Sweat it Out

Subaru wanted to run, or pass-out, as he sweated a storm, his stomach twisted and his heart thumped, as every muscle went tense with slight terror, but suddenly the tough guy before him started to chuckle, in a less scary fashion than expected.

"No need to be so frightened now... Please, call me Mr Akashi."

"Father, was that whole show really necessary?"

Father...! Mr Akashi...! But I've been summoned before a crime lord... not a regular dad...!

Kei became less stiff and looked at Subaru in a more usual way, casually and with a touch of concern, seeing as he was quite white and slightly shaking.

"You only get one first impression kid - best to make it a good one."

Her father smiled more and changed from his rigid posture.

"So Sekiya, I hear you're good friends with my kid, correct?"

"Uh... yes sir, Mr Akashi."

Subaru breathed slightly easier as his overwhelming fears lessened, due to Kei's dad also relaxing and changing the atmosphere of the room.

"Sorry about the theatrics, I was just putting on a little performance."

Kei gave a small frown his way as he got up to come closer.

Subaru fretted about standing too, but Kei stayed down, so Subaru remained on his cushion seat alongside her.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you."

Mr Akashi dipped his head, while Subaru bowed much lower.

"I'm honored to meet you too, sir."

I didn't know I was going to meet with Kei's father...

"Such a fine mannered girl arn't ya."

Subaru cautiously made eye contact, but stayed quiet.

"Subaru is well regarded at school, and is honest and diligent too."

Kei added, while Subaru got timid from all the praise.

"I'm sure..."

After Mr Akashi suddenly clapped his hands, Subaru nearly jumped from his skin; when parts of the wall opened up and a few other men rushed out, but they only deposited some full trays on the table and disappeared just as quick, the same way they arrived.

"Alright then, time for some food."

He'd gone back to his place and sat in an easier position.

"Please enjoy."

Kei's father waved at the morning meal, and wasted no time.

Subaru delicately ate what was offered; an extraordinary spread, which felt quite expensive, keeping particularly quiet, unless he was spoken to of course.

"So do you share any hobbies?"

Kei's dad inquired.

"Uh... electronic games... "

Subaru got nervous when nothing else, apart from something huge, came to mind.

"Well... what about foods, do you cook much?"

"Yes, I prepared a lot of food... for myself, and I'm alright in the kitchen."

"This isn't some interview, please relax..."

He could tell Subaru was still nervy, and did his best to look less intimidating, slouching back a way.

"My kid here can't cook at all."

"Oh no... Kei can.... um, do alright..."

"Really?"

Subaru nodded, getting a slightly satisfied glance from both Akashi's.

"I've heard you're a good kind person, Kei here has said as much... well; I think Kei rather enjoys your company... honestly."

Subaru glanced at his daughter, who looked away to the wall while taking a mouthful.

"I'm just happy that someone like... someone so kind and generous wanted to be around me."

The Akashi's looked at Subaru, one with a grin, and the smaller with slight surprise.

"And I'm sure my kid is lucky to have such an understanding friend too."

He hinted.

"I'm glad to know so much about Kei, and I hope we stay friends, for a long time too."

Subaru steadily returned back.

"I hope so too..."

He smiled at his hidden daughter who remained quiet.

A slightly concealed rear exit to the room slid part-way open and a different man appeared, coming over to whisper something to the houses head.

"Uh... Sorry you two, I thought I'd have more time, but I have things that need my attention, so..."

He stood, and his 'guests' did too this time.

"It was a pleasure to meet you Sekiya, Subaru."

Some bows occurred, before he winked to his teenager.

"See you around kid."

And just like that he strutted out and was gone.

After the food was eaten, in a lingering hush, Subaru followed Kei once again, who confidently walked about the property, while Subaru lagged behind her till they got outside.

"Kei - what was all that?"

On the streets side, a little way away from all the present 'guards', he finally had the courage to ask her about what went down.

"Father wanted to meet you."

Kei replied quite nonchalantly.

"There's meeting someone, then there's hauling someone before a Lord... then next level - whatever just happened."

"Isn't this all sort of normal?"

Kei looked at him oddly, while Subaru returned it back.

"No, not ever - unless we've gone back to the Edo period..."

"Huh..."

She started to wander off again in her pleasant mood.

What kind of family is this anyway...?

The shady black car appeared from the other side of the 'estate' and came towards them again.

"Father wanted it to be a surprise, so sorry about all that act earlier... But that went well... Now let's get you home then, okay?"

It had been a quiet weekend for Subaru then, with Kei texting about some party she had gone to for her soccer club, and with not much else going on, Subaru relaxed at home, truly relaced from worries for a slight change to his more recent life.

Then it was off to school, home again, then back to school without much incident.

A brief escort by Onomiya the next evening, saw him 'swing-by' for another visit to the Takashi's place, then some friendly play time with the avid gamer, but Subaru set a timer on his phone, and despite Onomiya's plea for them to go on again, he made sure he was safely home for an appropriate bedtime,.

It wasn't until mid-week that something unexpected happened, in the shape of a small package that got his attention by the classroom doors during their lunch break.

"Uh, greetings Sekiya-sama."

Inori looked almost afraid as she waited just inside the door, but spoke up as Subaru was about to leave the room, with Ritsu and Akane, just ahead.

"...Hello Araki."

"She can speak?"

While Toyamo greeted her politely, Okamoto was surprised by her, but the tiny girl only flicked her sight at the blue duo, which now looked at her curiously, but returned her grey eyes only to Subaru to continue.

"I need to speak with you, Pr... Sekiya-sa..."

She almost looked in pain as she held back her usual titles she'd bestowed, under the close watchful gazes of the two slightly annoyed others.

"We're on our way to the cafeteria... can this wait?"

"Yeah... we want to be the first to show Subaru the best things..."

Subaru had agreed to go to the downstairs room, for 'her first time' having felt fairly mobile today.

"It is about a... sensitive... secret... subject..."

Inori was very quiet, while partly cryptic, by highly suspicious.

"Secret?"

"Sensitive?"

The duo looked at each other.

"Uh... maybe, we can go to the cafeteria tomorrow... I'm perhaps... not going to make it there today, sorry."

The blue haired couple didn't look convinced at Subaru's sudden turnabout, but let 'her' be and went for their usual food run anyway.

"We'll miss the good stuff if we're late..."

"We'll take you tomorrow - promise."

Once they were out of sight, Subaru leaned closer to Inori and whispered to her with some of his own annoyance.

"Is this important?"

She nodded up at him, so he lightly nabbed her loose sleeve.

"Let's so some place... private then."

He lead Inori back to the nearest vacant classroom, and slipped them inside unnoticed, before realising he still had her clothing and released her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, but I'd rather keep everything quite... understand?"

She nodded, with an almost excited appearance.

"So... is this where we... do it?"

Huh...? Do what...?!

She shuffled and looked up at Subaru with a sparkle of joy.

"Or are you going to do something more to me... perhaps with your male parts?"