Akira returned to the hallway and found us holding the shoes.
"Missed her so soon?" Mayuki-san stood first. "Come here and get your girlfriend."
Akira scowled at her, coming to stand over me. He held out his hand. "I can't believe Mayuki-neesan is already slaving you."
"She's not," I said at the same time Mayuki-san put her hands on her hips. "I'm not."
"Okay, okay." Akira grinned before he waved his hand at me. "Let's go, Reiko-senpai. They're waiting for you."
"They are?" I asked and swallowed before I took his hand. This was it.
Akira brought me to the living room where the two short-legged rectangle table had been set up. He sat beside his grandfather while I went to the other side facing him. Bowing slightly to the pregnant woman, I kneeled next to her and an empty zaisu and sat on top of my feet.
I glanced around and tried to familiarize myself with the faces around. At the head of the table was Akira's father. On his left was Akahito-san and on the right was his wife.
Catching my gaze, Akira motioned that he'd introduced me again. The conversations halted. All eyes shifted towards me. My feelings for Akira didn't matter now. This situation at hand needed more attention. I braced myself, breathed in, and said my greetings and full name.
"I'm truly sorry that we weren't here to welcome you. Akira mentioned it late, and we couldn't cancel the trip." His mother smiled at me, the kind that she must have practiced for years to greet customers. "Even though Mayuki is young, she is more than reliable."
"She really is." I glanced at Akahito-san and smiled. "I have never been to Hakone and to an inn as big and as wonderful as this."
His mother nodded, pleased. "That's good."
"Shall we eat then?" his father said, tapping the hand of his wife.
On cue, several staff along with Mayuki-san entered with the trays of food. Tons of delicacies filled the table. Mayuki-san placed the steaming bowl of rice in front of me before she sat beside me, tapping my shoulder.
"Your son is a divine cook as well," I said as I picked up my chopsticks.
"He learned from the best." Akira's father puffed out his chest and grinned.
"Akira said you're studying at the University of Tokyo." Akira's mother glanced at me.
"Yes. I'm a third-year," I replied. "Faculty of Law."
His mother blinked before he gazed at her son and nodded. "That's outstanding. Akira could learn something from you."
"Are you implying ceramics isn't good enough?" His grandfather cleared his throat, his stern look becoming more defined.
"Otou-san," his father chided.
His mother remained unfazed. "Not at all, Otou-sama, I'm only impressed that Aki managed to meet someone like Matsumoto-san."
His grandfather reddened. This must be where the brothers got their temper. I locked eyes with Akira. His apology was palpable.
I smiled at him. "Akira is more exceptional though."
"See, I all told you so," Akahito-san spoke loudly. "They're mad for each other."
Laughter followed along with the teasing. I bit my lips, willing away the sudden heat. Me and my mouth. It was worth it though when I saw Akira's eyes disappeared as his grin widened.
The conversation lightened then. His mother told me more about the tourist spots. It improved even further hen Mayuki-san brought out the alcohol. The comment from before became history, lingering but no longer affecting.
They also offered me a cup, and I gladly took it, welcoming the comfort it brought. Akira eyed me as I downed the first cup. Gauging for his reaction, I watched him, but he picked up the ceramic bottle and refilled my cup. His attention remained on me the whole time like during that late breakfast. As if we were the only ones there until his younger cousins began to leave. Mayuki-san accompanied them. Not long after, his grandfather insisted Akira led him to his room.
"I'll be quick," he mouthed to me as he helped his grandfather.
I just nodded. The sake had warmed me and dulled the fears. Being left alone with his family was nothing. I endured worse.
"This sake is good," his father, Hayate-san, said after they left.
"Reiko brought it." Akahito-san glanced at my direction.
"Really?" Hayate-san asked, his eyes lighting up.
"You're already on the first name basis?" Akira's mother, Yuzuki-san, eyed her eldest son and then looked pointedly at me.
Akahito-san shrugged. "Mayu likes her. I like her."
His words lit me up inside more than the sake did. I glanced on my numb thighs, fighting the smile. When I looked up, Yuzuki-san's expression softened as she studied me.
"How did you know how to pick a good sake?" Hayate-san's brows furrowed.
I grinned and told them about my father and the family business. My admittance opened up the gates of question. They brought up about my school and other basic stuff, but nothing too personal that made me uncomfortable. Shifting on my seat, I wondered if Akira did warn them.
"Matsumoto-san, how long have you been together with Akira? I don't think he mentioned it." Yuzuki-san lifted the bottle.
I raised my cup to meet it. "It'll be a month."
Yuzuki-san's mouth dropped open. "A month?"
I nodded, stiffening. Was that a bad thing?
Yuzuki-san glanced at her husband before she smiled. "Forgive me. You seemed close with Akira. I believe it took more than a year before he brought his ex-girlfriend here." She shook her head. "The kids must be telling the truth."
"What ex-girlfriend?" the head of the family asked. His face was flushed.
"It's that girl he dated in high school," Akahito-san said. "I think her name's Megumi."
Yuzuki-san clapped her hands once. "That's right. He brought her along with his friends."
She narrowed her eyes on me, putting a hand on her chin. I gulped. Uh-oh. What now? I glanced at Mayuki-san, but she only shrugged and offered to refill my cup.
"I thought you've been going out for more than a year. He brought you here and let you sleep in his old room," Yuzuki-san added.
"Is there something wrong with his room?" I asked, studying the odd glee in their eyes.
"No, no. no." Yuzuki-san smiled, the warmest she gave me yet. "He doesn't let his own cousins sleep there even when he's not around."
"He even reserved the private bath," Akahito-san said.
It must be the sake, but I felt all eyes turned to me and spoke 'you must be special' even though no one dared to voice it out. The blush crept its way to my neck then to my cheeks and ears. I felt special. Although I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
Before I could mull over it, Akira returned. His family glanced around, hiding their smiles. Could they be any more obvious? His pregnant cousin moved over and beckoned him.
He frowned at me as he sat beside me. "Did something happen?"
Yuzuki-san, his mother, put a finger over her lips. I shook my head at Akira. "It's nothing. They were telling me I should try the century egg tomorrow."
Assents all around followed. Akira looked at them, still scowling.
"It's really nothing, Akira," I whispered to him.
"Yes, we would never bully her, lover boy," his woman cousin slurred.
"See." I smiled at him.
He sighed before he smirked. "Why don't I also take you to your room? We need to leave early tomorrow."
"Don't take her away yet," Mayuki-san quipped.
"Why not?" Akira glowered at her. "She might get a headache."
"She won't." Akahito-san leaned forward to the table. "She's strong. Aren't you, Reiko?"
I opened my mouth and then closed it again when Akira directed his glare at me. I saw him turned to his mother, but Yuzuki-san just grinned.
"Why don't you leave a little later, son?" His father finally said. "We like talking to her."
Akira stilled, his expression hard, but he relented, slouching on his seat. He grumbled under his breath, "I want them to like you but not this much. I still want to hog you for myself."
"We heard that," his brother shouted.
"I said it loud enough for you guys to hear and get a clue." Akira took my hand under the table and squeezed it, but he made no move to stand.