Extra 17: To Love Ruto (11)

The school day was over, and by now the students were preparing to go home.

"So what do you plan to do?" - Risa asked as she looked at her friends.

"Hmm, we were thinking of going to the karaoke" - replied Naruto as he shrugged his shoulders - "Lala and I are curious about that strange place."

"Strange?" - Risa asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say that back in their home, they don't have karaoke" - replied Rito with a forced smile.

Risa frowned slightly before shaking her head - "Anyway, can we go?"

"Sure, the more, the merrier ~" - Lala replied as Naruto smiled slightly.

"Can we go?" - Saruyama asked as the other boys pointed to themselves.

"Uh, sure" - nodded Naruto, only to see the girls join in as well.

Rito was silent because he didn't expect that their double date, would end up being a class outing.

"Relax, at least we'll have fun" - smiled Haruna as she put her hand on her boyfriend's shoulder.

"Right" - nodded Rito as they both smiled.

* * * * *

"I guess we're done with this" - said Kurama as he stretched his arms - "It's a pity that I can't use my clones to finish my work because there are so many people around."

"Create a clone when you go to the bathroom, and have him do the tedious work" - said Mikado with a small smile - "That way we can spend some time together."

"You have a good point" - nodded Kurama with a huge grin - "Sounds like a good plan."

Mikado smiled slightly as the two walked out of the teacher's lounge and headed for the entrance, completely ignoring the other teachers.

The duo continued to move forward until they exited the school and walked towards the city's shopping district.

"What could I cook for today?" - Kurama asked as he pondered - "What do you think?"

"Hmm, I don't know, everything you cook is delicious" - smiled Mikado as the two continued on their journey, until they reached a clothing store and saw how Naruto was gobsmacked watching Lala wear new clothes - "Are?"

"What's wrong?" - Kurama asked as he raised an eyebrow, only to see his son - "What are they doing there?"

"I don't know, but I think we better go check it out, especially since Yuuki-kun seems to be being embarrassed by that strange man" - said Ryoko Mikado while shaking her head.

Kurama frowned as the two walked to the store.

"Huh? Kurama-san?" - Rito said as he saw his friend's father enter the store.

"Kurama?" - repeated the strange man as he looked at the handsome couple, only to widen his eyes in surprise - "That's right, I think I finally found the inspiration I needed to finish that job!"

Kurama raised an eyebrow as Mikado shook her head.

"Huh, Tousan, what are you doing here?" - Naruto asked in surprise as he looked at his father.

"I just saw you inside the clothing store with a completely red face" - replied Kurama as he looked with amusement at his embarrassed son - "I want to guess that Peke ran out of energy."

"Hai" - nodded the little robot who looked exhausted - "I stayed up late watching TV yesterday and forgot to recharge."

"Peke!" - Lala exclaimed in displeasure.

"I'm sorry, Lala-sama" - replied Peke with embarrassment.

"That aside, who is the strange man who seems to have come to an epiphany?" - Kurama asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, he's Rito's father, he was just surprised to hear that his son has a girlfriend" - replied Naruto while shrugging his shoulders.

"Right, I know my son, let's just say he's not the most qualified person to get a girlfriend, not with all the weird accidents he's had since he was a kid" - replied Saiba Yuuki, Rito's father while shaking his head - "Anyway, it's nice to finally meet you, Kurama-san, Mikan has told me some things about you guys and how your son has helped mine."

"Oh, you don't have to thank me, I haven't done anything" - Kurama replied while shaking his head.

"No, your son has done much more than you think, after all, I have never seen my son so happy" - replied Saiba while looking at Rito with a regretful expression - "The truth is that I am deeply sorry for not being by their side when they needed me the most, and I am sure that their mother must think the same, after all, we have made Mikan unable to enjoy her childhood"

"No, Mikan-chan enjoys her life together with her friends, so you don't have to blame yourself, although I do wish you would spend more time with us" - said Rito while looking at his father.

"I'll give it a try" - smiled Saiba as he shook his head.

"Although now I have a question" - said Rito while frowning - "What are you doing here?"

"I was taking a break to try to find some inspiration for my manga" - replied Saiba while sighing regretfully - "The deadline is too close, and I had a creative block".

"Seriously, this happens more often than you think" - said Rito with a frown.

"What can I say? When you're an author with so many years, you realize that you've used the most plots or clichés" - replied Saiba as he averted his gaze - "And it's not like I can repeat the same plot in all my stories"

"W-Well, you have a point, though maybe you could try delving into another genre" - said Rito as he started to think - "You usually draw Shonen-themed manga, maybe you should switch to another style"

"I've thought about it, but I'm not sure if my fans will accept this change" - replied Saiba with a frown - "Although if I'm honest, I feel like I'm running out of ideas, maybe I'll manage to finish this story, but I don't know if I'll be able to continue working with this theme. Anyway, thanks to Kurama-san's presence, I think I know how to continue."

"You're welcome, I guess" - said Kurama, confused because he still didn't understand how he had helped his neighbor's father.

"Well, I'd better get back to my study, I still have to finish" - muttered Saiba as he sighed regretfully, only to remember a small detail - "Right, I had left to go look for you too, Rito!"

"You were out to fetch me?" - Rito asked in surprise.

"Yes, I need your help to finish my project" - replied Saiba seriously.

"I knew you'd say something like that" - said Rito while holding the bridge of his nose, but he didn't refuse his father's request - "Ok, though you'll have to wait until I drop Sairenji off at her home."

"Etto, I can help too" - replied Haruna with embarrassment, although she had to admit that this was a good opportunity to get to know her crush's family better, after all, Rito hadn't said anything about the subject, but from what she had heard so far, Saiba was a successful Mangaka.

"Thank you!" - smiled Saiba as he looked at Haruna - "Please keep taking care of my son, he's a bit of an idiot, he has a lot of flaws, but he's a good boy."

"N-No, Yuuki-kun is the kindest and most caring person I know, he has always given his best" - replied Haruna while defending her boyfriend.

"Sairenji..." - Rito muttered with his face red from embarrassment, although everyone could tell the happiness he felt.

"I think this is a good time for you to start using your first names instead of your last names, I mean, it seemed like you guys were just getting to know each other, but from what I heard, you guys have been studying together for years" - said Kurama while looking at the two embarrassed teenagers.

"Right, if they keep calling each other by their last names, it would seem as if they're dating their entire families" - nodded Saiba as he started to think, only to widen his eyes in surprise - "This isn't bad, I think I can create a new Shoujo manga if I use my son as a reference."

"Oh god, no!" - Rito exclaimed in embarrassment upon hearing this as Haruna averted her gaze, though if she was honest, she was flattered that her relationship with Rito was being used as a reference for his father's story. It was a little strange, but it meant that his father found potential in their relationship.

"Relax, I won't use your real names, but you have to admit it's perfect" - Saiba said while looking at his son - "A boy trying to confess to the girl he likes, but for different reasons he can't fulfill it until a new transfer student arrives who helps him, I could even make Naruto-san's character be from a rich family, that would also explain the fiancée."

"Technically, you're not wrong, we are from a rich family" - nodded Kurama soulfully.

"In fact, both of you are part of royalty" - replied Mikado while shaking his head.

"This is much better" - nodded Saiba as he felt the story writing itself - "Would you guys mind if I used you as a reference for my future work?"

"Not in the least" - replied Kurama as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Thank you very much" - Saiba said with a huge smile.