It wasn't that I didn't appreciate Jun's optimism. I did.
It was just far too passive a path for me to take.
Monday after practice I asked to speak with Coach, so after my shower I went to talk with him as he was cleaning up after practice. Hearing me enter he looked up and stopped what he was doing.
"What was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked curiously.
"I wanted to ask if we could reduce the intensity of my practice to just one Saturday a month," I couldn't help but fidget a little as he looked at me.
I also found it difficult to look him in the eyes. I didn't want to see if he was disappointed in me.
"Of course. Any specific reason why?"
"It's just," I hesitated for a few moments before I continued, "just something in my personal life."
"That's fine," perhaps sensing my discomfort he continued, "you can just tell me if you want to up the pace again, okay?"
"Yes. Definitely. It's only a temporary thing," I promised him.
"You don't have to be so tense," he tried to reassure me, "you have a good head on your shoulders, and I'm sure you'll go far."
I know he was trying to be nice, but that just made me feel worse.
"Thank you, Coach," I managed to get out.
"Now off you go. Shoo shoo," he playfully gestured with his hands, and I could hear the smile in his voice.
"Thank you for today. Bye," I called out and left in a hurry, almost forgetting my bags on the way out.
Noburo was waiting for me when I left the gym.
"What was taking so long?" he asked.
"I was just talking with Coach," I explained, "I have Saturday off, want to go out?"
He looked at me for a few moments before he spoke up.
"Sure, that sounds good," he smiled.
As promised we went out on Saturday. Not anything fancy, just a local cafe.
It was nice. I do enjoy spending time with him, but I couldn't help but feel a little off the entire time, as I was supposed to be somewhere else at this time, practicing badminton. I did my best to ruthlessly crush any such thoughts, and Noburo didn't pick anything up, so I didn't end up ruining our date.
He walked me home afterwards, and before we went our separate ways he said something to me.
"I'm sorry, what?" I spoke up, turning to him with my full focus.
"I asked if you wanted to meet my parents," he repeated himself.
"I have already met them. Over the summer," I deflected. I couldn't help but feel a little confused about where this sudden desire came from, along with a slight feeling of dread.
"I mean," he broke eye contact and looked down for a few moments before he continued, "I mean properly meet. You know, meet meet."
"Nobu, we did agree this relationship has a definitive expiration date, right?"
"I know, but I just thought it would be nice. I wouldn't mind meeting your parents," he offered.
"No," I stopped myself, took a deep breath, and looked towards my house, "no, that won't be necessary."
"I, I don't know," I spoke slowly.
"Please? For me?" I turned to look at him, and as expected he was making puppy eyes at me.
"Okay," I sighed, "but only once."
"Thank you, Akane. I'm sure it'll be great," he smiled widely.
"Yeah, great," I said with far less confidence than him, smiling shakily.
I almost forgot to give him a kiss goodbye, but at the last moment I remembered it. 'How bad could it really be?' I tried to cheer myself up as I entered my home.
It took a few weeks to actually find a day to make it happen which gave me plenty of time to scream internally. When the day finally came I took it with the grace of a newly born giraffe and had to call in Jun to help me get dressed.
Turning up to a date in clothes that said 'hey look at my tits, aren't they amazing' is perfectly appropriate, if not encouraged outright. Dressing to meet his parents have different requirements though, so I had to thoroughly pillage my closet for something that didn't say 'I've sucked your son off multiple times in public'. Sure, a sane person might take that as a hint that they should stop doing that, but sanity is for losers and I do what I want.
I pulled on a new blouse and stepped out of the closet.
"What about this one?" I asked.
"It's slightly see through," he averted his eyes, "don't you have a different bra?"
I muttered a few curses and returned to the closet. I looked down to inspect myself, and while it wasn't anything explicit, there was a faint outline. The misunderstanding probably happened because my bra was somewhat transparent. Still meant it was out though. Thus far I had managed to agree with myself on leggings, and even found a skirt of decent length to go with it. Sadly in my wardrobe skirts of decent length were a rare breed which really limited my options.
"Only push-up bras, and they make my tits look massive," I answer back as I continue my search.
It's not my fault I don't have anything good to wear for meeting parents. I'm not made for meeting parents. I inspect a patterned red blouse which might just go with the rest and pull it on.
"This one?" I ask and step out.
Jun inspects me carefully and nods to himself.
"It's a bit dull, but it looks nice enough," he agrees, "you really don't have anything else?"
"Not really?" I take a few moments to think, "there are a few other blouses, but this is probably the best one."
"It'll have to do then. I think his parents will be happy that you look nice," he cheered me on.
"Thanks," I give him a small smile, "and thanks for the help."
"You've helped me too. It's what best friends are for," he stands up from my bed, "I think you have to get going though."
I pick up my phone and curse some more as I look at the time. I hastily pick out a few pieces of jewelry, find a matching purse, fill it with my things, and grab a pair of shoes.
"I'll walk you there," he offers.
"Thanks again."
I halfway run down the stairs with Jun following after me.
"Running late, love you, bye," I shout as I rush past the living room where my parents are.
I had already made arrangements with my parents several days ago. As expected, I couldn't quite dodge telling the truth, so now my parents knew I was seeing someone. It went better than expected. Tonight the two of them were having a romantic dinner, and I was glad at least someone was going to have a good night.
I hear Jun give them a more appropriate farewell as I pull on my shoes, do a quick inspection in the hallway mirror, and don a jacket. Jun joins me shortly after and we leave my house together.
Jun walks me part way there, leaving me alone on the last few minutes on my journey, and wishing me good luck before leaving. I'm not exactly nervous, but I'm definitely feeling off. It's a relief to me when I spot Noburo waiting for me outside his house, as it gives my mind something else to focus on. New chapters come out on g.com first.
"Akane!" he calls out with a smile, and I greet him with a kiss and a hug, "so glad you decided to do this."
"Well, as you said: I've already met them once before, so what's once more," I hope my smile doesn't look as awkward as I feel.
"Thank you. It really means a lot to me," he gives me a kiss on the forehead, then takes my hand and starts taking me to the front door, "they are also really excited for this."
Great. I take a few deep breaths as we step through the door. This'll be fine.
Unlike me and Jun, Noburo isn't an only child. He has a younger brother who doesn't seem too enthused with me, perhaps because he is still in the phase where girls have cooties, and a younger sister who is far too enthused with me.
I do my best to keep up a smile as I act like a normal person. It's an ability I have, but one that I use very rarely, though this does seem like an occasion for it. I don't want to make things difficult for Noburo by giving his parents the idea that I might drag him off for a Satanic ritual and eat his liver or something. So nice, friendly, and not outrageous is what I'm aiming for.
Somehow I managed to stumble my way through things until finally dinner was served, and things are going surprisingly well. I ended up being placed next to his mother, with Noburo across from me, and his father across from his mother, with his two siblings placed at the opposite end of the table.
"We are so happy Noburo decided to properly introduce you at last you know," his mother smiled at me. She was a nice enough person, but I still found it difficult to be at ease around her, "with all his focus on basketball, I was starting to fear he would never bring a girl home."
"I'm glad I could help alleviate your worries," I comfort her.
It does make me wonder if all mothers are this fussy about their sons. Jun's mother is probably happy about Rin too.
"Don't get me wrong, we are very proud of him, but it'll be very difficult once he goes to America. A mother worries; you'll know exactly what I mean one day," she gives me a few pats on my shoulder, "of course, I'm sure you'll miss him too."
Nope. Nope. Nope. I cast a panicked glance towards Noburo, but he is distracted by his father, laughing at something he said.
"It doesn't come without upsides for you I suppose," she adds thoughtfully, "he told me you plays badminton. It'll give you some years to play while he is away before you'll have to settle down."
Nope! Abort!
"Yes, I'm sure he'll have a great time in America," to my luck, she is lost in thought and doesn't seem to notice anything off, as I'm sure I'm handling this with anything but grace.
"You're welcome to come over for tea any time you miss him too much," she adds.
"Thank you very much for the offer," I somehow get out.
I manage to make it through the rest of the night and exchanging farewells without having a breakdown, and I don't even know how. Noburo walks me out, and as the cool evening air brushes against my skin I feel as if a great weight has been removed from my shoulders.
"Are you okay?" Noburo asks me, and I turn to look at him.
"Yeah, I'm good. Great," I do my best to smile, and seeing that he clearly isn't buying it I continue, "your mother can be," I trail off, not really sure how to finish.
"I'm sorry, I know my mother can be a lot sometimes, but she means well," he returns my smile.
Means well is a way to put it. According to her in a few years me and Noburo will marry and I'll be busy spawning crotch goblins.
"Yeah, she is nice," I reassure him.
"Maybe we can do this again sometimes," his smile widens.
"We'll see," I deflect, "I should get home though. My parents are waiting for me."
"Thank you again for doing this. Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No, it's fine, I can manage," I reassure him.
He leans forward, I give him a quick kiss, then a hug, and go on my way.
As I make my way home my mind is running at a hundred miles an hour.