The two kids skipped steps on their way down to the table. Shoya successfully got down on the ground without falling. He turned and stood proudly, showing off in front of his younger sister.
Yumeko also skipped steps. On the fourth step to the bottom, she slipped and fell forward; Shoya was there to catch her.
"Thank you, Big Bro."
"No problem! Let's go eat!"
They ran and sat in their seats.
Aria walked over and put plates in front of them.
Yumeko was ecstatic.
"Omurice!"
She shouted, digging in instantly.
On the other hand, Shoya wasn't pleased.
"I don't want omurice for breakfast..."
He pouted.
"You better eat, young man. We were going to have karaage today, but since you don't want your omurice, I might as well-"
"I'll eat!"
Aria coerced Shoya into eating his omurice. She smiled looking at the two of them eat.
"Where is Ai-chan? It's Saturday today. She should be at home."
The mother walked to the bottom of the stairs and called out to the top.
"Ai-chan! Breakfast is ready!"
There was no response.
She walked back to the others and asked them.
"Do you all know what she's doing?"
Gedo and Shoya flinched, while Yumeko stopped eating.
"Oh! She's talking to-"
Swiftly, Shoya covered Yumeko's mouth. He whispered something into her ear. She realised.
He went back to eating.
Aria sensed something was amiss.
"Talking to who?"
"N-no one. Don't worry, Mom!"
She said, finishing her omurice.
Aria closed in on Yumeko. Their silver eyes met.
"Tell me now, Yume-chan."
Her deep voice permeated through Yumeko's head. She was bound to give in sooner or later.
"Dear, I don't think we should pry into our eldest's private life. We don't have the right to know."
Gedo said, setting down his newspaper.
"Strange. I don't see why you're speaking now, honey. Which can only mean one thing."
They both stared into one another's eyes. Gedo was faltering. He was fighting a losing battle.
The mother grabbed a knife and turned to climb the flight of stairs.
"I'll kill whoever she's with."
Shoya and Yumeko jumped onto her and held her tightly, attempting to stop her.
"MOM, NO!"
"SHE'S GOING TO MURDER SOMEONE! DAD, HELP US!"
"I'm coming!"
--
After ten minutes, Aria calmed down and Aihara came out of her room with a boy.
They sat down at the table, sitting opposite Aria.
"Mom, I can explain."
Aihara said.
"Save it. I'm questioning your boyfriend, not you, Ai-chan."
"I'm s-sorry, Ai-nee. I-it's because I'm stupid."
Yumeko walked over to Aihara, crying. Aihara patted her on the head.
"Don't worry. I'd have to do this anyways. It's fine."
She said, gently.
Shoya sat in the seat next to the boy, Takami, who wasn't nervous but was quite shaken from what he saw.
Anyone would be shaken from seeing a mother trying to murder her daughter's boyfriend.
"Okay. Firstly, what's your name?"
The mother asked.
"Takami. Takami Asuma."
"Why am I getting déjà vu?"
The two parents said, simultaneously.
"Excuse me?"
"No, it's nothing. Anyway, how long have you been dating my daughter?"
The boy counted on his fingers.
"A year and two months."
Aria did the calculation in her head.
"So, since the beginning of your second middle school year, correct?"
Takami nodded.
"How did you first meet?"
"Uh, we-"
"We were in the same group for Home Ec, and we got along."
Aihara glared at her mother. Aria sighed.
"So, you two think you're a match made in heaven, right?"
They both nodded.
"Well, I'll be the one to decide that."
Takami shivered.
"It's fine, Taka-chan. She'll come around."
Aihara comforted him. He nodded and smiled.
Aria slammed her hand on the table.
Shoya was the only one to flinch.
"This isn't questioning anymore. It's an interrogation."
Takami poised himself for the interrogation. He wanted to win her over at all costs.
"There are only two questions. You have to answer honestly."
"I understand, ma'am."
"Firstly, have you two been kissing or having sex?"
Aihara and Takami blushed.
"W-we've kissed a couple of times but that's all. Nothing extreme. We're still in middle school, after all. Only fourteen."
"That's not a young age. Aria and I had Aihara at the age of 16. Two more years and you may be able to do it."
Gedo announced, smiling.
All four of them stared in awe, while Aria tried her best not to make any extravagant faces. Her cheeks became slightly red though.
"Now, for the second and final question."
The woman leaned forward, staring at Takami, and pointed at Aihara.
"Do you love my daughter?"
Takami was surprised by the question. It seemed quite easy to answer.
He burst up from his chair and shouted.
"Yes! I love her! I love her with a burning passion! Even if she were to run away to the ends of the Earth, I'd chase after her."
Aihara also jumped up and blocked his mouth.
"Ah! Don't say dumb shit like that in front of everyone! You're making me embarrassed!"
"Ai-chan..."
She slowly rose from her seat.
"Uhm, Mom!"
She grabbed Aihara's shoulder and spoke.
"You found a good man."
"Eh?"
Both Aihara and Takami were confused.
"Wait, Mom, usually you wouldn't like an explanation like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy, but why did you just accept that?"
Aria smiled while holding her cheeks. They became red in a flash.
"Didn't I ever tell you? This is exactly how my parents accepted our relationship. My father questioned Gedo in the same way."
"Oh! That's why you said déjà vu!"
Yumeko said.
"What's déjà vu?"
Shoya asked, clueless.
"It's when you feel like you already have experienced something and you're experiencing it again."
Yumeko said.
"Really? I didn't know that? Thanks, Yumeko!"
Shoya got off his seat and patted her on the head. She looked pleased being praised by her brother.
"Wow. Your little sister is smart for a 3-year-old. She's saying some big words."
Takami said.
"You think? The only reason she becomes knowledgeable is that she thinks it's the only way to get attention from her older brother. She's attached to Shoya and doesn't spend any time with me. I'm sad about that, but it seems better that way."
Takami looked at Yumeko.
"That's some passion. She'll be some big shot when she grows."
"Yeah, even I can tell she's gifted."
Aria clapped to draw attention to herself.
"Okay! Since we've settled this! Let's make a special dinner in accordance with Takami joining our family!"
Everyone cheered.
Little did they know that a storm would come uninvited.