On Watch

Sakata Akio's POV

After I was discharged, I happily went home with Nii-chan. We talked about the stuff that happened when we were not together.

He said he got no time for a girlfriend even though a lot of girls have already confessed to him. He really is a diligent student.

He also told me the people he met and how they helped him when he was having a hard time living alone since we're both not used to doing chores. He learned how to cook from instant ramen to frying eggs until he was able to make a decent curry himself. He told me he would cook for us some time at home when he is not busy. I laughed as he talked about the mistakes he made, learning how to live by himself.

Akira: Why are you laughing? As if you know how to do chores at home. I better tell mother to make you do the chores. It has to be fair.

Akio: I can do them flawlessly by trying it for the first time.

I smirked and was brimming with confidence. He just chortled and messed with my hair. He then grabbed my hair.

Akio: Nii-chan!

I grabbed his hair to make it fair. He was so surprised. His eyes widened and knocked me down. We wrestled to the floor and kicked each other while laying on the ground. We were both laughing while messing around. Loud thuds were produced in my room and our mom started yelling, asking if everything was alright. We didn't reply and continued to play. We kicked each other so hard and it felt a bit painful but we still both enjoyed the rumble.

Moments later, my mom barged in the room with her brows crossed.

Hina: What is going on here?!

Nii-chan and I stared at each other, looking at our state. Both of us had messy hair. Our clothes were wrinkled and our shoulders are showing off because our shirts became loose from the rumble. We realized how we looked like and started to giggle like children who had fun playing on the mud.

My mother then rushed to us and pinched us by the ear.

Akio & Akira: A-ahh. Ouch! OUCH!

Hina: You two! Ah-chan just came back home from the hospital and now you are wrestling?! Look at the two of you. Are you grade schoolers?!

She then pinched our sides. We both flinched in pain and then laughed.

She grabbed our hips and gave us a group hug. Our foreheads were linking to each other. Nii-chan and I were staring at her.

She gave her sweetest smile.

Hina: I am glad we're together again under the same roof. Even though you act like little kids, I am happy. You will forever be my babies no matter how old you get.

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I went to school and spotted Rei-kun. As he walked in the hallway, students were staring at him. students show different gazes. Others look curious. Others look annoyed. They looked as if someone had stepped on their pride. They just can't believe a freshman has become a rookie king on his first tournament. They can't believe he defeated a king in a single fight.

I was busy observing the students who were staring at him and didn't notice that Rei-kun was already in front of me.

Rei: Oi. Are you okay? You look so serious.

I shook my head and came back to my senses. I looked at his concerned looking face.

Akio: Oh, you're already here. Sorry, I didn't notice. Attention's on you, Mr. Rookie King.

We both chuckled and talked our way to the classroom.

Standing by the door, are Watanabe-san and Saiko-chan talking. Saiko-chan then shifted her gaze to me and looked back at Watanabe-san. As we approached them, Watanabe-san greeted me politely.

Raijin: Good morning, young master.

Akio: Good morning, Watanabe-san. Are you feeling better now?

Raijin: Yes, I am okay now. No need to worry. But I have something to tell you.

Akio: Okay. What is it?

Before Watanabe-san said a word, I was caught by surprise when someone hugged me from behind. I pulled off from the hug and guess who?

It was my mother who hugged me. I was smiling as I recognized her but my smile turned into a confused look as I wondered what she was doing in our school. The students around us bowed to my mother as greetings since she is the wife of the headmaster.

Akio; Mother, why are you here?

Hina: I was called by your father here. I'm going to be with him in school everyday.

Akio: Huh? Why? For what reason?

My mother rolled her eyes.

Hina: For him to monitor me, he said.

Akio: Eh? He can monitor you even though you are not with him. I can't understand why bringing you here would be any different.

My mother just sighed.

Hina: Yes, I don't know why, either.

The bell rang and it was time for class. The teacher was about to enter the classroom when he noticed that my mother was outside with me. The teacher bowed and delivered his greetings.

Teacher: Good morning, Hina-sama. You can continue talking to Akio-kun.

He smiled from ear to ear, obviously trying not to get the bad side of our family.

Teacher: The rest of the students, go to your classes now.

Hina: It's okay, teacher. I'm leaving now. Bye, Ah-chan.

My mother planted a soft kiss on my cheek. My cheeks turned red from embarrassment. I am a high school lad and got a kiss from my mother in front of the classroom and not just in any normal high school. In a violent and power driven school, which is Seishin High, and other students were watching.

I immediately rushed into the classroom without watching the other students who has witnessed. I sighed in relief and sat on my chair. The class then started.

A crumpled paper suddenly flew to my direction. I looked for the person who threw the paper. It was Saito-chan. I raised my brow in confusion. She whispered from afar and told me to read it and turned her back on me. I picked the crumpled paper.

"We are going home together later with Watanabe-san. We are also picking up your brother."

Huh? Why would we pick up a grown college man? Is this because of mother and father's disagreement?

I just scratched the back of my head. It's too bothersome for me to think about it all day. So, I just didn't mind about Saito-chan's note and focused in class.

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Lunch break came, and Saito-chan is back to being with me 24/7. I just looked at her deadpan and she just looks at me in the same straight face and mouthed 'what?'. I just sighed and sarcastically smiled back at her and said it's nothing. I know it's not her fault why she's gonna stick with me all the time especially when we're at school. I don't mind her being around me because we're friends. But the fact that she's here with me because my father told her to, just pisses me off. There's nothing I can do but to follow what my father says. Even mother is following my father.

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Sakata Akira's POV

I was in class listening to the professor. The person beside me would not stop moving around. I was annoyed and kicked his leg. Don't worry. It was just my annoying friend playing with his latest portable gadget he bought online. His name is Miyahara Keitaro. He has a curly dark brown hair with a really chinky, monolid, brown eyes and a thin, neat-looking eyebrows. He wears round glasses and is a guy with a sense of fashion. We were buddies since I entered Seishin. He is a son of the owner of a famous ramen restaurant that currently have 300 franchises all over the world and is planning for a hundred more within this year.

Keitaro: Ouch. What was that for?

He said in a hushed manner.

The girls behind us suddenly whispered to each other.

Girl1: Miyahara-senpai's voice is so hot. I wish I could talk to him at least just once.

Akira: You behave, Keitaro. You're disturbing me.

After talking to Keitaro, I glanced to the girls and politely smiled. They, too, are disrupting my focus.

Girl2: Oh my. Sakata-senpai just smiled at us. I can't take this any longer.

I turned my back again and gently smiled and raised my index finger to my mouth.

Girl1 & Girl2: Sorry senpai.

They both covered their mouth.

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Classes ended, Keitaro and I can finally talk about my family's school.

Akira: So, what was the stuff you found out?

Keitaro: Your mother was trying to dig about your father's school way before he made you come back to your home. All we know is that she tried to dig in information but we don't know how deep she has gotten. She hid her traces very well and it just seem like she just dug about the common information and a little of a background check of your father like who are the women he meets up with. She made it appear like she's trying to catch your father cheat but we both know how faithful your father is, right? So, it makes no sense.

Akira: That's how you came up with the idea the the "catching the cheating husband" is just a cover. I don't know about the conversations my mother and father talk about since I just recently returned back home. I'm going to ask my brother.

Keitaro: Yup. That's all I received from the other team since you weren't able to meet him. It would be better if you were the person who got the message.

Akira: I know but I really cannot do things as I please as of now. I don't understand what my father is thinking. I also cannot understand what my father is up to. We have to be five times more discreet when making a move or doing anything related to the school and government.

Keitaro: Understood. But speaking of discreet, your brother at the back I guess have heard our conversation.

Keitaro said with his eyes widened and his mouth gaping. I, also, was surprised. My heart skipped a beat as I turn around to look at my brother.

But it turns out, nobody was there.

I smacked Keitaro's back. I felt so chafed that I want to beat his sorry ass into a pulp.

Akio: Nii-chan!

Akira & Keitaro: WAAAHHH!

Keitaro and I jumped and bellowed as we heard Ah-chan's voice behind Keitaro.

The innocent Ah-chan just tilted his head and raised his brow in confusion.

Akio: What's wrong, Nii-chan? Were you talking about something scary? You jumped and screamed as if you've seen or heard a ghost.

Keitaro and I sighed and felt appeased. I felt like I might stop breathing if my brother heard us talking.

Akira: Oh. Uh-uhm yeah, something like that. We were just caught off-guard with you just popping out of nowhere.

Akio: I didn't just pop out of nowhere. I called for you like a hundred times and you were so engrossed with your conversation. So, I went to you. Don't worry. I haven't heard anything. If that's what's bothering you. Your faces says it all.

He chuckled innocently like a child.

Akira: N-no! It's nothing like that!

Akio: Whatever you say, Nii-chan. Anyways, We're here to pick you up. Father's orders.

Akira: What? Pick me up?

Akio: Yep. Mother was even at school with father the whole day today. Father is also planning on bringing her to school everyday.

He scratched his head with his index finger.

Akio: It was too bothersome if I think about it. Even the part where we pick you up but I didn't stress myself and focused in school. We'll ask father later.

Ah-chan then realized he forgot to introduce himself to Keitaro. He extended his arm with his hand waiting for a handshake.

Akio: My apologies. That was rude of me. I am Sakata Akio. Nii-chan's younger brother.

Keitaro then wiped his hand on his pants before reaching Ah-chan's hand.

Keitaro: Pleasure to meet you, Akio-kun. I am Miyahara Keitaro. Akira's best buddy since high school. I've heard a lot about you.

Akio: Really?! I hope you only heard the good parts.

Keitaro: Don't worry. He is so happy to have you as his brother.

Ah-chan's eyes sparkled as he felt so touched from what he heard from Keitaro. I patted his head and wrapped my arms around his shoulder.

Keitaro: Akira, you should go ahead. I guess they've waited for a long time already. Bye, AKio-kun. Bye Akira.

Keitaro walked away and waved goodbye. Ah-chan and I waved back and headed to the car.

When we reached home, my mother and father welcomed us by the door. As we were about to hug our mother, she collapsed.

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END OF CHAPTER 17