Chapter 5:

Throwback

"Mom!" Kuon rushed down from his room looking for his mother, "What did you do!" Kuon gripping his phone and all red from reading what his mother posted on social media.

Julie who played innocent just grinned at her son, "What?" Shrugging, "Don't tell me you forgot that you proposed to dear Kyoko-chan when you were five?" She continued to tease her son.

Kuon did his best not to pout at his mother and glance to the picture on his social media that was tagged to him; it was an old photograph where he was kneeling beside a four-years-old Kyoko in a cute little maid of honor dress while little Kuon is all adorable in his dress shirt, shorts and suspenders. He played as Saena and Luke's ring bearer. "You practically stole the show back then." Kuu this time laughed, "I can't believe you forgot about Kyoko-chan." He sounded disappointed.

"I'm sorry." Kuon sighed, "Though, I don't want my fans to be mean around Kyoko and harass her online." He asked his mother.

"Sorry sweetie, I just found your picture cute! I was just arranging our stuff for the move and I found your toddler album, so I took a quick picture of it!" She said, "And I wanted to show how cute you both are."

Kuon could not win against his mother and just retreated to his room, he better contact Kyoko before she dies in embarrassment, but first he saved the picture.

It was Sunday and Kuon misses Kyoko even though they are actively chatting, "Are you busy?" He asked.

With a short ping from his phone, "No, why?" Kyoko quickly made a response.

"I'm bored at home and I want to see you." Kuon added a pouting emoji which made Kyoko on the other line giggle at his cuteness.

Rolling her eyes she made another fast reply, "Come over then?" Kuon jumped on his bed and made a hushed celebration.

Kuon was quicker than his father's sports car when he went for a change of clothes, "Give me a few minutes, I'll be there." Attaching a kissy emoji. By this time Kyoko was blushing madly.

Kuu and Julie were startled when their son rushed down from the stairs and bolted to their front door, "I'll be leaving for a bit!" He yelled and the couple failed to ask where he was going.

Kuon arrived shortly and Kyoko greeted her by their gate, "Hi…" Kuon with a low chuckle.

Kyoko opened their gate and let him in, immediately three fluffy cats barraged him with their meows and body rubbing, "They multiplied!" Kuon comically tried to be funny and Kyoko again rolled her eyes commenting how fake he is.

Kyoko picked up the familiar ginger cat, "You've met Butters." Kuon nodded, "So, this is Tofu and Sriracha." Kyoko introduced the others.

Kuon picked up Tofu who started to rub on his leg and tried to pick up Sriracha but the cat aggressively hissed. "Now I know why you are named Sriracha for a reason…" With Kuon's statement Kyoko finally laughed which made him happy. They entered her house and Kuon politely greeted Saena and Luke. Kyoko's mother is pleased that her daughter is opening up to her childhood sweetheart while Luke looked like he was about to commit a felony.

Kyoko prepared some snacks by their favorite spot at her garden, "By the way, when are you and your parents moving?" Kyoko asked a little sad, Kuon can feel her sadness and he too could not help to feel the same.

This topic was opened up a few days ago while they were in school, Kyoko wanted to hug and tell him to stay but it's his family's decision. "I don't know, mom or dad never said anything and were we are moving. I hope that we'll hunker down to a nearby house that way I can still be with you." He pulled her hand and held it tight.

Saena noticed the gloomy vibe the two were sharing, she went to investigate, "Are you both alright, you seemed to be unhappy?" She asked.

"Kuon-san and his family are moving." Kyoko made a short reply, However Saena looked in a mix of confusion and amusement.

Saena snorted, "Don't worry, you both are not going to be separated…" raising her eye brow with a one sided smirk, "In fact, the Hizuris are going to move next door. Julie-san asked me to finalize some few documents for the property attached to ours, she begged me to sell it to her." Kyoko and Kuon's dumbstruck faces were priceless.

Saena wanted to snap a quick picture of it and send it to the Hizuri couple but she wanted to keep it to herself. Leaving her daughter with her childhood sweetheart, "I guess we can stop worrying now." Kuon laughed and sat closer to Kyoko, "In fact, I'm excited to move!" He had a silly smile which made Kyoko heartily giggle.

The young lady breathed in relief that they get to stay together. In fact, they get to stay closer together.

Meanwhile, "Hizuri, come here and take your spawn home!" Luke demanded as he fumed watching his daughter and the Hizuri boy openly be-all-over each other.

Kuu on the other line blared in laughter and listened to his friend complain.

Saena snatched the phone off of her husband and started to speak with Kuu and Julie, "You two failed to let your spawn know you are just moving next door." Saena knew the other couple are confused. "The children were all sad and gloomy thinking they are going to be separated, again..." This time Saena was responded with loud laughter from the other couple.

"Sorry about that, did you tell them?" Kuu asked.

"I did, and now they are tied to the hip." Saena taking a glance over their glass wall.

"Thank you for relieving them from their worries~" Julie playfully said but still appreciated her friend's help.

Back to the younger couple, "You know… like I said a few days ago, I'll wait till you're ready. But I will be here if you need me." Kuon reminded Kyoko again who appreciate his patience and sincerity.

"Thank you for always being patient…" Leaning and resting her head over Kuon's shoulder. Kuon was tempted to drop a quick kiss over her head, but he promised to be patience and follow her pace.

"Whatever that Yankee wannabe did to you, I'll make sure to make him pay." He growled.

Kyoko giggled, "You know you're a gaijin right?" She pointed and Kuon realized he is.

Hiding his embarrassment, "I am a half gaijin, but not a wannabe." He said as-a-matter-of-fact, and it made Kyoko laugh a little louder. "May I?" Kuon loved to take pictures with her. He never used his front camera in the past unless it is for a mandatory social media update for his career. Now he enjoys taking selfies and cinematic shots when Kyoko's present.

Kyoko allowed him and he took plenty as usual, he reminded himself again to get a bigger memory for his phone so he can hoard more of his and Kyoko's pictures, "Are you serious?" Kyoko stifled her giggle when she saw his wallpaper.

"What? You look cute here!" he said in defense, "By the way, mom posted this." He showed her their childhood picture where his five years old self proposed to Kyoko using Saena and Luke's wedding ring.

Kyoko sported a full blast blush and gasped, "Sorry." Kuon apologized.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." She assured.

"Also, won't you mind if I post our picture? I just want to tell everybody that ahem… I'm still going strong with my fiancée?" Kyoko this time pouted and Kuon did not hide his own blushing face.

With a sigh, she nodded, "Thank you!" Kuon's smile reached ear-to-ear, and out of impulse kissed Kyoko's forehead. Realizing his actions they looked at each other speechless.

Kyoko mumbled, "I don't hate it…" and Kuon definitely heard it.

Again, Luke who has been watching from the glass wall started a tantrum and Saena had to smack him with a magazine to calm him down.

Kuon indeed posted it in response to his mother's update and leaving a short caption "Twelve years strong" with a ring emoji. That single post caused the social media site he was using to crash because of usage traffic. His fans were all speculating that his previous post where he shared a faceless figure was his girlfriend from Japan.

Boy, his fans were so wrong to assume she is his girlfriend, rather they were engaged in early years. Kuon has been the talk of the town, from both Japan and abroad, however he clarified his story that he and Kyoko at that time were just kids and doesn't know what they were doing, but he was certain he knows the lady he wanted. And as teens, they stumbled to each other by fate and got together without any idea of their past as childhood sweethearts.

Kuon also clarified through his mother's vlogs, "I'm courting Kyoko and I'm following her pace, she was in a recent heartbreak and I want to help heal it. I hope you guys respect our space and relationship." One comment even asked him if she is the one and Kuon followed it up with the best response, "As a five years old, I was pleasantly surprised with my type and could never be so sure." He laughed, "And now that I'm a little older, I'm really convinced. For me, she is perfect and I could never be so sure and if you ask me if I want to marry her. I never doubted my five years old self." Kyoko watched his responses and when they saw each other the next day, she gave him a very adorable pout which caused Kuon's entire patience not to kiss her.

Many pointed out that Kuon is too young and he will change his mind in the future, but he knows that Kyoko is certainly the one for him. Just like how his parents met and got married overnight in Las Vegas.

~Chapter END~

EXTRA: Manchild

Otsukinoji just got home and found his father swearing and ugly crying by the living room, "Mother, why is the old man wailing like cursed banshee?" Saena's son questioned the sanity of her husband.

Saena snickered, "On your three..." her son turned his head by the glass wall.

Otsukinoji gave a silent "Ah." and nodded. And to spite his father, "You do realize that they are technically engaged and she will soon marry him, right?" Walking out hearing his supposed 'fearsome' father throw a tantrum like a three years old child in the supermarket.

"This is why I like your sister better than you!" Luke wailed.

~TBC~