Chapter 37: In the Unseen Night

Wow, it's been a while since I've updated a chapter the day after another one ^^; Well, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!


Like any other days after a big holiday, everyone spends time to relax, whether that be by using their new gifts or by spending time with those around them. The snow still lays outside, but has been destroyed by all the childish games from a Christmas evening.

Len is still staying with Rin's family, and they've all grown accustomed to each other. Rin with her mother's embarrassing talk about dating Len, and her father's constant warnings about making decisions that could last for eighteen years.

Len chuckles at the thought and pauses his video game when he hears Rin's bedroom door close and her feet shuffle across the hallway. He can hear Rin's mother and Rin talking and perks up when he hears the word "shower". He has learned from several…stories…that when a girl and guy are spending time together under the same roof, there's bound to be a time where one of them accidently walks into the other showering.

It's only natural for such an accident to happen, Len thinks and smirks at his plan.

Setting down the control, Len stands up and waits for the sound of the bathroom door closing. His sleek figure exits the room and walks down the hallway.

Now to just casually walk out and walk in like I think no one is in there…

With a flick of his wrist he opens the bathroom door and looks in. Too bad he doesn't see the soft skin of a small, petite girl, but the hairy back and butt of an old man. Rin's father turns around from singing into the bottle of shampoo and the two pause. The only sound is that of the bottle falling onto the ground.

In the next few seconds, Rin's father lets out a high squeal as the bathroom door closes and Len rushes out of the scene, repeating apologies over and over as he tries to rub the horrid image from his mind.

Downstairs, Rin and her mother share a glance, wondering what happened.

Dinner is very awkward. The two males in the house keep their eyes on their food and don't dare to look up. Again, Rin and her mother look at each other and the males in between bites of food.

Even though she pesters Len, he only gives her vague one-word replies or avoids the questions. With a huff, she grabs her plates and pushes her chair back.

"Thank you for the meal. I think I'll go take a shower now."

Len doesn't dare trying his tactic twice.

The next morning, Len looks up from fixing his pajama bottoms to find Rin's father standing in the doorway of the guest bedroom. He removes his hands from the banana printed fabric and clears his throat.

"G-good morning, sir."

"Good morning to you too, Len."

Seeing Len's stiff back and his awkward glances, he clears his throat and takes a step forward.

"You know, I've been thinking," he starts, making Len look up, "and, it's only natural for men to see each other like that once in a while. We are both men, so it's not like it's weird."

"Right…"

Where is he going with this? Len mentally asks himself.

"So, I've come to the conclusion that we should get rid of the awkward air between the two of us by spending a day together bonding, like men should do."

Len blinks. Once. Twice.

"Excuse me, sir, what do you mean by that?" Len asks.

Rin's father sits across from his on the bed. "You know, men should stick together. And, I wanna teach you how it's like to be a man."

Standing up, he wipes his pajama bottoms and walks towards the door. "Get ready, because today, you're spending the entire day with me!"


Rin's POV~~~

I set down my cup of hot cocoa and move my bangs behind my ear. With the house all quiet like this, I can finally read my book in peace. But even though I'm enjoying this 1,000 page book and it's fantastic adventures and romance scenes, all this silence is odd for me. This house is rarely quiet during the day.

I wonder what exactly happened yesterday, and what Len and my father are doing…


Len's POV~~~

This stupid white towel is too small cover me up. I look at the other guys walking into the public bath. Some of them look like me, awkwardly making the towel hug their lower region and there's one guy who's just letting it all loose-

Yep…I'm getting nightmares the rest of this week.

"Ah, a place full of men. Doesn't it feel wonderful, Len?" Rin's father asks me as he sits in the warm water and lifts away the white towel. I quickly look away from him and study the tiled wall.

"Yep…"

Rin's father looks up at me and pats my leg, making me stiffen.

"No need to be shy. Join the rest of us here. We're all men," he says and the other men nod as others enter the bath. Hesitantly, I enter the water and my towel slips my hands.

"Nothing to be ashamed of," Rin's father says as I quickly try to grab the towel again. Once it's in my hands I feel men staring my body and quickly sit down.

"Besides, you're well endowed, so you should be proud!" another man says and Rin's father laughs and the other men agree.

"Accept your inner man!"

I hide my face in the towel, wanting to disappear from the public bath house.

After visiting several more places and doing "manly" things, we're finally driving back home. Well, not home, but Rin's house, I mean.

"I've had a lot of fun with you today, Len," Rin's father says and laughs. "I didn't know you were so good at poker! The looks on their faces when you beat them was priceless!"

I crack a smile and laugh too. "Yeah, I had a lot of fun too."

I smile at the window and think to myself. Is this how it's like to have a dad? To have embarrassing moments but yet have a lot of fun?

"You know, Len, I never really had a father figure in my life," Rin's father says as the traffic lights go red. He stops the car and I watch his fingers play on the steering wheel. "And I thought when Aiko and I got married, that when we had children I would do the opposite of what my father did and spend time with my kids, making sure they grew up right and knew that their father loved them."

He had the same childhood as me?

"God blessed me with a beautiful baby girl, and I've been sure to always treat her right and be the best father I can be for her," he goes on. "I always wanted a son to go out and do "manly" things with, but Rin actually has more of a rough side than a girly one."

He laughs and rubs his nose. "But spending today with you was a lot of fun. You're like the son I never had."

I turn my head back to the front window as I smile to myself. This feeling of warmth exploding in my chest, what is it? Suddenly, Rin's father pulls me into a hug with one of his hands and presses his forehead against me.

"From now on, call me 'Dad'! Okay?"

There he goes again with the silly side of himself. I chuckle and say, "Sure thing, Dad."


Normal POV~~~

As the two guys walk in laughing and talking, Rin and her mother share another glance. They walk out with distance and an awkward air, and come back like two best friends.

"Men," they both say as an explanation to their behavior and shake their heads at the silly bromance.


December 31st ~~~

Rin's POV

It's just like the Halloween party again. I find myself looking at the mirror and placing bobby pins in my loosely curled hair. I twirl a couple pieces together and comb through it with my hands, not wanting to have "doll curls". This is a laidback party at Sonika and Gumi's house, so I shouldn't dress up too much.

"Hey Rin, are you done yet?" a familiar voice asks, accompanied with a knock on my bedroom door.

"Yeah, just need one thing. You can come in," I reply and hear the door open. Luka steps in and adjusts daring black dress. She flips her straightened hair back and studies her make-up in the mirror. I look at my own make-up and study my lip gloss coated lips. Will Len notice them? Wait, I don't care!

"Where are Aito and Len?" I ask as I shake my head and Luka inspects how her dress looks from the back.

"They're both downstairs," Luka says and gives me a smile. "Cute outfit, by the way."

"Thanks," I say as I look down at my blue frilly skirt, black leggings, and loose light blue sheer shirt. "You look pretty too. I'm sure Kaito will notice you tonight."

"Of course~! Then we can have a slow dance in the pale moonlight! While slowly swaying to the music he'll deeply look at my eyes and then, at that moment, we'll know that we're meant to be together!"

The two of us stop and look at each other. We burst out into laughter.

"I can't believe this is so like the Halloween party," Luka says as she laughs.

"But so many things have changed," I add.

"And it's only been two months, wow. Kaito and I actually talk to each other, and you and Len have gone far into your relationship too~"

"L-Len and I don't think of each other that way!"

"Rin, sometimes you've got to drop the denial and know-"

"That we're going to be late?" Aito finishes for her. "Just like last time too?"

"Of course Aito would ruin all the good parts," Luka says and Aito rolls his eyes as he opens Rin's bedroom door wider. "Well, come on Rin, we should get going."

Before I can reply, Luka grab's Aito's wrist and pulls him down the stairs. Those two never change, do they?

I grab my sparkly flats and follow close behind them.

"Are you all ready now?" Len asks as he looks up. Kaito, who's been sitting on the couch and talking to my dad, looks up too. I stop at the last step as I see Len. His perfectly combed hair and his stylish outfit- does he always look this good?! I mess with my buttons as I feel him look at me.

"I didn't know you were here, Kaito," Luka says, letting go of Aito's wrist and walking up to Kaito as he stands up.

"I wanted to walk to the party with you," Kaito says and I can see Aito's fist clench. Will Kaito steal his moment tonight?

"Enough of the flirting," Aito cuts in as Luka shyly smiles at Kaito. "Aren't we going to be late?"

"Oh, right!" Luka says, snapping out of her daze. "Let's go!"

As we all walk to the door my father attacks me with a hug. "Be sure to protect my daughter from any dangerous men!"

"Father…"

He laughs a little before letting me go and watching me walk out the door. Outside, waiting for us are Teto and Oliver, back from visiting his parents.

"You all look stunning, as always!" Teto yells as she grabs Aito and Oliver into a hug with each arm. "But of course, Teto the goddess outshines you all!"

We all start laughing at her antics and continue walking to Gumi and Sonika's house with small talk. Aito and Oliver talk about how life at UK is like while Luka and Kaito share glances. Teto jumps in the conversation asking about random things like wondering how Sonika is and if they'll have bread at the party. As for me, my hand keeps bumping into Len's, making my heart race.

I mean, it's only racing because he has smooth hands. What kind of man has smooth hands?!

"I am so ready for tonight!" Teto announces to the people in the block, whether they care or not. Aito glances at Luka and smiles at the sky. I can feel Len's eyes on me and look ahead, trying to focus on something else. I don't know why, but I feel like tonight is packed full of surprises.

"This is going to be a long night…"


Oo~ I haven't been this excited since June 9th and 10th where I was typing up the Halloween party chapter :D

What do you all think will happen in the New Year's Eve party? Love confessions? Sudden realizations? A food fight? Arguments? Empty cartons of ice-cream? XD

Anyways, as always, thank you for reading and if you'd like to review, you can do so below. Bye bye~!