"Kaito-kun, right?", Kita Kuruyo slightly bent down and placed the fruit juice from the tray in front of him, and the usually stern face was actually adorned with a gentle smile.
"That's right," Kaito nodded, then said, "I hope Auntie doesn't mind me visiting out of the blue."
"Not at all, of course not," Kita Kuruyo waved her hand and spoke solemnly, "I'm more than happy that Ikuyo has a friend like you… Speaking of which, are you also a student of Shuka?"
"Yes," Kaito slightly nodded, "Kita-san is in the class right next to mine."
'So he's not in the same class?'
Kita Kuruyo felt a little disappointed, but then thought again, 'The neighboring class isn't much different, still counts as being conveniently close.'
'What's more important is...'
'This Kaito-kun, after hearing that my daughter might be sick, actually came over in person to visit.'
'Isn't this clearly a sign that he likes Ikuyo?'
'Maybe, they're already secretly dating behind my back?'
'Even if they aren't, at least it shows that these two are quite close. Otherwise, he wouldn't come directly to visit. Normally only people who are familiar with each other do that.'
'Ikuyo really is...'
'She kept this secret so well, I have never heard that my daughter had such a handsome, heart-racing friend.'
'Could it be that she is worried I'll object?'
'Not impossible.'
'Ikuyo is just grounded for joining a band, and now this Kaito-kun comes to visit.'
'If nothing unexpected, he should be connected to the band Ikuyo's in, or maybe, he's a member himself.'
She herself is against her daughter wasting time on a band. If she found out her daughter even got a boyfriend from the band, she would definitely split them up.
But… upon actually seeing this young man in person, all those thoughts were instantly thrown to the back of her mind.
Logically speaking, of course she shouldn't allow her daughter to get too close to a band-playing friend, students should focus their energy on studying.
But looking at that face, she suddenly felt like, 'Maybe studying can wait?'
'I think this Kaito-kun is in his prime and the perfect son-in-law I've never met before.'
'Ikuyo, Mom approves this marriage!'
"Ikuyo is resting upstairs, I'll go call her down for you."
Although he didn't know why Mrs. Kita suddenly became so energetic, Kaito still politely nodded.
"Then I'll trouble Auntie."
———
"Huh?"
Hearing her mom's words, Kita Ikuyo was a little confused, 'A friend, looking for me?'
'Is it Nijika-san? Or Ryou-san?'
'…Can't be Bocchi-chan, right?'
It's not that she didn't trust Bocchi… It's just that, with her shy and socially anxious personality, she really didn't seem like the type to dare visit someone's house.
The sunny girl's mind was full of doubt, but the moment she saw the familiar figure on the sofa, she forgot everything.
"Kaito-kun?"
———
"Really sorry to trouble you, Kaito-kun, even coming all the way to check on me…"
Mrs. Kita had gone to the kitchen to prepare tonight's dinner. In the living room, only Kita and Kaito were left.
The red-haired girl sat next to him a bit embarrassed, nervously clutching the hem of her skirt with her little hands, and said softly, "Did you come because of the band? I… can't join in the daily training for now… I'm sorry… I must've disappointed Nijika-san."
"Nijika wouldn't be disappointed over something like that," Kaito shook his head, "I came, yes, partly because of the band, but more because I was worried about you."
He was the type who's protective of those close to him, and would shelter any friend he recognized.
Now that Kita had run into trouble, emotionally and rationally, he had to come see how she was doing.
The red-haired girl's pretty face turned red.
'W-Worried about me?'
Her heart felt sweet, and the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl up.
But after hesitating for a moment, she still couldn't help but ask, "I might… not be able to join the first official live show of the band. What is Nijika-san planning?"
'Will they find someone else to take my place?'
"Don't overthink it," The anxiety on Kita's pretty face was too obvious, Kaito easily saw through her thoughts and comforted her, "Nijika has no intention of replacing you. As long as you don't choose to quit the band, you'll always be a member of Kessoku Band."
These words weren't him making things up.
In fact, before leaving STARRY, Nijika had pulled him aside and shared many of her thoughts.
This was her first time forming a band, their first real performance… it was the result of everyone's effort, so every member of the band, no one could be missing.
If Kita really couldn't make it in time… then they'd just skip this live. There would always be another performance later.
"WuuWu…", Kita's eyes filled with tears.
The past two days had been pretty rough for her.
On one hand, she was worried that because of her, the whole band would be dragged down.
On the other, her mom had taken her phone, so she couldn't contact Nijika or the others, and she was scared her place would be quietly taken away.
Because she was in a cold war with her mom, she didn't even have anyone to talk to.
Now that her worries were finally lifted, her bottled-up emotions burst out. She couldn't help but lift her head and look tearfully at Kaito, "Can I… borrow your shoulder for a bit?"
'Well, at least she's polite about it,' Kaito let out a dumbfounded chuckle, but still nodded.
Kita sniffled, and although she said she'd just borrow his shoulder, she directly threw herself into his arms, burying her little head in his chest, freely releasing all the emotions she'd kept in.
"By the way, I just remembered, about dinner, Kaito-kun, do you have any dietary restric—", Kita Kuruyo suddenly poked half her body out from the kitchen, and looked toward the living room.
Her daughter was hugging that pretty boy's waist, with her head buried in his chest, like she wanted to melt into his body…
'Ikuyo, since when were you this bold?'
Kita Kuruyo cleared her throat, didn't say anything else, silently shrank back into the kitchen, leaving some alone time for the young couple.
No one knows a daughter like her mother. Just from her mom's expression, Kita Ikuyo knew she must've misunderstood her relationship with Kaito.
But before she could explain, her mom had already quickly retreated into the kitchen.
'I'm doomed! Now Mom's definitely going to think I'm a naughty child, right? Can't even wait to get lovey-dovey in the living room!'
'But judging from Mom's reaction, she doesn't seem opposed? Otherwise, she'd definitely have interrupted us instead of making space.'
'Well, it's understandable. Mom is a woman too, after all…'
'Wait!'
A thought suddenly popped into Kita Ikuyo's head.
'Since we're already misunderstood anyway…'
'Why not just go along with it?'
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