Obstacles Ahead

Sota was awoken by angrily rhythmic banging on his bedroom window. 

He instinctively reached for a weapon, but then thought better of it. It was midday - plenty of others were currently home. Plus, he could see the silhouette outside of his window.

"Can I help you?" Sota asked as he opened the window to a disgruntled Riku. 

"What...the hell?!" Riku replied as he triumphantly stepped into Sota's room. 

"What? You mad I beat your League of Legends score again?"

"Separate issue..." Riku shot back. "Why am I finding out about this through Facebook?

Riku shoved his phone in Sota's face. Sota took a step back so he could actually read the screen.

[NOTIFICATION]: Your Facebook Friend "Ren" is now in a relationship

The post had been up since last night, and it was already loaded up with comments from people on Ren's friend list. Sota wasn't surprised by it. Ren had asked him in-advance if it was okay to do. 

"Well, how about that?" Sota questioned sarcastically. 

"You suck..."

"It just happened!" Sota exclaimed, defending himself. "It was just after the tournament. That was what - a day and a half ago?"

"That's plenty of time to tell me! I would never keep you in the dark like that!"

"You sure?" Sota asked. "What about that time you and Jacob were definitely 'not into each other'? Remember when I walked behind the staircase at school and found you two..."

"You stop right there!" Riku interrupted. "Totally different situation! You weren't that involved."

"I mean - I felt pretty involved after that..."

Riku wanted to keep going, but instead sighed and hung his head. 

"Man, you always have some smartass response...don't you?"

A moment passed by in silence. Then Riku lifted his head - his expression a bit more serious. 

"So, what happens now?" he asked. "I'm really happy for you both... But I'm sure you both know that there's gonna be some obstacles. As people talk and word gets out, it's gonna get dicey."

"Yeah, I know."

Sota sat back on his bed. He had been pondering that thought for a bit now - since the initial emotions had died down. Sota was happier than he had ever been in his life, but he knew that it was going to take some work to navigate the intricacy of dating someone that young. 

"As it stands," Sota explained. "Concern number one is slowly working through the process of letting people know about us. My family won't give a shit, because they never do. Ren seemed convinced that she'd have quite a hurdle on her hands when her family found out, though..."

"Seems reasonable," Riku admitted as he sat in Sota's office chair. "She'll become a superstar in school, though. Dating a college guy is instant 'Queen' status in that world..."

"If I had to guess, she's going to hate it..."

"So she gets the crap side of both sticks?" Riku questioned, teasingly. "Where does Mr. Sota get to pull his weight, then?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Sota questioned. 

Riku's face became inquisitive for a moment, but then went pale and his expression stiffened in slight terror. 

"Don't tell me..." Riku spoke after a moment. "There's no way...you won't survive."

"You're spot on," Sota chuckled. "My first responsibility...is going to be telling Sensei."

***

Sota fidgeted in his seat, unsure of what was going to happen. 

Sensei sat across from him, staring him down while contemplating the news Sota had just brought him. Sota had asked to speak with him once class was up and running. They had retreated to his office and closed the door so that they could have a private conversation. It only took about ten minutes for Sota to explain everything to him. 

Sota waited. Sensei could react in a myriad of ways. Maybe it was complete silence - maybe it was a staff to the face. He tried to prepare for whatever the outcome was. 

After a few minutes, Sensei finally leaned back in his chair. Sota braced himself. 

"You are aware that students and instructors - even assistant ones - are not supposed to get involved. Correct?"

"Yes, Sensei..."

"You are also aware," he continued, before giving Sota any chance to speak further. "That she is sixteen, correct?"

"...Yes, Sensei..."

"And in spite of both of these facts...you still moved forward with it, anyway?"

Sota's gaze focused in on his. If nothing else, Sota spoke with conviction. 

"Yes, Sensei..."

Sensei slowly stood from his chair. Sota remained seated, but didn't break eye contact. Whatever recourse was coming his way, he didn't intend to shy away from it.

Sota observed every movement, every expression shift, every breath. The air was still for a few seconds - Sota did all he could to try and interpret what was going to come next. 

It was not at all what he expected. 

"Very well, then. Make sure she continues to practice diligently. I suspect you'll be the one bringing her to class going forward..."

He began towards the door, seemingly content in where the conversation had ended. Sota was blue-screening in response. 

"That's it?" Sota questioned, both out loud and internally. 

"It's true that you have many personality traits that...need improvement," Sensei spoke with as much politeness as he could. "Your judgment, however, is far beyond that of most adults. It's always been that way, since you were a boy... If you made this decision knowing about the potential consequences, then I have faith that you have a good reason and that you are going to be careful."

That was it, then. At least, that was all that was said until Sensei began to open the office door. 

"Be very cautious though, Sota," he warned. "There's a lot of traps to avoid on that path. Do not let it affect your training, or hers. If she stops practicing and begins to fall behind, then her family isn't likely to allow her to continue classes. Their affection for Ren is heavily tied to her performance... I know you are all-too-familiar with what that means."

Sensei opened the door and returned to class, leaving Sota to ponder that dark and foreboding piece of information. 

***

The door to Ren's bedroom flew open. She barely had time to turn her desk chair before her mother was inches from her face.

"What's this I see online about you being in a relationship?" her mother questioned, not at all trying to mask her scowl. "Is it true?"

"Yes, mom..." 

Ren's mother pulled away and stared at her. Ren remained expressionless and didn't make direct eye contact. Ren knew that if she gave any sort of ammunition to her mother, it would end up used against her. 

Ren prepped herself nonetheless. If her mother couldn't immediately find a weakness, she would try to sniff one out. 

"It's that assistant instructor boy from class, isn't it? The one that you went on the date with a couple of weeks ago..."

Ren remained calm. She took deep, steady breaths, just like if she were sparring in class. She wouldn't let her mother catch her off guard.

"What makes you think...?"

"Your sister told me," her mother cut Ren off before she could finish. 

Of course she did. Ren partially expected that outcome. While Ren hadn't told her sister anything, it was likely that she'd heard their grandparents talking about it. It was only a short hop from that to their mother finding out. 

"Yes," Ren confirmed. 

"You know, I did some digging into him..." her mother continued. "Believe it or not, I know quite a few people that know his family. Did you know that their household is a den full of criminals and drug-dealers? Should I really let my daughter date someone of that status?"

"He's nothing like that," Ren replied. 

"Oh? But I have proof!"

"And what's that?"

"The testimony of my friends, of course! I believe their word way more than I believe the teenage girl who's been duped by a drug-addicted college dropout... Wouldn't you agree?

--Not when all of those friends are scumbags like you...

Ren kept the thought internal, though. She just stared past her mother, holding in her fury until her mother grew bored. Eventually, her mother's expression soured. She turned and began out the room. 

"I have already spoken to your grandparents..." she warned. "I've told them that they are not to go behind my back and let you gallivant off on your own. You will remain here every weekend going forward, taking care of your responsibilities. There will be no exceptions..."

With that, she left and slammed the door shut  behind her. 

Ren waited. After a few minutes, she heard her mother depart the house in order to go on her nightly parade around town with her friends. Only at that point, when she knew she was safe, did tears begin to stream down her eyes. 

It had only been a few days, and the largest hurdles had already begun popping up. 

***

Sota sat there, rereading the message that Ren had just sent over to him.

[Ren]: Bad news... My mom found out about us and isn't taking the news well... She's made it so I can't go out on the weekend anymore ... </3

Sota had initially read through this and had some concerns. At first, he thought that maybe this was Ren's way of realizing she had made a mistake and trying to back out. Sensei's words, however, came to mind...

- Her family places value on performance...

If it was anything like Sota's situation, he couldn't jump to conclusions. This likely ran much deeper than something as simple as "Ren was disinterested". Maybe her family was worried it would affect her grades - or maybe they were just complete jackasses...

Fortunately for Sota, navigating shitty family dynamics was his specialty...

[Sota]: That sucks, but we'll figure something out... Did she give a reason as to why?

[Ren]: Not really - she never does. She did mention that some friends told her your house is full of drug addicts and criminals. That was the 'justification' she went for...

It was an accurate statement, and not something that Sota had ever brought up to Ren previously. The only people who knew about that side of the family were the degenerates that spent time hanging out with them. If Ren's mother was somehow friends with those degenerates - even being as old as she was - that meant that she was likely not a winner in her own right. Sota wasn't one to judge a book by it's cover, but he thought it a safe assumption given how she was treating Ren. 

That also meant that her mother was likely pretty easily outplayed and outwitted, at least compared to what Sota was used to. 

[Sota]: I won't try to defend my relatives, although it's definitely not something I've ever partaken in.

[Ren]: I didn't think so! I hope you don't think that I believed her...

[Sota]: You're a dub...

Sota thought through the best approach to the situation. It wasn't great to be starting off this relationship by feuding with her mother. He needed to be smart about it. 

[Sota]: If she was so vehement about it, why did she let you hang out a couple weeks back?

[Ren]: She didn't... She's not home every weekend, so I asked my grandparents to let me go instead. My mother yelled at them for it once she found out, though...

[Sota]: Gotcha... So she's not out that often?

[Ren]: She's out all of the time, actually. That particular weekend just happened to be one where she was staying over her friend's place rather than coming home. Most weekends she comes home to sleep, but she's typically gone from morning until late at night regardless...

Ren's words were definitely painting a picture, to say the least. As far as these things go, though, Sota came up with a solution pretty quickly. 

[Sota]: Well, if I can't bring you somewhere on the weekend, then how about I just come to you instead?

[Ren]: Wait... you mean like come here?!

[Sota]: Why not? As long as one of your grandparents is home, though. I'm not looking to have that backfire on me...

[Ren]: Of course! But, are you sure? We only just officially started dating... 

[Sota]: Do you not want me to?

[Ren]: It's not like that at all! But you're just going to sit there while I do chores, though. Are you sure you aren't going to be bored out of your mind?

[Sota]: I'm always bored out of my mind when I'm at home. At least this way, I have you there to keep me company.

Sota waited for Ren's reply. He thought that maybe she had fallen asleep. In reality, her heart was busy fluttering at his words. 

[Ren]: I'll double check with my grandfather, but it should be fine! It's best I wait until the morning to ask him, but I'm sure he'll be all over the idea of trying to scare the new boyfriend...

[Sota]: He can certainly try...

Thus, a plan was born. Ren fell asleep not long after, having school the following day. Sota, as usual, was up until the early hours of the morning playing games. All the while, he was contemplating what to expect from Ren's family. 

He took some time to snoop around online. Her grandparents didn't have much, but her mother was very active online. She had to be in her 40s, but every picture and post she made was like something out of a frat party. Every weekend was different pictures, different boys, different outfits...

Sota knew exactly what he was dealing with. It was all the type of stuff he was used to seeing in his own life and the lives of his siblings. He couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Part of it was fury - fury that someone like Ren had to go through something similar to what he had been through. 

The other part, however, was catharsis. He had lived through it all before, and he had learned it all. What to say and what not to say. What things should be avoided and how to best trap people with their own words. It was like a chess game where he knew all the moves his opponent was going to try and make. 

Through his own shitty experiences - he could at least save one person. Given enough time, it could turn out to be the person he cared for the most.