"..."
"I-I U-uhh"
'That's my Student Id in her hands isn't it?' Sorata thought.
In a cat Cafè sat sorata 'without his wig and Hikari. Hikari was blushing slightly while fidgeting as Sorata noticed his school id was in her hands. All eyes in the cafè were focused on the two not only since it was a boy and girl while one was blushing but all the cats were with sora.
There were some laying next to him while there were some on his lap and shoulder. A pure white cat was situated on his head. The employees and the people wanting to relax here were looking on in complete amazement as the cats surrounded Sorata.
Weirdly enough Sorata didn't even mind their presence in fact he quite enjoyed it.
"U-Uhm Suzuki-kun!" Finally with a resolved expression Hikari loudly
said his name. The other people in the cafè suddenly start to look excited while others try to listen to the conversation attentively. Sorata of course noticed this and was annoyed.
"What is it?" Sorata said. He clearly understood what she was trying to do as Hikari had his Id in her hands. Though the others could only see a girl confessing to a boy at least that's what they told themselves.
"I-uhm here!" Hikari said, handing the Id card holding it out like a letter with both arms. Sorata naturally took the Id and as already knew it had his picture and name.
'Well it's not like I would care if Ishikawa-San figured it out.' Sorata knew Hikari wouldn't be the type to blab about this so he didn't really care if she figured out what Sorata looked like.
"Thank you."
"Y-your welcome." Hikari stammered out a reply. Sorata wanted to keep saying things to her stutter for reasons he couldn't understand. It was a huge difference from when she talked about light novels or anime. She barely stuttered and she looked visibly happy as if joys of happiness were shooting out of Hikari.
"...."
"....." seeing as Hikari finished what she had set out to do she didn't know what to do after her quest was completed. She hadn't thought this far after she approached Sorata at school.
After school ended and exam's were finished students were celebrating for the upcoming summer break. Sorata went to the school library but he couldn't check out any book since he didn't have his Id. Hikari had approached him when she heard this and told Sorata with a timid tone that also sounded frightened to come with her to a cat cafè.
It was done in front of the old librarian and some others and it looked like Hikari was asking out Sorata on a date. The Librarian had a gentle smile on her face but she also seemed like she'd punish Sorata if he refused Hikari's request.
'If you refuse this young lady's request before hearing what she has to say I'll kill you!!!' The old lady's smile seemed to say.
So Sorata agreed since he had no reason to refuse and he had a feeling his student Id had something to do with this. He of course was right. It was currently 1:30 and Sorata didn't have to go to his job for the next four weeks.
"U-Uhm may I ask something?" Hikari asked.
"….Go ahead." Sorata said. Sorata could already tell what she wanted to ask seeing as it's the most obvious thing anyone would.
"U-Uhm you're rather p-popular aren't you?"
"...….hmm?" Sorata couldn't understand what she was saying. 'Popular? As in popular with the opposite gender?' Sorata thought. He was really confused with her question.
"Ah. I-I mean the kitties."
"The kitties?"
"Mnh. The kitties. They're all around you Suzuki-kun. I'm jealous."
"Huh. Oh yeah." Sorata looked at the cats surrounding him. 'I'm pretty sure this has something to do with saphina-sama.'
'Heh. It must be nice to have my servants to serve you. Be grateful.'
'?! This voice!'
'Hmm? Finally you noticed me mortal.'
'How long have you been there?!'
'Since you've finished school. Rather I'm surprised you're able to tell we're speaking through your mind.'
'Well it's obvious isn't it? Where else would I hear you?' Sorata replied.
'Hmm. Anyway, would you like me to tell my servants to go somewhere else?'
'Yeah. Also why do you call them your servants, aren't they just regular cats?'
'All cats regardless if they're divine or cat beastmen are my servants.'
'I'm assuming it doesn't work like that for other gods?'
'Well somewhat. Some gods that specifically target a race like demons would have all demons as their servants, same for humans.'
'So your master wouldn't be one like that?'
'Yes my master is simply a god of love.'
'Anyway yeah you can dismiss the cats. Also, can you send one towards Ishikawa-San?'
'Very well.' Saphina said and all the cats left while the white cat on Sorata's head went towards Hikari's lap. Hikari smiled brightly at the cat laying in her lap.
'Wait? Is all she wanted to ask was about the cat's? Not the fact that I've been hiding almost all of my face?' Sorata thought. Any person would especially Hikari who Sorata interacted with more than the entire school, well everyone except Hiroto.
"Hey Ishikawa-san?"
"Hmm? Yes Suzuki-kun." Hikari said without stuttering.
"Aren't you going to ask about my appearance?"
"...." Hikari stayed silent looking intently at Sorata.
"I don't see any difference."
"?"
"Well you're still Suzuki-kun aren't you?"
"Yes?" Sorata said not getting where Hikari was going with this.
"I'm positive that you were hiding it for a reason. So I may not understand why you'd hide it but it doesn't change anything for me at least. You're still Suzuki-kun" Hikari said. Not stuttering.
"..."Sorata had his same blank face as a response to Hikari. ' I don't get it.' Sorata thought. He was met with an answer he did not expect. Of course any other person might understand Hikari's anwser but Sorata himself hadn't interacted with others to understand.
""""""""""""""tch.""""""""""""""" schoolgirls and some adult women clicked their tongues hearing the response. They petted the cats with anger and envy as they witnessed Hikari and Sorata.
'Hmm. You have an option right now, why not choose her?'
'what do you mean by choosing her ?'
'She seems to like you a lot. 'I'm sure this could be a lot shorter If you just go and kiss her. Sixteen chapters and it's all over.'
'That's wrong and what do you mean by sixteen chapters?'
'Just hurry up! I don't want to be here any longer than you. Hurry hurry!
'You sound like a brat who just got denied something they wanted. Aren't you supposed to be a god?'
'Maybe I should increase your training. Yeah it's just to help a snarky little brat like you.' Saphina said muttering vengefully. Even though she was treated as a servant by the love goddess Saphina still had pride and she didn't want to be treated like that by a human.
"U-Uhm did I say something weird?" Hikari finally spoke looking more timid than before. Sorata hadn't said anything and his blank face made Hikari uneasy. Having someone like Sorata stare at you like that with a blank face would make anyone uncomfortable.
"It's nothing." Sorata said with a sigh. A slightly awkward atmosphere drifted between the two. This was the first time Sorata ever felt this consciously around a girl his own age. It was a new feeling to him and he hated it. Hikari also felt the same but it looked more natural as she had been this way for a while.
""""""""""""die, stupid couple.""""""""""" This time it was everyone, not just the women cursing. They did so under their breath but Sorata with his cat-like hearing could hear it.
'I don't like this. How can I make it disappear? Should I kidnap Ishikawa-San and put her on a remote island far away from me? It's clear she's the catalyst of my current mood but why is she the catalyst? What makes her so special? Is this perhaps? Fear?'
'You idiot!!!'
'! Why'd you yell so loudly!? This hurts more than someone yelling in my ear.'
'You dense idiooooooooooooot! That's it tonight your training is going to be increased and 100 times harder than before!!!!'
'Why!?!' Sorata said loudly as saphina appeared to be fuming with anger. He could see a red cat with flames going everywhere in his mind.
.
.
.
.
"Hmm.This chef would probably be better in an environment and could help Sorata."
"Who's that? Your boyfriend or something? It's too late for you to have one of those sister."
"Shut it, anyway, why are you at my apartment? Aren't you supposed to be in school?"
"Mom took me out for something regarding my fiancé. Since I finished that meeting I thought I'd come check on my most beloved sister."
"What do you want? You're sucking up to me. I've never had such a cute little brother."
"Geez can't a little brother visit his older sister without needing something?"
"Out with it. I know what you're here for. It's why you're dressed like that."
"Don't worry sister, I am only wearing your dress not your underwear.
"You shouldn't be wearing it anyway. So what do you want me to do?"
"Fuh. Sis I need you to distract mom and dad today. I'm going on a date."
"We wouldn't need to do this if you could simply tell them."
"Mom and dad aren't the problem, it's the other people. I'm the only boy produced by mom and dad if they found out about this who knows what they might do."
"Hmmmm. Okay I'll accept the usual payment Mika."
"Ugh. Fine, I'll give it to you after I'm done."
"Give me some right now and some later and I'll do more to distract mom and dad."
"Deal."
In Shiuzku's apartment she sat on her couch drinking tea while a very attractive (girl?) talked to her. This was her younger brother. He was 18 this year and let's just say he likes to play in the dirt, he, uh swings for the other team.
Mika had inherited almost if not all of his genes from his mother. He looked more like his mother than Shizuku. The only thing Mika got from his dad was his hair and eyes.
"How long will you be on this date?"
"Hmm? Don't know. Well if I'm lucky I'll be able to lose something special tonight. My date is a very nice person. I've been waiting for this day for a while."
"..."
"What? You should be happy for me!"
"I don't know how to feel when my younger brother excitedly tells me he's going to lose his anal virginity."
"Hmph. You should be a supportive older sister like Lina."
"You should be more thankful to Lina that she's keeping up your ruse. Also there's a difference between supporting and thinking of your younger brother bent over an-
"Okay! Enough of this talk! Here"
"Hehe. You may be an unruly little brother but these desserts are amazing. I wonder if Sorata could make better ones."
"Again with this "Sorata" fellow now I'm starting to think you're his sugar mommy. Are you sure you're not being fooled?"
"Idiot. You know it'd be extremely hard to fool me. Besides, he has no evil intentions."
"Hmm? How do you know maybe he's after your body?"
"If he was, then it'll make my quest a lot easier."
"Hah!? What do you mean by that?!"
"Well yesterday he sort of slept in the same bed as me and did nothing to me. In fact in his sleep he started pushing me away."
"Wow. That's depressing."
"You don't need to say it out loud!" Shizuku yelled, throwing a couch pillow at Mika.
"Whoa! Hey don't start throwing things!" Mika said as he dodged the pillow that hit the wall behind him.
"Geez! Can't you handle a little teasing? You should work on your temper."
"I don't want to hear that coming from you." Shizuku said.
"Anyway, can I see your sugar baby? I want to see who has my darling sister sighing in her house."
"He's not my sugar baby, and I also don't have a picture of him."
"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Well if you won't show me him I'll seek him out. Someone who got you the ice cold demon who's rejected every single man with merciless words and actions this fellow needs to be examined."
"I didn't reject them that bad did I?"
"Lina even looked at you like you were a scary yokai whenever someone came up to you to ask you for a dance or ask you out. As a man myself I pitied the ones you rejected."
"It certainly wasn't that bad." The two siblings continued on arguing about meaningless things. On another note the one called Lina was Mika's fiancé and his and Shiuzku's childhood friend. They were engaged to each other due to their closeness but neither of them wanted to be engaged.
Lina had a man that she already loved very much but he wasn't exactly on the same social status as her and Mika didn't like girls. So they used each other to fool their parents into thinking they were together so they can do what they want while also not having their parents disown them.
But as shizuku had said Mika and her parents, if they knew about Mika's percuiler interests they'd gladly accept him. It wasn't about whether his parents would, it was about whether the branch families would.
His uncle in particular would use Mika as an excuse to take control of the main business and throw Mika's father off the company. His uncle hated how perfect Mika's father was so he always schemed ways to make him look bad.
The families finding out about Mika would all make them switch sides very easily. It wasn't that they hated Mika, it's just that they need the family lineage to keep going and having someone like Mika not being interested in girls spells bad things for the company.
So Mika and Lina conducted a plan. Both of them would go through with the engagement and wedding and stay married for the foreseeable future. It'd be quite the hassle to live that kind of life but Mika didn't want to have his family ruined due to their uncles hatred and Lina didn't want to be disowned for marrying a man not up to standards for her family.
Naturally if Lina were to get pregnant they'd pass off her child as Mika's and Mika was okay with it since he did hold Lina as a precious friend and older sister figure. On the upside if all things went well Mika wouldn't even be succeeding his family's business but Lina's so Lina's child would naturally fit in.
But his uncle was pushing for Mika to be the president of the company rather than shizuku. Right now the only danger to Mika's lifestyle would be his uncle other than that he and Lina kept up the facade and fooled almost everyone in their family. The two being Shiuzku and Lina's grandmother. The other branch families also wanted Mika to succeed but others wanted shizuku so it was a stalemate.
The reason Mika's uncle wanted him as the president was so that his uncle could use Mika. His uncle knew shizuku would be too smart for him to manipulate but he thought he could easily manipulate Mika. Though he hadn't known that Shizuku had told Mika all Mika needed to know about their uncle.
"Anyway sis I'm gonna get going. Your dresses aren't really my thing so good thing I got my own."
"I hope your date knows you're not actually a woman and crossdressing."
"Of course he knows you idiot. I've known him since high school."
"Well as long as he knows what he's getting into. Bye then Mika I'll be eating the delicious brownies while you're gone I'll also make an excuse to see mom and dad."
"Ugh. Bye sis." Mika said, walking out the front door and leaving. Mika, if he were to go out on dates, always crossdressed to make sure no one recognized him. Mika didn't really mind since he looked cute in anything girl related, he looked just like Shizuku. Though shizuku had an air maturessness around her whilst Mika looks like a playful child.
Mika still lived with his parents so shizuku needed to distract them lest they ask Mika where he was. Mika was a terrible liar. The only reason he's been able to keep his sexuality a secret was due to Lina and shizuku. If a social party were to happen Lina would stay by Mika the entire time to keep up a ruse they were a loving couple, and to make sure Mika didn't say something that would make everyone suspect their relationship.
Seeing as Mika had left, Shizuku's whole face turned red.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaa! Why did I make him sleep in my bed!!!?!?" Shizuku wasn't sure what made her keep composure that night but she hated it. Now that Mika had known her actions she know realized how embarrassing and weird it was to invite a man(boy) into her bed that she'd barely known for a week.
Shizuku didn't know what came over her at that time. She was more bold then she sought out to be. Now that Shizuku thought about it she had done a lot to someone she had just met. Shizuku didn't know what overcame her but something told her to do it.
"Waaaaahhaaaaah!!" Shizuku continued to writhe in embarrassment at her past actions.
.
.
:
.
"We're leaving at 7:25 am Elias. So make sure to go to sleep or else I'll make Elise wake you up. You know how she gets when she wakes up early in the morning.."
"Geh! What are you trying to do to me by unleashing her on me, kill me?"
"I know it shouldn't be saying this to you but don't treat your sister as a wild dog."
"The same could be said about you!! You're planning on siccing her on me!"
"I would never do that. I just want my dear cousin to get up for our trip."
"You really didn't even try to hide your monotonous voice. People usually hide it sora!"
"I have no clue what you're speaking about. Anyways make sure to get a lot of sleep since we'll be walking around a lot."
"Ugh. We better meet some beautiful girls!"
"Well we'll see when we meet Hiroto's friend. Maybe I can pawn you off on him."
"Hmph! We'll see. I'll be the most handsome out of all you!"
"Yeah okay. Go to sleep." Sorata said and went towards his room. He closed his door and went to his bed. It was currently 9:12 and Sorata had just finished making dinner for Elias and Elise. Sorata after his meeting with Hikari had gone to the library with her to get a new book.
They'd checked out A library near the cat cafe and after that went their separate ways. Hikari didn't want to leave and Sorata didn't know what feeling he was feeling so he shrugged it off and left Hikari at the train station she usually uses to go to school.
Sorata laid down on his bed and thought about the events of this current week and past week. His true hair and face was revealed to Emilia, he got a 4 week vacation for his job, he met aya again, Hikari had also figured out his secret, he met a very weird woman named shizuku, his cousins came over, he got introduced to miyu and kaori.
"Way too much has happened this month. I can't handle this much interaction."Sorata said with a sigh. Just as he was about to fall asleep a knock was at his door. Sorata got up from his bed and walked towards the door.
"Good you're still awake sora. I forgot to give you this." Elsie was at the door.
" What is it that you need to give me?"
"A letter. I didn't open it because it's uncle's."
"Uncle's?" Sorata said questionly as he took the letter from Elise. Just as she said the name read Shin Suzuki. The sender was Fumiko suzuki. Sorata froze at that. 'What? As far as I know my father never knew anyone with the same last name as him so that must mean.'
"I'm gonna go to my room. I don't want to intrude here." Elsie said she sensed the mood change in Sorata so she decided it would be better if she left.
"O-Oh okay. Goodnight." Sorata responded, snapping out of his stupor. Elsie quickly went to her room and Sorata shut his door and went to his bed sitting down with the letter in hand.
'What do I do?' Was all Sorata could think. Logically speaking this letter could only come from someone on his fathers family side. Even if by chance Shin knew someone with Suzuki as their last name they would've known what happened to him.
But to Sorata that begged an even bigger question. 'How did they figure out our address?' Sorata, as long as he was alive, never heard his father talk about his family. Sorata naturally assumed Shin was an orphan. The thought that he might've had a family outside of Himself and Alicia never occurred to Sorata.
'If this is truly fathers family, why didn't I ever hear of them?' Sorata thought again. He only came up with one idea which was that they had a falling out. It wouldn't be ludicrous to think so after all if he did have family why did shin never mention them? Whenever Sora asked about his grandma and grandpa, Shin always looked away and tried to change the subject.
'If they sent a letter to me does that mean they don't know?' Sorata thought. He thought if they had his address they'd know about the car crash shin was involved in.
"Haaaaaaaa." Sorata let out a long sigh. He was getting rather annoyed at his current mood. His heart pounded and he felt quite uneasy. The last time he felt like this was when he found out his mother and father died.
"Sitting around doing nothing isn't going to help me in any capacity. I should just open the letter." Finally Sorata decided to put away any doubt or fear and he opened the letter.
"Dear Shin,
I don't really know how to start this or if I should even send this. It has been 15 years. Pops he's uh getting to an old age already I don't think he has much more time the cancer is really getting him. I Know you guys didn't have the best of relationships at the time of that event, but it'd be really great if we could meet and you could at least repair your relationship.
I'm going to leave my number since I'm pretty sure you don't have it. I'll be there with my daughters and Ma. You know the same place we'd always go to as a family.. Well I hope you get this shin and if you don't want to come I understand. I'd really love for you to meet my daughters they really take after me. Well even if you don't come I'll always be your older sister. I'm really hoping we can just sit down at a table like a family one last time before pops leaves.
Sincerely, Fumiko."
"….." Sorata merely had a blank face as he processed the letter. Just as this Fumiko person said her number was at the bottom of the letter. Sorata didn't know what to do in this situation. He easy extremely smart yet he had no answers, no ideas, no nothing.
All he could do was stare at the letter. Of course Sorata found it quite hard to point out the feeling he was feeling but it was something akin to pity. He pitied the sender or his aunt as she did not know his father, her younger brother had died.
Sorata judging from her last sentence could tell Fumiko cared a lot about Shin.
"Haaaaaaa. What do I do in this situation, father, mother?" Sorata said lying back down on his bed. This was something he had no way of knowing how to handle and he hated it. A feeling he never thought he'd feel again surfaced twice this day. A feeling of anxiety and restlessness came over Sorata and his previous drowsiness disappeared.