DaiShun (The Boyfriend)

Chapter 37: Is She Single?

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table where everyone had gathered. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and the clinking of cutlery. Yumi and Hana were sitting next to each other, engaged in a light-hearted conversation about fashion trends, while Ryuji and Ayumi were chatting with their parents about the day's plans. Dai and Shun were seated side by side, their fingers occasionally brushing against each other under the table.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Ryuji asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well," Dai began, a mischievous glint in his eye, "I was thinking, why don't we go for a swim? It's been a while since we all did something fun together like that."

Everyone's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "That sounds perfect!" Yumi chimed in. "The weather is gorgeous, and it would be great to cool off in the pool."

Shun, who had been quietly enjoying his breakfast, suddenly looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on something in the distance. "Hey, Dai," he said, nudging his boyfriend gently, "doesn't that figure seem familiar?"

Dai followed Shun's gaze towards the entrance of the dining area. His brows furrowed for a moment before his expression shifted into one of recognition. "It does..." he murmured. As the figure came closer, a wide grin spread across his face. "Wait a minute-it's Kenji!"

Shun's eyes widened in surprise, and he let out a small laugh. "Yeah, it is!"

Without another word, Dai sprang up from his seat, his excitement palpable. "Let's go say hi!"

Shun chuckled softly, standing up as well. The two of them made their way over to Kenji, who was walking into the dining area with his family. Kenji's expression was one of pure shock when he saw Dai and Shun approaching.

"Dai! Shun!" Kenji exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We could ask you the same thing!" Dai replied, grinning from ear to ear as he reached out to pull Kenji into a friendly hug. "I can't believe we're running into each other like this!"

Kenji laughed, shaking his head in disbelief as he pulled back. "This is crazy! I had no idea you guys were staying here!"

Shun smiled warmly, extending his hand to Kenji's parents, who had just caught up with their son. "It's great to meet you both," he said politely.

Kenji's father, Mr. Tanaka, was a tall, kind-looking man with a gentle smile. His wife, Mrs. Tanaka, had a similar warm presence, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled back at Shun. "The pleasure is ours," Mr. Tanaka said, shaking Shun's hand. "Kenji has told us a lot about you."

"Only good things, I hope," Dai teased as he shook hands with Mr. Tanaka, then turned to Mrs. Tanaka. "It's so nice to meet you."

Mrs. Tanaka nodded, her smile widening. "Likewise, Dai. It's wonderful to finally meet the friends Kenji has spoken so highly of."

Just then, a bubbly voice piped up from behind Kenji. "And don't forget about me!"

Dai and Shun turned to see Kenji's little sister, a cheerful high school student with bright eyes and a playful grin. Though she's a high school student she talks more than her age. "Hi! I'm Haruka," she introduced herself with a little wave. "You must be Dai and Shun, right?"

"That's us," Dai replied with a chuckle. "Nice to meet you, Haruka."

Haruka beamed at them, her energy contagious. "I've heard so much about you guys! Kenji talks about you all the time."

"Oh, does he now?" Shun teased, glancing at Kenji, who was suddenly looking a bit flustered.

Kenji quickly changed the subject, clearing his throat. "So, uh... what's the plan for today?"

"Why don't you join us for breakfast?" Shun suggested with a smile. "We just started, and we can catch up while we eat."

Dai nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, and you can check in after breakfast. There's plenty of time."

Kenji and his family exchanged glances before nodding in agreement. "That sounds great," Mr. Tanaka said, his tone warm and welcoming.

As they all returned to the table, Dai introduced Kenji and his family to everyone. "Guys, this is Kenji, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka, and his sister, Haruka," Dai said, motioning to each of them. "Kenji, these are my parents, and this is Yumi, Hana, Ryuji, Ayumi and her parents."

There was a round of warm greetings, with everyone exchanging polite handshakes and kind words. "It's so nice to meet you all," Mrs. Tanaka said as she sat down beside Yumi.

"The pleasure's ours," Yumi replied with a smile. "Any friend of Dai and Shun's is a friend of ours."

Kenji took a seat beside Dai, and as the breakfast continued, the conversation flowed easily. There was a mix of light-hearted banter, funny stories, and genuine warmth that made the meal feel like one big family gathering.

At one point, Kenji leaned over to Dai, his voice lowered in a conspiratorial whisper. "Hey, Dai, who's that girl in the purple dress? She looks cute. Is she single?"

Dai followed Kenji's gaze and couldn't help but chuckle when he realized who Kenji was talking about. "Why don't you ask her yourself?" Dai suggested, trying to suppress his laughter. "By the way, her name is Yumi. She's my sister."

Kenji's face turned bright red, and he nearly choked on his food. "Y-Your sister?!" he sputtered, his eyes wide with embarrassment.

Dai couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. He handed Kenji a glass of water, still grinning. "Yup, that's my big sis."

Kenji took a gulp of water, trying to recover from his blunder. "Why didn't you warn me sooner?!" he hissed, clearly mortified.

Dai just shrugged, still chuckling. "You didn't ask!"

Shun, who had been watching the exchange with amusement, leaned in and whispered to Dai, "You really like teasing him, don't you?"

Dai smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "It's too easy."

Meanwhile, Haruka was busy chatting away with Hana and Yumi, her lively personality adding to the cheerful atmosphere. "So, Yumi," Haruka said, leaning forward with a curious expression, "what's it like being Dai's sister? He must have been such a handful growing up!"

Yumi laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, you have no idea! He's always been full of energy, always up to something. But he's got a good heart, and he's always been there when I needed him."

Hana smiled softly, glancing over at Dai and Shun, who were laughing together. "It's clear he cares a lot about the people he loves," she said, her tone thoughtful.

Haruka nodded eagerly. "I can see that! You guys seem like such a close-knit family."

"We are," Yumi agreed, her voice warm. "We might tease each other a lot, but at the end of the day, we're always there for one another."

As they all stood up to leave, Kenji gave Dai a sly grin. "So, about Yumi..."

Dai raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What about her?"

Kenji rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish. "Think she'd be interested in getting to know me?"

Dai chuckled, clapping Kenji on the back. "You'll never know unless you try, Kenji. Just remember-be yourself. That's what counts."

Kenji nodded, a determined look on his face. "Right. I'll give it a shot."