(Dino meets the Hibaris and forgets how to breathe.)
--
Dino adjusted his collar for the fifth time.
"Stop fidgeting," Hibari said coolly from beside him.
"I'm not fidgeting," Dino muttered, then promptly adjusted his sleeve.
They were standing in front of a traditional-looking house in Namimori. Extremely large, but not too flashy, and somehow intimidating as hell. Maybe it was because Hibari had never invited him here before.
"Are they going to hate me?" Dino asked, genuinely nervous. "Like—is your dad really gonna kill me?"
Hibari gave him a sideways glance. "He might."
"Kyoya—!"
The door slid open.
Dino straightened like a soldier at roll call.
A woman stepped out, elegant and serene, dressed in a soft cream kimono. Her eyes were Hibari's—sharp but unreadable. "Ah," she said, smiling gently. "You must be Dino-kun."
Dino bowed immediately. "Yes! Cavallone Dino. It's an honour to—"
She waved a hand. "Come in. I made lunch."
Dino blinked. That was it?
Hibari walked in like he owned the place. Dino followed, already sweating.
--
Lunch was… quiet. Too quiet. Hibari ate like nothing was unusual. His mother kept smiling, serene as a calm sea.
Then the father walked in.
He was tall, stern-faced, and said nothing as he sat at the head of the table. His gaze flicked to Dino. Then back to his rice. Then to Dino again.
Dino nearly dropped his chopsticks.
Hibari's father cleared his throat. "So. You're the foreigner."
Dino stiffened. "I—yes. I mean, I'm Italian, but I speak Japanese—mostly, uh, conversationally, but—"
"You're the one my son let sleep in his bed."
Dino's soul left his body.
Hibari sipped his tea like this was normal.
Dino made a wheezing sound. "I—I only sometimes—not always—sometimes we just—uh—"
"Are you planning to marry him?"
The chopsticks did fall this time.
Hibari raised a brow, finally looking up.
Dino blinked rapidly. "I—what?"
His mother chuckled softly. "Don't scare him, dear."
Hibari's father folded his arms. "If you're serious, then I want to know. If you're not, then don't waste my son's time."
Dino glanced at Hibari, who wasn't looking at anyone anymore—just sipping tea like nothing mattered.
Dino sat straighter. His hands were shaking, but his voice was firm.
"I am serious. About him. I love your son."
The silence that followed could've shattered glass.
Hibari looked up then, eyes meeting his father's.
A beat passed.
Then Hibari's father grunted. "Good."
Dino blinked.
"That's it?" he asked, voice cracking.
"You're still terrible at using chopsticks," the man added flatly, then stood and left the room.
Hibari's mother smiled. "He likes you."
Dino turned to Hibari, wide-eyed. "That was him liking me?!"
Hibari sipped his tea again.
"I warned you," he said.
Dino groaned and dropped his head on the table.
But when Hibari's pinky brushed against his under the table, the tension eased just a little.
Maybe he'd survive this family after all. Maybe.