Saiki K PeePee

Ch. 31: The Lion's Resolve

They made small argument until later in the evening. Their bickering came to a close when Saiki quickly raised his hand as his eyes trailed off to the side.

"My parents are on their way home. Do you want to go upstairs?"

"No, it's fine. I really should greet them."

He grunted. "Suit yourself."

They waited with nervous anticipation, staring down the door as if there were PSIA operatives ready to burst through it. Soon, Teruhashi heard some shuffling outside. She saw Saiki's brow knit and his eyes roll before he extended his arm forward palm up, followed closely by the door's deadbolt unlocking. Kuniharu-san stumbled through the door, just barely catching himself before he faceplanted into the floor. Kurumi-san followed closely behind as Kuniharu-san levied a stern look at his son, who answered with a smug grin.

Over the past few months, Teruhashi had gotten more and more comfortable with referring to them by their first names, per their request. That didn't mean she would drop the -san, though, she wasn't a perfect pretty girl for nothing.

"Oh, Kokomi-chan!" Kurumi-san exclaimed during a polite bow. "I'm so glad you're here still! I thought we'd miss you!"

"I guess Kusuo had other plans," Kuniharu-san said, shooting a knowing grin at Saiki-kun.

"Stop being annoying."

Kuniharu-san sauntered up to Saiki-kun and slapped his hand on his son's shoulder. "Girlfriends get special privilege after all."

Saiki-kun shot his father a death glare. "I don't know what I said. I just thought you two were together already from how much you see each other," he replied, holding his hands up defensively and grinning smugly. Teruhashi was unable to contain her jaw unhinging as she gawked at the scene unfolding before her.

"Honey, don't be mean to Papa when we have guests. It's not very proper." Her expression had changed from a cheerful smile to a polite grin, but Teruhashi could feel a terrifying, evil aura surging out from her as her face seemed to transform into that of an oni. Who really was this woman?

"Tch," Saiki-kun scoffed.

"Kusuo, why not cut me a bit of slack for misinterpreting. I'm only human after all," Kuniharu-san tutted before turning to Teruhashi.

"Please forgive him, Kokomi-chan. My son sometimes gets a little too caught up to control his temper," Kuniharu-san said as Saiki-kun folded his arms across his chest.

Why was he upset at the thought of me being his girlfriend?

Saiki-kun glanced at her sad expression, reacting with a pained flutter of his brow. His expression softened and he sighed heavily. "She's not my girlfriend. She's just a good friend."

Teruhashi's gaze drooped and her brow fluttered. She, Kokomi Teruhashi, friendzoned? The romantic tension was obvious to both of them, but it still stung to hear.

Teruhashi looked up as an evil aura permeated the room, enveloping it in a cold, dark realm of shadow that swallowed up even the faintest vestiges of light.

"Kusuo Saiki, I am going to make dinner now. Take Kokomi-chan upstairs while I prepare dinner. If there is not a smile on her face when she comes back down, I will bar you from eating coffee jelly in this house until further notice." Kurumi-san took on the full appearance of an oni bearing the armor of a samurai wielding the characteristic spiked club. All trembled at the sight as they exhaled the fog of a chilled breath from the lightless abyss by which they had been swallowed.

"Come on," Saiki said tersely as he nodded his head toward the stairs, only visible by the glimmer of blood red stars layered over it. Teruhashi swallowed and hustled up the stairs behind Saiki-kun. The infinite void persisted until the door to Saiki-kun's room, which still bore its normal appearance. As Saiki-kun opened the door, the light inside of it flashed brilliantly, causing her to cover her eyes. She quickly stepped in behind Saiki and shut the door.