The Dramatic Son

"What?" His mother burst in shock. "Aren't you a poet?"

Aoi was taken aback by her outburst, snorting once again, focusing on the beautiful flowers outside the window.

"I have always been into creative writing. What do you think about the games I am playing? They've been written before being drawn. Also, I've always been a fan of poetry. The way the words could be emotion-evoking enthralled me."

His mother was stunned and then burst into laughter.

"And the way you talk is like a poet, indeed."

Aoi shook his head in response.

He said, "Well, anyway, her name is Izumi. From…" Aoi hesitated to mention Izumi's family name. "Sai Izumi."

"Sai?" His mother was familiar with the family name, trying to recall where she heard it from.

Aoi did not reveal, letting his mother remember the family name, as he was captivated by the beautiful flowers in the garden.

When he became the sole owner of the house, he did not have much time to care about the beautiful flowers, causing them to wither, and had no choice but to get rid of them.

However, now that he had been seeing them for more than half a decade, he could not help but stare at them as long as he could.

As he was enjoying the tranquility of the silence and the enchanting beautiful flowers, he was startled when his mother's voice ruptured his eardrums again.

"Sai?1 That Sai family who owned a clothing corporation?!"

Aoi frowned, caressing his ears, replying, "Yes. I am in the same class as their princess. Just so you know, she was the one who confessed to me. Can't blame me, though. I'm just that charming."

[Ding! You have shown Egoistic Behavior! You have been rewarded with 1 Ego Point!]

His mother was speechless by his shameless boasting. 

She shook her head and said, "Can't believe it…" She suddenly glared at Aoi, and the latter shrugged in response. "You better take care of her. Don't forget to earn her parent's recognition, too. Unless you want to become a laughing stock."

His mother did not hold back at all, knowing she had to pour a cold bucket on her son's head.

Aoi's face turned solemn, nodding, replying, "Yeah. That's why I am planning to become an athlete – a football player. Just managed to enter the football club anyway, so my goal would be to become the best striker in the world."

Aoi did not bother continuing – though he wanted to remark that Izumi's parents would have no choice but to accept him as his son if he had become a popular football player.

Meanwhile, his mother's eyes and mouth turned agape, staring at his son in shock.

Seeing her reaction, Aoi shrugged. 

"You're overacting."

His mother shook her head, and then, casting a concerned glance at her son, she leaned forward and pressed the back of her hand on her son's forehead.

She mumbled, "Are you having a fever, son? I think you need a rest. We can plan how to gain her parents' recognition later on. But for now, you really-"

"What are you doing?" Aoi lightly smacked his mother's hand away from his forehead. "You might find it difficult to believe, but I really managed to enter the football club in the school. Even becoming their winger."

"Winger?" His mother's head tilted sideways. 

"A position of a striker. You know, one who strikes the ball to the goalpost to score a goal."

"Really? Son, I really do find it hard to believe you have become a football player. Now, you are saying you have obtained an important position? You might be dreaming."

Aoi shrugged.

"It's up to you to believe it or not. I don't prove it with words. I'll shock you with actions."

"Since when did you know how to hold a conversation?"

His mother shook her head.

"Forget about that. I'm more concerned about the fact you have become an athlete. You? Out of all the people? I would rather believe your little sister becomes an athlete instead."

Aoi's mouth twitched.

"Don't even talk about her. She's a genius – though, as her brother, I am, too. Only that, her interest leaned on something that could be acknowledged, while mine could not. I was talking about the games, by the way. Do you really think everyone can play games for hours straight? Like how my little sister managed to practice violin without stopping?"

Only now, Aoi realized he had been talking a lot, but he could not be blamed. After all, it was something he must have to say, to elucidate to her mother how amazing he could be.

To feed on his ego, he needed her praise.

"Really? Oh, yeah, now that you've mentioned that… Extreme concentration, huh?" Her mother's eyes rolled sideways, even tilting her head in the same direction, while trying to recall something related to Aoi.

"I remember you playing games until you passed out. I thought you had become addicted… I mean, I am right, but then again. You're right. We could say your little sister has become addicted to music, too. Just that, yours is bad while hers is good."

Aoi nodded in satisfaction.

"You got it right. For now, I have an interest in football, so I'll be focusing on it. Don't worry, I won't neglect my studies."

"You must not!" His mother smacked the table and stood up, causing Aoi to be taken aback.

He frowned. "Stop overacting, Mother. You are embarrassing me."

His mother rolled her eyes sideways and casually sat back, seemingly not minding the numerous gazes directed toward her.

She gazed at her son's impassive face and snorted, "As if you really are."

"Ma'am." A feminine voice interrupted their conversation as the pair of mother and son simultaneously turned to the owner of the voice.

It was the waitress, marveled by the similarity of Aoi and his mother's face. She politely handed the orders – two plates with one slice of cake – on the table.

Aoi's mother nodded.

"Thank you."

The waitress bowed after placing another two cups of coffee beside each plate in front of the pair of mother and son and left.

Aoi's mother turned toward her son and said, "We should eat first."

However, she was startled to see her son dazedly staring at the piece of cake before him.

She stared intently at his eyes and saw it was teary again – just that it appeared the tears earlier had dried out.

So, no more tears crawling on his eyelids again.

But then again, it was not difficult to assume Aoi was acting emotional again.

She sighed.

"What happened to him? Why is he so dramatic nowadays?"

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A/N: Just like other sports stories, like Haikyuu and Blue Lock, the MC's parents have never had their spotlight. However, this is webnovel, this can be long, so I have decided to add some side quests for the main character, too. If you don't like it, well... Just say it. If the majority voiced out their dislike, I'll focus on the MC's main goal, then. I'll be waiting for your reponse... Don't be late!