Impending Devotion

Chapter Twelve

As soon as Kei leaves, I switched my phone on to see that Ryota had texted me to contact him if the coast was clear. Seeing him really sad back then really bothered me, so I really had to help him.

This has nothing to do with me loving him, but I really want to help a friend, especially when they're in this kind of state. It just crushes my soul to know that they've gone through something bad and maybe I could, you know, help them out however I can?

A few minutes after texting Ryota, he called me. "Hello? Yuiko?"

"Hey Ryota! Wanna talk about it now?"

I heard him sigh over the other end, "Yeah... I want you to hear me out. Is it too much to ask for?"

"No... I want to help you out if I can."

"Thanks..." he paused then slowly began to tell me everything, "In the afternoon, Koizumi invited me over to talk to her parents over tea about us having a future together and asking for their blessings if they'd approve of us. It wasn't easy though, because her parents were strict, especially her grandmother."

(...Flashback, Ryota's P.O.V. ...)

I was sitting in a Japanese formal style, wearing a classy traditional yukata, inside a very huge traditional room with eye-capturing sliding doors, and a very relaxing tatami floor. This simple, yet beautiful room was located in one of the many rooms of Hinako's (A/N: Koizumi's first name) great Japanese traditional mansion.

I already knew she was rich, but I didn't know she was this rich. This was my first time inside her home. The place, and even the atmosphere, made me realize how far apart we were on social standards. Maybe this is why their parents didn't want her to marry me. I thought I led a wealthy life too with successful parents... But I guess I'm still too far away from that compared to Hinako.

The clothes I am wearing right now aren't even mine. They were prepared for me by Hinako so I could present myself more elegantly to her family.

Her family consists of her grandmother, who is the head of the Koizumi household; her father, who is a famous pianist; her mother, who is a famous designer in traditional clothing; her elder sister, who is a successful nurse and is married to a half-Italian lawyer who currently works in Japan; her elder brother, who is in college studying media arts; and there's Hinako, studying music to become the world's most famous violinist.

Just how can I compete with this family? I mean, my family's not bad either! My dad's a successful architect; my mom's a well-known surgeon; I have an older brother who's already a chef now who's working in France; and I'm currently in my last year of high school, but I want to proceed to college and take up business.

My family isn't so bad. But somehow... Hinako's just seems so much more dazzling than mine.

I had a long conversation with Hinako's family. But it mostly felt like I was being interrogated the entire time. Hinako sat beside me throughout this entire demeanor, while her family sat in front of us. I felt very intimidated, especially when her grandmother is talking to me. She was a strict woman, like the rest of the family members were just in the palm of her hands. Hinako looks very formal and behaved herself, like she's scared to make her grandmother angry.

Time went by, the talk went on for hours. Until her grandmother finally said, "That's enough for today. It was nice meeting you Ooshiro-kun, but I don't think you are suited to marry my granddaughter. Hinako is much too valuable to be given to a little boy like you. True, you have the looks and the attitude. And even though Hinako isn't the next heir, I just think you don't have the talent to carry her well in today's society."