I never did get back that pair of panties. When I asked Akira the next morning, he smirked at me and said, "Isn't that payment for your toiletries?"
"I didn't ask for them." I gaped at him and then laughed. "Did you really get those?"
His smug expression faltered. He scratched the back of his neck. "I did."
It was my turn to smirk. "And here I thought I was imagining your scent."
Clearing his throat, Akira stood. "Anyway, I'm keeping it. I'm sure you brought plenty."
"Are you a pervert?" I asked, grinning.
"I am." He thrust out his chest before he leaned in and flicked my forehead. "When it comes to you. Hurry up. They'll tease us if we get any later."
I rubbed my forehead. My smile was like ten megawatts now, enough to light up a house. "Where did you hide them? Do you have like a secret stash?"
"Reiko-senpai." Sighing, he stared at me pointedly. "I'll steal all your underwear if you don't stop. You'd have to go commando when we go."
"Okay, okay." I raised both hands in defeat. "I'll get dressed."
***
My good mood dampened when we stepped out of the inn on our way to the bus stop. A bunch of gray clouds hung over us. On the other hand, Akira had a gleam on his eyes and a secret grin he wouldn't give up no matter how much I asked.
But I found out soon enough. After going to another museum—Akira was more than an art geek than I realized—and visited the detached palace, we ate lunch, and the surprise came. Akahito-san and Mayuki-san arrived in a van.
They were going to take us to the port for the cruise ride to see the Hakone shrine since the clouds had cleared. Humming, I followed the others and raised my foot to step inside the van when a hand gripped my arm.
Akira tilted his head and nodded towards the side. Thinking we would discuss more options, I let him pulled me. He and his brother exchanged meaningful glances before Akahito-san shut the door.
"We'll see you at the house," he said before he got in the driver's seat and drove off.
"They left us." My mouth fell open. Turning to him, I slapped him in the arm. "I wanted to see the shrine."
"We can go early tomorrow morning, and then we'll go shopping in the afternoon as planned. The forecast seems good too, but for now, let's go home. I have something to show you." He took my hand and dragged me towards the opposite direction.
"We're going back?" I grabbed his arm, and we came to a stop. "You mean your brother and sister-in-law were not your secret smile?"
He gazed at me. "They are a part of it."
"What about your parents? Your grandfather is also there," I said.
"Are you that afraid of ojii-san?" he asked.
"I think your grandfather doesn't quite like me," I admitted, looking away.
"I told you he's just like that."
"No. You told me he might be a little blunt, but he hasn't said a word to me." I let go of his hand and wandered ahead, remembering Mina's parents.
They were never bad to me, but they were never warm to me either. They, especially her mother, looked at me with their pitying and condescending eyes. I was okay with it though. I never felt the need to impress them or get them to like me. Right from the day Dad announced his marriage to Mina, I knew my exact position into that family.
A crossroad broke my train of thoughts. I glanced back at Akira. "Which way is to the station again?"
Akira came to my side with his hands on his pockets. His brows knitted as if he was also wondering the same thing, and then he met my gaze. His frown lightened as he pointed to the right.
"My grandfather likes you," he said. "I'll prove it to you when we get home."
Staring at him, I wondered how he could be so sure, but my thought drifted towards my feelings for him. I wished Akira liked me instead of his grandfather. I prayed that he liked me the way I liked him. The way my heart soared every time we touched. The way my whole body relaxed when he was near.
But I also hated it. How my realization amplified and complicated my yearnings for him when everything was going well now.