*This chapter will be in the POV of Kazuya
I didn't expect it'd be a turn of event from sending a girl acquaintance home to a family meeting. The air was pretty tense as of now her sister sat in front of me and Hikari who silently sat next to me. We were facing each other so I noticed her sister's face gesture suggested an unsettling feeling towards me. Meanwhile Hikari kept looking down avoiding eyes contact with her sister. This made us look like a couple who did something terrible to upset their parents. *Sigh anyway let's just calm down and follow the flow as I'm sleepy and want to go home.
"How are you doing, Hikari?" Big sis started the conversation. Her face was neither happy nor angry but pure seriousness when talking with her younger sibling.
"Good." Hikari replied, her head remain bowed.
Big sis took a glance at me, putting the same expression then turned back her attention to Hikari.
"Do you have any idea why I come here?"
"N-no."
....
A sudden silence from both sides. I think I'm just a bother here to hear about their family affair but what can I do, it's the big sis who asked me to wait.
"Sigh... Lift your head up." She ordered.
"Y-yes!" Hikari immediately responded.
"No need to be so scared, I'm not here to pick you up or anything."
"Eh, you're not?" Hikari seemed elated to hear that.
"Yes, at least for now."
"For... now..." Now she turned gloom.
I was pretty much clueless as to what's going on, but what I knew is I should not meddle on other people's business.
"You remember what father said back then?"
"Y-yeah... that is to perform better in the upcoming exam..."
Her sister was not satisfied with the answer as if there's more to what she should have said.
"Or.... get married..."
Oh what a twist, as I recall she only said that her parents would cut her monthly allowance but this info was new to me. I think I've got the gist of it. I guess her parents give her 2 choices, whether getting good grades or getting married, and looking at big sister who was in a blazer and tucked-in shirt, I concluded that she was an office worker. Perhaps their father was the CEO of a company and offered her daughter as a form of business relationship with other company.
Seriously, what kind of undeveloped thinking was that. Do you think we're in an ancient era where one must marry to a leader to form a good relationship with the country. Sigh... but who cares, it's their matter anyway.
"I see you still remember, but what's the meaning of this? You've got yourself a boyfriend." She pointed out her finger towards me.
"Uh.. N-no! He's not my boyfriend! We're just friend and nothing more!"
"But you brought him to your apartment."
"Hol up miss, you've misunderstood something here. She recently done her study at my workplace and I'm responsible to send her home as it'd be dangerous to let a girl walk alone at night."
I tried to make things clear as to not worsen the situation.
"Yeah, sis! He only send me home."
"Still, that's even more suspicious to me." Her sister's glaze was even sharper that I could feel it piercing my brains. Looks like she didn't believe 100% of what we said.
"What can I do to convince you that I'm not her boyfriend? If you're asking me to slap her, I would gladly do it."
"H-hey!!" Hikari lightly punched my back. She seemed a little upset but at least she was back to her usual self.
"Heh, you said that you were studying with her, but I know exactly my little sister, she will never study." She said it clearly with confidence on her face.
"H-hey! Sis!!"
"I get you, the idea of her studying also terrified me at first. A stubborn, lazy and egoistic girl like her would never do that in the first place." I continued on bragging.
"H-Hey! What's with you two?!!" Hikari's face turned slight red of embarassment, seeing two of them trashtalking her in her face.
"Yeah, once she tried to read a history book in our house, but in under 10 seconds she'd already fallen asleep."
"S-Sis! That's from when I'm 7 years old! How can you still remember that!!?" Her face became redder.
"Yeah, there is also time when-" before I got the chance to finish my sentence, I had got a chill on my spine, I could feel an intimidating aura filling the room.
"Kaazuya... Ayanee..." *crack
Hikari was snapped. She was preparing her fist. The smiley face she put on didn't help to cover that she was mad af.
****
After that we received a nagging. Now I was sitting side by side with her sister hearing all the scolding from Hikari, who was standing in front of us.
"Ayane!"
"Y-yes!" She flinched a bit.
"Just you wait I'll be in top 50 in the mid term! Tell father that I'll never agree to the idea of getting married!"
"Y-yes!"
Somehow the table had turned.
"Kazuya!"
"Yo!"
"I see you're underestimating me!"
"indeed!" I replied spontaneously.
"Huh?!"
"No! I'd never do that!"
"I'll prove it to you that I can change myself for the better!"
"Yes!"
"Also, I can take care of myself even without you accompanying me! So don't think that I'm that useless!"
"Yes, madam!"
Well what she said was true though. Looking back at how she beat up those bullies, I doubt she need any protection.
"Ayane too!"
"Y-yes!"
"Why didn't you call me earlier if you want to pay a visit!?"
"W-well.. I thought I want to make a surprise.."
"Huh?!"
"A-ah no..."
"Jeez next time please inform me!"
"Yes, madam!"
****
Hikari was relieved quite a bit, she managed to let out everything that had been dwelling inside her mind.
"Fufufu. I guess there is nothing to worry." Ayane laughed while covering her mouth with her hand.
"Hm?" Hikari looked at me, her face was filled with questions and so do I so please stop staring at me.
*Ahem
Ayane maintaned her cool appearance.
"Initially, it was father and mother who should have been visiting you today, but I offered myself in their stead."
"But why?"
"I know how hard it is to deal with them. If they're the one who's here right now I assure you 100% they will take you back."
"I-I see..."
"Welp, I guess there's no need to worry. Your room is clean and every stuffs is neatly arranged, and you look healthier too. I'm sure you've been taking care of yourself well. And..." She took a glance at me.
"Hm?" Hikari raised her eyebrow.
"Your boyfriend is pretty interesting too."
"Th- I told you he's not my boyfriend!!" she flustered.
"But you're blushing."
"Guh.. Enough! Just go home you stupid sister!" She grabbed and forcefully push her outside of the room.
"Ara."
It's surprising to see that her sister was not as strict as she look earlier. She was friendlier than I thought. Perhaps this was her true self when interacting with Hikari. Either way I'm grateful everything went rather smoothly.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. My husband tends to worry too much." Ayane put on her heels.
"Yeah, yeah just go quickly."
"You're no fun at all. That's why people were avoiding you." Ayane patted her head.
"I, too will take my leave."
I think there was nothing more for me to do here, better go home and sleep.
"Kazuya, right?"
"Yes?"
"Wanna take a ride? Wait, let me rephrase that. You, take a ride with me." She changed her intonation from a asking to ordering.
What's with her bossy attitude. Do you think I'd just say "yes, let's go" after hearing that? It's such a hassle, it's better to walk home alone.
"No, thank you."
"Oh, you dare disobeying me?"
"So what, it's not like your power was big enough to leak out off your office."
My shirt was pulled, taking me several steps behind. Hikari was the one who did it.
"Don't pissed her off or your life will be at stake." She whispered to my ear.
Sigh... I had no choice but to follow her.
****
I took a seat next to the driver. The cushion was soft and comfortable I almost fell asleep just from sitting. As expected of a Mercedes-Benz S Class, so this was how it feel to be rich.
After bidding farewell to Hikari, now I was all alone with her sister. She safely drove on the busy road full of people. I didn't intend to be buddy buddy with her so I'll remain silent all the way.
"Kazuya-kun."
"Yes?" I turned my eyes from looking outside the window to slightly glance her who was driving next to me.
"How's Hikari?"
Such a vague question, but I think I knew what she mean.
"She's a good girl." A plausible response I could think of.
"Did she ever cause troubles at school?"
"No... maybe? She had caused me problems a few times tho."
"Well sorry about that. Then what about her study? Do you think she'll live up to her resolve?"
"I'm not saying that she can't, but if she pushes herself a bit more I'm sure she'd succeed. Her comprehension is good except when it comes to math. There's still light of hope."
"I see."
I did see the point of this conversation was just showing of how caring she was as an older sister.
"Are you really not her boyfriend?"
"You heard us earlier."
"I'm kinda disappointed that you aren't"
"Hm?"
I had no idea what was inside her head. She seemed against the idea of Hikari getting a boyfriend but suddenly contradicted herself by that statement.
"I thought you hate me."
"Not really, you're quite interesting."
"Thank you, but I think you have a bad sense of judgement."
"Heh, my instinct is always correct. That's why I'm against the idea of Hikari getting married to a random just for business. I knew the man and all his terrible deeds he'd done, ain't now way I'd give my Hikari to that kind of guy."
She's more considerate than her appearance suggested. Perhaps because of her serious expression and outfit that of an office woman, made me think otherwise. Sorry, Hikari's sister.
"But you were acting cold to me earlier."
"I was only testing you."
"...."
"Kazuya-kun, please take care of Hikari."
"I'll do my best."
It was only a mere talk with zero meaning. I have no obligation to keep an eye on her at school. Each of their own I'll continue my life as usual.
****
I safely reached home.