Chapter 5: Together, They Face Their Future! (6)

Several days after Haru and his girls returned from their vacation, Haru received a phone call from a Publishing Company. They invited Haru to have a meeting about his novel. Haru received the call on Monday, the 17th of April.

Today was Friday, and the date was the 22nd of April. Haru was going to visit the publishing company. Sora and Suzuka were aware of his plan, and they were extremely happy for Haru and glad that Haru's novel got approved.

The time was 10.09 AM. Haru was waiting for Sora in the living room while playing with his flip phone to kill time. Although his phone wasn't a smart-phone, it still could be used to access the internet and surf in the World Wide Web network; he was surfing in some forums about Japan's subculture.

As of now, Haru donned a tidy appearance, consisting of a black vest over a white shirt with a gray-stripped black tie, black slacks, and a pair of black leather shoes.

Several minutes later, Haru moved his attention away from his phone. He had sensed Sora's arrival. Soon, he saw her entering the living room.

Haru had invited Sora to go out with him, and she had happily accepted the invitation. When he saw Sora, he immediately noticed Sora's new style.

Although she was wearing one of her Gothic Lolita collections, she changed her hairstyle. She didn't let her silvery-white hair loose or tie it in twin-tails like the usual. She was tying her hair in a side ponytail fashion that gave her a fresh appearance.

"How do I look? Is it good?" Sora tilted her head to the side, displaying her new hairstyle, twirled on her feet, and asked.

Haru gave his twin and lover a once-over while pocketing his phone. "Yup. You look good, Sora," he praised Sora.

Sora was wearing a white-colored frilly top with a black frilly skirt. She also wrote a silver cross as an accessory.

Although Sora wore a cross, it didn't mean that she was a religious person. As a matter of fact, Haru and his family were atheists. That cross was only an accessory to compliment Sora's appearance.

Haru then approached Sora's figure and wrapped his arms around her thin waist. Sora formed a sultry grin, her face going red slightly. Then, their mouths overlapped in a short yet passionate kiss.

"Come on. Let's go," Haru said, snapping Sora out of her daze.

Sora shook her head to regain her clarity before nodding her head in affirmation. After that, they left their apartment.

***

Haru brought Sora to a bookstore to print the completed manuscripts of his novel. He also made several copies for Sora and Suzuka.

After reading the first volume script, Sora and Suzuka got hooked by the story. Well, Haru was confident with the popularity of his chosen novel. In spite of receiving mixed reactions, both support and hates, in his past life, SAO was still a title that had the highest-selling copies in Japan.

Sora and Haru then went to a nearby train station. His destination was one of the publishing company's branch offices, which resided in Fujimi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo.

Since the apartment Kasugano siblings resided in Seta, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, Haru must take a train from Youga Station, which was around 12 minutes' walk from their home. From there, their train would take them to Iidabashi Station via Sobu Line.

Along the way to Chiyoda, Sora stuck on Haru like glue and hugged his arm. Thankfully, Haru could cover their over-affectionate display with illusion. However, if you ask Sora's honest opinion, she wasn't satisfied with Haru's decision. She wanted to show everyone that Haru.

Haru's reason for showing some reservations in public was due to what he knew about Yosuga no Sora. There was a snowball chance in hell he would make the same mistake as the canon Haru and Sora, who got caught by Haru's class representative and Nao.

On the train, they got a bench facing an elderly couple. Those elders were surprisingly kind and open-minded, but Sora was still shy in front of strangers. She preferred to keep her silence, but if she opened her mouth, her lack of social skills gave off a rude impression. Haru had small problems apologizing to the elderly couple. Thankfully, the elderly couple tolerated Sora's rudeness because they were aware of Sora's shyness.

Around 30 minutes later, they arrived at Iidabashi Station. Haru didn't immediately bring Sora to their destination, and he led her to a nearby restaurant instead.

The time was around 10.45 AM, and it was almost lunchtime. Besides, the appointment started after lunch, and therefore, Haru had an idea to treat Sora for lunch outside. Thankfully, they wouldn't waste Suzuka's cooking because Suzuka hadn't prepared lunch for them after hearing Haru's plan to go to Chiyoda.

Haru and Sora visited a restaurant called Old Thailand that served Thailand's cuisines and requested a private booth. Haru intentionally did that because he speculated that Sora wouldn't be able to hold herself from acting like a lovestruck girl on a date with her hubby when they had lunch.

Haru's speculation hit the mark. The moment their food arrived, Sora immediately displayed sweet behaviors that a little sister, even a Bro-Con one, wouldn't do.

"Ne~, Haru~, try this~. It tastes good, you know~. Come on, say, Aaah~," Sora said while offering a piece of fried egg with minced pork with her chopsticks. The dish was called Kai Zou Mu Sapp.

Sora's smile was energetic and bright, laced with mischievousness and blossoming love. However, anyone with a healthy mind and working eyes could see that something was wrong with her demeanor because of how sweet she was being.

Haru involuntarily formed a wry smile. For the umpteenth time, he felt so glad that he had requested a private booth in spite of coming off a little pricey.

"Aaah~," Haru opened his mouth and let Sora had her fun.

Well, it looks like Haru himself was at fault for enabling his lovestruck twin sister.

"How is it? It tastes good, is it not?"

"Yup. But, I think it tasted good because you're feeding me, Sora."

"Oh, you~ flattery won't get you anywhere." Sora averted her eyes and then put her free hand on her reddening cheek, feeling bashful and happy from Haru's flirty words.

"All right. My turn now. Say, Aaah~." Haru offered the marinated chicken barbecue, a dish named Guy Yarn, to Sora, who opened her mouth widely to receive it.

"Aaaah~ Haup~ Mmmh~ It's good~."

"Right?" Haru grinned at Sora before seeing sauce on the corner of her lips, "There is a sauce on your face, Sora."

"Where?" Sora rubbed the wrong place, and Haru made a helpless expression as if saying, 'It can't be helped, huh?'.

"Over there." Haru then wiped the sauce while tracing Sora's soft, pink bottom lip.

Their eyes met, and they froze for several seconds. Then, their reddening faces got closer while they closed their eyes. Soon, their lips met, and they forgot their lunch. Admittedly, it was normal since they were busy eating each other within the short time that they had,

***

After finishing lunch, Haru led Sora to the publishing company. They stopped at the gate for security check before they got allowed to enter a large building, after which Haru approached the receptionist lady who sat behind the counter in the lobby.

"Pardon me," Haru began; he was looking at the pretty receptionist who seemed in her mid-twenties. Sora was standing next to him while hugging her rabbit doll close to her bosom.

"Yes? May I help you with something, Mister…?" The receptionist lady responded politely with her refined business smile.

"Kasugano. Kasugano Haruka. I have an appointment with the head editor of the light novel publishing team of this company."

"Kasugano-san, is it? Allow me to check it out first."

"Please," Haru responded and gave her a shallow nod. He then waited for the receptionist lady to finish her work.

A short while later, the receptionist lady raised her face and looked at Haru. "I've checked the appointment. It seems like you do have an appointment with the head of the light novel publishing team. I shall inform her immediately. In the meantime, please wait in the lobby."

Haru quirked his brown when he heard that the head of the light novel publishing team was a woman. Personally, he had no problems; he was just surprised because he thought it would be a male.

"Pardon me, but would you be kind to ask her if I can bring my little sister to the meeting?" Haru said, and the receptionist lady turned her head to Sora before nodding after thinking a little, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Kasugano-san."

After that, Haru led Sora to the sofa in the lobby.

"Can I really join the meeting? Won't it be a problem?" Sora fretfully asked after they sat down on a recliner.

Haru turned his head to Sora and gave her an unsure expression. "I'm not sure. But, if you get permission to join the meeting, you may kill your time playing with your phone. As long as you don't disrupt the meeting, I don't think those people will have problems. Of course, it is if you get permission. Well, I prefer it if you are with me. I feel concerned about leaving you here alone…"

Sora faintly smiled at Haru's rambling. She was so happy that Haru felt concerned for her.

"Even if I don't get permission, I won't mind waiting for you here. After all, this meeting is important for your, no, our future, right?" Sora said and smiled in understanding.

Haru was speechless for a few moments. He knew that Sora became more considerate of him and Suzuka after returning from their week holiday in Paradise. Even so, it still filled his chest with warmth whenever Sora showed such consideration.

"Thank you, Sora. I love you." Sora faintly whispered into Sora's ears; he voluntarily used a low voice.

"Me too. I love you, Haru." Sora replied in a low voice.

After that, Haru and Sora waited for a while until the receptionist called his name. It seemed like Sora got permission to join the meeting. Then, they went to the meeting place on the 14th floor together.