The Kamijou's Third Truth

Hiroki had not spared any time in warning Nowaki that his father was a formidable man. He had to be, being the CEO of a successful group of companies, of course. When Hiroki thought someone was formidable, though, they often were. Hiroki wasn't easily scared. Then again, it was his father.

"What does he look like, Hiro-san?" Nowaki asked as they stepped off the subway into the station closest to Hiroki's childhood home.

Hiroki looked kind of sullen as he slung his overnight bag over his shoulder. "Like me, I guess. Mother always did say I got my looks from my father."

Nowaki seemed pleased by this, and he glanced down at the pet carrier he had in his hands. It had taken some convincing, but Nowaki finally got Hiroki to let him bring Eri-chan with them. It was either that or get someone to go in and take care of her while they were gone, but when Nowaki pointed this out, Hiroki seemed to like that prospect even less.

"Hiro-chan!" And there was his mother, waving happily even as people stopped to stare at her. She hadn't ridden the subway in years, mostly because her husband would always prepare a car for her as soon as she expressed interest in going somewhere, so she wasn't really up on subway station etiquette. "Your father had a meeting today that he apparently couldn't get out of, but he promised he'd be back so we could all go out for dinner." And then her eyes landed on Eri-chan, who didn't look exactly thrilled after her subway ride. "Oh, and you brought your... rodent. Well I suppose it's almost as good as bringing me a grandchild."

Hiroki started stuttering, trying to find the appropriate words, but Nowaki just smiled. "Hiro-san is stubborn about that. I told him that the administrators at the orphanage I grew up in would probably let us adopt, but he always says no."

Hiroki's mother twirled around on her heel so she could look at her son. "Hiro-chan, is this true? You could adopt and give me a grandchild! Why do you always deprive me of these small pleasures?"

Nowaki was still grinning as Hiroki gave him the coldest look he'd ever seen.