-In 2023, not all parents hold their children to traditional standards for love and marriage, but modern lifestyles are still not always accepted. Especially not when your younger sibling is getting married first and your parents are practically jum...
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HINATA'S P.O.V. – ONE WEEK LATER
Ever since the wedding, I haven't seen Y/N. I tried messaging her later that night, but she never responded. At first, I wasn't sure how to take it, but I ended up deciding that she was no longer interested for whatever reason she may have. It's her decision, though, so if she doesn't want to tell me then I'm not going to pressure her.
A week has gone by since the wedding. Daichi is back now from his honeymoon. Our group is finally back to hanging out again.
Tonight we've decided on a bar downtown. We got a few drinks, paid for Daichi's as a late congratulations gift, and sat down at a booth on the opposite side of the bar.
"So how's it goin' guys?" he smiles kindly as he looks at the rest of us. "Catch me up. What'd I miss?"
"Can't really say much on my part," Sugawara shrugs. "I had work, that's pretty much it."
"You guys didn't go out or anything while I was gone? I find that hard to believe," Daichi chuckles.
"We did but you didn't really miss much. Hinata said his dealer was out of town so we couldn't get our hands on anything besides this," Tanaka explains as he holds up his can of beer.
"Really?" Daichi asks, turning to me. "Maybe they went to California or something, getting that good stuff," he laughs.
"Yeah, maybe," I chuckle awkwardly. The truth is, the dealer didn't go anywhere. I just didn't want to run into Y/N's friend there again.
After we spend some more time catching each other up on the past week, I get up and walk over to the bar. I didn't think it'd be so awkward, knowing Daichi was going to inevitably ask me about how it's going with his sister, but why the hell won't he just ask me already? Does he already know? Did Y/N tell him?
"Can I get an Amaretto Sunset please?" I ask the bartender as I sit down and wait for my drink.
Just then, someone takes the seat beside me. When I look over, I see Daichi putting up two fingers toward the bartender. "Better make that a double," he smiles.
"Coming right up," the bartender nods.
Daichi then turns to face me as he sits up perfectly straight in his seat. Immediately, my throat runs dry and I've got no idea what to say to him.
"So," he begins. I try to ready myself by clearing my throat. Whatever he says next will at least give me a hint into what Y/N's been thinking for the past week. "I've got a bit of a strange request," he then laughs.
"Strange request?" I repeat hoarsely. "About what?"
"Well, I'm not really sure why, but for some reason, the second I got home from my honeymoon, my mom wanted me to arrange for you to come over to her place. For a family dinner," he explains.
"Family dinner?" I repeat. All the heat has drained from my face. Y/N must not have said anything to her family about me. But why would her mother want to invite me over to their house for family dinner? God, that's going to be so awkward!
"I had almost the same reaction," Daichi laughs. "I mean, after I found out she was there when Fuyuko and I found you humping my little sister, I didn't think she'd ever want to see your face again. But for some reason, she asked for you specifically."
"Yeah, well, I think that might have to do with after. When she almost fell I was talking to her and I guess she kinda liked me. But are you really sure I should go to your family's dinner?" I ask him again, making sure this really is a good idea or not.
"I don't see why not," Daichi shrugs. "It's a good thing to have my mom on your side. Especially when you have feelings for my sister."
When Daichi says that, my heart skips a beat. Does he really have to ask me that? Of course, I like her but I haven't talked to her in a week. I bet she's probably moved on by now.
"You do like my sister, don't you? I mean, the two of you were-"
"Yes!" I interrupt before I have to hear him repeat what already made me feel uncomfortable once. "I mean yeah," I then clear my throat. "Does she know about this invitation?"
"I'm not sure. My mom probably wants to keep it a secret since the two of them never get along with this kind of thing. I think she might try to use it to her advantage. In a good way, though!" Daichi reassures me as he gently pats my back.
"Okay," I nod quietly. Just then, the bartender brings back our two drinks. Thank god he's saved me.
"Alright, let's go back to the guys. They're probably wondering what's taking us so long," he smiles as he stands.
"Be right there," I reply. As I watch him walk off to the others, thoughts swirl around in my brain.
Should I tell him? Is it better if I don't?
Maybe if I just show up then I can talk things out with Y/N. There's no way they're just going to let me show up without her knowing.
Well, maybe I shouldn't put it past them. It is Daichi's family we're talking about, after all.
"Damn it all," I grumble as I stand up with my drink in hand. I'll just have to go with it and see how it plays out one step at a time. Besides, Daichi's my friend. I'm glad his family is inviting me over despite the situation Y/N and I are in.
When I walk back over to my friends and sit down, they're all conversing about Daichi's honeymoon to Hokkaido. It seems like they had fun together and I'm quite happy for them.
I'm not sure if anything like that will happen to me. When I was younger I never really thought about relationships. And even up until recently all I did was work and travel. But now, after watching and hearing everything that Daichi's experiencing, I think my opinion is beginning to change.
