Preparing Dinner

I looked down at the slip of paper in my hand, feeling a surge of apprehension at the potential consequences of Ema discovering Kazuha's contact details.

My mind raced with scenarios of her reaction—anger, jealousy, possessiveness—all of which seemed to converge into a storm waiting to unleash itself.

As I stood there, grappling with what to do next, the sound of Kanna's voice calling for Ema from the other room echoed through the apartment, snapping me out of my reverie.

I hastily folded the paper and slipped it back into my pocket, resolving to deal with it later when I had a moment of privacy.

Suddenly, after deciding not to tell Ema anything to avoid unnecessary arguments, I heard my name called from the other room.

"Fumihiro! Come here!" It was Ema's voice. She sounded a bit worried.

I left the kitchen to go to her in the dining room. I saw Kanna and Ema looking a bit worried with their gaze fixed on the phone.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked with a bit of fear.

"Nothing much, Fumi. Our parents won't be here for dinner, they're still stuck in Okinawa and unfortunately won't be able to make it here," Ema replied while looking at me and taking my hand.

"It looks like we'll be alone again tonight," she added, squeezing it a bit tighter.

This was a sign that we would have a very eventful night.

I blushed slightly and chuckled a bit.

"So what are we going to do with all this extra food? We definitely made too much." Kanna asked, resting her head on the table and stretching her arms.

"Well... what do you think if we invite someone? I don't know... like Benjiro or Suzuki-San," I proposed, completely forgetting about the situation that happened at the karaoke.

Kanna lifted her head from the table and looked me in the eyes.

"Mmmm... it could also be an opportunity to clear up that misunderstanding, you know? It's not a bad idea at all. Ema, what do you think?" Kanna asked with a sly smile towards her sister.

Ema let out a resigned sigh. It seemed as if she didn't want to see Benjiro or Suzuki-San.

"Yes. I think it's a great idea. I think Benjiro owes me an apology," she said, looking down and squeezing my hand.

"Come on, Ema. I've already talked to Benjiro. He already planned to apologize to you." I said while patting her head.

That was a "cheating" way to convince Ema to do something.

She leaned into my touch and she closed her eyes, making a satisfied puppy face and giggling like a baby.

"Hehehe~ I laaavv youuu~ F-F-Fumi..." She mumbled.

I then stopped and she returned to her normal self.

She looked at me with a disappointed look.

She clearly wanted more headpats.

Kanna looked at us in an embarassing way.

She was embarassed for us.

As the conversation settled, a sense of relief washed over me.

It seemed like inviting Benjiro and Suzuki-San could indeed provide an opportunity to mend the strained relationships and clear up any misunderstandings.

Despite Ema's initial reluctance, her eventual agreement signaled a willingness to move past the tension that had been brewing.

With the decision made, Kanna wasted no time in grabbing her phone, eagerly dialing Benjiro's number.

As the phone rang, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness, unsure of how Benjiro would react to our invitation after the events at the karaoke.

To my surprise, Benjiro picked up almost immediately, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

Kanna wasted no time in extending the invitation, her words tumbling out in a rush of excitement.

I watched with bated breath as she explained our situation, hoping that Benjiro would agree to join us.

After a moment of silence, Benjiro's voice came through the phone, his tone hesitant yet sincere.

"I... I would be honored to join you for dinner," he said, his words laced with a hint of humility.

Relief flooded through me, grateful that he was willing to give us another chance despite our previous misunderstanding.

"I know that he only accepted because Kanna was the one who called him." I said to myself.

With Benjiro's acceptance secured, Kanna hung up the phone, a triumphant grin spreading across her face.

"Well, that settles it then! Dinner with Benjiro it is," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm contagious.

Turning to Ema, I offered her a reassuring smile, hoping to ease any lingering doubts she might have.

"See, it'll be a good opportunity to clear the air and enjoy a nice meal together," I said, squeezing her hand gently.

Ema returned the smile, her eyes softening as she nodded in agreement.

"You're right, Fumihiro. Thank you for suggesting this," she replied, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

With the plan in motion, we set about preparing the rest of the meal, the atmosphere light and cheerful as we worked together in the kitchen.

As the scent of cooking filled the air, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within me, eager to see how the evening would unfold.

"Oh... I don't have Suzuki's number...." Kanna sighed with a disappointed tone.

"It's okay, i have her number." I said while smiling.

Ema looked at me with a small, jealous pout on her face.

"Mmm. Only because it's Suzuki. She's the only girl you're allowed to speak with." Ema said while smiling.

Suzuki was also a friend of her.

But of course she didn't know about her true feeligns about me.

Once i remembered this, i felt like i made a very bad mistake by making them come to my house.

I don't know if Ema's presence would've hurt her feelings in some way.

I proposed the dinner by instinct.

It was too late to change idea, so i picked up my phone from my pocket and called Suzuki.

The phone rang.

*Driiin* "Hello? Fumihiro-Kun? What's wrong?" Suzuki said in a worried tone.

"Suzuki! Relax, nothing happened. I know it's a bit sudden, but I just called to invite you to dinner at Ema's place. Will you come?" I asked in a calm and friendly tone, aiming to make her feel at ease.

"Tonight? Now? I'm in! I'll get someone to take me to Ema's right away! I should be there in thirty minutes! Thank you, Fumi, see you later?" She said, quickly hanging up the phone.

Her tone was very happy.

Was she happy about what? That I invited her to dinner?

Ema looked at me happily.

"How wonderful! We'll surely have a great time tonight!" She said.

"Let's go to prepare other things, shall we?" Kanna said while wrapping her arms around me and Ema.

"Yes! Let's do this!" Me and Ema said in unison.

I had a very bad feeling...

Me, Ema and Kanna kept cooking lots of other things for a while.

The time literally flew.

As the time for dinner approached, a knock at the door signaled someone's arrival.

I went to open the door and saw Benjiro and Suzuki-San standing there.

They both had something in their hands.

"We both bought something for tonight..." Benjiro said.

He then showed me a new board game, while Suzuki was holding another thing.

"This is a gift from my father, it's a special sweet coming directly from Italy. It's called 'Cannolo'. I'm sure you'll love it." She said while smiling proudly.

I both giggled at them.

I was happy to see them.

Ema then sneaked behind me and looked at Suzuki and Benjiro in a strange way.

She then crossed her arms and looked away while closing her eyes.

She was waiting for something.

Benjiro sighed.

"I-I'm sorry, Ema. I'm sorry for what i said at the karaoke. I'm also sorry for what i said to Kanna" He said while bowing his head.

Ema then looked at him and smiled while patting his shoulder.

"Hahaha! It's okay, Benjiro. I know you were confused and you misunderstood everything, right?" She said with a superior tone.

Benjiro then said with a cold voice "Yes, right.".

"Good! I'm glad you understood your mistakes. Now come inside!" Ema said while inviting them inside.

With warm greetings exchanged, Benjiro and Suzuki entered inside the house.

Everything was ready for dinner, except for my mind.

The only thing i knew for sure, was that Benjiro's apologies were totally fake.

"Welcome home!" Kanna said while inviting the guests to take a seat.

Her tone was really sarcastic and bothered.

It seemed like she didn't want to see Benjiro.

He remained silent and took a sit next to Suzuki, while she was sitting next to me.

"So... We have lots of things to discuss, don't we?" Benjiro said while looking at Ema with a cold tone.

"What...? What do you mean?" Ema said with a really irritated tone.

Benjiro remained silent.

"Oh no..." I said to myself, while the tension in the air was rising a lot.

~~~~

As Benjiro's silence lingered, a palpable unease settled over the room.

Ema's irritation was evident as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, shooting Benjiro a pointed look.

Finally, Benjiro broke the silence, his voice hesitant yet resolute.

"I mean... you know what i mean, right?," he began, his gaze fixed on Ema. "I think we need to talk about what happened."

Ema's expression tightened, but she nodded, albeit begrudgingly. "Fine. Let's talk," she replied, her tone clipped.

Suzuki watched the exchange quietly, her eyes flickering between the others, sensing the tension in the air.

Kanna, ever the peacemaker, attempted to diffuse the situation with a forced smile. "Come on, let's not dwell on the past.

We're here to enjoy dinner together," she interjected, though her attempt fell flat in the face of the palpable tension.

Ignoring Kanna's attempt to change the subject, Benjiro pressed on.

"Ema, I owe you an apology." he said, his tone earnest.

Ema looked at him with a confused look, not understanding why he was apologizing again.

"Didn't he already apologize?" I thought, while the tension was raising from the dephts of my soul.

"Oh please... Don't say anything weird, Benjiro-Kun." That's what i could read from Suzuki's worried expression.

At that exact moment, Benjiro looked down and fell silent for a few seconds. He wanted to say something heavy, something that could ruin the friendly atmosphere that had been created between us. Benjiro lifted his gaze towards Ema. His eyes were sharper than a blade. You could feel pierced just by meeting his gaze.

"Ema. I'm sorry, but tonight—" In that instant, Benjiro slammed his new board game "violently" onto the table, using a force that could destroy the entire universe.

"TONIGHT I WILL DESTROY YOU! HAHAHA! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!" He said with a malicious and wicked tone, accompanied by a villainous laughter straight out of an action movie.

Ema closed her eyes, letting out a sigh of relief.

She began to take slow breaths, inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth.

It seemed like a breathing technique from some anime.

After a few seconds, Ema opened her eyes and, standing up, pointed her finger at him, challenging him.

"Dream on! Dreaming is everyone's right! You'll never defeat me! I am the world champion of board games!" Ema replied with a determined and "heroic" tone.

"Ah, ah, ah..." Benjiro said, clapping his hands slowly. "I have trained hard to defeat you, Demon," he added, pointing his finger at her. "Tonight you will go home crying..." Benjiro added.

"I'm already at my home." Ema replied, laughing.

Benjiro was taken aback. "R-Right. But you'll cry anyway," Benjiro said.

Meanwhile, I chuckled at the sight of that scene.

So many things had happened in these few days that I had missed such a carefree scene from the old times.

"Come to think of it, it's been a while since we've gathered like this for such an occasion," I thought.

Suzuki was truly captivated and fascinated by that scene, watching the banter between Ema and Benjiro with great amazement, as if she were watching a movie.

Kanna, in the background, was laughing.

"Okay, you'll play later. How about I bring some food now?" I said, interrupting their challenge.

They both looked at me, with a lot of anger.

"Don't you dare interfere, human," Benjiro replied. "It's an unresolved matter between me and this monster."

"I think I agree. It's a matter between me and him."

As the tension between Benjiro and Ema simmered, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension.

Despite their playful banter, there was an underlying intensity to their exchange that left me uneasy.

"Alright, let's not get too carried away," I interjected, attempting to diffuse the mounting tension. "We're all here to have a good time, remember?"

Ema shot me a grateful glance, her earlier bravado giving way to a sense of relief.

"Fumihiro's right," she said, her tone softer now. "Let's put this aside for now and enjoy the evening together."

Benjiro nodded in agreement, though there was still a hint of competitiveness in his gaze.

"Fine, fine," he conceded, though his eyes sparkled with determination. "But don't think I'll go easy on you when we play that game later."

Ema flashed him a challenging smirk. "Bring it on," she replied, her competitive spirit reignited.

With the tension diffused, we settled back into our seats, the atmosphere lightening once more.

Kanna, ever the peacekeeper, took charge of serving the food, her cheerful demeanor helping to ease any lingering discomfort.

As we enjoyed the meal, conversation flowed freely, with laughter and camaraderie filling the air.

Benjiro and Ema engaged in friendly banter, their earlier rivalry forgotten in the spirit of the evening.

Suzuki, too, seemed to relax into the festivities, her initial awe giving way to genuine enjoyment.

She chatted animatedly with Kanna, exchanging stories and sharing laughs as if she had known us for years.

During the dinner, we discussed about lots of things, and i told everyone about the girl that was about to come tomorrow, the transfer student.

"Guys, i think that tomorrow will be a strange day at school. Arai-sensei called me and told me about this Evangeline Beaufort, the transfer student. She's coming tomorrow." I said, opening the topic.

I saw Ema smiling at me.

"You don't plan to cheat me, do you?" She said with a gentle but murderous tone.

I softly chuckled at her reply.

"No, not at all. I think i'll just be a guide in school for her for a few days, nothing more. I'll introduce her to all of you." I said, while finishing to eat.

"Oh, okay. I'm not jealous. Not at all." Ema said with a really cute pout on her face.

"It doesn't seem so." Kanna replied with a laugh.

"Well, Fumi..." Benjiro stood up and walked up to me, to wrap his arm around my neck, hugging me in a friendly way.

"So... Will you introduce me to this girl too...?" He said with a mischievous grin.

I nodded at him.

"Yes, why not. You really need a girlfriend, don't you?" I added.

"Good job, Benjiro-Kun. That's a good way to protect my future husband. Thank you." Ema said proudly while giving him a thumbs up.

Meanwhile, Suzuki-san was staying silent.

She didn't like to see me and Ema acting like a couple.

I felt guilty in that situation but there was nothing i could do.

"Suzuki? Is everything alright?" Ema asked.

It looked like she was daydreaming.

"E-Eh..? Yes... i'm just tired, nothing more... Hehe~" Suzuki replied, with a glimpse of sadness in her voice.

"What time is it?" Kanna asked.

I checked up my phone.

It was 10 P.M. already. A little bit late.

"Oh shoot! It's pretty late, isn't it?" Benjiro said.

"Ema. I think that we'll play another time. Be ready to be destroyed." He added with a challengine tone.

Ema nodded and laughed at him. "Dream, my little boy." She said.

What a funny, peaceful scene.

I wanted this to go on forever.

Suddenly, Suzuki got a call from her father.

"Yes, dad?---Oh, is he already outside? Okay, i'm going." Suzuki said while hanging up the phone.

"What is it, Suzuki?" I asked her.

She blushed.

"N-Nothing... they came to pick me up..." She was looking away.

Ema surely noticed this.

Benjiro tried to interfere in the situation.

"Can you give me a ride to my home, Suzuki?" He said with a friendly tone.

Suzuki nodded.

"Great!!!" Benjiro said with a happy tone.

He was faking it to distract Ema from Suzuki's reaction.

Benjiro didn't want Ema to notice any strange behavior in Suzuki.

He then whispered something in her hear and she blushed even more.

Suzuki then spoke to us.

"So, we are leaving now, i guess. Thank you for dinner. See you at school , guys!"

"Bye guys!" Benjiro added

We waved at them.

"See you tomorrow!" me and Ema said.

And so, as the night drew to a close, Benjiro and Suzuki bid us farewell, their smiles warm and genuine.

Ema and I exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment of the unexpected turn of events that had brought us closer together.

As I watched them leave, I couldn't shake the feeling of contentment that settled over me.

Despite the bumps along the way, tonight had been a reminder of the power of friendship and the importance of cherishing those moments of connection.

With a smile, I turned to Ema, her presence a comforting anchor in the midst of life's uncertainties.

Together, we cleaned up the remnants of the evening, the warmth of companionship guiding us forward into the night.

"Good night... guys... *yawn*" Kanna said with a tired tone, while going into her room and closing the door.

"Goodnight, Kanna." I said while smiling.

"Goodnight, sister!" Ema said.

Such a peaceful dinner.

My mind was at ease and i was feeling happy, like i've forgotten all that happened the past days.

I then hugged Ema from behind and gave her a small kiss on her cheek.

"I love you, Ema." I whispered to her ear.

Her body trembled , but in a positive way.

She really liked that.

Ema's hand then reached for my right cheek, caressing it softly.

"I love you too..." She replied.

Ema then turned towards me, and I saw that her eyes were wet, as if she were about to cry at any moment.

She wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed me in a very passionate way.

After one minute, she broke the kiss.

"There's something i want to tell you... but let's first finish this upstairs, in my room... shall we～?" She said with a heavy breath and a very seductive and sexy tone.

I was really excited.

"This is gonna be a wild night." I thought.

But...