Chapter 58: Operation "Meet the Parents" (Accidentally)

The date is a disaster.

We can't study. The mood is gone.

That stupid pink bear is staring at us. It takes up half the sofa.

"I hate him," Fuji mutters, glaring at the bear.

"Me too," I sigh. "He ruined calculus. And almost-kissing. And omurice."

Fuji looks at me.

My face is on fire.

"I said that out loud, didn't I?"

"You did," he smirks.

I stand up. "I'm leaving. This is too much. I'm going home to my sanctuary, where there are no actors and no bears."

"Your sanctuary?"

"My room. My game setup."

I grab my bag.

"I'll walk you," he says, grabbing his keys.

"No," I blurt out.

He stops. He looks hurt. Oh, no.

"I mean, no, don't just walk me," I stammer. "You come with me."

His eyebrows go up.

"What?"

"I am going to de-stress with video games. You ruined my study date. No, THEY ruined it. So now you have to play games with me. It is punishment. Or something. Just come on."

I am babbling. This is terrible.

A slow smile spreads across his face. That real one.

"Okay," he says. "A punishment. I accept."

Fast-forward thirty minutes.

We are standing in front of my house.

My normal, suburban house.

"This is it?" he asks.

"What were you expecting? A moat? With sharks?"

"Maybe," he smirks.

I unlock the door.

"I'm home!" I yell.

"In the kitchen, Aoi-chan! We are trying a new recipe!"

My blood goes cold.

We.

They are home.

It's Saturday. They are home.

Fuji is standing in my entryway.

"Mom? Dad?"

They walk out of the kitchen.

My mom is covered in flour. My dad is wearing a chef hat.

They see me.

They see Fuji.

My mom gasps.

"Aoi-chan..." she whispers. "You brought a boy home!"

My dad squints.

He is a big man. He is a friendly giant, but he is a dad.

"Who is this?" he asks, his voice booming.

Fuji is unflappable.

He steps forward.

He BOWS.

A perfect, 90-degree bow.

Who DOES that?

"Good afternoon, Isuzu-san," he says, his voice clear and perfect. "My name is Fuji Kenji. I am in Aoi's class. Thank you for having me."

Silence.

My mom's jaw is on the floor.

My dad blinks.

My dad starts to laugh.

"HA! Fuji Kenji! Polite! Aoi, this one is broken! Are you sure he's your friend?"

"Dad!" I hiss.

My mom recovers. She zooms forward.

"Fuji-kun! Welcome! Come in! Come in! Oh, he is so handsome, Aoi-chan! Why did you hide him?"

She is pulling him inside.

She is brushing flour on his perfect white shirt.

Fuji looks at me over my mom's head.

He is panicked.

For the first time, the Ice Prince is terrified.

He is terrified of my mom.

This is the best day of my life.

"Mom, stop! You're embarrassing him! We are going to my room! To study!"

"To study!" my dad booms. "Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

My face is a supernova again.

"DAD! WE ARE LEAVING!"

I grab Fuji's hand. I pull him.

I drag him up the stairs.

"Nice to meet you, Fuji-kun!" my mom sings.

"Use protection, kids!" my dad yells.

"DAD!"

I slam my bedroom door.

Silence.

We are in my room.

My messy, wonderful, chaotic room.

My game setup is glowing. My manga is everywhere.

Fuji is breathing hard.

He is bright red.

He looks at me.

"Your family," he breathes, "is terrifying."

"Welcome to my world, Ice Prince," I smirk.

He laughs.

He is okay.

He is perfect.