Bab 78: Chapter 76: Doubts
Haruka and Fumihiro looked at Kai with a confused expression.
"Mmh... Kai, didn't we say that they're staying for the night?" Kai's mother said.
"Well... yes... but I remembered that we have school tomorrow, so—" He spoke, but his father interrupted him.
"There's no worry. Our driver will accompany all of you to school tomorrow, and don't worry about your things. We have everything you need for the lesson, like schoolbags, books, and notebooks," Fumihiro said with a reassuring smile.
He had clearly anticipated this possibility.
"Eh? Dad, we have our personal things at our homes! What are you talking about?" Kai's voice was edged with nervousness, his eyes darting between his parents and Hina.
"Don't be silly, Kai. We always keep extra supplies for you and your friends. You know that," Haruka added, her tone sweet yet firm, as if trying to put Kai at ease.
"That's not it! We have or own notebooks and-" Kai tried to protest , but he stopped talking as soon as he felt Hina's touch.
Hina, sensing the tension in Kai's voice, squeezed his hand again.
She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, "Kai, why are you so tense? Your parents are being so generous. Not having our things it's not a problem. We have no homework for tomorrow since there are preparations for the sport festival." She said while gently rubbing Kai's hand with her finger, in order to calm him down.
Her boyfriend remembered about the festival.
Last year he had a crucial role in managing the event and he forgot that he probably needed to do it again.
Kai forced a smile, feeling the weight of her gaze on him. "I know, it's just… unexpected."
Haruka exchanged a glance with Fumihiro.
There was something unspoken between them, a silent agreement that passed through their eyes. Kai noticed it, and his unease deepened.
"Well, since it's all settled, why don't we all relax a bit more? There's still plenty of time before bed," Fumihiro suggested, his tone light, but there was an undercurrent of something more.
"Yes, why don't we try an ice-cream?" Haruka added, standing up and moving toward the kitchen. "It's perfect for cooling off our bad thoughts."
Her last phrase was probably referring to her son.
Yuna, who had been silent throughout the conversation, finally spoke up.
"Actually, Mrs. Suzuki, I'm feeling a bit tired… Would it be alright if I go to bed early?"
Kai looked at her, concern flickering in his eyes.
Yuna was never one to retreat to bed so early, especially not at a friend's house.
During all the times that they go out in company, she was always the one who wanted to stay as long as she could.
It was as if she was trying to escape something... or someone... or she just wanted to relax.
Haruka paused, a subtle frown crossing her face. "Of course, dear. I'll take you to your room then."
"I'll come too," Kai said quickly, eager for a moment away from the oppressive atmosphere of the dining room.
But Hina's grip on his hand tightened, despite her expression being the same as always.
"Nonsense, Kai. Stay here and keep Hina company. She would be sad if you already go to sleep. It seems like she still wants to talk." Fumihiro interjected with a gentle smile. "Your mother can handle it."
Kai opened his mouth to protest, but a sharp look from his father silenced him.
Hina, on the other hand, nodded her head in agreement.
"Your father is right, I'm still up for some more time and I also want the ice-cream." She said.
Kai couldn't protest, he had to remain.
There was no arguing with his father's expression since he had already seen it before.
It was the look Fumihiro gave when he wasn't asking, but commanding.
Haruka walked over to Yuna, her hand resting lightly on the girl's shoulder as she led her out of the room.
Yuna glanced back at Kai, her eyes wide and filled with something he couldn't quite place.
Fear? Sadness? Maybe. Or perhaps something darker.
Despite the familiar house, Kai felt a small but growing tension in his soul.
It seemed like his parents didn't want to make him leave, like they were hiding something from him.
Hina probably noticed that.
As Yuna and Haruka left, an uncomfortable silence settled over the room.
Hina leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Kai.
"You're acting really strange tonight, Kai. What's going on? Are you okay, Kai?" she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion and concern.
Kai swallowed hard, trying to think of a way to deflect her question. "I'm just tired, I guess. It's been a long day."
Fumihiro chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in it.
"You've always been the anxious type, Kai. Relax. You're safe here." He said, while pouring some tea in a coup and drinking it.
Kai's eyes widened a little.
"You're safe here." He said.
"You're safe... from what?" Kai wanted to ask, but he decided not to.
All he knew was that he wanted to go to his home with Hina.
Kai's mind raced, searching for any plausible excuse to leave, to get out of the house with Hina and Yuna before things escalated further.
But every attempt was shut down by his own mind.
There was no escape.
He had to stay.
As the evening dragged on, Kai could feel the walls closing in around him.
Kai started to think that his parents might know something.
It was way too strange that they would've came exactly to that police station at the right moment from another country.
What did they know? Why were they so eager to keep them here?
The clock on the wall ticked loudly, marking the passage of time.
Kai's anxiety grew with each passing second, his thoughts spiraling into a frantic mess of worry and fear.
Finally, after 10 minutes, Haruka returned, alone.
"Yuna is all settled in. She was quite exhausted," she said, taking her seat again.
"Good," Fumihiro said, his eyes locking onto Kai's. "Now, how about that Ice-cream?" He said, with a cheerful tone.
"You're right. I forgot it. Just wait a second." Haruka left again to go into the kitchen.
Kai felt trapped, his heart pounding in his chest.
He could feel Hina's gaze boring into him, her earlier suspicion morphing into something more dangerous.
She was too smart not to notice the odd behavior of his parents, the way they seemed to be hiding something.
But Hina also knew that they were Kai's parents and she didn't feel any sense of danger or bad intentions from them.
She could really telll that they were good people.
And more than that, she kept trying to calm Kai's anxiety by gently rubbing his hand and back and giving him soft and lovely glances.
She knew that Kai wanted to talk.
After some minutes, Kai's mother returned with some vanilla-flavored Ice-creams.
"There you are! Those are fresh made!!" She said, with a proud tone.
She was probably the one who made that.
Then, Kai dad turned his head towards him and spoke with a very proud tone of voice.
"See, Kai? This is why I married your mother. Don't you see how perfect she is?" Fumihiro said while looking at his son.
Haruka actually blushed a little.
"H-Hey, d-dear... not in front of our guest!!" She said, with an embarassed but adorable tone of voice.
Despite all their years together, Haruka still felt her husband's words like it was the first time that she heard them.
She truly loved Fumihiro.
Hina laughed a little after seeing that adorable scene.
And then, just as Haruka was giving the ice-cream and sitting down again, a phone rang.
The shrill sound cut through the tension like a knife.
Everyone froze.
Or maybe this was all in Kai's imagination.
Fumihiro's expression darkened slightly, and he quickly stood up after letting out an annoyed sigh.
"Excuse me for a moment." He said, moving to answer the phone in the next room.
Kai's heart leapt into his throat.
"What now?"
Haruka smiled at Kai and Hina.
"I'm sure it's nothing important, now just eat this ice-cream." she said, though her voice was strained.
Kai tried to steady his breathing, glancing at Hina who was watching him closely, her eyes were open wide, like she was trying to analyze every single event.
Moments later, Fumihiro returned, his expression unreadable.
"It was just a business call. Nothing to worry about," he said, but Kai wasn't convinced.
But to maker her mother "happy" he decided to ignore the negative feelings and eat the ice-cream.
So, everyone ate the ice-cream that Kai's mother made.
It was sweet and its taste was very good.
Kai felt a glimpse of nostalgia whilke eating.
Hina, on the other hand, really enjoyed it.
"Delicious, Mrs. Suzuki." Hina said, with a lovely smile.
"True. It's delicious." Kai said.
"Thank you!! I personally made these!!" Haruka said, with a happy tone.
Then, Fumihiro took a look at the time on his phone and stretched his arms.
"Well, *yawn* I think that it's time to sleep now." He said, with an almost tired tone of voice.
"I think so too." Haruka said.
But , considering the time, it wasn't so late.
Kai's parents used to go to bed early, but not that early.
It was 8 P.M. according to the clock.
Kai and Hina had no choice but to go too.
Then, Ayame showed up.
"Hina, Kai. Ayame will take you to your rooms for sleep, okay?" Fumihiro said while standing up from the chair with his wife.
Without any protest, Kai and Hina nodded their head in agreement.
Hina then said "Thank you" while bowing her head to Kai's parents.
Fumihiro and Haruka smiled in return and then the maid Ayame accompanied Kai and Hina to their rooms.
But that night, Kai had something in mind.
He kept thinking that his parents were hiding something...
Status Power Mingguan
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Power 
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