POV (Point of View)

Chapter 18: Barbecue Party

"Ah! Ami-tan is here! And she brought a boy!" A newly arrived pair are welcomed by the residents of the apartment building where a certain father and daughter duo live.

"Hey! Don't overwhelm her. She's still tired from her show." A black-haired woman said while holding hands with her platinum-blonde best friend.

"Come with me. We've been waiting for you. You, too, Rin-sama." Sarina added with a huge smile after turning to a certain purple haired. Meanwhile, he is just right behind the women, still panting from their journey from the ground to the seventeenth floor.

There are ten people on the rooftop, and they are all around a single huge table filled with food and liquors. Anyone can assume that by the looks of them, they have already started partying.

"Here, Asami-onee-san. Please sit with me." A young boy asked the newly arrived woman who replied with a huge smile.

"I would love that, Kota-kun." As she said this, she took her seat beside the boy. Sitting beside her is Rindou and on his left is Sarina.

The air however changed as soon as the three have seated with the other residents. Making the male...the most awkward. Why? Well, all eyes went on him. Of course, being the one who invited the male to the party, Asami did the honor of introducing him to everyone. But perhaps to do that right is a difficult task.

"Uhm...this is Rin-kun. He is my uhm... friend." Not only Rindou, but also Sarina turned to Asami's direction as she said that...with the hopes of lightening up the tension on the cold night. But the effect of what she said is the opposite.

"I hope you don't mind that I invited him." She added and...looked down. Or more like, avoiding a pair of purples directed at her.

Rindou didn't openly show it but...he felt slightly annoyed with the way she introduced him to her best friend's friends and neighbors. He feels off with the way she had to explain who he really is in order to avoid misunderstandings that she so dislikes. Oh, how much he wants to leave right then and there for feeling unwelcomed. Tonight has been too much for the man. His patience has been being tested by the same woman and on the same pitiful night. Frustration and disappointment continue to invade his composed self.

"You guys don't have to worry about him." It was then that he suddenly felt a tap on his left shoulder where Sarina is seated.

"He looks serious and quite edgy, but he's a great person. Right, Ami-chan?" She added and smiled to Asami who felt a slight relief with her best friend's words. Not only her, but almost everyone warmed up to the tension from earlier.

"Now, who wants some barbecue?"

"Me! I would love some, Sarina-onee-san." The young boy named Kota, replied.

"This old hag wants some, too." An old woman said with a grin as well.

"Obaba, are you sure you would like some more fats? What if you don't wake up tomorrow?" Sarina said to the old woman who only chuckled, revealing her missing teeth.

"I guess we'll never know. If I die, I die." There came laughter among the people and Rindou could only look at them all quietly.

"Alright. I'll go grill the meat. You're in for a treat, everyone!" Sarina said excitedly and walked away towards the grill at the corner.