In front of Keisuke's house…
After several minutes of walking home, they've finally reached Keisuke's house.
Natsumi's home is still a way off; around five more minutes of walking. With that said, Natsumi have stayed in the Tsuneyuki household several times already.
Because of the fact that her father doesn't approve of Keisuke being her boyfriend, they often spend time in his house. Seeing as that is the case, she's a lot closer to his family than he is to hers.
They stood outside the entrance, both not wanting to say goodbye to each other yet. Both were quiet, just holding hands and taking in the nightly atmosphere.
"Big bro. Ah, big sis!" A high-pitched disembodied voice shouted from the street.
Both looked at the direction where the voice came from. Although it was dark in that area, both felt the voice is familiar.
A figure emerged from the shadows revealing a young girl wearing a middle school uniform. She was running as fast as she could as she threw herself on Natsumi's arms.
"Big sis! It's been a while." The young girl said in excitement as she caresses Natsumi's chest with her face.
"Keiko-chan?!" Natsumi react in surprise.
"Keiko! C'mon, stop that." Keisuke grunted as he grabs her by the collar of her shirt to lift her off of Natsumi.
"Ah! Big bro, stop! I'm going to tell mom!
The young girl is Keisuke's little sister. Tsuneyuki Keiko. 14-years-old and in her 2nd year of middle school.
When Natsumi and Keiko first met, she could barely talk and show herself to Natsumi. Spending all that time in the Tsuneyuki household quickly developed their relationship and now, Keiko considers Natsumi as her actual older sister.
"Big sis! Let's hang out!"
Keisuke, still grabbing the collar of her shirt, pulled her back. "You dummy. She needs to go home."
"Ehhh?!" cried the young girl.
"W-well... I guess I could stay for a bit."
"Yay! C'mon!" shouted Keiko in glee as she drags her "older sister" inside the house.
"Ehhh?!" cried the teenage boy.
The Tsuneyuki household is once again roaring in joy.
"Ara? Natsumi-chan? It's been a while. Why don't you stay for dinner." Keisuke's mother invited her.
…
Natsumi spent a couple of hours in her boyfriend's house. After having dinner, she played with Keiko for a long while whilst Keisuke just watched them from afar. It is a girl's night.
The time is now approaching 8:00 pm. It was time for her to go home.
On the way out, Keisuke offers to walk her home which she gladly accepts.
After promising Keiko to hang out and play another time and thanking Mrs. Tsuneyuki for dinner, they left the Tsuneyuki household.
As they started their walk to Natsumi's house, she remembered that she forgot to let her family know she'd be out late.
"Crap. I forgot to let my folks know I'd be at your place. Let me just…" Natsumi typed her message quite fast and without mistake; her fingers were practically dancing on her phone screen.
She got a response from her family's group chat almost instantly. It's from her mother.
"We know. Mrs. Tsuneyuki called us earlier. Take care on the way home, both of you." Natsumi's mom clarified. Natsumi let out a puzzled smile. How did her mom know he was walking her home? Mother's intuition, she guessed.
They kept on walking in silence. There wasn't much to talk about anymore. Even if they do talk about something, the topic quickly dies down.
Silence filled the air. It wasn't awkward though. The stellar, night sky unveiled countless stars; it was jaw-droppingly marvelous.
Keisuke kept looking at Natsumi's way, as if saying I want to tell you something.
After a short while, he mustered up the courage to engage in conversation.
"Hey…"
"Yeah?"
"About the pregnancy thing..." He whispered as he moved closer to her. "Don't you need to go to the doctor for a check-up?
Usually, there's this common phrase within students, "Am I even going to use what I learn at school in real life?". Keisuke was glad that he paid attention during health class which brought him a little solace.
"Yeah, I do. I'm planning on getting this checked-up. Of course, I plan to go to a far-away clinic.
There were some Obstetrician-Gynecologists (OB-GYN) in the area but if she goes there for a check-up, there's a very high likelihood that she'd get found out. A distant clinic is their only choice for now.
"I'm still researching things b-but I'm planning to go this weekend." Natsumi resumed but her voice is wavering slightly.
"Who're you planning to go with? Your mom?"
"Just me. I don't think I can tell mom yet and I definitely can't tell dad." She let out a worn chuckle as she said the latter part.
There was a brief pause. Only one second had passed and yet it felt like a long time. Finally, Keisuke mustered up a reply.
"I-I'll go with you."
"N-no, I… actually… thanks. I feel like my chest is about to explode talking about this. Haha" After letting out a strained laugh, Natsumi leaned-in closer to Keisuke.
"Thank you, Keisuke." She whispered softly as she wrapped him around her arms. "I feel anxious but I'm glad you're here with me."
"Yeah." He hugged her just as tightly.
After a short while, they continued walking and finally reached Natsumi's house.
Natsumi walked to the front porch and as she opened the door, her father is there… just standing with his arms crossed.
She was more than surprised by this but couldn't bring herself to ask him how long he'd been standing there.
He gave Natsumi a furious look and then shifted his gaze towards Keisuke who was just about to start walking back.
Things were about to go down south very quickly until a familiar face popped out the entryway. "Hm? Thank you for walking her home, Keisuke-kun. I hope it isn't too much of a hassle."
A woman's face emerged. She looked about in her early forties and yet still possessed a serene and gorgeous face.
"Not at all! I just wanted to spend more time with your daughter, Mrs. Morino." Keisuke blushed and cringed a little as he said that. Natsumi too.
The woman is Natsumi's mother.
"Oh my! How romantic. Did you hear that, dear?"
Mr. Morino is so obviously furious that, if you look hard enough, you can see smoke coming out of his nostrils as he's breathing out.
Mrs. Morino sighed. "Can't you give the boy a break?"
"Break?! Oh, I'll give him that, all right." Mr. Morino is so full of fury that his face, which is completely red, is about to blow steam through his ears.
"Ahaha… it's getting late. I think I should head back." Keisuke said cautiously, trying his best to deescalate the situation.
"Ah, that's unfortunate." Mrs. Morino said in disappointment. "I'd like to talk to you more, Keisuke-kun."
"Mom!" Natsumi yelled in astonishment.
"Well, I mean, you two always hang out at his place. I just want to know more about the boy that took an interest on my little girl."
"Ah, I know!" Natsumi's mom continued. "Why not have dinner here sometimes?"
"Wha– "all three were surprised in unison.
"W-well…" Keisuke's baffled by the idea.
"It's a good idea, right dear?" "No! Of course, it's not!" "Now, now, don't take that tone with me dear." Mrs. Morino was smiling, but anyone with working eyes can tell the wrath behind her words.
…
"Fine! But just once, okay?" Mr. Morino declared.
"I think it's a good idea too." Natsumi added.
"What do you think, Keisuke-kun? Do you want to have dinner here?" Mrs. Morino asked as nicely as she could.
"Yes! It'll be my pleasure. Keisuke said completely oblivious to what this entails.
"Great! I can't wait." Mrs. Morino replied in glee as she steps back inside her house while waving Keisuke goodbye, trying to make a mental note of all the food she wants to cook.
Mr. Morino gave Keisuke a look of contempt before he too, walk back inside.
It was just Keisuke and Natsumi again. Everything that happened went by so abrupt and quickly that no one would blame Keisuke if he thought it was all just in his imagination.
"Good for you, huh." Natsumi said with a smile on her face.
"What do you mean?"
"The dinner, I mean. Maybe dad will finally give you a break."
"Ah, haha… I hope so."
"I'm sorry about my mom, by the way. I'll make sure to tell her off later."
"Oh no. She's really great. You're definitely mother and daughter."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Both shared a laugh.
"Well, goodnight, Kei-chan. See you tomorrow." Natsumi said as she blew a kiss towards Keisuke.
"Good night, Natsu." Keisuke blushed red as he started walking back home, completely dodging the flying kiss.
.
.
.
As Keisuke walked back home, he can't help but recollect everything that has happened today. So many things have happened that he's too overwhelmed by it. There're also the things that are about to happen: dinner at Natsumi's house and the whole pregnancy thing.
With all these thoughts in his head, he can't help but be optimistic. He'll definitely need it.
I hope things turn out well.