Akari, Are You Messing with Me?

Could you become my family?

Riki's heart raced as he looked at Toyokawa Sakiko, who sat across from him with a nervous expression. He had no idea what she was thinking.

Become family?

Did she mean that kind of thing?

Kissing and cuddling, lifting each other up, having a little Sakiko together?

But they hadn't even kissed yet. Was it okay to move this fast...

Still, the fact that Toyokawa Sakiko had said that meant she was mentally prepared, too. How could he, as a man, say no?

Toyokawa Sakiko sat across from him, tense and fidgeting as she cradled her cup and glanced around. She had a way of lighting up the room, and even her fluttering lashes seemed to catch the light.

Sakiko-bao, I'm thinking about our future. Could you please rein in that damn charm of yours?

"What do you think?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked nervously.

"Mm." After thinking it over, Riki nodded. "Ms. Toyokawa Sakiko, after careful consideration, I believe we have a bright future together. I hope we can move forward hand in hand and build a wonderful tomorrow. I wholeheartedly agree."

Sakiko-bao, I've said all that needs saying. You get it.

Toyokawa Sakiko's tense face suddenly relaxed. She let out a sigh of relief. "That's great. I was wondering what to do about tomorrow's parent-teacher meeting. Dad's in no condition to go, so I can only ask you to go in his place."

"Parent-teacher meeting?"

"Yes. Is something wrong?" Toyokawa Sakiko asked curiously, noticing Riki rummaging through the cabinet.

"It's nothing. I'm looking for my red nose. The circus is calling."

Batman, I'll never make those dark jokes about your parents in the alley again.

Please don't come after me, okay?

Riki sighed. He hadn't expected to actually end up being the clown this time.

You could've said you needed someone for a parent-teacher meeting! We're practically bros. How could I not help you?

But—but why the hell didn't you make that clear?

Toyokawa Sakiko stared at Riki in confusion. Then she blinked as she realized something, and her cheeks flushed bright red. She didn't know what to do with the cup in her hands.

I just said I hoped Riki would become my family.

Did Riki think I meant that I wanted to... be with him?

If so, didn't his answer just now mean he agreed?

And then I said yes?

"Parent-teacher meeting"?

I-I-I... Why did I say something like that?

Toyokawa Sakiko looked at Riki in a panic. If she could, she would've buried her five-seconds-ago self under the covers.

Thinking of how Riki had just agreed, Toyokawa Sakiko felt a warm happiness well up inside her. So Riki also... liked me?

She felt as if she were surrounded by flowers of happiness. She nearly blurted out that she wanted to take back what she'd said, but the words caught in her throat, and her face darkened.

No. She couldn't be with Riki yet, not like this.

I'm still chained down by a terrible reality. I'm already happy that Riki is willing to help me. If I actively dragged him into this, I wouldn't deserve to be with him.

Only when she had finally freed herself from the weight of reality could she accept Riki with confidence. Then they would be equals, rather than her being someone who'd been given a handout.

Toyokawa Sakiko made up her mind, her eyes filled with determination. She looked up at Riki.

She reached out and hugged him. Though she was petite, she held him with all her strength, pressing close to him without leaving any space between them.

"Riki, me too. I also hope I can become your family," Toyokawa Sakiko said softly. "Although I'm not worthy yet, once I've broken free of what's holding me back, could you still become my family?"

Toyokawa Sakiko's face was practically scarlet, but she looked straight at Riki.

This was her resolve.

Just wait a little longer. Just wait for her a little longer.

This wasn't a hug between friends, nor a hug between family. It was... a hug between a girl and the boy she liked.

She had made the first move.

Looking into Toyokawa Sakiko's eyes, Riki understood. He hugged her back and smiled. "Of course."

Toyokawa Sakiko was petite compared to him, and her slender, shapely figure pressed against him. She smelled sweet and girlish, and he could practically hear her heartbeat.

They hugged for five minutes.

It wasn't that they didn't want to let go. They'd both gotten a little awkward after saying what they wanted to say, and neither knew how to end the moment.

Her heartbeat was so fast. Was Riki nervous... Toyokawa Sakiko smiled faintly, but she couldn't tease him. Her own heart was pounding just as fast.

"Meow~"

"That's the cat downstairs. It seems hungry." Toyokawa Sakiko quickly let go, smoothing her hair to hide the flush on her cheeks as she spoke softly.

You were feeding it when I got back, Sakiko-bao. Do you think it's some kind of gluttonous demon?

"Then give it some more."

Let's just say it is.

Toyokawa Sakiko opened the door. As she turned back, she couldn't help laughing when she saw Riki.

"See you tomorrow~" Toyokawa Sakiko said.

"See you tomorrow," Riki replied with a smile.

Batman—no, little Bat—whose red nose is this? Come get it!

What clown from Gotham? I don't know anyone like that!

If you're looking for someone, try wandering around the alleys.

Toyokawa Sakiko returned to the "bedroom" and lay down. Her father's snores drifted in from the living room, and the smell of alcohol seeped through the curtain. On this day, so much like all the others, Toyokawa Sakiko wore a gentle smile as she held the four-leaf clover necklace in her palm.

Today had been another wonderful day.

It was all thanks to you, Riki.

She closed her eyes. After a long while, her breathing grew soft and steady, a faint smile still on her lips.

It was a bright, sunny morning. Birds sang and flowers bloomed as Riki walked toward Haneoka, taking in the scenery.

They said Japan was the home of ninjas. Maybe he'd spot Naruto or Sasuke somewhere. Or perhaps Haneoka was actually a secret agent academy, filled with exceptional students. Who knew?

Riki was on his way to become Sakiko's family... No, to attend her parent-teacher meeting.

As he walked, he suddenly spotted a lost penguin... No, a gray-haired gravity girl: Takamatsu Akari.

"Akari—no, Akari-chan, are you picking up rocks here?" Riki asked curiously, looking at Takamatsu Akari crouching beside the flowerbed.

"Riki."

Takamatsu Akari looked up at him. Her face was as calm as ever, her emotions as steady as a capybara's.

"I'm picking up rocks. The stones here have pretty shapes. What about you, Riki?"

As a Chinese team, naturally I'm here to aim for Worlds.

Before Riki could say anything, Takamatsu Akari looked at him and suddenly asked, "Riki, could you become my family?"

Wait, you too?

Was that the latest rock-band slang?

Riki blinked. "You want me to go to your parent-teacher meeting?"

"Mm. Mom suddenly had something come up, so she can't make it. Other than the students I usually interact with, you're the only person I know. Could I ask you to do it?"

Faced with Takamatsu Akari's sincere request, from a human black hole no less, Riki felt the force of gravity take hold.

Brother Riki, is the pressure really that bad?

Shut up. If you can do better, you do it.

Just as Riki was considering how to respond, he spotted pink hair peeking out from the entrance. Chihaya Anon waved and called, "Akari-chan, hurry up! The parent-teacher meeting is about to start!"

Anon, you dare step into the gravity zone so casually?

She's practically a superhero!

"If your mom really can't make it, I'll fill in for her," Riki told Takamatsu Akari.

Takamatsu Akari smiled and nodded.

Riki was startled. Why had the human black hole suddenly glanced at him?

Was she going to eat him?

Of all the rock-girl types, the ones Riki most wanted to avoid were the combination electric-wave and gravity type, Takamatsu Akari. Yet somehow, she'd still caught him.

With a nervous heart, Riki walked into Haneoka. He found Toyokawa Sakiko's classroom by its number and raised a hand to knock.

Chapter 47: Akari, Are You Messing with Me?

What a handsome guy...

The girls in the class thought so when Riki opened the door. Lots of parents had shown up today. Perhaps this handsome guy was someone's father?

The Japanese girls are sneaking glances at your boy Riki again?

Riki didn't see Sakiko in the classroom, so he asked a girl sitting by the door, "Excuse me, where did Sakiko go?"

"My name's Haruka, I'm sixteen. Oh, are you asking about Sakiko..." The girl paused, then hurriedly said, "Which one is Sakiko?"

Why did you introduce yourself first?

Did you think I was definitely going to ask your name? Japanese girls are so obnoxious.

"Ms. Toyokawa."

"Toyokawa... So that's her name. I think her homeroom teacher just called her over. It should be about the parent-teacher meeting."

I finally made it all the way here, and I still didn't get to see Sakiko in the classroom.

Damn it, I'm gonna take it up with the homeroom teacher.

"Thank you," Riki replied politely. He turned to find Sakiko, and as soon as he left, the classroom grew noisy.

"That boy's so handsome. Is he a college student?"

"Is he Toyokawa's brother? He doesn't really look like her. He's my type."

"Haruka, you shameless woman! Didn't you say you liked male celebrities?"

"That's different."

Riki walked down the hallway. Before long, he spotted Toyokawa Sakiko outside the teachers' office. She looked over at him, too.

"I've already talked to the teacher. Just say you're my cousin and that you came to the parent-teacher meeting in place of my father," Toyokawa Sakiko said. "Also, the two classes are holding the meeting together, so watch what you say."

Riki looked like a gentle, refined handsome guy on the outside, but on the inside... Toyokawa Sakiko wasn't sure how to put it. She still didn't know the word "unhinged." She just thought that Riki could be funny sometimes, and other times he liked saying embarrassing things.

"Don't you know anyone in your class? No one else recognizes me," Riki asked.

"There's no need." Toyokawa Sakiko paused.

She didn't want anyone to know about her situation or look at her with pity.

What about me, then?

"But you're the exception, Riki, because you don't look at me with pity." Toyokawa Sakiko smiled.

You mean I look at you with lustful eyes?

Toyokawa Sakiko, you've insulted the Riki family's good name. I demand that you kiss me right now!