Chapter 41: Chapter 41 - Welcome to the Fujikawa House

It was too quiet inside the reserved area for customers to sit inside the lounge.

This was a big problem.

Not quiet from peace.

Quiet from being isolated.

Kuro Kurogane noticed how quiet it was when sitting on one of Mina’s large leather couches while holding a can of coffee for comfort.

Outside rain continued to gently tap onto the glass.

In the seat across, from him, however, Mina continued to lay back with a big hoodie while she scrolled through social media without paying attention to anything but the device in her hand.

The energy and fun of being at school were both missing.

Instead, at that moment, he felt it was calming.

At the same time even though she didn’t mean to, in a way the new version of Mina seemed dangerous or scary too.

"You’re staring at me again," Mine mumbled as she continued to look at her phone.

"Um... Your house feels strange."

"Right!" Mina said.

Mina threw her phone down in disgust, threw her arms back, and put her head against the back of the couch.

"This is what happens when you have too much money!"

Mina may not have meant to, but she had the most arrogant tone he thought he’d ever heard.

Kuro continued looking at Mina only to see that behind all of Мам́и́на’s sarcasm and humour was the same feeling of emptiness she seemed to have all the time.

Suddenly there was a loud bang from the front door.

Mina sat up immediately.

The atmosphere changed.

The big man in the dark business suit came in talking on his cell phone.

Very sharp features; cold expression, and the perfect kind of businessman.

Mina’s father.

He didn’t even acknowledge Kuro or Mina as he walked past the couch.

" Right. Change the meeting for tomorrow..."

He had a toneless voice even when he dummied down a coat.

Then, finally he spotted Kuro.

Nothing but silence.

"....A Guest?"

Just a single word.

Totally toneless.

Mina waved hello from the couch.

"Kuro...a Classmate!"

And her dad nodded.

"...I see."

And then he went back to talking on his phone.

No more contact.

No questions. No warmth

Kuro just blinked.

That was the most awkward and cold experience I’ve ever had in winter!

A few mins. later.

A woman walked out of the hallway.

Dressed beautifully, gracefully and perfectly put together.

Mina’s mum.

She smiled sweetly at Kuro.

"Oh, wow, Mina has a boy over?..."

Mina groaned on contact.

"Geez, Mum."

"Why? For real? I’m surprised!"

Her mum had a much softer tone compared to her dad.

Yet, somehow It felt as though there was no real warmth to her mother.

It felt as though it were "practice courtesy."

Then, her mum directed her attention toward Mina.

"You’re not wearing make up!"

Nothing but silence.

Mina immediately turned away.

"I know!"

"We’re having dinner with the Kanzaki family tomorrow night. Don’t forget!"

"Sure."

That was a short conversation, with no real connection.

Kuro quietly observed the entire thing.

And eventually copped the fact that, although this house appeared perfect on the outside .Emotionally, every person in the house, including Mina, lives separately from everyone else.

They are simply "renters" sharing an "expensive home."

Then the footsteps reverberated again from immediately above.

Another person emerged.

Older male reminding her of Mina, hair color like hers but more refined facial expression.

Her oldest sibling.

Kuro only got a quick look at {the person}’s face but he smirked toward him before looking back at {Mina}.

"Interesting."

Mina did not look impressed.

"Don’t start."

"He exists."

"What do you mean?"

The person walked closer to Kuro while he walked.

"It means your sister usually scares the boys away before she brings them home."

"I don’t!?"

"You threatened one with a pair of scissors in 6th grade."

"Development."

Kuro could only stare.

"Excuse me?"

"Long story," said Mina while rolling her eyes.

Reasonable cause for concern here.

The boy positioned across from Kuro while being casual.

"So... You’re my sister’s boyfriend?"

"Mina shouted "NO!" a little too quickly by the way... either she thinks you or she were so busted or crazy or both."

Kuro looked over at Mina to see how she reacted.

The Boy turned around. He smirked.

"Mina used to mysteriously break her schoolboy friends’ hearts and return them back."

"I know you did."

"That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t disown you in order to mess with you."

"I’ve disowned myself {long ago}."

Family is screwed up!

Family is really screwed up!

Dinner was back to back.

And somehow it was going to be awkward for Kuro.

It was an enormous dining table.

Very formal. Very proper.

The entire meal focused on surface-level conversation.

Work. Schedules. Events.

L

Nobody asked: what does Mina think ?

How was school? Is she happy ?

Kuro silently noticed that Mina was getting louder through the meal.

She was being silly. She was putting on a show.

As if she was exhausted from the quiet that was underneath everything.

And then suddenly Kuro’s father said something to Kuro.

"Are you capable of maintaining a good average in school?"

Kuro blinked.

"Only Averages."

"Well, I think you’ve improved your grade in school, Mina."

Kuro looked to Mina slightly.

Mina quickly looked away, to her plate.

"I guess so."

Her father said nothing.

"Please remain a positive influence on her."

Business-like.

Like he was investing in something.

Not investing in her emotions.

Suddenly some painful realization hit Kuro.

It’s true no one here today saw Mina as a whole.

Not the true Mina.

That night Kuro was getting ready to head home after the rain had started slowing down.

Mina walked quietly with him toward the entrance of their apartment building.

As they walked, the overhead lights reflected softly across the bright and shiny floors.

Suddenly Mina spoke quietly.

"...I’m sorry."

Kuro blinked hard.

"For what."

Mina took a deep breath before she could answer.

"My family."

Mina shoved her hands deep into the front pockets of Kuro’s huge hooded sweatshirt, refusing to look up at him.

"My family is really weird."

Kuro continued to think quietly of dinner.

Of the emotional distance between them in the apartment.

He then looked at Mina.

"You smile louder here."

Mina froze Kuro’s words hit right at home.

Kuro now started breathing quietly and shifting his direction slightly to look toward the ceiling.

"Like you are trying to fill the silence between us."

For once, Mina had no time to joke.

She simply was looking at him quietly.

Then she slowly formed a laughing smile.

Weak. Honest. Tired.

"...I’ll bet you notice annoying things."

Kuro looked to the side, embarrassed.

"...Yeah, I probably do."

The silence settled nicely between them.

Then suddenly, Mina walked toward him.

Not teasing.

Not goofing off.

So close that Kuro could smell her damp hair with the lingering scent of shampoo.

In a soft voice almost timid Mina said:

"Thanks for being here for me today."

Kuro’s heart ached in an unfamiliar way. It felt as though it had stopped for an instance.

Because, for whatever reason this was more real than any comment she had ever made to him during their time at school.

Next, Mina smiled softly again.

This one was less bright than usual.

And more real than usual.

But after seeing this Mina, Kuro now has a new feeling he wants to experience this version of Mina again, in real life.