"Sumi, Mom sent me to see if you needed help." Ryuu said as he walked into the kitchen, his eyes instantly falling on his girl. He grinned as she glanced at him over her shoulder and he took a minute to admire how cute she looked in an apron. She smiled at him as she held up a wooden spoon covered in chocolate batter.
"You can taste this for me and tell me what you think. I tried to cut down the sweetness for this batch of cookies just for you." She said and he felt his chest seize. She said these sort of things without any teasing behind the words, only sincerity. Sumi always took the extra time to consider him and the things he liked without expecting something in return. He could never tell her just how much he loved that part of her. He nodded and moved up next to her as she offered the spoon up to him. He ran his finger along it, sweeping up a sample to do as she asked.
The richness of the chocolate was indeed sweet, but he could also detect a bitterness from something she had added. It made it more bearable for someone with his palate and he applauded her cooking skills as he hummed in satisfaction and gave her a bright smile to let her know that it was good.
"Perfect." He said and she beamed up at him brightly, his praise making her obviously very happy. He grinned and watched as she turned back to her work as she put the tiny balls of cookie dough on a sheet and into the oven. She sighed and wiped her forehead before she started to clean up. Ryuu watched her the whole time silently, perfectly content to just stay like that. He felt a comforting warmth fill his chest as he watched Sumi move about. Is this what it would be like coming home to her every night?
He felt his cheeks heat at the sudden embarrassing thought and turned his head away so she wouldn't notice. But then...it wasn't so sudden a thought really. He glanced at Sumi out of the corner of his eye as his thoughts ran deeper. Ever since he came to terms with his feelings for her, his mind has been conjuring all sorts of 'weird' ideas. Those thoughts that had eventually led him to ask Sumi to introduce him to her father.
"What's with the serious face Ryuu?"
He snapped his head back up in surprise to find Sumi leaning on her elbows, grinning up at him. He felt the heat from earlier intensify as he wondered how long she had been watching him. He hid his embarrassment behind his usual grin and leaned across the counter, bringing their faces closer. His lips lifted higher when he got the desired result and her own cheeks tinted pink.
"Just resisting the urge to tackle you. You shouldn't dress so cute around me and still expect me to behave." He whispered, only half teasing as his heart rate increased at the mental image of doing just what he had said.
"Mhm. Like you would try anything like that with my family right there." She snorted and pointed behind him where Mom and Hiro were laughing while playing a card game. He chuckled and shrugged.
"True...but I don't have to be a complete saint." He whispered low and moved around the counter towards her. Her face brightened further and he grinned as she ended up trapped between him and the counter. His hands gripped the stone as he pressed closer still until their hips bumped into each other.
"R-Ryuu!" She whisper hissed at him, obviously trying not to alert the others in the room. He chuckled and leaned closer until his nose grazed the hair behind her ear, breathing in the sweet scent of her strawberry shampoo. He was testing his own restraint by being so close to her without being able to do all he wanted. It seemed like once the gates were open they couldn't be closed again. He wanted to kiss her almost every second and wondered if this urge would ever lessen.
"Relax Sumi...I'm just hugging my girlfriend right?" He laughed and pulled back so he could look down into her face. She was glaring at him with almost half her face flushed red, but he also saw the mirrored need in her soft eyes. She must be thinking of the last time he held her so close like this. His heart leapt and he couldn't deny them both a small taste. His hand reached up to cup her cheek and he moved his lips closer to hers.
"Sumi…" He whispered as his eyes slid closed, just feeling the softness of her mouth against his.
"I'm Home!"
Ryuu pulled back at the sudden shout, not wanting the first impression he gave her father to be him attacking his daughter. He had been mentally picturing what the man would look like and straightened up as he waited. Sumi's face broke into another wide smile and she ran past Ryuu towards the hallway that led to the front door.
"Papa!" She laughed and Ryuu watched as she was suddenly swung up by a pair of bulging arms, lifting her off her feet. His eyes widened further as the rest of the body attached to those arms came into his view. The giant laughing before him was far beyond what he had imagined. Mr. Kimoto was far from the trim businessman that he had assumed he would be with his tall, muscled frame. His long, black hair and tied back behind his neck, leaving two thick strands to frame his angled face. Mr. Kimoto was also not in the attire of someone in business. Instead wearing a black sleeveless shirt with some unknown logo on the back and jeans.
If Sumi hadn't addressed this man before, Ryuu wouldn't have assumed he was her father. It was a bad time to realize that he should have asked Sumi what her father was like and not just assume that he was like the average man. Actually...he should have known he wasn't having Sumi for a daughter. His thoughts were interrupted as the rest of the family came to greet the man. First Hiro, much more reserved than his sister as he greeted his father and flinched as the large hand encompassed the top of his head and tussled his hair. Then Mom came forward and Ryuu watched as the large man turned a soft shade of pink after getting a peck on the cheek.
"Welcome home dear." She said softly and he grinned wide before wrapping the three of them in a crushing hug.
"Ah it feels so good to be home. Sometimes it's not worth chasing one's dream when it means leaving behind such cuties." He laughed. Then the man's brown eyes turned to the side and finally caught sight of Ryuu waiting in the kitchen.
"Oh? A guest?" He asked and Ryuu straightened as he stepped forward, ready to introduce himself. He bowed slightly towards the man,
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"My name is Ryuu Yoshida. Thank you for having me in your home. I am happy to meet you sir."
Seconds ticked by and Ryuu clenched his hands into fists as he waited for a response. When the silence continued he chanced a peek up at the large man and was surprised to see him with his hands behind his head and a serious look of contemplation on his face.
"Yoshida...Ryuu...Yoshida...Ryuu Yoshida. Where have I-Oh!" He shouted and snapped his fingers as he figured out what was puzzling him and pointed his finger at Ryuu, who had tensed as he waited for the inevitable outburst at his family name.
"You're the boy that my wife has told me so much about! Natsumi's new friend!"
Ryuu's eyes widened at the lack of sensor in the man's speech. He was even more startled when a large hand suddenly slapped him between his shoulders as the mountain let out another booming laugh.
"Welcome to the family! We're small and strange to be sure, but from what I've heard you fit in quite well!"
"Um...Thank you...I think." Ryuu mumbled, but Mr. Kimoto only laughed again as he turned back towards the door.
"Oh I almost forgot the gifts I brought everyone! I can't wait to see your faces!"
Ryuu was frozen in place as his mind tried to reel back to a place that made sense. A soft warmth enveloped his hand and he came back to himself as he glanced to the side to see Sumi beaming up at him.
"Relax. He's going to love you as much as I do." She whispered while winking and it did the trick as he let out a soft sigh and felt the tension leave his body. He squeezed her hand back and brought it up for a quick kiss, silently thanking her for calming him before he released her fingers once more. As much as he would have like to continue touching her, he knew that he had to do this right.
"By the way Sumi...What exactly does your father do?"
"Hmm? Didn't I tell you already?"
"No, because then I wouldn't have been expecting the exact opposite of what I just met." He grumbled and she giggled behind her hand as she turned to check on the cookies and finish cleaning.
"He's a drummer in a rock band he and his friends put together."
He returned to his spot leaning against the counter next to where she was working, crossing his arms over his chest as he hummed in thought.
"I never should have expected someone average with you as their daughter."
She immediately flicked water at him and he chuckled, flashing her a toothy grin as he reiterated,
"That was a compliment Sumi."
"Mhm, sure didn't sound like it." She pouted and he laughed, catching a pair of watching eyes out of the corner of his vision as he did. He took in another deep breath, but couldn't completely dispel the unease settling deep in his chest as he worried that it wouldn't go as he wanted. But when he looked up at Sumi as she offered him one of her fresh cookies; cheeks flushed, smiling and shining like a star he knew that he wouldn't give up without a fight if he had to. After all...He took a bite of the cookie and chewed as another man's image came to mind.
'This is only a warm-up to the real battle.'
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He had never felt so warm before. Surrounded by laughter and love like this was such a foreign feeling that he had never expected to experience it first hand. And yet, here he was, enjoying his first Christmas night with people that actually cared about him beyond his name. And even if he couldn't hold her tightly like he wanted to, Ryuu was happiest that Sumi was sitting beside him through it all. He grinned and set his cards down to show his opponents.
"And I believe that is what you call a full house correct?" He smirked and Mr. Kimoto growled and dropped his cards in defeat.
"Maybe teaching you this game wasn't the best idea." He said as he rubbed the back of his head. Ryuu laughed and began to reach for the pile of peppermints when a five cards her held out above them by a small hand.
"Straight Flush." Hiro said without even cracking a smile and Ryuu's mouth dropped as the child pulled the candy to him and unwrapped one. Their father laughed as the large man tried to coax his son to spare him some of his loot as he was running low.
"Come on. Do it for Daddy who hasn't seen you in months." He asked and Hiro pierced his father with his blue eyes.
"I can offer you a loan, but I will be expecting interest over the course of the game."
Mr. Kimoto flinched back as Sumi and Ryuu laughed this time. He snuck a sidelong peek at her as she held her stomach while watching her family bargain with each other. His lips softened into a gentle smile and he slid his hand over slowly until his fingers brushed hers. She jumped slightly at the light caress and looked up to meet his eyes. While holding her gaze he intertwined their fingers.
"Well!" Mr. Kimoto's sudden, loud voice made Ryuu retract his hand on instinct and he was sure his face was flushed the same as Sumi's as they turned to look up at the man as he stood.
"Since my children have effectively stolen all my treats…"
"We did no such thing...We won them with the trick you taught us." Sumi laughed and her father tugged on her ponytail affectionately as he grinned. He gave his wife, who was sitting to the side reading as they played. He kissed the top of her head and informed everyone,
"I think I'll make a quick run down to the convenience store that's still open. Time for Daddy to receive his condolence prize for losing to these brats."
Ryuu immediately stood up and walked over to where he was putting on his coat. Mr. Kimoto looked up with a raised brow and Ryuu took a deep breath.
"Would it be alright if I accompanied you?"
Mr. Kimoto looked at him closely and with a slanted grin, nodded before turning to the others behind them while Ryuu put on his own boots.
"We'll be back soon."
Ryuu grabbed his coat and glanced over his shoulder, catching Sumi's confused look. He gave her his usual grin and winked as he followed her father out of the apartment. The two walked in silence for the entirety of the trip to the store. Once they had gotten what they wanted and were heading back Ryuu got up his courage and finally spoke.
"Mr. Kimoto." He said and the man, who had been walking in front of him stopped and turned his profile to Ryuu and watched him with a serious expression, no doubt knowing what was coming next. Ryuu tightened his grip on the bag he was carrying to keep it from trembling and continued.
"I'm in love with your daughter." He said, standing as straight as he could while he faced the other man. When he got no immediate response, his gaze lowered to the snow and he filled the silence with his own thoughts.
"I know that despite not mentioning it, you have to know who I am. Knowing that I can understand your hesitation at having your daughter be with someone like me. But…" His head shot up again as he threw the man his most determined gaze, eyes blazing brightly in the night.
"I am not my father. I love Sumi more than anything else and I intend to provide for her in the future. She makes me want to become someone better. I want to become the man she sees me as and I will do everything within my power to make her happy. So please..." He bowed low then and said what he had aimed to all night. The one request that he prayed would be granted to him, even more than his desire to become a doctor.
"Please give me permission to marry your daughter."