Chapter 12: Kirishima Household

"How cute~"

A woman with long blue hair like Hiroto and black eyes said as she greeted Kaede at the door. Holding both of her hand with a large smile on her face as they entered the house.

"G-Good morning!"

Kaede loudly greeted with an extremely nervous expression on her face. Making Hiroto give her a pat on the head to comfort her, causing his mother to grin in response.

"I always wanted to see the Kaede-chan that Ai has been telling us about lately. I'm happy that you visited us, Kaede"

Hiroto's mother said, causing Kaede to fidget while standing in front her. Overwhelmed by her intimacy and enthusiasm.

"Come inside and rest! I'm sure you were tired form the long ride here"

She said as she pulled Kaede insude the house. Making Kaede turn her head back at Hiroto who waved his hand at her with a smile on his face.

"H-Hiroto..."

"I'll see you later, Kaede"

Hiroto said as his sister entered inside the house, carrying two bottles of whisky in her hands. A gift that Hiroto bought for his father, to avoid getting beaten to a pulp by him for dissapearing for an entire month.

"Are you just going to stand there or what?"

Ai says while sucking on a lollipop in her mouth. Making Hiroto take off his shoes on the entrance before entering the house.

"I'll give this two to dad, so go ahead and fix my room. Kaede will be using that room while we stay here"

"... Can't you do i-"

"Huh?"

Ai said as she glared at Hiroto with a vein buldging out of her chin. Making Hiroto immediately cut off his words as instinctive fear ran down his back.

"N-Nothing..."

He meekly said, causing his sister to smile at his direction before entering the living room of the house. Leaving Hiroto alone with the small luggage that they bought containing Hiroto's and Kaede's clothes. Making Hirito helplessly sigh before carrying the two large bags in his arms and walking towards the his sister's room.

"... Please God let her room be clean..."

He said as he arrived at his sister's bedroom upstairs, right next to his room. Praying to god that his sister or his mother cleaned the room when she and him moved out of the house to live by themselves. Slowly opening the door of her bedroom before the sight of pink walls entered his eyes.

He then looked around inside the room before sighing in relief that everything was clean. It's more like, it was mostly empty since his sister brought everything that she needs with her when she moved in to her boyfriend's residence.

"... At least the bed is here..."

He said as he glanced at the soft bed in the room, where 2 stuffed animals were placed on the edges of the bed.

"So she didn't bring this two with her, huh?"

He muttered as he placed Kaede's baggage inside the room. Opening the large closer of her room. Revealing her old clothes that barely even fit her anymore, but was the perfect size for Kaede to wear.

"... It's surprising that she hasn't thrown this clothes away..."

Hiroto said before closing it and moving towards the drawer beside it. Finding that it was empty, he immediately started opening the bag and started unpacking Kaede's clothes.

"... Let me see what those two bought yesterday"

He said as he grabbed a random clothes from the bag, causing him to feel a smooth and fragile surface like it was made out of thin silk. Making him raise his eyebrows before taking it out, causing him to see a small nightdress with a slightly transparent cloth.

"..."

Hiroto then slowly breathed out as the image of Kaede wearing this dress flashed inside his head. Making his ears redden as he slowly placed the dress back at the bag.

-with Kaede-

"Now, now, take a seat and relax. I really can't believe that my son managed to get a cute girlfriend like you~"

Hiroto's mother enthusiastically said as she placed a plate of snacks on the table. Making Kaede nervously look around the living room. Feeling a bit uncomfortable from being in this new environment.

"T-Thank you, Aunty"

She said, causing the woman to gently smile at her direction while holding her cheek.

"You can call me mom, Kaede-chan"

"M-Mom?"

Kaede stuttered. Making Hiroto's mother to smile in amusement. Seeing how shy and innocent Hiroto's girlfriend is.

"... Be careful of Ai, alright? Don't let what she says influence you. That girl has always been a troublemaker ever since she was young"

"Mom, what are you telling her!?"

Ai said as she barged into the living room. Making her mother frown in response.

"Don't run in the living room... also, did you already unpacked Kaede's clothes?"

She asked, causing Ai to scratch her cheeks in response as she looked away.

"... Don't tell me you let your brother unpack her clothes? How can you let a boy do that?"

Her mother scolded with a frown as Kaede suddenly paled in response. Remembering the extremely dangerous clothing that Ai placed in her luggage.

"P-Please excuse me. I-I'll go check on, Hiroto"

She said in a panic as she asked where the stairs are. Making Ai give her the directions towards her room as Kaede quickly ran upstairs in a panic.

"... I never knew she likes wearing those types of clothes..."

Hiroto muttered before he suddenly heard hurried steps echo outside the room. Making him frown as the door was suddenly slammed open by Kaede who had a flushed cheeks and a panicked expression on her face.

"H-Hiroto, I-I'll do the unpacking myself..."

She nervously said but froze when she saw his hand inside the bag. Making her look at him with a slight hesitation in her eyes.

"Y-You saw..."

"I-I didn't see anything"

Hiroto said as he hurriedly pulled his hand out of the bag. Making Kaede slowly walk towards him as tears started to well up at the corner of her eyes.

"You saw it..."

She muttered before a wooden shield suddenly appeared in her arms. Making Hiroto look at her in a panic.

"K-Kaede, let's calm down for a sec"

Hiroto said as he stepped back. Raising his right arm in front of him as he watched Kaede walk towards him with a tearful face. Raising her shield up in the air before he charged at Hiroto's direction.

"[Shield Attack]!!"

A loud noise of something smashing hard echoed inside the room together Hiroto's scream. Making Ai who was standing outside the room to show a guilty expression on her face.

"... I'll make it up to you someday, Hiroto..."

Timeskip

"What happened to you?"

Hiroto's mother asked as she placed the dishes for their dinner on the table. Looking at Hiroto who was tending his wounds.

"I'm sorry..."

Kaede said as she was applying ointment on Hiroto's bruises. Looking at him with an apologetic expression on her face.

"It's alright... It wasn't your fault"

He said before glaring at his sister's direction. Making her awkwardly look away in response.

"It's also pretty rude of me to touch your belongings without your permission..."

He said as Kaede tightly held his hand before a tall man with short black hair and golden eyes like Hiroto entered the dining room. Glancing at Kaede with a serious expression on his face. Making her flinch as she felt his sharp gaze land on her.

"..."

The man then nodded his head in satisfaction before looking at Hiroto with a proud expression on his face.

"You have great taste, son"

He commented before he looked at his wife's back with a smile on his face.

"She's just like your mother when she was young"

He said as Hiroto's mother came out of the kitchen once again and placed a new batch of dishes on the table.

"Eat up and enjoy, it's a special occasion today since Kaede-chan is here with us. I cooked your favourite dishes for today"

She said as she sat down on the empty chair. Making Hiroto look at the dishes in front of him with a smile on his face. Ever since he started working out. His appetite started to become larger than before as his body started to form visible muscles especially on his arms and stomach.

"Kaede-chan, do you already know the way towards your room?"

The mother asked, causing Kaede to nod her head in response while Hiroto asked her on what she likes to eat. Placing them on her bowl as she was too shy to grab a dish from the table.

"T-Thank you..."

She thanked as she started eating. Making Hiroto's mother to warmly smile at his direction.

"Stay here for the week, Hiroto. It's getting a bit lonely here when it's just me and your father, so I hope you and Kaede-chan accompany for the week"

She said as she took a peak towards Kaede who was silently eating in her seat. Making Hiroto turn his head towards his girlfriend.

"Do you want to stay here for the next few days?"

"... I'll leave it to you. I'm fine with whatever you decide on"

She said, causing Hiroto to nod his head before looking at his mother.

"We'll stay here for the week, I bought a new house for us and it would take a week for it to finish construction"

He said, causing his mother to remember something Ai said in the past. Making her show a proud smile on her face.

"I heard that you're now a shareholder of a company. I'm honestly happy that our little boy has now grown up. You should've told us sooner, we wouldn't have worried this much for you if you do"

She said with a joyful smile on her face while his father only nodded his head. Happy that his son stopped being the hopeless neet that she was in the past. Something that made both of them worried about since it would severely affect his future, but now they have nothing to worry about anymore. As long as nothing bad happens to the company, then he would be solved in his entire life.

"... You don't look too surprised"

"Well... we already heard about it yesterday so of course we wouldn't be as surprised as before. We're just happy that you managed to take a step forward. We don't really care if your rich or not, as long as you're fine. Take good care of yourself, we'll help you out if you faced a difficult situation. You're still young, and I'm sure there are problems that you aren't prepared to face yet. That's why don't hesitate to contact us if you need help"

She said before she softly smiled at Kaede's direction.

"I heard what happened at school, and don't worry. I know you're not that type of person. You were just a bit blind back then in choosing a girl, but... after I saw Kaede, I think I can rest assured"

She said before she held Kaede's hand.

"Even though Hiroto is a bit naive and sometimes awkward, his a good kid. I hope you can take care of him for us in the future. If he ever makes you cry, you can come to us and we'll teach him a lesson that he'll never forget"

She said before she hit Hiroto on the shoulders with a sharp glare on her face.

"And you, take care of her properly. Don't spoil her too much even if you have the money to do so. Do you want her to become like your sister?"

She asked, causing Ai to choke on her food before looking at their mother with a pitiful expression on her face.

"M-Mom, how can you say that..."

"What? I heard how much you spent yesterday using your brother's money. That kid is spoiling you too much, it's a bit worrying"

She said, causing Hiroto to imagine his exhausted brother-in-law waving at him from working overtime. Just to give Ai what she wants.

"... I'm surprised he hasn't broken up with you, sis"

He said as he remembered the large bags under his eyes the last time they met. Making his sister glare at his direction.

"You shut up!"

She shouted angrily as she stood up and strangled him. Making Kaede, who was between them to unconsciously giggle in response. Seeing how lively his family was.

Timeskip

"System... Will my family be safe when I get involved in more crazier shit because of you?"

He asked as he laid down on his bed. Looking up the ceiling with a serious expression on his face.

[A system holder's family and the people that he deem as important is under the protection of the organisation. It is impossible for someone or something to harm them, as they are under constant surveillance]

The system answered, causing Hiroto to sigh in relief.

"That's good..."

He muttered before he glanced at the large number of anime figurines placed inside of a large glass container.

"... I really don't need those anymore since I can now meet them face to face"

He said with a sigh. Thinking if he should just sell it online since some of them are worth a considerable amount of money.

"... System, can you at least show me where I'll be going beforehand? At least give me time to prepare what I'll be facing"

[... We can start the selection process now and freeze the rift for you until the resting time is over... but that would cost you 65 system points to access that feature of the system]

"... Buy it"

He said before he heard someone knock on his door. Making him stand up from his bed before walking towards the door.

"Sis, why are you bothering me this late at-"

He said but stopped his words as he saw Kaede standing in front of his door. Hugging a large pillow in her embrace.

"Kaede? What are you doing here?"

He asked, causing Kaede to shyly bury her face on her pillow.

"C-Can I sleep with you for tonight?"

She asked, causing Hiroto to look at her in surprise.

"Why? You don't like your room?"

He asked. Making Kaede shake her head to the side.

"I-I can't sleep... I feel uncomfortable sleeping in another house without somone I know beside me... T-That's why can I stay with you for tonight, Hiroto?"

She said in a barely audible voice, causing Hiroto to hesitate, but seeing her like this. He helplessly sighed before opening the door for her.

"Come in"

He said, causing Kaede to brightly smile as she entered the room. Looking at Hiroto with a grateful expression.

"I'll get a futon downstairs. You can sleep on the bed and I'll sleep on the floor"

He said but was stopped by Kaede who held his shirt. Making him look at her in confusion.

"... Y-You don't need to do that... W-We can sleep on the bed together..."

"... What?"

Hiroto muttered as he felt his heartbeat suddenly quicken. Seeing her crimson face while his pupils trembled. Taken back by what she said.

"L-Let's sleep together on the bed"

She repeated, causing Hiroto to pinch his own cheek.

"... Is that alright with you? I'm a boy-"

"I read that it's normal for couples to sleep together. T-That's why I don't mind sleeping with you"

She hurriedly said, causing Hiroto gulp.

"... Does it bother you?"

"Of course not! I-I'm just a bit surprised..."

He said before Kaede held his hand. Making him feel her sweaty and trembling hands. Showing how nervous she was right now.

"... Sure, let's sleep together on the bed..."

He said before he locked the door of his room. Watching as she beam a smile at him before sitting down on his bed.

"... Clear your mind of your sins, Hiroto... She doesn't mean it like that"

He said as he nervously laid down on the bed while Kaede placed her pillow beside his. Laying down on the bed facing him.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence engulfed the entire room as Hiroto tried to avert his eyes away from her body.

"C-Can you hold my hand while we sleep?"

She asked. Making Hiroto slowly move his hand on top of hers. Flincing as he felt his soft and warm hands before Kaede intertwined her fingers with his.

'... Shit... I can't sleep like this'

He thought as Kaede suddenly leaned closer.

"I had a lot of fun today..."

"Me too"

He responded as he heard her softly breathing close to his body. Making his nervousness reach higher levels before Kaede looked up at him.

"H-Hiroto, can you hug me..."

"H-Hug you?"

He asked, causing Kaede to weakly nod her head. Making Hiroto raise his right hand above her body. Hesitant to touch her while his fingers wiggled. Not knowing where to place his hand.

'Stop being so nervous!!'

He thought as he steeled himself and wrapped his arms around her waist. Making Kaede jolt, but didn't push him away. Letting him pull her in his chest as his fragrance entered her nose.

"Goodnight, Hiroto"

"... Sleep tight"

He whispered, causing the girl in his arm to snuggle on his chest. Feeling her warm breathe brush against his neck, causing him to grit his teeth in response.

'System... Just knock me out'

[... Understood]