Imperfect Romance

Vacation

Ai was setting down dishes containing toast, eggs, and bacon on the dining room table for breakfast. She usually ate in the kitchen not seeing the necessity of eating all by herself in the dining room, but her father was actually here and was going to have breakfast with her. Which also explained why she was pouring coffee in a mug and set it down on the table as well since she didn't drink coffee.

"Ohayou Ai." She heard her father greet as he made his way to the table and sat down on his chair. He was wearing one of his usual dark business suits but draped his jacket on his chair.

"Ohayou dad." Ai greeted back with a small smile and then took a seat as well after smoothing out her school's uniform skirt.

They both said a light 'Itadakimasu' before they started to eat in silence.

It was not exactly an awkward silence but Ai sometimes wishes that they could talk at least a little since they don't see each other much. In the past she has tried numerous times to spark up a conversation, but he never tries to keep the conversation alive by giving one word answers. So she has learned that there is no point in hoping in that because that only hurts her feelings even more.

Ai tentatively looked at her father as he took a sip from his coffee but then looked away before he noticed that she was staring at him.

"Ai?" He called out.

"Yes?" She inquired as she spun her head around to meet his eyes.

"Honey your food is always delicious so I never have any complaints but..." He trailed off with a slight grimace trying not to hurt her feelings. "I think that this time around you weren't as generous with the sugar for this coffee as you usually are. I don't have any problems with my blood sugar you know?" He joked.

Ai flinched and her eyes widened as she panicked. "I'm so sorry father," She apologetically started as she stood up from her seat and went to the kitchen to get the sugar. "It's just that I haven't prepared coffee for you in a while and this is the way Kazuya likes it so that's why it's all bitter like that. Suminasen." Ai explained as she came back from the kitchen with the little glass sugar jar and put it down on the table before taking her own seat again.

It was fair to say that Ai didn't like making mistakes as she was a bit of a perfectionist. Everything had to be in order with her studies, her looks, her cooking, and her life just in general. So she was always a bit hard on herself, thankfully she had Miyuki by her side who always made sure that she didn't go overboard.

"Thanks, but don't worry, I'm not going to bite your head off over some sugar," He laughed as he poured some sugar into his drink with a spoon.

Ai chuckled to humor him before resuming eating her breakfast still feeling a bit awkward over the incident.

Her father tentatively eyed her as he took a sip of his coffee now to his liking. "So.. This Kazuya is the same guy who was here about a month ago, correct?"

Once again her eyes widened in panic. 'Damn. How could I let that slip out? Now he is going to know that Kazuya has been coming here for a while." Ai nervously thought.

She took a deep breath and then exhaled. "Yes, that would be correct." Ai confirmed in an even tone.

"Is he your boyfriend?" He asked as he took a bite of his toast.

Ai gulped and tried to ignore her sweaty palms. "Yes, Miyuki Kazuya is my boyfriend." She replied in the same tone.

How was he going to react?

"Oh look at that, you are all grown up now." He chuckled.

Ai awkwardly laughed since she really didn't know what to expect from him.