The pair was slowly approaching Sakurai’s house. His stomach was in knots. Eizan felt like he was going to throw up as he thought about what was about to happen. "Am I really going to meet her parents." Sakurai kept looking over at him.

"What is he thinking right now? He’s barely said anything. Is he as nervous as I am> I think I’m going to be sick. I hope I don’t get yelled at in front of him." Sakurai slowly unlocked the door to her house, inwardly questioning everything as they entered.

“I’m home.” She yelled.

A tall pale slender boy walked from around the corner. His long hair was dark brown extending well below the shoulders. His cold stare sent shivers down Eizan’s spine. He didn’t say anything he just stared at the pair before turning around and walking way. "I bet he’s 180cm" Eizan thought. That’s really tall for a 12-year-old.

“That’s my brother Benjiro. He doesn’t say much.”

Hashimoto nodded. As Benjiro was walking away Mio’s mother round the corner of the entrance way. “Good morning you two. Did you have a good night?” Sakurai Kagami said with a cold smile.

“Mom. Be nice.”

“G-good morning, my name is Hashimoto Eizan. We spoke on the phone last night.”

“I see. Thank you for taking care of my daughter.” Her tone was cold. You could tell she wasn’t pleased by last night events.

“I hope your stay together was rather uneventful.” Eizan felt his blood run cold thinking about how he has woken up this morning.

“Mom. We didn’t do anything. He was a perfect gentleman all night.”

“Good, you two are too young to be engaged in those kinds of adult activities.”

“Mom, stop your embarrassing me.” Mio was blushing with an angry look on her face.

“Alright did you two eat breakfast already.”

“Y-yes Eizan made omelets.”

“Young man you can cook?”

“I-I wouldn’t say I’m good at it, but I won’t starve.”

“Mio go get ready for school.”

Mio looked back and forth between Eizan and her mother.

“Mother don’t say anything strange, ok.”

“Don’t worry my daughter. I’m just going to offer him some coffee while he waits.”

Hashimoto sitting awkwardly at Sakurai’s large dinner table drinking a cup of coffee.

“So, Hashimoto what is your relationship with my daughter.” Eizan almost spit out the coffee in his mouth.

“Relationship? Ah… I would say were just classmates at this point.”

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“You’re not friends?”

“I would say were just acquaintances at this point.”

“Then why did you help my daughter?”

Hashimoto thought for a few seconds before answering. “I don’t really know why I helped her. We just kind of keep running into each other. The other day I helped her with a flat tire.”

“Oh, so you were the boy who helped her after school the other day. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome. And then we happened to run into each other the other day when I came to your house.” He immediately regretted what he just said "Oh crap. I opened my big fat mouth."

“You were here the other day?”

“Ah… yes. My uncle and I fixed your air conditioning.”

“Really, you have a complicated job for a boy of your age.”

“Thank you, but I’m still a trainee.”

“Fufufu. Your quite modest aren’t you?” She smiled softly at him.

“We did have lunch together in the library at school also.”

“Oh… What’s this? You seem to have a closer relationship then you were implying.”

Eizan realized he had spoken to much again. He inwardly cursed "Damnit why can’t I keep quite when I’m nervous. It’s a bad habit. I was just trying to keep the conversation going to avoid the awkwardness."

“N-not really, I would just say were on friendly terms.”

“I see.” Kagami seemed to be lost in thought for a moment.

“…”

“Could I maybe ask a favor of you?”

“Umm… sure if its within my power I would be happy to do you a favor.”

“Good. I want you to befriend my daughter.”

“What? Why would you want that?”

“My daughter is very shy, as I’m sure your well aware.”

He nodded his head at her words.

“I think you seem like a fine young man and it would be good for her to have more friends.”

“Ok, I will think about it. But I feel I must inform you that I don’t have the best reputation with school and my peers.”

“Did you do something wrong?”

Eizan hung his head “Let’s just say somethings happed at my last school that were out of my control. I’ll just say I got accused of something I didn’t do and handled it incorrectly.”

Her mother with sat there for a moment staring at the handsome young man thinking about what he just said. "He doesn’t seem like a bad person. He also seems to care for my daughter. I wonder what happened to him? It’s probably best not to delve too deep into this matter for the time being. I think I’m still fine with him being friends with my daughter still."

“Do you feel bad for what you’ve done? Have you reflected on your actions?”

“It was the worst decision I’ve ever made. If I could go back and change things I would. But if you ask me, if I was sorry for it. Hmm… I’d say I’m only sorry for going too far. I feel sorrier for harming my family’s reputation and hurting my father’s business more than anything.” His eyes were cold and full of determination.

“I see. I’m not going to say I truly understand what’s going on but I stand by my previous statement. I would like you to be friends with my daughter if you can.”

“… Really?”

Kagami looked him up and down. Seeming to judge him with her gaze. He felt like he was being studied and seen through completely.

“Yes. I think I’m fine with it.”

“…”

He looked at the beautiful middle-aged woman sitting across from him in disbelief not knowing what to say.

Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound of hurried footsteps running down the stairs could be heard in the background. Turning and sliding around the corner in her stocking, obviously trying to catch her breath, was Sakurai.

Kagami giggled at the sight of her flustered daughter.

“Mother you haven’t said anything strange have you?”

“Whatever do you mean my beautiful daughter? We were just having a nice little chat. Right, young man?”

“Y-yes, just a nice chat.”

Mio walked over to him and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.” She dragged him away from the table to the front door.

“Sakurai?”

“Yes?”

“I need my hand to put on my shoes.” Eizan was scratching his cheek.

“Oh… umm… Sorry.”

She released his hand and blushed.