4It has been a couple of months since the Elimination Games begun, and Tomigaoka is doing really great. Rukawa was walking home (Shinobi was on her own way, because their houses are of different streets).
When he entered the gate of their house, he was surprised to see a car parked inside (he lived in a mansion and not on his own yet). A much bigger surprise was to come his way when he entered the mansion. Helpers, butlers, and maids welcomed him home as usual and when he was about to go up the stairs to his room,
"Kaede, honey! Welcome home dear." A familiar voice greeted him
"Mom?"
"Who else did you expect?"
"But I thought you're not going to be home until I graduate from Jr. High..."
"Well, I missed my baby so much!" Hugs Rukawa
"I'm not a kid anymore..."
"I know you're not, I just long to touch you again. It's been years since we last saw each other, right? Anyway, I won't be staying long, I just came to update myself on what's happening to you and to get some papers."
"Of course, there's always business involved. It'd be a miracle for her to come back just to see me..." Rukawa thought.
"So dear, I want to meet your friend. Invite him over for dinner tomorrow night."
"Mom, my friend is more of a she, not a he."
"Oh, so it's a girl. Now I'm more excited to meet her."
The next day after practice...
"Um... Tanima, my mom is... well... she's..." Rukawa could find the right words.
"I'd be happy to meet your mom."
"How did you know?"
"I just do. So come on, I don't want to her to have a bad impression about me."
They talked about kinds of stuff while walking on the way. They were near his house...
"I don't want to get you freaked out, so I'm telling you early on..."
"What, your mom is picky of who your friends should be?"
"No, it's not that. Well, I've told you that I lead an average life, well... I lied."
Then a huge gate is in fron of them. Surely a mansion lies inside.
"Home, sweet home..." Rukawa said.
"This is where you live?"
"Yup. Come on in."
When they got inside, helpers greeted them. "Welcome home, Master Kaede." They said in chorus.
"Kaede dear, you're home!"
"Good evening Mrs. Rukawa, it's a pleasure to be invited by you." Shinobi politely greeted.
"Mom, this is Shinobi Ta..." Rukawa introduced Shinobi but then Mrs. Rukawa's phone rang.
"Hello. I'm busy right now! I'll call later!" she hunged up.
"I'm so sorry about that dear... Now, shall we go to dinner?"
While at the dinner table,
"So Shinobi my dear, what kind of love potion did you use on my son?"
"Love potion?" Shinobi asked.
"You know, to make him fall for you. But hey, you're very lovely. My son is an idiot if he lets you go."
"Did Rukawa told you that we're dating or something?" she asked.
"You two are already a couple, aren't you?"
Rukawa was almost choked to hear those words from his mom.
"Rukawa are you alright?"
"Kaede, drink a glass of water. There, better?"
"Yes, thanks. Mom, Shinobi is just my friend. A very good friend to be exact. No more, no less."
"I see, I'm really sorry for the misunderstanding. You see when you mentioned that your friend is a girl; a girlfriend was the one I expected. That's why you didn't call him by name. I hope you didn't mind what I've said Shinobi."
"Don't worry Mrs. Rukawa, it's fine with me. No harm done anyway."
After dinner, Rukawa and Shinobi talked in the garden of the Rukawa residence.
"I'm sorry for lying to you."
"Lying?"
"You know, telling you that I lead an average life."
"You didn't tell me you lead an average life, that's what I thought. Actually, I lied to you too. Like you, I also live in a mansion full of helpers and my parents, they are president and vice-president of Tanima Group of Companies."
"I guess we share the same boat. Mine are the president and vice-president of Rukawa Group of Companies."
"And they're staying in America 'cause there lies the most opportunities for the corporation to grow bigger." They said in chorus.
AN: What a bunch of things they have in common! That's 'cause I think friendship is stronger if both of you share many things in common. Again sorry for the OOCness, it's just hard to keep Rukawa's icy personality. But hey, ice can melt due to some things. Let's just say, Shinobi's one of those things.