A slight dip
As the music
Reaching an interlude
By the grace of luck
Saved by the bell
Evasive maneuver
Swerving away
From her
Lustful lips
Met air
As he
Planting a kiss
On her forehead.
Finally
A separation
Of bodily contact
To which
He inwardly sighed
In relief.
"Ara... you are quite seductive, Hachiman."
"On the contrary, you are quite gullible."
"Love makes a fool of us all."
"Ah, but this is not love."
"Oh? And if I give you heart?"
A hand
Lightly on his shoulder
As she traced a delicate finger
Across his chest.
"A woman who gives a man her heart enchains him."
"But I want you... I want to enchain you."
"You're going to have to do better than that."
With a hand
Swiping off hers
And drew an imaginary line
Between them
And smiled back at her
With amusement.
"I have everything... yet... without you... I may as well have nothing."
"Talk no more of your wealth unless you want to give it to me."
"I'll give you myself as well..."
"Silly girl."
Strangely
He had no qualms
So far
The suit of disguise
Fit snugly
Noting to self
Use sparingly.
"Nee-san, what is the meaning of this?"
"Oh hi there, Yukino-chan."
Turning around
Finding a certain ice queen
In a prussian blue dress
And the blonde prince
In a darker blue suit
A fierce contrast
To the devil woman
Beside him.
"How did this fish find it's way here?"
There goes the ice queen
And her usual
Blunt insults.
"Oi. This fish you are talking about was dragged here by your lovely sister."
"That's right. Isn't it nice to have Hikigaya-kun with us?"
Ice queen
Devil woman
Sparks fly
Meanwhile him
Matching the glare
Of the blonde prince
With hand in pockets
He stepped away.
"What are you doing here, Hikitani-kun?"
"Surprised?"
"This is not a place I would associate with you."
"Indeed. Say, are you and Yukinoshita together?"
His straightforward query
Froze the blonde
And for a split-second
He flinched
Revealing
Trepidation.
"That is none of your business."
"Is it?"
A question from the devil woman.
"Yukino-chan here, being my little sister. Makes this my business."
Sensing tension in the air
He crossed his arms
Simply listen
A spectator
Of a gladiator match.
"Ne, Yukino-chan. Are you sure you know everything about this boy?"
He winced
At the provocation
And looking at the man
In question
The mask
Surely beginning
To shatter.
"Nee-san. Don't beguile me."
"Oh, I am not. Does she know?"
"Haruno. Don't you dare."
Now
He may have seen
If not a glimmer
Of true character
From the masked prince
A furious man
Yet
By allowing anger
He was simply
Doing what the devil
Intended
Tricks.
"Ahem. If you three want to fight, I'll be right over there."
Thankfully
He found himself
Seated back
At the large table
But now
It was only him
And an old woman
Yet it was certainly bearable
A few moments
Of calm
Before the storm.
"Hikigaya-san, is it?"
"Yes ma'am."
The elder smiled at him
Although
It was one
That did not reach the eyes
Nevertheless
Certainly
Soft.
"You look just like him, in that suit."
"Pardon?"
"My son. Miura Saito."
He froze.
Rare were the times
He heard his friend
Call her father by his name
The relationship
Between the two
Was lapelled
With slight animosity
Yet not as cold
Between his own father
And him.
"I don't recall any instances you visited them at the house?"
"No. I have not seen Saito-kun in several years."
He could certainly
Detect notes
Of family issues
It was a daring assumption
Animosity
Between father and son
He could relate
But a fallout
Between mother and son
A very unfortunate predicament
One he dare not
Stick his nose in.
Of all the people in the room
This old woman
Was the least
Intimidating
And given that
She is indeed
The grandmother
Of the fire queen
It would be fine
As a friend of hers
To associate
With a family.
Family.
Such a nice word.
Intimacy
Tempered
By unity
In blood.
The price of wisdom
Is everything you know.
What is the sense
In loving
A sibling
Offspring
By own blood?
In time
As life
The older
A man
Becomes
The more he questions
Cost of answer
Humanity
Replaced
By logic
Cynicism
In other words
Reality.