When is the wedding?

“He was your boyfriend?!?!” Takuya, Reika, and Renji jumped off their seats. They were really confused.
Miyako said she dated Karma in middle school for two months. She dated him because she liked smart guys. But after she learned that he had other ‘girlfriends’ and was playing around with her, she dumped him in the worst possible way—by taking pictures of him being with other girls and revealing to his other ‘girlfriends’ that he was playing around with them. This caused them to take it out on Karma badly.

Karma got really angry about it and called Miyako to talk. In reality, he wanted to take out his anger on Miyako by beating her, but Byakuya was by Miyako's side, protecting her. Seeing that, he gave up because he knew he couldn’t do anything when it came to hitting Miyako in front of Byakuya.

Miyako warned her friends to have someone around when going out because Karma still held a grudge against her, and she was worried that he and his friends would do something to them. It was dangerous even for Byakuya.

Renji, Reika, Takuya, and Miyako were about to go to a restaurant near the school.

“Byakuya, can you accompany Aoi while she is shopping?”

“Renji, I can go out shopping on my own. Don’t bother him with something like this!”

“It’s okay, it’s not a bother for me. Our home is on the same way anyway.”

“O-okay, if you insist so much.”

“Good, then we’ll be going. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Byakuya and Aoi were on their way to the store. Byakuya asked her what she was going to buy. She said she was going to buy groceries and some ingredients that she needed. They shopped for 30 minutes. It was the longest shopping Byakuya had ever done.

Byakuya helped Aoi carry the stuff she bought. He walked her to the front of the house.

“That’s all, huh?”

“Yeah, thank you, Byakuya.”

“Not a problem.”

Byakuya checked his keys.

“Oh no.”

“What happened?”

“I forgot my keys.”

“Oh. Is no one home right now?”

“I don’t think so. Miyako’s at the restaurant with others, and Big Sis is at the school. I think I’ll just wander around until they come back.”

Aoi asked Byakuya,

“Do you want to come to our house?”

“Wha—no no, it’s not oka—”

“Don’t worry, my mother will come back in 3 hours, and my little brother’s home too.”

“3 hou—wait a minute, you two had a little brother?”

“Yes, we didn’t tell you? His name is Sora. Just come in, I’ll bake some dessert, and I’d like it if you taste it and tell me what you think. You like desserts, right?”

When she said desserts, Byakuya’s eyes started sparkling. Miyako once mentioned he really liked sweet things.

“OH-… Ugh okay. But I’ll leave when your mother’s back.”

“Okay!” She was happy to have him as a guest.

They went inside with Aoi's lead.

“I am home.”

Her brother, Sora, rushed down and hugged her. “Welcome back, sis!”

“Thanks for having me.”

Sora got scared when he saw Byakuya and hid behind his sister.

“Sora, this is me and Renji's friend Byakuya. Come on, introduce yourself.”

Byakuya leaned down.
“I-I'm... Sora...”

“Nice to meet you, Sora. I am Byakuya Kanzaki.”

“Mhm...”

Sora ran to the second floor.

“Don’t mind him, he’s a little shy,” Aoi said.

Byakuya carried the bags to the kitchen with Aoi. She showed him the living room and asked him to wait while she was putting the groceries on the shelves and preparing the dessert she told him about. He sat on the sofa and waited for her.

He suddenly felt someone's gaze. It was Sora; he was staring at him through the door gap. When Byakuya stared back at him, he got scared and hid behind the door. The second time, Byakuya called him inside. He ran at first but came back and walked closer to him.

Sora looked at him from bottom to top. He was huge.

“Big bro, why are you wearing a mask? Are you sick?”

Byakuya got confused when he called him big bro. He said he was wearing a mask because he didn’t have a mouth.

Sora’s eyes sparkled. “Can I see?”

Byakuya took off his mask. Sora’s eyes sparkled even more. For him, Byakuya looked so cool. It was like he stepped out of an anime he was watching.

“I want my mouth like yours too!”

“No you don’t! Because it hurts a lot!”

“Aww... okay...”

While they were talking, Aoi came in with sweets and drinks in her hand. She put them on the table in front of the sofa. Sora was getting along with Byakuya. This made her happy.

While they were eating sweets made by Aoi, Sora asked, “Isn’t it hard to live like that?”

“Sora!”

Byakuya explained his experience to him. He said he had a hard time eating at first. While eating solid things like meat, they fell off his mouth, and drinking was the same. But he started using a straw while drinking and holding his mouth while eating solid things, so it wasn’t that hard now when you look back.

Aoi told Sora it was time for him to do his homework. He got off the sofa and quietly went to do his homework. Aoi put on a movie to pass the time. She got closer to Byakuya. Byakuya, nervous, didn’t even move a muscle. It was his first time being alone with a girl his age other than his sister. It was the same for Aoi, but she was kind of reckless.

Byakuya wanted to change the mood. He asked her what she did on a daily basis.

Aoi's father usually worked until late at night, so it was rare for him to come home early. Her mother, Shion, wasn’t good at cooking or housework, so Aoi had to help a lot at home. Renji spent most of his time after school at judo, studying, or playing games until night, so he rarely left his room.
Aoi and her father woke up earlier than everyone. Usually, her father made breakfast, but when he worked late, she prepared it herself. She got her little brother ready and sent him to school. Renji and Aoi went out for school together.
After school, Aoi cleaned the house and did chores. In the evening, she prepared dinner for everyone after her workout and put a portion in the fridge for her parents. She didn’t usually have time to study.

“So that’s why you get low scores on tests?”

“Uhh... yes... but it’s not like I want to work. I would like to be a housewife rather than work in an office or something.”

“Hmmm...”

While they were talking, Aoi got even closer. Byakuya didn’t realize it. Suddenly, the door opened and Shion came in with Miyako. Seeing the distance between them, Miyako and Shion started smiling.

Aoi looked at Byakuya and realized what they were thinking. Blushing, she wanted to say something, but Shion interrupted her.

“What were you two doing here?”

Byakuya got up and said, “I forgot my keys, so Aoi invited me in. She introduced me to Sora and offered me dessert.”

Shion laughed and said, “No need to be formal, kid. You can come and go anytime you want.”

“Thank you, miss. By the way, why are you here, sis?” Byakuya got curious. She was there to take reports of the older student CPs.

Miyako and Byakuya returned their gratitude and left. On their way back home, Miyako asked,

“So, what were you two doing actually?”

“Hmm... we watched movies, talked, ate some desserts—”

“HUH? YOU DIDN’T TRY ANYTHING?”

“What do you mean?”

Tch, I had my hopes up!

Byakuya was confused—why did she have her hopes up?

During dinner, Shion asked Aoi the same question, but in a different way.

“So, when am I going to see grandkids?”

Cough “EH? What are you talking about, mother!? What do you mean grandkids?”

“You invited a boy in when everyone was away.” She had a big smile on her face. “What was on your mind when doing that?”

“NOTHING! Sora was home, by the way, so it was okay!”

“Sora was sleeping when you were trying to get close to him little by little.”

“I wasn’t—wait, he was sleeping? He’s supposed to do his homework!”

Aoi changed the subject and scolded Sora for not doing his homework.

“Why did it end up on me?”

The next day morning, Aoi got up early. She saw her dad, Takao. “Morning, Dad.”
He was preparing breakfast. Aoi washed her face and started to set the table. Shion had already told Takao about Byakuya. He asked Aoi, “Aoi, did you bring a boy over yesterday?”

“Mom told you, didn’t she?” She had a disappointed face. “He helped me with shopping and carrying the groceries, so I wanted to treat him with some sweets I made. And maybe, we watched a movie, that’s it.”

“Yeah, I know. She told me he was her friend’s son. So I was hoping that you would introduce him to me.”

“Dad, are you going to tease me like Mother did?”

“No, I just want to know what type of boy took my daughter’s interest. I wouldn’t tease you.”

“Okay then, I will introduce him to you when you have time.”

“I will be attending Sora’s parent–teacher meeting today. So, I will be home earlier than usual. You can invite him over.”

“Huh? Okay…” She wasn’t expecting her father to ask her to introduce him today. But she didn’t see an issue with it.

During lunchtime, Aoi asked Byakuya if he had time after school. He didn’t have any plans for today. She said her dad asked to see him. Byakuya got curious and asked why her dad wanted to meet him.
Aoi said it was because of yesterday — her mother told her father about Byakuya. Byakuya got scared. He started thinking to himself, (Did I do something I shouldn’t have? Why did he ask to meet me today?)
He asked Miyako what he should do.

“Just act normal. He probably just wants to meet you.”

“What would I do if he’s angry about me getting close to his daughter? What if he asks me to never talk to her again? Help me, Sis!”

“As I said, just act normal. You’re not the type who would be nervous over something like this. Did you really do something weird?”

“I don’t know! That’s why I’m nervous!”

“Ughh…”

No matter how much Byakuya insisted, Miyako didn’t go together with him. She got rid of him by saying she would be doing her homework, even though they didn’t have any.

Byakuya was on his way to the Mizuhara’s with Renji and Aoi. When they arrived, Renji was the first to enter. When Takao saw Renji, he shouted,
“RENJI, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO SCATTER YOUR CLOTHES AROUND?”

His voice echoed inside Byakuya’s head. Byakuya got even more nervous. Takao got out of the kitchen. When he saw Byakuya and Aoi, his mood changed. He got closer.
“I assume you’re Byakuya?”

“Yes sir! I am Byakuya Kanzaki!”

“At ease, soldier! I am not interrogating you. Why are you nervous? And come inside, don’t just stay in the hallway.”

“O-okay…”

Byakuya and Aoi went to the living room. Takao brought in a cup of tea for them. Byakuya was still nervous when they started talking, but Takao was kind while talking to him. He asked Byakuya how he met his daughter, what they were doing at school, and how their lessons were going.
Seeing how calm he was, Byakuya got curious why he shouted at Renji like that. He asked Takao about it. Takao said Renji never listened to a word he said and always made a mess at home. Even Aoi joined and said,
“He’s right! I would be happy if he cleaned his own dishes after eating, but no! He never washes his dishes, always scatters his laundry around, and he’s not even bothered by how dirty his room gets!” She started pouting.

“You have a lot on your shoulders, huh?”

Aoi continued complaining, “It’s almost the same with my mother! I know she has so much work to do and she doesn’t know how to do chores but, she could at least wash her own dishes!” Shion came in when she was talking about her.

“We will have a long talk with you, young lady!”

“Yeah, WE will have a long talk!” Takao defended Aoi.

“I need to go back home, it’s almost my training time.” Byakuya wanted to get out of the strict situation that was about to happen.

“I’ll accompany you.” Aoi got up.

When Byakuya was about to leave, Aoi said, “I’m sorry you had to witness such a mess.”

“It’s okay. It’s not even your fault, why are you apologizing?”

“It started because of me though.”

“It doesn’t matter. And it was fun to see you pouting like that.” He laughed.

“HMPH… Stop messing with me! I am trying to do a serious talk here!”

“I am sorry, but you look really cute when pouting, I just can’t help it.”

“CUTE…?”