Chapter 20:Family Dinner and a Sister’s Crush

Arashi was sprawled across the couch, flipping through channels like it owed him money, when Ken walked out of the bedroom in his white button-down and beige pants—simple, clean, effortlessly handsome.

Arashi whistled low. "If you walk out like that, my mom's gonna start planning our wedding."

Ken gave him a dry look. "It's a family dinner, not a date."

Arashi leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Still. You look… kissable."

Ken turned away before Arashi could see the way his cheeks reddened. "Let's just go. I don't want your parents waiting."

---

The Arashi family mansion was just as Ken remembered: huge, modern, and somehow still homey. The guards at the gate greeted him by name.

Mr. and Mrs. Takeda were waiting in the garden, smiles wide.

"Ken! It's been too long," Arashi's mother beamed, pulling him in for a hug.

"You've gotten taller," his father commented with a firm handshake.

"And better looking," Mrs. Takeda added with a teasing grin. "Are you sure you're not modeling on the side?"

"Mom," Arashi muttered, "stop flirting with my—"

Ken shot him a warning glare.

"—friend," Arashi corrected smoothly.

Ken bowed politely. "Thank you for the invitation."

But before more could be said, a soft voice chimed in.

"Ken?"

Mikasa Takeda stepped into the garden, her hair tied in a loose ponytail, a book clutched to her chest.

She blinked once, then smiled shyly. "Wow… you really did grow up."

Ken smiled back, warmth in his voice. "Mikasa, right? You used to hide behind the curtains every time I came over."

She laughed, clearly embarrassed. "That was a long time ago."

Arashi rolled his eyes, but his mother was already ushering them all toward the dinner table.

---

Dinner went smoother than expected—until Mikasa started hovering.

She passed Ken more salad. Offered him her homemade plum juice. Laughed too loud at his every joke. At one point, she even asked if he liked poetry, holding out her favorite book to him with glittering eyes.

Arashi gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached.

"She's crushing," he muttered under his breath.

Ken looked up, slightly confused. "Who?"

"My sister, genius."

Ken froze mid-bite. "No way—"

"Oh yeah." Arashi leaned closer, voice low. "And she's already planning our engagement announcement."

Ken nearly choked on his rice.

Meanwhile, Mikasa continued talking to Mrs. Takeda about how Ken would make a great addition to the family.

Ken glanced at Arashi, silently panicking. Arashi just smirked at him with narrowed eyes.

"That's what you get for being stupidly likable," Arashi whispered, leaning so close that only Ken could hear. "Now suffer."

---

After dessert, as Ken helped Mikasa clear the table, she leaned toward him and said, "It's really good to see you again. I'm glad you're staying with Arashi. Maybe we can hang out sometime… just us?"

Ken gave a polite, nervous smile. "Y-Yeah, maybe…"

Arashi was across the room, glaring daggers.

As they walked to the car, Ken finally whispered, "You have to tell her."

"Tell her what?"

"That we're—" Ken hesitated. "You know. Not available."

"Oh?" Arashi slid into the driver's seat, grinning wide. "Are we officially not available now?"

Ken tugged his seatbelt roughly. "Arashi."

"Fine. I'll talk to her," Arashi said, then added smugly, "but she's not gonna like it, princess. You broke her heart with your face."

Ken smacked his shoulder. "Drive."

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