The sun shone brightly on campus as Hanada and Akari strolled hand in hand, enjoying the peaceful afternoon. They were on their way to meet Akari's brother, Shion, who had just arrived from out of town for a short visit. Akari had warned Hanada that Shion was a bit overprotective, but Hanada was determined to make a good impression.
"Are you sure he's okay with meeting me?" Hanada asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Don't worry, Hanada-kun. Shion can be a little intense, but he means well," Akari reassured him, giving his hand a comforting squeeze.
They arrived at the café where Shion was waiting, and Akari immediately spotted her brother sitting at a corner table, scrolling through his phone. Shion was tall, with sharp features and an intense gaze that seemed to pierce through everything he looked at.
"Shion! Over here!" Akari called out, waving enthusiastically.
Shion's head snapped up, and a broad smile spread across his face as he saw his sister. He stood up and walked over, enveloping Akari in a bear hug. "Akari! It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too, Shion," Akari said, returning the hug. She then turned to Hanada, who was standing awkwardly to the side. "Shion, this is Hanada. Hanada-kun, this is my brother, Shion."
Shion's smile faltered slightly as he eyed Hanada up and down, his expression turning from warm to scrutinizing in an instant. "So, you're Hanada," he said, his voice cool and measured.
"Yes, it's nice to meet you, Shion," Hanada said, extending his hand.
Shion looked at Hanada's hand for a moment before reluctantly shaking it. "Likewise," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.
They all sat down at the table, and an awkward silence settled over them. Hanada could feel Shion's eyes on him, assessing and judging. Akari, sensing the tension, decided to break the ice.
"So, Shion, how was your trip?" she asked, smiling brightly.
"It was fine," Shion replied, his gaze never leaving Hanada. "The flight was a bit bumpy, but nothing too bad."
"That's good to hear," Akari said, trying to keep the conversation light. "What are your plans while you're in town?"
"I'm here to spend time with you, of course," Shion said, his expression softening as he looked at his sister. "And to make sure you're doing okay."
"I'm doing great, Shion. You don't have to worry about me," Akari said, giving him a reassuring smile.
Shion's eyes flicked back to Hanada, narrowing slightly. "And how do you fit into all of this, Hanada?"
Hanada took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. "Akari and I have been spending a lot of time together. She's very special to me."
"Is that so?" Shion said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "And what makes you think you're good enough for my sister?"
"Shion!" Akari exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "That's not fair. Hanada is a wonderful person."
"I'm just looking out for you, Akari," Shion said, his tone firm. "You know how much I care about you."
Hanada felt a surge of determination. He wasn't going to let Shion intimidate him. "I understand that you're protective of Akari, and I respect that. But I care about her deeply, and I would never do anything to hurt her."
Shion studied Hanada for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Fine. But I'm watching you, Hanada. If you ever hurt my sister, you'll have to answer to me."
"Fair enough," Hanada said, meeting Shion's gaze with unwavering determination.
The tension eased slightly, and they spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about lighter topics. Hanada did his best to engage Shion in conversation, asking about his interests and hobbies. To his surprise, he found that they had a few things in common, like a love for classic literature and a passion for hiking.
By the time they finished their coffees, the atmosphere had lightened considerably. Shion still seemed wary of Hanada, but he wasn't as openly hostile as he had been at the start.
"Thanks for meeting with us, Shion," Hanada said as they stood up to leave. "I hope we can get to know each other better."
"Yeah, sure," Shion said, his tone somewhat grudging. "Take care of my sister, okay?"
"I will," Hanada promised.
As they walked back to campus, Hanada felt a mix of relief and exhaustion. "Well, that went better than I expected," he said, chuckling.
Akari smiled and hugged him. "You did great, Hanada-kun. Shion is just... well, he's Shion. He'll come around eventually."
"I hope so," Hanada said, feeling a bit more hopeful. "I really want to get along with him."
"You will," Akari said confidently. "I know it."
Over the next few days, Hanada and Akari continued their daily routines, but the shadow of Shion's intense scrutiny seemed to linger. Hanada was determined to win him over, but it was proving to be a challenge. Shion showed up at unexpected times, always with an air of suspicion, as if waiting for Hanada to slip up.
One evening, as Hanada was walking Akari back to her dorm, they spotted Shion leaning against the building, his arms crossed and a serious expression on his face.
"Shion, what are you doing here?" Akari asked, surprised.
"Just making sure you're safe," Shion replied, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Hanada.
"I'm perfectly safe with Hanada-kun," Akari said, a hint of frustration in her voice.
"I'm sure you think so," Shion said, his tone skeptical. "But I need to make sure for myself."
Hanada sighed, feeling the weight of Shion's distrust. "Look, Shion, I understand that you're worried about Akari, but I care about her too. I'm not going to let anything happen to her."
Shion looked at him for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "I hope you mean that, Hanada. Because if you don't, you'll regret it."
With that, Shion turned and walked away, leaving Hanada and Akari standing there, stunned.
"I'm sorry about him," Akari said softly. "He's always been like this."
"It's okay," Hanada said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I'll just have to prove to him that I'm worthy of your trust."
The next day, Hanada decided to take matters into his own hands. He invited Shion to go hiking with him, hoping that spending some time together in a relaxed setting might help bridge the gap between them.
To his surprise, Shion agreed.
They set off early in the morning, the cool air filled with the scent of pine and earth. The trail was challenging but rewarding, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
As they hiked, Hanada tried to engage Shion in conversation, asking about his favorite trails and any memorable hikes he'd been on. Shion was initially reserved, but gradually, he began to open up, sharing stories of his adventures and the beauty he'd encountered in nature.
"Sounds like you've been on some amazing hikes," Hanada said, genuinely impressed.
"Yeah, I love being out here," Shion admitted. "It's peaceful. A good place to think."
"I can see why," Hanada said, looking out at the stunning vista before them. "It's beautiful."
They reached a viewpoint and sat down to rest, enjoying the silence and the panoramic view. Hanada decided it was a good time to address the elephant in the room.
"Shion, I know you're worried about Akari, and I understand why. She means the world to me, and I would never do anything to hurt her."
Shion sighed, looking out at the mountains. "I know you care about her, Hanada. But she's my little sister. I've always felt responsible for protecting her."
"I get that," Hanada said, his tone sincere. "But she's also her own person. She's strong and capable. And she deserves to be happy."
Shion turned to look at him, his expression thoughtful. "You're right. It's just hard to let go sometimes."
"I promise you, Shion, I'll do everything I can to make sure Akari is happy and safe," Hanada said firmly. "You have my word."
Shion was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Hanada. I'm going to trust you on this. But if you ever hurt her..."
"I won't," Hanada said, meeting Shion's gaze with unwavering resolve.
They continued their hike, the tension between them easing slightly. By the time they returned to campus, there was a tentative understanding between them.
When Akari saw them returning together, she smiled, her eyes shining with hope. "How was the hike?"
"It was good," Hanada said, glancing at Shion.
"Yeah, it was," Shion agreed, his tone begrudging but honest. "Hanada's not as bad as I thought."
Akari laughed, hugging her brother. "I'm glad