Chapter 9 – You're Mine

The men in the house stared on him. It was completely an awkward silent. Time felt like it moves so slowly. Tick sound of the clock filled the space.

Makoto bowed down his head in apologise position, mostly towards Kojiro's father. He deeply bowed down. It's not usual for him to apologize to anyone, but Kojiro decided this as his punishment for collaborated with his sister and made his parents sad of her lost. He would push his ego just for now.

"I'm so sorry for make you worry for her. I shouldn't follow her decision without thinking her parents feeling. As her senior and her brother's friend, I need to advise her instead I let her decided by her own. I'm really regretting my behaviour. Please forgive me." He stated calmly, his head still bowed down.

Kojiro's father smiled. "It's okay. You've make a right decision before it's too late. Thank you for accompany her when she was in trouble. I'm glad you helped her during the time she felt lonely. She must too shock to know her family now is not her real family. I'm also should apologize to you for make you involved in this situation."

"Thank you. You're so kind, sir." Makoto praise him.

Kojiro a bit guilty for hurt him before without investigate first. "I've called the school. They said, you can come back next day. You need to meet the headmaster in the morning with her to explain the situation."

Makoto was too happy to hear it. The next tournament just in few months, no way he'll miss the event. His happy moment disturbed when he saw Shoichi's smiling face. When he was smiling, there's not many good things will happen.

Now that he remembered the time when they talked together before, his childhood friend is Naomi herself. He suddenly felt a little hurt and confused with his feeling. Shoichi told him, he loves her very much more than just a childhood friend. And he knew, his joke was not a joke. He knew how bad Shoichi could be when it's about the thing he likes. There's still way because nobody know his feeling towards Naomi. It's just a little like, he still could turn back. But, is it that easy?

"It's almost dinner. Please join us, Hanamiya. Her mother must be really excited to cook a lot of dishes later for her lovely daughter. You need to help us finish it." Kojiro's father stated while laughing. Makoto smiled in response with worry in his heart. Shoichi kept eyeing him since then.

"Yes! Naomi must be happy with this." Shoichi said to him happily.

Makoto need to ready for the worst.

Naomi stayed in her room with her mother. Her eyes kept staring on the floor. She was not able to look at her mother's eyes. She must be upset of her.

It's true that they were not her real family that they not connected through blood. For past 12 years, they had gave her their love that she may can't feel it if they don't take her into their family. She has a lovely mother, a responsible father, and a caring brother; she knew he really care on her even he always deny it. Her life was perfect. Not completely perfect, but she got all the main things that she need in her life.

"I'm sorry, mum. I'll never repeat it. I'm promise." She softly said like whisper. She was afraid that her mother will be really upset of her.

She was ready for her mother to shout angrily at her. Instead, it's silent. Later, she heard her mother crying. However, her mother was smiling at the same time. She hugged her small figure dearly.

"Don't do that again! Please don't leave anymore. Do you want to die?"

Naomi couldn't hold her tears anymore. She cried out and sobbed a lot. She hugged her mother. "I-I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again. I miss you, mum."

Her mother rubbed her back, comforting her. "Yes, I miss you too, my little baby."

"Itakadimasu."

They ate dinner together in the dining room. Her mother was too happy and cooked a lot of dishes, mostly Naomi's favourite.

"It's delicious." Naomi stated happily. It made her mother happy.

"Eat as much as you want if you love it." Her mother replied to her statement.

"Hmm!" She nodded happily as she continues to dig in on her food.

Her father suddenly asked while looking at Shoichi. "What's important thing you want to tell Naomi?"

"Important?" Naomi looked at Shoichi curiously.

"Yeah. Maybe later after dinner, it's no good to talk in front food. It's too delicious that we need to enjoy it." He answered with smile.

The dining room was so merry. Although that, not all of them were in happy mode. During dinner, sometimes Shoichi would watch over Makoto and sometimes Naomi, from corner of his eyes. His gaze hid some dark feeling in it.

After cleaned up the table, Naomi helped her mother washed the dishes. Meanwhile, the men were in the living room excitedly in conversation of basketball. Shoichi was not there.

He called Naomi in the kitchen. Her mother gave her permission to let her go. She was also curious with what he wanted to ask her.

They sat on the bench outside of the house in their backyard. The night breeze felt cold as it touched their skin. Stars filled the spaces of the night sky. It was a calm and beautiful moment.

"What is it, Shoichi? Is it really important?" Naomi asked curiously. She impatiently waited for him to tell her.

"You seem excited with it. Calm down, I'll tell you anyway." He smiles sweetly.

Naomi blushed. "O-Okay."

He looked straight into her eyes, really focus on her. "There still a year before I graduate. In mean time, I want you to wait for me."

"…" Naomi kept silent. There's something unusual aura here.

"I love you, Naomi. Not as childhood friend, more than that. When I graduate, I want you to marry me and I'll be your guardian at the same time. You'll live with me. It's better than with this family."

She stood up and confronts him face to face. "I'm sorry. It's not that I don't like you. But, it's too sudden; I never thought of it, you're like brother to me. Moreover, I'll stay in this family as their daughter forever. It doesn't matter if my life can getting better, but I appreciate with what I've now. In the future, maybe something will change between you and me. For now, I can't think of you more than that, Shoichi."

He clenched his fist, hiding it from Naomi sight. His lips curled into smile, forceful smile.

"I saw it, the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. You not realize it yet, right? The same goes for him. There's a little feeling that you like him, but you still deny it. It's just too nice."

"S-Shoichi…" She knew something didn't right.

He grabbed her left arm and yanked her towards him, making her fell on his body. His lips just too near to her ear, hot breath made her body shiver.

"I don't care if you realize it or not. I'll not let your heart have a tiny bit feeling for anyone. I'll make sure you'll be only mine."

Now Hanamiya get a rival. How is it? Sorry if you don't like it.

*I edit some of the chapters.

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