For those of you who have never read the manga, there was a page where it said that Koganei was originally supposed to be the Miyabigaoka Student Council President. That's where I came up with the idea that he lost to Tora in the election.
Anyway… CHAPTER 12! YAY! Sorry it took so long to update. I kind of wrote myself into a corner during this chapter. I seriously got stuck. Hence why this chapter is coming out like two months after the previous one. Nevermind the fact that I'm a full-time college student and I'm working on top of that so… I honestly don't know how I feel about this chapter. I mean, I like it but Tora is kind of OOC (more than usual). I guess that anyone would be OOC too if they found out like he did that they have a kid.
Really quick, I'm going to do some shameless promoting XD. If you like Teen Titans (not the new Teen Titans Go!) and Sword Art Online, I'm considering a crossover between the two. I'm asking for some help from readers to get it started so go check out Aincrad Titans!
Review Responses:
Patricia Walker (Guest): I had that line planned out for a long time XD. Usui's line was pretty much taken from the episode of Maid Sama when he rescued Misaki from Miyabigaoka… Just so you know, I'm a sucker for anything romance. Weddings and proposals especially.
Padfoot Starfyre: Oh yeah, there's no way Tora would let those two off with a light sentence. I'm so glad you like how I incorporated Misaki and Takumi!
MystearicaBlaze: Such animosity towards Akira and Koganei… You weren't the only one either XD. It's actually really funny. I enjoy reading reviews where readers rant or flip out because of feels, so thanks!
Samara16 and existaential: I fangirled while writing the "our son" part… It's probably my favorite part of that whole chapter.
On with the chapter!
"Put the child down and back away slowly with your hands in the air!" one of the policemen ordered. Still, no movement was made. By this point, Michio stood alongside his sister and Tora as he was no longer needed to hold Koganei down inside. How thankful he was to the officer who took him into custody. He didn't know how much longer he could've kept his cool.
A resounding click from cocking a gun filled the silence. The thumping in her chest quickened, scared of what would transpire next. If Akira was against her and Tora enough to kidnap Kei, who knows what his next move would be?
Surprisingly enough, he did as the officer commanded. Another officer placed a set of handcuffs around his wrists while the other holstered his gun. Suzume almost fell to the ground, her knees buckling from relief, but her fiancé caught her before she ever hit the grass. Meanwhile, Michio took it upon himself to go pick up his nephew just as another officer directed Koganei out of the building behind them.
Before he disappeared into the police vehicle, Tora haughtily called out to him. Just as his head turned to the couple, Tora grabbed her by the waist and pushed her up against him for a kiss. "She's my fiancée," he reminded him.
If she hadn't been caught off-guard and frozen in place, Suzume would've seen Michio's jaw – along with Usui, Misaki, and several others' jaws – drop.
During the car ride home, she set her gaze on him as he kept one hand on the steering wheel. "So, what happened to not risking anything and going alone?"
"I might have told Maki to delay his arrival with the police," he commented with a smug grin.
"And the others?"
Nothing but silence filled the air between them as he contemplated how he was going to answer. "I hadn't spoken with any of them about where we'd be." He received a disbelieving look. "That doesn't mean I didn't tell Maki to get in touch with Misaki."
Shaking her head, she let out a lighthearted laugh. After a few seconds of quiet, she was the one to break the ice. "I know you probably don't want to, but I think it's necessary that we talk about what happened."
"Can't this wait–"
"No. Both matters aren't something we should put off discussing, especially since both influence the future." Nothing further came from her fiancé and she took it as an invitation to continue. "Did you genuinely call Kei 'our' son?"
"I know that I haven't been very willing to help out with him… but I'm still coming to terms with a change this grand."
She didn't know how to respond, so Suzume took a few minutes to organize her thoughts. "Even so, thank you for everything you did to get him back."
Tora put the car in park as they pulled up to the front entrance of the Igarashi mansion. "No one messes with my family and gets away with it. That and Misaki was prepared to have my head." Her giggle surprised him.
When the giggles subsided, a smile remained on her face. "Sounds like her. One more thing before we go inside: why… why did you kiss me? Was it just to prove a point to Koganei? Or…" It was awkward for her to ask considering their past and the fact that she's blushing. Taking Tora's nature into consideration, it seems a bit of a stretch. People can change, though. Even him, right? Oh, who was she kidding? There's no way.
"I think it's better if we discuss this inside."
The moment they walked through the door, they were greeted by two very relieved grandparents. Hanako already wrapped herself around the three of them in a hug before they could step into the home any further.
"I'm so glad you're all alright!" Stepping away, she regarded her son and his fiancée. The look in their eyes revealed their fatigue. Her husband could see it too.
Resting a hand on his wife's shoulder, Tashiro spoke up. "Perhaps you should all go get some rest. I'm sure today has been a very tiring day." After agreeing and saying goodnight, they climbed the stairs and headed down the hallway.
"Where are you going?"
They stopped in their tracks and Suzume looked back at Tora, confused. "To my bedroom…?"
Letting out a huff, he walked over to his fiancée and rested a hand on her back to guide her towards his room. One glance around the room after he opened the door was all it took for him to know that he needed to explain.
"I had the staff move the crib and everything else into my room while we were gone." He immediately followed with his reasoning. "It'd be safer than having you both in a different room, especially after what just happened." The look on her face gave the impression that she didn't believe that was the whole truth but she didn't say anything otherwise.
"Oh… yeah, that makes sense." She'd be lying if she said it didn't make her feel a little bit nervous to think that his room would now be considered their room. Laying an already sleeping Kei down in his crib, she turned around to face her fiancé. "About what we were discussing earlier–"
The rest of her sentence was lost when he pulled her close and kissed her for the second time that night. Gentleness separated this kiss from the other, as well as the slower pace. It made it easy for her to melt in his arms.
With a serious expression, he stared straight into her eyes. "I did do it just to prove a point. Then after I did, I realized that you didn't deserve to go through everything alone and I want to make up for that, even though you never asked me for anything when most other girls would have." To say the least, she was shocked. Who was this man in front of her and what did he do with Igarashi Tora? "I'm sure that you hate me for treating you the way I did."
Giving him a tender smile, she told him, "I could slap you a billion times over but I could never hate you. Tora, you gave me one of the best things to ever happen in my life. I would have liked to wait to have kids until after I got married though. Regardless, I wouldn't change a thing."