After seeing off Marika, escorted by her guards back home, I walked Sena to their house. As soon as we were alone, the girl who had so much energy seemingly deflated as she had me carry her on my back.
It's her own way to sneak in some more intimacy with me.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics. "You know, you don't need to pretend. I'll always carry you home if you ask me."
"That's no fun, Ruki. Let me act spoiled sometimes and throw you off," Sena replied, her voice muffled against my back as she wrapped her arms around my neck, her breath tickling my ear. "It's your fault for making me feel so safe and loved, anyway."
"Now it's my fault? Well then, I'll love you more and keep you safe. Even if you're in the ring."
"Pfft. You'll be kicked out, idiot Ruki," She giggled, poking my cheek playfully. "But I won't mind being loved more. I'm doing my best in my training so I can show you the belt or medal that I will be winning."
The quiet stroll to Sena's house was filled with her chatter about her dreams and aspirations in boxing, and how she wanted to make me proud. This was a side of her that I would always cherish, the ambitious and driven young woman who had come so far from the unconfident girl while bogged down by her relationship with her ex-boyfriend.
She did love that guy before to the point that despite her talent in boxing being higher than his, she never let her talent overshadow him. It was only after I entered the picture that I made her realize she didn't have to hold back anymore. She could pursue her own dream and not be tied by whatever her boyfriend would think.
Of course, it was only a push. If I didn't put a rift between them in the form of Miyako back then, she would probably disregard it.
"I'm looking forward to that day, Sena," I said sincerely, feeling her warmth against my back. Her dreams of victory in the ring were as vivid as the stars above us and I had no doubt she'd achieve them. She's my girl, after all. "But remember, win or lose, you're already amazing to me."
"I know... I still want to make you proud though." Sena whispered into my ear as we approached her house. She tightened her grip around my neck as she leaned in to kiss my cheek.
"Alright. I will always support my Sena no matter what," I assured her, feeling her cheek press into my shoulder. We reached her house, and I gently set her down. The lights were on and I could hear activity inside.
As I was about to step back, the girl pulled on my hand, "Ruki, I should tell them I have you now. They're starting to worry about me only having boxing in my head. Can you... come in for a moment?" This text is hosted at N0veI.Fiɾe.net
Although it wouldn't be my first time entering their house, this would surely be my first time facing her parents and her little brother who had already seen me whenever I would walk her home.
"Alright. I'll tell them your head is filled with thoughts of me or what we're doing in bed rather than boxing."
Sena puffed up her cheeks and hit my shoulder but she couldn't hide the blush that crept up her neck. "Pervert. That's not what I meant. Come on, let's go in."
"Wait. I'm not ready. I don't have anything with me. If you had told me earlier, I would've bought another box of donuts like before."
"It's fine. I ate half of those donuts anyway." Sena smirked as she pulled me into their yard and opened the door, leading me inside. The warm light spilled out, welcoming us from the cool night.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home! I have a visitor!"
Sena announced as we both began to remove our outdoor shoes. She was even quick at getting me indoor slippers as she was too determined to bring me with her to meet her parents.
Well, I'm already here. There's no way I will back out now.
We stepped into the living room and her parents appeared to have been watching TV but probably they started cleaning up their living room when they heard Sena had a visitor. I saw the man who should be her father, carrying bottles out to the kitchen and her mother who was wiping down the dining table. Her brother was nowhere, probably in his room upstairs.
Her mother was the first to speak up, "Oh, Sena! Welcome home. I thought it would be Inaho-chan. Who might this be?" She looked at me with a smile that was as warm as the light from above us. Her eyebrow slightly jumped as she scrutinized my appearance.
Her father who heard the commotion also turned around to greet us. He was a broad-shouldered man with a stern look that immediately softened when he saw his daughter's smile. But then, it defaulted back upon seeing me.
"This is Ruki. He's my boyfriend," Sena said as if she was simply reciting a fact she had learned in school. Her voice was calm, yet her grip on my hand was a little too tight. Just what I would expect from a boxer.
The first to react was her mother, a short woman with a gentle smile, who rushed over to us, her eyes filled with excitement. "Oh, Sena! Look at you, your head's not just filled with boxing! See this, honey? Our daughter brought home a handsome boy!"
Her father blinked a few times before saying, "Sena, I thought you went for your training at the gym. What's this about having a boyfriend?"
Sena rolled her eyes. "Well, Dad, I've already mentioned Ruki to both of you. You just won't believe me. I said I have this guy training and motivating me since two years ago. He's young but he got himself a part-time job as an instructor in the gym! The owner praised him for his skills!"
Her mother's excitement grew as she looked at me with a proud smile. "Is that so? What a wonderful young man to support our Sena's dreams!"
"Thank you, Auntie. Nice to meet you." As I had finally gotten the chance to talk, I bowed and put on my usual charming smile at her mother, making sure it'd earn me some points with her.
Her father on the other hand was still processing the information, his stern gaze not letting go of me even for a second. It's as if he was trying to figure out if I was worth the air she was breathing.
"Is that true? You became an instructor at your age? Show me how you box, young man," Sena's father said, his eyes still assessing me.
"I apologize, Uncle. I'm not as good as Sena when it comes to boxing. I only have enough skill to teach basics."
"Nonsense. If you're good enough to train her, you're good enough to show us a thing or two," Her father said with a smirk, clearly not believing my modesty.
At this, Sena put herself between us, "Dad! I didn't bring him here for you to test his skills. I just want... to tell you this is the guy I'm going to marry in the future."
This girl... Why are you dropping another bomb?
Sure enough, her parents' reaction to it was to be expected, "Marry?! What are you saying, Sena?" Her mother's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth, while her father's smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of shock.
"No. No. No. You can't take away our Sena from us! She's still too young to marry. She still has a dream of becoming a professional!" Her father immediately dropped the bottle on the countertop before stomping over to us.
"It's okay, Uncle. She's just teasing. It's not going to be immediate. We'll wait until it's possible," I quickly clarified but the way I said it made them more stupefied.
Sena started laughing as she knew that was me providing her backup, intentionally shocking her parents.
"You heard him, mom, dad. Before I get my first championship belt as a professional, I'll be marrying Ruki and we'll give you a grandchild first."
And there's another bomb.
If I knew she was going to do this, we should've rehearsed before coming. What am I to do here? I couldn't just refute her, right? She'd pout and get mad at me. But then again, it's not a bad plan.
Her mother had fainted, and her father was frozen stiff, looking like he saw a ghost. I was half expecting him to pull out a shotgun or something. But alright, she's got my back. I can't just leave her hanging.
I pulled Sena in front of me and hugged her and acted like I was holding her back before saying, "Sena, you'll make your parents' hair white if you keep telling them our plans. It should be a secret for now.
And there we go. I played along again. This scene continued for ten minutes and Sena was relentless in making them speechless at her pronouncement. And I, as her good boyfriend, backed her up every step of the way.
Eventually, Auntie woke up from fainting and Uncle had his eyes turned red from subdued anger. Perhaps if I was not holding the girl close to me, he would've already tackled me. That's how much of a shock Sena brought to them.