Dan joined Midori in the car and instructed the driver to take them home.
"Hey, will you be free the day after the cheerdance competition?" Dan asked.
"I have no plans yet. Probably will be sleeping all day." Midori let out a giggle.
"Won't you come with me then?"
"Where are we going?" This time, she wants to make sure she can provide her mom details when she asks for permission.
"It's a surprise." Dan curved his lips.
Midori sighed. It would be difficult to ask for permission again. Then she remembered, it was the first day of their 2-week break before final exams and cram classes for university entrance exams.
"Did you set it so it will coincide with our vacation?"
"Nope. It just happened to coincide perfectly. I don't even have control over the date."
Midori looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, for one, I cannot help it if I was born on the day."
Midori's eyes widened in surprise. "It's your birthday?!"
Dan chuckled. "And I would be very happy if I could spend it with you." He kissed her forehead.
The car stopped at the Xiu mansion.
They came at the doorstep.
"Dan, I still need to ask for permission..." Midori looked down.
Suddenly, the front door opened.
"Where will you be taking her this time?" Madam Xiu appeared in front of them.
Midori gasped. "Mom!"
Madam Xiu turned to Dan. "Would you mind coming in for dinner?"
Dan was dumbfounded for a few seconds then regained himself. "Uhm...certainly. I mean, no, I won't mind, Mrs. Xiu. I just need to call home first." He then tapped on his phone.
Madam Xiu motioned to her daughter. They walked in, leaving Dan to finish his call.
"Go wash up and change. Lead him to the guest room and grab some of your brother's clothes for him to change into. I will be in the kitchen fixing dinner."
"Hai, Okaa-san." Midori nodded then headed upstairs.
At the dinner table, Dan was awkwardly wearing Masaichi's sweatshirt and lounge pants. He was not a short teenager. It was just that Midori's brother towers at 183cm so the length of the clothes are off.
Midori broke the silence. "Mom, where are Dad and Nii-san?"
Madam Xiu swallowed her food. "Where else? Business trip. So tiring to be OIC..." her complaing face showed exaggeratedly.
Dan cleared his throat. "Uhm...Mrs. Xiu..."
"O-kay...we seriously need to fix that. Such honorifics! Dan, I appreciate your manners. However, you have been going out with my daughter for quite some time now, yet you still treat me like a stranger!"
Dan did not know what to say.
Madam Xiu was then irritated by how clueless he was.
"It's Aunty Aoi! AUNTY! You get that?!" She slammed her hand on the table, making utensils jump on the plates with clanking sounds.
Dan swallowed hard. "A-Aunty Aoi..."
"Good! Now, what did you want to say?" Aoi Xiu shifted to her gentle self with a smile.
The scene made Midori rub her temples. "Mom..."
"Hush!" Aoi Xiu pressed a finger on her lips. "Dan is about to say something."
Taking his cue, Dan looked at Madam Xiu with honest eyes. "Aunty Aoi, on the 30th of the month is my birthday. I hereby ask your permission for us to spend sometime together on the day." He stood up, then bowed sincerely.
"And you can't tell the details of your trip?"
"Not with her distance right now. I'm sorry. Rest assured that her security and well-being will be my utmost priority." Dan kept bowing.
Aoi Xiu let out a laugh. "Go back to your seat."
Dan complied. He stared back on the lady of the household, searching her face for the verdict.
Madam Xiu stood up and started walking away. "It's getting late. Don't let people at home worry for you. I will show you out." Then she looked at Midori. "Upstairs you go." gesturing with her chin.
At the front door, Dan was about to leave.
"Three days." Madam Xiu blurted out.
Dan turned around bewildered. He was already feeling down a while ago for not securing permission for Midori. He tried opening his mouth to clarify but was interrupted.
"I will give you three days to go wherever you want, but you have to return her in one piece."
Dan's face lit up, smiling ear to ear. "Thank you, Aunty!" He deeply bowed to her. "I must go now. Thank you for the meal." he said smiling, then he turned to walk towards the car.
He was striding happily when he heard a few more words from her.
"Don't forget to use protection!" Aoi Xiu barely shouted, then she went inside her house with a mischievous grin.