Eli's POV

How many months has it been? Or more like...years? 2 years? God I have been trying to get Nozomi's YES for 2 years! I do wonder what I have gone wrong...it just...I'm so tensed up. Everyday, I would take her home just to see that she is safe home myself. And we had good communication with each other like there are no problems and sometimes we do get little fights over something but that didn't change the fact that I love her. I began to fall for her even more. And oh, I was walking towards Nozomi's house while thinking about this. Maki said that she will go to where Nico was and just have lunch with her. What time is it anyway? And wow, just wow, Maki and Nico were getting along each day but they argue...a lot..

The blonde then looked at her wrist watched that reads 12:30 pm and she gasped a bit.

Oh god! I have to hurry! Nozomi must have been waiting for me!

And she did hurry up towards the purple-haired's house and she could see the other, waiting at her small and simple porch with her arms crossed and a pouty face. The blonde then walked closer to her while panting slightly,"S-Sorry I'm late, did I make you wait for too long?"

Nozomi rolled her eyes,"You made me wait for about 30 minutes. But that's fine. Just make it up to me by treating me to lunch!~" She then walked pass by the blonde with a gentle smile and that just made Eli blink in curiosity before she quickly followed her,"Hey, so...where do you wanna eat? Restaurant? Or.."

"I think I will go to a restaurant that you were talking about the other day, you have been pestering me about it." The purple-haired giggled,"You were so cute that time." Eli blushed and then placed a hand on her nape,"Well...you see...the meals there are very delicious that even you would love it!" She replied while chuckling proudly. "Huh, I see, alright then, better prove that to me." Nozomi challenged and Eli nodded,"Sure thing."

And to think that this day weren't like any ordinary days that we had. More like it became more special. It is the day and month of when we first met so I had to make this very special for her..even though there is no 'us' yet. So yeah, let's just call this an unofficial anniversary. And strangely enough, I haven't met her parents just yet and was hoping that I would get to meet them pretty soon and have myself introduced in front of them just to get their good side. I will ask Nozomi about that later. The blonde thought as she took a seat on a vacant table with Nozomi sitting across her and then a waiter went towards them and gave them the menu.

"Ahh, if it isn't Eli Ayase from the famous rich family! How have you been?" And the waiter seems to have very good French accent as he talked with the blonde who just smiled,"I have been doing great and thank you very much, I will take the usual please." The waiter nodded and then listed it down in his little notebook while repeating it,"The Ayase's Dish which contains of fully-cooked beef steak, fully-cooked ham, a vegetable salad and a chocolate parfait. Coming right up." The waiter then looked at Nozomi then turned back to the blonde,"Is she your girlfriend?"

Eli blushed and chuckled,"Soon to be girlfriend actually." Nozomi blushed furiously at that and the waiter chuckled,"Ahhh, young love. I do hope that you two will get married one day! I'm expecting to be an uncle!~ So what are your orders, Mrs. Ayase?" He looked at Nozomi with a teasing smile and the purple-haired blushed further because of the nickname as she looked back at the menu,"Well...I think I will also try Ayase's Dish, please."

"Lovely~ You are one lucky girl to be courted by someone like Eli, trust me, she is the type to be so loyal to only one girl and no one else. I will be expecting a child from you two!" And then the waiter left, leaving the blushing Nozomi and the chuckling Eli behind. The purple-haired then looked at Eli and leaned gently at her to whisper,"So is he a friend of yours?" "Yep, more like a close friend actually who has always served me well in this restaurant." "I see, um..have you told your parents about..us? I mean-" But Eli interrupted her,"Shh...they know about you and yes I did tell them about you. They wanted to meet you tonight by inviting you over dinner. I hope that is okay.." The blonde smiled and Nozomi smiled back before she leaned back against the head of her chair. After a while, their order came and they began eating.

~meanwhile~

"So this thing goes here?" Maki asked while she was carefully placing a large box on one corner in Nico's room. The raven-haired was watching her with a secret smile and then replied,"Yes, thank you very much." "Anything for my princess." Maki winked and then started to open up the box to take the things inside it out. Nico kept watching her.

Ahh...that manly built suits her perfectly, her slightly muscular arms and legs...that strong line on her back...that soft-looking red hair...and that strict but gentle voice of hers...it is so dreamy... She thought before Maki interrupted her thoughts.

"Hey Nico! Want to go out with me this weekend? It is still Friday and all but I just wanted to spend time with you." The redhead said without looking at her. The raven-haired blushes and looks away with her arms crossed,"Well..I do have nothing to do...but what about you?" "You know that I can always tell Eli about it. I will just reason her that I will take a day off and that's it, no questions asked." "Are you really sure?" And Maki finally finished taking out everything and then stood up erectly before turning to the raven-haired, walking softly towards her with a smile,"Of course I'm sure. I love you and you know that." the redhead smiled wider and Nico smiled back softly before she tip-toed and then planted a soft kiss on Maki's cheek. The redhead blinked and asked,"Is that my reward?","That's your punishment." Maki blinked,"E-Ehhh? Why so? Did I do something bad?" Nico giggled,"That is a secret of mine." And she then turned to leave, leaving Maki with her jaw dropped behind.

~Back at Eli and Nozomi~
~Nighttime~

"Ahh so this is Nozomi Toujou! It is a great pleasure to meet you!" Eli's father named Randolfo said with a sweet smile and beside him is Eli's mother named Lucia. Nozomi blushed slightly and bowed,"Good evening, Mr and Mrs. Ayase." Beside Nozomi is the proud Eli.

"A fine lady we have here, just like those times when I met you at your shop, I do hope that you are doing well." Lucia replied and then stepped aside together with her husband,"Please do come in." The purple-haired stood up erectly and nodded,"Thank you so much for having me." And she and Eli walked inside, Nozomi had to look around in awe because of how spacious the whole house is, it is a mansion! Not even her has the power to afford building this even if she saves money for 10 years!

"Dinner will be ready soon and oh! I'm very much sorry of ever having you here so suddenly. You can stay here for the night if you like!" Lucia said and Nozomi chuckled nervously,"You don't have to ma'am, it is too much." "Oh don't be silly you are always welcome here. Now come, I will have Eli prepare the guest room for you! Come with me at the kitchen!" Lucia then gently held Nozomi's hand and gently dragged her down towards the kitchen but Lucia halted halfway and looked over at the blonde,"Oh and Eli, you heard me right? Prepare the guest room for this lovely woman." Eli nodded and then went upstairs.

As the two reached the kitchen..

"So how was your shop going on?" Lucia asked as she went to sit on a chair and Nozomi sat across her,"It is going steady." The purple-haired smiled softly. "Splendid!~ It is very fortunate of us having to meet at such a very good time eh?" Lucia giggled and Nozomi nodded,"Well, Eli did drag me here so suddenly." "And I'm so terribly sorry about that." Lucia smiled,"Oh no Mrs. Ayase, it is fine. I'm grateful actually." Nozomi raised her hands on her chest level,"Oh do call me mom. I'm not that old aren't I?" Lucia joked and Nozomi giggled,"You are so young as ever!" "Ahh you have grown into such a fine lady. Your physical appearance have changed a lot these past two years eh? For whom?" Nozomi blushed and looked down making the other woman chuckle,"Don't be so embarrassed, I was like that with my husband too back when I was at your age."

"R-Really? You must be very beautiful back then." "That's what my husband would always say to me~" Then a sound of a loud whistle coming from the kettle interrupted them and Lucia stood up,"Oh, do tell Eli upstairs that dinner is ready." And she then walked to another room in the kitchen. Nozomi nodded before Lucia left and then stood up, turned her heels and then went back to the living room to go upstairs. But the purple-haired had to look up just to see how big and tall this place was. The kitchen looked like it is a five-star restaurant! And everything is like in the hotel! Not too long before she bumped into the blonde who was about to come downstairs.

"Whoa! Careful!" Eli quickly grabbed Nozomi and pulled her close so then she wouldn't fall,"Are you okay?" Nozomi blushed as she just clung on Eli's shirt,"I-I'm fine...D-Dinner is ready." "Ah I see, alright then." Eli smiled.

After a long while..

"I forgot to introduce ourselves. I'm Randolfo and you can call me just dad. And this is my wife, Lucia." Randolfo smiled once all of them are in the dining room, eating dinner.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Nozomi Toujou." Nozomi introduced herself so then it wouldn't be so rude. "Mhm. Eli was right to pick you, I guess you haven't answered her yet?" Randolfo asked and the purple-haired nodded with a smile,"I was waiting for the right time." "And that is good, love must be taken slowly and not taken for granted." Lucia replied and her husband nodded in agreement. It was a long talk yes and Nozomi and Eli's parents got along very well, they did have talk about almost everything between her and the blonde and it went very well. Until Nozomi's phone rang and she had to get it from her pocket before she turned to everyone, smiling while bowing,"E-Excuse me, I have to take this one." After everyone nodded, the purple-haired then stood up and then turned to leave while Lucia just stared at her like she knows who was calling.

~Terrace~

"Mom, I-I'm sorry, a friend invited me over dinner and her parents asked to let me stay for the night." Nozomi said nervously while she has her phone stuck up on her ear. Then a voice replied from the other side, the voice seems so angry.

"And that friend is Eli?! What's her surname!? Is she just a commoner?! You never told me about her! Come home!"

"Mom, I will come home tomorrow and I promise you that."

"Nozomi Toujou. You are going to be married with a man I was recommending you last year."

"Mom, I told you that I don't want a man."

"Do you want to die as an old hag with no children?! You will come home tomorrow then okay! I will let you stay there for the night!"

"F-Fine mom..."

"And I will have you meet him tomorrow as well! Make sure to come home as early as 9 am! No excuses! And don't you dare embarrass me in front of him! Listen, this is a once-in-a-lifetime offer! His family is very rich that I will assure you that you will get everything that you wanted!"

The thought kinda made Nozomi want to just tell her mother about her and Eli..but she stopped herself since she doesn't want to make it worst.

Instead, she just replied..

"Okay mom." And then she could hear her mom hung up and put down her phone before letting out a sigh.

"I guess your mom is being too pushy?" Says Lucia from behind and it made Nozomi jump a bit before turning to face her, she then calmed down,"Oh..well.." She looked down and Lucia gently walked towards her,"I have met your mom years back, she was my classmate in high school and well...she and I don't get along very well..she is a druglord..have you ever thought of turning her in to the police? You are dependent after all." Lucia said with worry and the purple-haired smiled sadly,"She may be one but I just can't..I owe her my life when she gave birth to me...even though I have experienced a lot of pains..coming from her." Lucia's eyes softened and sighed,"Jeez, that woman...she needs to be taught a lesson.." "It's okay mom...I'm grateful enough to be accepted by you and to have my own house to live in..that's good enough for me.." "Well if you need help then I will be here.." Lucia smiled before she turned,"Come inside now, your haven't finished your dinner yet." Nozomi then looked at her before she nodded,"Thank you.."

And after a while...

"Just tell me if you need something alright?" Eli smiled as she took Nozomi inside the guest room, the purple-haired nodded with a smile,"Thank you." The blonde nodded back before she turned,"Good night and see you tomorrow." And then she started walking towards the door but...

To her surprise..

Nozomi suddenly tackled and embraced her from behind, making the blonde stumble forward a bit but regained her balance, she then looked over her shoulder to check on the purple-haired,"Is something wrong?"

"Will you stay and sleep with me for the night?" Nozomi asked and it made the blonde blush profusely,"W-Wha-W-Why? I mean, it is okay but aren't you uncom-" "No...I just...please..." Eli stopped and smiled softly before closing her eyes.

"Alright..."

A/N:Hey guys! How's it going? Good? Good! Bad? Relax for a while and listen to music! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!