Chapter Four: A Busy Weekend

I had barely settled in at home when the phone rang. Unfortunately, Dad was still at work so I had to answer it. "Hello? This is Okazaki."

"Tomoya-san?"

I felt the smile spread across my face. "Hey, Yukine." Suddenly I was glad Dad was at work, otherwise he'd probably try to stick his nose in this. "What's up?"

"My…My parents were hoping you could come over for dinner tomorrow. I told them about you, and they really want to meet you."

I chuckled. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

I heard her giggle. "You're so funny, Tomoya-san. It's good, of course. I…know it's not two days, but can you make it?"

"That's not enough time for me to get my hair done," I 'complained' in my best whining tone.

"Huh?"

"I'm kidding, Yukine. Sunday, huh?" I gave myself a minute to think. I usually spent Sunday evenings at Sunohara's… "Yeah, I'll be there. What time?"

"Two-thirty?"

"Two-thirty?! Good grief, what time do you eat dinner?!"

I heard the melodious bells of her giggle again. "Usually around six. Is two-thirty too early?"

"If you're having dinner at six, yeah." I scratched my cheek. "Do your folks have something planned before dinner?"

"Of course; they want to talk to you."

That would be one long conversation. "Well, if that's what'll help them feel more comfortable with me, then fine: Two-thirty tomorrow it is."

"Oh! That's right…tomorrow's Sunday, isn't it?"

"Last I checked," I replied, trying to contain my laughter. "Did you lose track of the conversation?"

Another giggle; I was starting to feel mildly buzzed. "Yeah, I guess I did. Could you wear your school uniform?"

I'd have to wash it, but… "Sure, no problem. Two-thirty at your place in my uniform. Oh, right; I'll need your address." I wrote it down as she recited it to me, then read it back to double-check. "Got it. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"I-I look forward to it, Tomoya-san. Bye for now."

I checked myself for the umpteenth time as I stood at the front door to the Miyazawa residence. Considering how high-class Yukine was, it didn't surprise me to find that she lived in a really nice house – two floors, a good-sized strip of grassy lawn around it… It wasn't a palace, but compared to the dump where I lived it may as well have been.

"Well, let's go," I mumbled to try to psyche myself up, and then rang the doorbell.

About a minute later the door opened, and my heart nearly burst out of my chest.

Yukine had answered the door wearing a light brown sundress that went well with her hair color and contrasted beautifully with her sleepy blue eyes. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, except that she had it tied closer to the end of her hair rather than tight against her head. White socks covered her legs to halfway up her calf. The best part of her outfit, though, was the soft smile she almost always wore. "Welcome, Tomoya-san," she greeted.

I felt my jaw flap several time before I could properly form words. "Yu-Yukine? I-I didn't know you were part angel."

She gasped, her hands moving to her pinking cheeks. "T-Tomoya-san! N-Not yet! It's too early to start embarrassing me!"

I smacked my forehead. "S-Sorry, I spoke without thinking." Then I clasped my hands together to stop the trembling. "You're just so beautiful, and-"

"Hello? Do we have company?" came an unfamiliar voice, and an attractive older girl appeared behind Yukine. "Ah, you must be Tomoya-san; Yuki-chan has said a lot about you!"

I bowed as Yukine's blush deepened. "Yes ma'am, I'm Tomoya; Pleased to meet you."

"Well, what a polite young man! Come in, come in!" She reached out and nearly dragged me into the house.

"You never told me you had an older sister," I said to Yukine as I was dragged past.

My progress into the house suddenly stopped as the older girl came to complete halt. "Sister?" she said.

I looked from Yukine to her sister(?) and back. "Did I say something wrong?"

Yukine shook her head. "No, but…that's my mom."

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Oh…I'm sorry ma'am, you just look so young that I thought-"

"Hooooneeeeey!" Yukine's mother, still holding my arm, called up the nearby stairs. "Hurry down here; Yuki-chan's brought home a prince!"

In an apparent attempt to make up for the earlier blood loss, my face quickly heated up. "I-I'm no prince…"

"Hush dear," she gently scolded, glancing at me. Turning her attention back to the stairs she called out again: "Hurry up Ren; this prince is about to steal my heart!"

"Mom…" Yukine groaned.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming…stupid tie." A man who I assumed was Yukine's dad hurried down the stairs, his attention apparently divided between the stairs and his chest. He stopped before me and extended his hand. "Miyazawa Rentarou. I apologize for my tardiness."

"Okazaki Tomoya," I replied, shaking his hand while giving a slight bow. "Don't worry about it; I understand how things can make us late."

"Well, in my line of work tardiness in inexcusable," he replied sharply. Then he seemed to catch himself. "Now I must ask you to forgive my bad manners."

"He's been under a lot of stress at work lately," Yukine's mom offered. "Oh, where are my manners now? I'm Miyazawa Haruka; Yuki-chan's mother," she said with a slight bow. "Thank you for the wonderful compliment."

"Compliment…?" I repeated, before I remembered with a blush. "Oh. Uh, you're welcome, ma'am. I really thought you were her sister, though, but now I can see where Yukine's beauty comes from."

"Oh my," Haruka said as she started to fan herself with her hand. "Somebody stop him before I faint!"

"Mom…" Yukine groaned again.

At this her father burst out laughing and clapped me on my shoulder. "You certainly know how to treat a lady, don't you?"

I grinned self-consciously. "I don't think so, sir; I was just being honest."

Smiling, he gestured farther into the house. "Come, let's find somewhere where my wife can faint and we can talk."

"Will you carry me, dear?" Haruka asked dramatically.

"Of course, my princess," he replied, sweeping her off her feet – carrying her princess-style, appropriately.