leave his house and walk the short distance to Wisteria’s front door. He took a deep breath, his legs shaking slightly. Why was he so nervous?

“Hiroshi…”

“God! Tomo don’t scare me like that!” Hiroshi retorted to Tomokazu’s greeting behind him. He was wearing his pyjamas, and didn’t seem to have any plans to go anywhere. Nevertheless, he shook his head and walked closer to Hiroshi.

“It’s going to be fine. Don’t sweat it.”

“I’m not…”

“Hiroshi, I may be stupid, but I’m not an idiot,” Tomokazu smiled. “You’re nervous. I just wanted to wish you luck.”

Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. Although he felt as if he was connecting to Tomokazu a lot more over the past five months, this emotional support was out of left field for him.

“Thanks, Tomo, I do appreciate it,” he gave him a small smile. “I hope her parents will like me.”

“And that they will.”

“How do you know?”

“I don’t,” Tomokazu smirked. “Just trust me.”

Trust…that word again.

“However, I will get with Bibi before you have a chance to ask Wisteria out,” Tomokazu boasted to one of his only friends.

“I don’t care?” Hiroshi responded coldly.

“Sure, you don’t.”

Hiroshi shook his head in annoyance and knocked on the door. He was starting to enjoy Tomokazu’s company a lot more. Yes, he was annoying a lot of the time. However, isn’t that what friends do to one another? Joke and laugh? He still was getting used to the whole ‘friends’ tag.

Finally, Wisteria opened the door. Hiroshi could hardly believe his eyes. She had done her make-up, and her skin was perfectly clear and smooth. His hair was done up and tidied up near her nape. She had also added some eyeliner. She wore a gorgeous red dress that went to just below knee height, and she fit very well in it. Wisteria gave Hiroshi a big smile.

“My my…don’t you look smart? All just for me?” she giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. “I’m honoured.”

“Well, you’re looking stunning, if I do say so myself,” Hiroshi smiled back as he was let into the house. Tomokazu walked back home with his hands in his pockets. He knew that they were both in good hands in each other’s company.

“Your dress is really nice too,” Hiroshi continued piling on the compliments to Wisteria, who only blushed and fanned her face with her hand.

“Thanks! I wasn’t able to fit into it before, but with the training, now I can,” she closed her eyes and smiled. Hiroshi thought it was so adorable. Her and Blossom. Why did they have to be so similar?

At that moment, a man in his forties with black-grey hair, green eyes and wrinkles on his forehead and eyebags rushed down the hall and shook Hiroshi’s hand. Even Hiroshi was taken back by the sudden kindness.

“Hiroshi, is it? Wisteria tells me and Yuki all about you! My name is Samuel. Please no formalities!” he had a strong grip, which Hiroshi didn’t mind.

“Dad, you’re embarrassing me!” Wisteria squeaked, only causing Hiroshi to laugh. However, his mind was growing numb. The similarities only grew. Sameul acted so much like Blossom’s father. It must as well have been fate.

“It’s fine, Wisteria. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Hiroshi said, returning the handshake. A woman, also in her forties with wrinkles, green eyes and short, purple hair walked up behind Samuel and jabbed him in the side.

“Ow! Honey, that’s sore!”

“Good! Next time you won’t make a fool out of our daughter!” the woman yelled. Hiroshi assumed it was Yuki, Samuel’s wife and Wisteria’s mother. She seemed to be very headstrong. It almost made Hiroshi laugh. Wisteria’s personality was so equally divided between her shy, timid, friendly father and her headstrong, assertive, and badass mother.

A million thoughts entered his brain during the night. He had a lovely time. Samuel and Yuki talked about how they met, and about how they were so proud of Wisteria. Hiroshi had to hold his tongue about how they prevented her from using magic, but that was for her own safety. The only reason she was at the Tournament was because her face was not shown. Other than that, they were very nice people. Just like Blossom’s parents…

They asked the usual questions. Like how they met, how long they had known each other. A slight nudge to a relationship, that both Wisteria and Hiroshi kept quiet about. Hiroshi loved the dinner. Lasagna. Blossom’s mother’s favourite. Shit.

At the end of the night, Hiroshi said goodbye to Wisteria’s family and left. His mind began going elsewhere. Just as he was about to enter his house, Wisteria grabbed him from behind.

“Sorry about that. My parents think I have a thing for you!” she laughed. Hiroshi’s heart almost sank.

“It’s alright. Does that mean you don’t?”

“Of course I don’t! We are just friends, aren’t we?” Wisteria laughed.

A part of Hiroshi’s soul died in an instant. He thought that maybe he could have nudged her in the right direction towards a happy life with him. He was even considering taking the risk. But he got it wrong. She was just being friendly.

“Yes, we are. Get some rest now. And thank Yuki for the food. It was so delicious!” Hiroshi smiled, hiding his pain, walking inside his house and closing the door. Wisteria did the same, trudging down the path. She sank down the door, putting her head in her hands.

“Why did I say that when I know it’s not true,” she sighed. She wanted to be with Hiroshi. What was stopping her?

She knew she had seven more months of training before they would be too busy for relationships anyway. Plenty of time.

Little did she know, they would be fighting a lot sooner than expected. As soon as next month…