"Awa, awawawawa...!"
"Riran, calm down."
"I-I-I can't possibly stay calm! T-to give a greeting so suddenly...!"
Three days had passed since then.
After explaining various circumstances to Riran, I met her in front of the station and we were now heading to my house.
During that time, Riran remained constantly nervous.
I can understand that feeling. I was seriously nervous when I first went to Riran's house too.
"C-Come to think of it, I've never heard much about Akito's parents... what kind of people are they?"
"What kind... ordinary, I guess."
"I find it hard to believe what Akito calls 'ordinary.'"
That's a harsh way to put it.
"Rest assured. From mine and Kotono's perspective, they're ordinary."
"That's exactly why I can't rest assured."
Eh, that much?
Step by step, we moved forward slowly, as if trying to buy time.
However, unfortunately, it was a futile resistance.
"...We've arrived..."
"We're here. Well then, I'm opening the door."
"W-w-w-wait...! Give me a bit more time to prepare my heart...!"
"I'm home—"
"Listen to what people are saying!?"
If she can shout like that, she should be fine.
I unlocked the door and entered the entryway.
There, Dad, Mom, and Kotono were waiting.
"Hey, welcome back Akito."
"Welcome back. And so, this person is..."
The eyes of those two turned toward Riran.
Dad had a smiling face, but his eyes looked as if he were appraising her.
Conversely, Mom had tucked away her usual sharp career-woman atmosphere and had perfectly become a mother.
Exposed to the gaze of those two, Riran was—
"N-n-nice to meet you! A-a-a-akito-shan, I am d-dating you properly, I-I-I am Kuonji Riran-deshu!"
She bit her tongue, spectacularly.
"Ah... uuu..."
"Ah-ha! A nervous Riran-tan is so cuuuute!"
"Nnyah!? K-Kotono-chan...!"
Perhaps she had been itching to do so from the start, as Kotono lunged and hugged Riran.
Hey Kotono, swap places. Riran is mine.
"Fufu. Kotono seems to have taken quite a liking to her."
"Indeed. Well, it's not good to stand around talking, so please, come inside."
"Y-yes. Excuse me for the intrusion...!"
While being hugged by Kotono, Riran moved stiffly like a robot.
I suppose I looked just like this when I went to Riran's house too.
We entered the living room; Dad and Mom sat side-by-side, and Riran and I also sat side-by-side.
Since Kotono didn't have a seat at the table, she sat on the sofa with a beaming smile.
"Then, allow me to introduce ourselves again. I am Akito and Kotono's father."
"I am the mother."
"Y-yes. I-I am Kuonji Riran...! T-this, this here, it is a trifling thing, but please...!"
The still-stiff Riran held out a paper bag containing sweets.
"This is very polite of you. I'll go prepare some tea now."
With that, Mom left her seat, leaving me, Riran, and Dad behind.
"Fufu. Kuonji-san... no, may I call you Riran-san?"
"Y-yes, please do!"
"Riran-san. I'd like you to not be so nervous. We didn't invite you here to scare you."
"Y... yes. I'm sorry."
Riran took several deep breaths to calm her feelings.
Between Dad's soft demeanor and his gentle tone of voice, Riran seemed to have settled down quite a bit.
"But still, to think such a beautiful woman is Akito's fated partner."
"N-no, not at all. Th-thank you very much..."
How many girls has this guy wooed? Huh? You wanna go, huh?
*Whap!*
"Hogeh!"
"Akito, stop glaring at Papa."
I was smacked by Mom, who had returned.
She hits with strange strength and a way that vibrates internally, so I wish she'd stop.
"Papa, don't you go whispering sweet words to our son's girlfriend while you have me."
"It's a misunderstanding. My only goddess is you."
"...Fine then."
Good grief. Why are these people flirting in front of us?
I don't want to become an adult like that.
"No, Onii. You guys are also quite complicated, you know?"
Kotono-chan, stop naturally reading people's minds.
"Here you go, Riran-san. Is cold Oolong tea alright?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
In front of everyone, the Oolong tea and the Baumkuchen Riran had bought were laid out.
"Riran-san, how is Akito? As you can see, I think he has a somewhat troublesome personality."
"Sorry for having a troublesome personality."
"As for me, I intended that as a compliment."
Where? Hey, where exactly?
"W-well... Akito-san is..."
Riran glanced at me.
As I looked back at Riran, our eyes met unintentionally.
At that moment, she showed a soft smile.
"Akito-san is... no, Akito is very kind. He's kind to everyone without distinction, he's everyone's hero."
"Wait, what are you saying...!?"
"That is what I think."
Guh...! D-don't say such embarrassing things with such a straight face...!
"Besides, if we're talking about troublesome personalities, mine is much more troublesome..."
"Ah, I won't deny that."
"Deny it!"
Calling it 'tsundere' makes it sound nice, but there's no one with a more troublesome personality than Riran.
"Hmm. Akito is a hero... it sounds like I'll get to hear some fun stories. Why don't you tell us all about his heroic exploits in detail?"
"Fufufu, that's right. We have plenty of time."
"Y-yes! You see, Akito is...!"
Wait, st-stop—.
That day, I was humiliated for two hours, and by the end, I was teased relentlessly by both of them.
My life points are already at zero... (staring blankly with white eyes).