Chapter 39: Eye of the Storm

The noise of Family Day buzzed faintly in the background as Aiko's dad steered them away from the crowd, his face a mask of calm that didn't quite reach his eyes. Riku's heart hammered, each step toward the secluded corner of the school grounds feeling like a countdown to disaster. Aiko stayed close, her fingers grazing his—a quick, warm touch that steadied him just enough to keep walking.

They stopped beneath the sprawling branches of the old oak tree, shadows flickering over the grass. Aiko's dad turned, his eyes darting between them, sharp and searching. "Explain," he said, his voice low but edged with steel. "What's going on between you two?"

Aiko opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Riku swallowed, his throat tight. "It's… complicated," he croaked, wincing at how weak it sounded.

"Complicated," her dad repeated, arms crossing. "That's not an answer. I've heard the rumors—everyone has. But I want it straight from you. Are you two… together?"

The question landed like a stone, heavy and unyielding. Riku glanced at Aiko; her face was pale, but her eyes flashed with resolve. She stepped forward, taking a deep breath. "Yes," she said, clear and firm. "We are."

Silence crashed over them. Riku's pulse stuttered, the weight of her words sinking in. They'd dodged this truth for so long, cloaking it in banter and excuses, but now it was bare, exposed.

Her dad's face didn't shift, but his eyes tightened. "You're cousins," he said, slow and deliberate. "Family. You realize what that means?"

"We know," Aiko said, a slight quiver in her voice. "But we didn't choose this. It just… happened."

"Feelings don't just 'happen,'" he shot back, his gaze swinging to Riku. "And you—what do you say?"

Riku squared his shoulders, meeting his stare. "I care about her," he said, stronger now. "More than I should, maybe. But it's real. We're not messing around."

Aiko's dad held his gaze, then sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is… a lot. Your mother and I—your aunt and uncle, too—aren't going to be happy about this."

"We know," Aiko said, her hand slipping into Riku's, gripping tight. "But we're not giving up. We'll handle it together."

He stared at their hands, his frown deepening. "You're still in high school. This isn't a game—it's going to get messy. People will talk, and not just here."

"Let them," Aiko replied, her voice rising. "We've faced it before. We can take it."

He shook his head, a mix of exasperation and concern softening his features. "You're too young to see what you're walking into. But… I can tell you mean it." He paused, his tone easing. "We'll talk more later. All of us. For now, enjoy the day. This isn't finished."

He walked off toward the crowd, leaving them in a fragile pocket of relief. Aiko let out a shaky breath, slumping against Riku. "That was… a lot."

"Yeah," he said, pulling her closer. "But we did it. We said it."

"Half of it," she teased, a smirk breaking through. "Wait till he hears about the harem."

Riku groaned, laughter cutting through the strain. "One disaster at a time, okay?"

---

Family Day blurred by after that. Riku and Aiko stuck together, hands brushing when they dared, the harem swirling around them like a quirky constellation. Haruka murmured quiet support, Mika slipped them a scribbled note—"You're crazy, but I'm rooting for you"—and Yuna dialed back her usual jabs, though her sly grins said plenty.

As the sun sank, painting the school gold, Riku's mom, Hana, found them, Emi tagging along with a timid smile. "Riku! I was just telling Emi's parents about the play—you were amazing!"

"Thanks, Mom," he said, forcing a grin. Aiko's grip tightened, a silent anchor.

Hana's eyes flicked to their hands, her smile twitching before snapping back into place. "We should head home. Long day."

The walk back was quiet, the air thick with things unsaid. At the house, Aiko's parents waited in the living room, their faces a blend of worry and bewilderment.

"We need to talk," Aiko's mom said, soft but resolute. "All of us."

Riku's dad set his newspaper down, nodding. "Sit, kids."

They sat, hands locked, facing a wall of parental scrutiny. Aiko's dad cleared his throat, his earlier edge dulled by fatigue. "We've talked it over. We're not happy, but we won't stop you. There are rules, though."

"Rules?" Aiko asked, frowning.

"Yes," her mom said, leaning in. "First, keep it quiet until you're out of school—no scenes, no feeding the gossip. Second, school comes first—your grades don't slip. And third…" She glanced at Riku's parents.

"Third," Hana picked up, calm but firm, "you respect the family. This affects everyone. If it spirals, we'll step in."

Riku nodded, the weight settling in. "We get it. We'll be careful."

Aiko squeezed his hand. "We promise."

The room softened, tension unwinding slightly. Aiko's dad stood, muttering, "I need a drink. This parenting gig is brutal," and the adults scattered, leaving Riku and Aiko on the couch. She nestled into him, her head on his shoulder. "We made it," she whispered.

"Yeah," he said, kissing her hair. "We did."

---

Later, in the dim hallway outside their rooms, Aiko leaned against her door, pajamas loose, hair tumbling over her shoulders. "So, knight," she said, grinning, "think we can pull this off?"

"We've survived worse," he replied, stepping close. "Together."

She touched his cheek, thumb tracing his skin. "Together," she agreed, and kissed him—slow, deep, a vow in the shadows.

They broke apart, breathless and smiling, the storm behind them for now. But as Aiko slipped into her room, Riku knew the waves were still spreading. Family, school, the harem—it was all knotted together, and unraveling it would take more than one night.

For now, though, they'd won. And that was enough.

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