The Strict Family

Chapter 5

It was Monday and as agreed, Kana had to stay with her family and Rei did the honours to drop her off. Rei opened the trunk of his car and pulled out another suitcase. She didn't remember the second bag but she did question it.

She should have known by now... she really should have known as she stood next to her father at the doorway. Fujiwara fixed his glasses, pupils going up and down, gauging him. "Why are you still here?"

"I was told last time, I can't see her on the weekdays because of the family rules but..." He let out an exaggerated sigh, "Now that she is out of my sight, I can't help but miss her already."

Kana blankly stared at him, with crossed arms, listening to his nonsense as usual, having a feeling she knew where this was going. Her brows twitched when he sent them a charming smile. What a good actor, she thought to herself. Using her shoes, she nudged him from under to stop him from exaggerating his lies.

He turned to Fujiwara whose face darkened incredibly. Rei clasped his hands together. "So, I think I'll sleep over."

The background turned pitch black as an imaginary thunderbolt struck behind Fujiwara and Kana, stunned.

Rei's horns popped up again and tails wagged as he continued deviously. "I'm curious about my in-laws and I would love to get along with everyone here."

Kana shot him a look. "That's why you brought a bag?"

The father blinked, astonished by the audacity. Rei knew people thought he didn't know how to read the room but it's not that he can't, he just doesn't care. Fujiwara pinched the bridge of his nose, opening his mouth.

"You would just not turn me away like that, right?" Rei's grinning face never faded away and Fujiwara was forced to close his mouth.

The Fujiwara family never had shameless guests before so they never foresaw this. "Of course not. Mayumi-"

He called out to the door, and a woman swiftly appeared. "-Get the guest room ready."

"I can sleep in Kana's r-"

"No," he cut him off. He continued to leave a stern warning. "I would appreciate-" if you don't overstep your boundaries when you are in my house. But Rei already interrupted him back.

"Anything you say father." Rei didn't hesitate to get in chaotically as he pushed Kana, the suitcase slamming on the floor but he quickly picked it up, getting in.

"It's Fujiwara-san..." He let out an exhausted sigh and followed them in the house.

"Mother, I'm home." Rei sweetly said like he was her fourth son. The mother came out from behind the staircase counter, staring at him weirded out as his arms spread and hugged her, leaving before she registered what happened. She looked a bit stunned but he never let them have any last word. That was his tactic. "Where is my room?"

He redirected her attention by shaking his case and she immediately understood. She gestured behind the staircase. "Please follow me."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Rei never slept in such a small room but he didn't complain. It still had everything he needed except the bathroom in the room. He knew he was privileged so he just unpacked his bag quickly and joined the family. He stretched his arms, smiling, greeting everyone cheerily. "Good morning. Today is such a good day."

Silence.

His mother just glanced at him from behind the kitchen counter, his father didn't even spare him a glance. Kana didn't bother to respond, probably mad by his stunt of joining her. They were really testing his charisma with the lack of reciprocation.

"Good morning." Haru passed by him with a sweet smile. Just like his name, a spring aura emitted from him, with flowers and immediately, Rei knew he liked him too. Now he knows why Kana loved him, truly an angel among these demons. How was he raised among them?

He joined them for breakfast and there was a thick, incredible silence. Does this family not socialise? Everyone started eating in silence after Mayumi served them an English breakfast. She didn't join them to eat again and deep inside, Rei wondered if she felt lonely. Instead of saying anything, he started to eat, blending in as he observed everyone.

It's been two hours since breakfast. Rei blinked as he stared at this weird family tradition, munching on a bag of chips that he brought with him. In the centre of the living room, near the staircase, there were three desks and chairs. Kana and Haru were sitting, with journals, pencils and pens, with large, thick books, as they scribbled notes as if they were in a classroom. Now the strangest part was the father was there too, typing on laptop.

It looked like three students in a classroom. This family never failed to make him speechless.

Haru's smile was plastered, looking at Rei nervously as he couldn't help but mumble. "Kana… he already broke rule eight and nine..."

A pen slammed loudly on the desk, startling Kana and Haru.

"Can you not eat?" A black aura surrounded Fujiwara as he glared at Rei.

Rei continued munching, staring at father-in-law. "But..." Crunch, Crunch, Crunch. "It's tasty."

A vein popped on Fujiwara's head as Kana and Haru sweatdropped at Rei's audacity. Fujiwara let out a sigh as he focused back on. He was a guest, of course, he was mannerless... he reminded himself.

Rei manoeuvred his way behind them, still loudly, chewing with his mouth open as he looked at what each was doing. Haru was in high-school yet his homework seemed to be done and instead, he was studying something else.

"What are you studying?" He asked.

"Engineering." Haru looked up at Rei with wide smile. Although seeing Rei eat had him lick his own lips as he quickly looked away. Rei smirked. He sees a vision but he won't exact it right away.

He walked towards the next desk, glancing at what Kana was doing. He put a hand on her desk and leaned down, his face near her face. He confirmed what he saw. "Are you studying medicine?"

"Ah... yes." Kana felt a chill down her spine, signalling him with her eyes to stop.

"What for?" He gave her a suspicious look. Kana looked at her father then back to him, giggling nervously. "What else? Of course because I'm a 4th year med student."

Rei's jaw slightly dropped. Excuse her? She was not just some nobody actress? "What ab-" She put a finger on his lips, her eyes pleading with him to keep quiet as Haru stared at them in confusion.

"Are you two flirting-" Rei slammed his hand on Haru's lips to keep him quiet as he straightened his back.

He passed by Fujiwara as his fingers typed on his laptop, writing a long thesis.

"An engineer, a doctor, a professor... This family sure has all the wild cards." Rei genuinely was shocked. Fujiwara smirked, clearly happy to hear that.

"My oldest son is a lawyer." Fujiwara added, proud as he stared at the screen, clearly not paying attention to what's there since his ears were with Rei with some bragging rights.

"Ah... so one my brother-in-law is a lawyer..." This was a formidable family for sure. "What about the other one?"

He remembered Kana had three brothers yet one of them was missing even from the wedding.

Suddenly the air went icy, the mood darkened. What's with this mood?

Kana facepalmed as Rei kept breaking the rules unintentionally.

"We don't talk about him." Fujiwara robotically turned, lines of shadow was on his face. "You better remember that next time or else I won't tolerate your mistake."

Fujiwara's stare was deathly, the tone almost threatening. It seemed like there was some bad history or family blood with one of them. If there was one thing Rei will never mess with, it's family bonds.

He nodded. Maybe he should ask Kana later about it in private. He decided to not disturb them anymore and lay on the couch, eating lazily. He was dying of boredom. This family was really insane. The lack of television was killing him. Were they really going to study all day? He swung his legs as he stared at Haru, Kana and Fujiwara study. He should find someone else to annoy. His pupils trailed off to the window, finding the mysterious mother on the lawn, trimming and fixing the garden. He grinned. His next target locked on.