Chapter 14 - Misunderstandings

And so here I am having dinner with my father.

The Principal got upset because I wasn’t angrier and refused to let us use the cafeteria or school chefs, so we’re eating a Mari cooked meal in my room.

Mari wasn’t allowed to use any ingredients from the school pantry, so she found what she could in the school store and made a couple of sandwiches.

There’s only one chair in here though, so father’s eating on the bed.

We also don’t have any plates…

No matter how you look at this situation…It’s a bit ridiculous.

Even Jin couldn’t hold it in and I ended up snorting audibly.

“What is it?”

Father looks up curiously.

“Ah, it’s nothing…it’s just…this situation is quite funny isn’t it?”

“Hohoho, it is, isn’t it?”

Father grins.

“But we did after all promise to have dinner together tonight! It was my fault that I forgot about the whole academy thing. Sorry about that Jin”

“No…that’s alright”

This is nice.

“So? How was your first day at school then? Did you have fun?”

“Ah, it was enjoyable! Though, I was made to do a speech even though nobody told me about it beforehand. I had to make it up on the spot.”

“Ah…that might be my fault again…”

What’s that now?

“It’s one of those tradition things where the former monarch informs the future one. Ah, you know I’m not good with that kind of tradition based thing”

“…I didn’t know that actually”

“Oh! Of course…sorry…”

I’m starting to see what the Principal was referring to about my father being really carefree.

How is the country doing father?!

How have we not been annexed already?!

“Anyway, how did the speech go?”

I then recounted my speech to father who had his mouth agape.

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“Wow, you made that up on the spot? Maybe I should retire early…”

What was that last part you just mumbled?!

“You must have been really proud then?! How did everyone react?”

“Ah, actually everyone sort of went completely silent and just left without saying anything. So I ended up thinking that I did a bad job”

“Hohoho!! Certainly, I’m sure the Prince talking about nobility and status like that came as a big shock to everyone. How was  it that your misunderstanding got resolved?”

“A classmate of mine came by and told me”

I smiled a bit, remembering how strange I was acting after my speech.

“Hoho? A female friend?”

Hmm? What does that have to do with anything.

“Well, yes, her name is Haruna”

“Hohoho! And? Do you have any feelings for this Haruna?”

Feelings?

For Haruna?

YOU BASTARD OF A FATHER!!!

Even you?

Trying to sway me like this.

No wonder Jin abandoned Kaede in the game.

“No, just a friend”

I said firmly.

Father appeared to get deflated.

“As I’ve said before, there’s no need to adhere to traditions and rules set by nobility you know? You can love how you wish!”

A bad influence.

This man’s a bad influence!

Change the subject.

“Ah! By the way, I had heard from the Principal that you threatened to run away with Mom when grandfather wanted you to break off your relationship with her?”

A sad look appeared on father’s face.

“Hoho, so he told you about that did he? Yes, I was rather impetuous in those days and I loved your mother more than anything…”

A sad look washed over his face but he gazed up at me and he a small smile returned to his face.

“She was so excited to meet you, you know? She could barely wait until you were born”

A larger grin emerges.

“Hoho, she would often talk to you in her stomach. I would always make fun of her…”

The sadness returned.

“Hah, but that’s in the past now. Hopefully I will see Melinda again in the next life”

Mother…

Life isn’t fair sometimes I guess…

“Hohoho! No need to look so glum! I’m sure we’ll all be reunited eventually. Until then, it will just be you and me”

He smiles at me.

I nod back.

I was starting to get misty eyed.

Just then the door swung open and in walked Akiho, completely unaware of all that was happening.

He looked at me, then my father, then back at me, then at my father again.

He was wearing a really perplexed expression.

But I think he saw the tears in my eyes as he suddenly frowned and got loud.

“WHO ARE YOU?”

He was yelling at the King…

“Ah, I’m…”

“DOESN’T MATTER! YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW!”

It was father’s turn to wear a perplexed expression.

That much was natural, who has ever talked to him like this?

Except the Principal I guess…

“Ah, Akiho, this is my father”

“YOUR FATHER?”

He realized he was still yelling.

“Jin’s father…the Prince’s father…”

His face turned white and he bowed down until his forehead touched the ground.

He basically just slammed his face into the floor…is he alright?

“I…I’m so…so, so…sorry your supreme royal majesty!!”

“Ah, it’s…”

“So sorry. Sorry. I’m sorry”

Akiho was practically weeping at this point.

My father just sent me a ‘please help me’ look.

“Akiho, it’s okay. No one’s mad at you”

Akiho’s sobbing face poked up, though it was still slightly hidden and he had his eyes upturned.

“R…Really?”

What kind of attack is this?!

So cute…

Even father’s eyes opened a bit wider.

“Really, now please stand up”

“O…Okay then. I’m sorry again, your majesty. I just…It looked like Jin was crying and I…”

“Hohoho, that’s alright. Just continue being a good friend to Jin”

“I…I will”

“So is this that Haruna you were talking about earlier?”

Oh no…

“Hohoho, it seems you’ve become very close this quickly? Hohoho, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you two were more than friends…maybe even lovers?”

He said the last part slowly, for what I assume was dramatic effect…but it just came off really annoying.

I frowned and Akiho’s eyes shot open really wide.

“No that’s not…”

Akiho started but got cut off.

“Hohoho, you don’t have to tell me anything, I’m just an old man now. Youth should be free to love whoever they want”

“I’m a guy!!!”

It seemed Akiho couldn’t hold it in any longer and yelled out loud.

His face was blushed red and he was breathing heavily.

That face isn’t helping your case Akiho…

“A guy…?”

He looks over to me questioningly.

“You know, even if I say youth should love whoever they want…a guy?”

His perplexed expression only grew more perplexed.

I was about to open my mouth to correct his misunderstanding when he interrupted.

“No, no, no. Ignore your old man Jin. Just like my father couldn’t understand my love, I wasn’t able to understand yours”

I think the misunderstanding is only growing deeper.

“But I’m better than my father! I accept your love Jin! Even if I can’t understand it. Even if the world can’t understand it, I will support you!”

He gives me a thumbs up.

I open my mouth to explain, but all that comes out is an exhausted sigh.

Akiho’s face only got redder.

“Yes, even if you won’t be able to make an heir. I will support this marriage! No, first I’ll have to change the law to accept marriage between two men, then…”

“STOP!”

It seemed my limit was reached.

“Akiho is a guy and my roommate. HOWEVER! He and I are just friends, we aren’t in a relationship. Also, Haruna is a different person entirely. Stop getting carried away”

Akiho sent me a look of gratitude with an even more flustered face.

“Hoh, okay, okay. I understand”

I don’t think he understands.

“Well I have some…unrelated business to attend to back at the castle. Goodbye Jin”

“WAIT”

He’s gone.

I don’t think he understood at all.

I’m tired now though.

It’s been a long day.

I’ll deal with it in the morning.