Scam My Heart | Ryoku✅

Chapter 14

I checked my face in the car's window as he drove along. "You look fine, Yu. You act as if you have to impress my parents for some reason." I nervously laughed as I turned my attention back to the road ahead of us. "I figured you wouldn't have much to do today, so I wanted to bring you along as we're going out today." I looked at him in surprise. "Is that really okay? Isn't it a family thing?" "They don't mind. I told them about it last night. My mom has also been pestering me to bring you over one day..." "What for?" "I told her a bit about the ball. Guess she wanted to meet the other brave soul."

"Please, you forced me to help." "Yet you still went along with it." I rolled my eyes. I just didn't want to spend three hours getting home. "Anyway, don't feel like my parents don't like you by first glance. That's when they're sizing you up." "That doesn't make me feel better." "Sorry." His parents didn't sound bad. In fact, it made me want to meet them a bit more than before.

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He parked the car then turned off the engine. "We're actually here." "Yep." We didn't get a chance to approach the door when a woman suddenly swung open the door and engulfed Ryoken into a hug. "Ryo, my baby boy!" "I'm already 19, mom." I quietly watched as they seemed to ignore my presence. "Ryoken, who's this?" A man had stepped out as well. "This is-" "I can introduce myself. Fujiki Yusaku. A friend of Ryoken's." "I like him." I blinked as I didn't expect to gain favor that easily.

His mother let go of him then took my hands in hers. "It's finally nice to meet you. Ryoken always talks about you!" "I do not!" They bickered back and forth and I couldn't help but laugh. They looked at me curiously. "I apologize. It's just you both kind of resemble each other. And the way you argued like kids." I liked the atmosphere. It was something that I never really got to experience with my own parents. "Come in, come in. We still have time before we leave." I followed behind Ryoken then was attacked by the strong smell of lavender. "You really love lavender huh?" "It's very relaxing isn't it?" "In certain doses, yes."

They asked me general questions until came the troublesome question. "How exactly did you meet Ryoken?" I broke out in a cold sweat. My mind had gone blank. "At the bookstore." I looked at Ryoken who nudged me under the table. "Right. I was there for fun reading and he came over and bugged me because we liked the same author." I hoped I sounded convincing enough. "Really? That sounds like Ryoken. Invading someone's personal space." Ryoken glared at his mom who laughed lightly. "Crisis avoided."

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I pursed my lips as we stepped inside. "Are you not happy?" I quickly dismissed her worries assuring her it was okay. Ryoken pushed me to walk ahead with him. "My mom loves the aquarium for some reason. She gets all excited like a 4 year old." I nodded as I looked around. There certainly were a lot of parents and kids. I turned around then noticed his parents weren't behind us. "Ryoken, we lost your parents." "No problem." He took out his phone, typed something then put it away. "Shall we explore?"

I wasn't a big fan of watching marine life, but it was interesting to see bits of Ryoken's mother in him. "Hey, Yu." "Huh?" He held my hand and I pulled away in surprise. My hand tingled. "Did I hurt you?" "No..." "Then forget it. Let's move on." "Wait. Show me..." He smiled then asked for my hand again. I slowly placed my hand in his then watched as he put my finger against the glass. A fish had then swam over to inspect it. "Cute right?" "Yeah." I moved my finger and watched as the fish followed. I could understand why he was fascinated by it.

We continued to walk around the aquarium. Watching Ryoken act like a child was more interesting than the place itself. "Yu, come!" "I'm coming. Sheesh." He pointed up. I looked and saw fish swimming above us. "Oh wow." "It gets everyone. Even the grumpiest of people." I looked back down as he continued looking up. Seeing the pure happiness on his face made me feel something on the inside. Whatever it was, I didn't mind it for the time being. I continued to stare even after he stopped looking up. "Is there something on my face?" "No...no. Let's keep moving." My face heated as I didn't expect to get caught staring.

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"Hm, where are you parents?" "I told them we'd meet here at 4." So that was what he texted. "Actually, there's something that's been on my mind." Ryoken looked at me as we sat down. "Back in the library...what did you mean by 'you like me'?" It obviously had two different meanings and I needed to know which it was. "Is it bugging you? Keeping you awake?" "No." "Then don't worry about it." "Okay..." He said that yet I couldn't help but still want an answer.

"There you two are!" Mrs. Kogami jogged over to us with glee. "Where did you two run off to?" "That's a secret." "You left us alone though." "I thought you were 19 already." I stifled my laughter. They really were like each other.