The Bad, The Bidder, and the Daughter (KBTBB)

Eisuke: Eighteen

NANA POV

"So how'd the whole Kurumi---Eito thing go-- wait, no. Don't tell me. I'll wait for Katsumi to spill at breakfast. She'll make it funny."

Isao chuckled as he set his glasses on the nightstand, "Yes, honey, I'm sure she will."

I collapsed onto Isao's bed and rested my head on his ever so comfy lap, "Mmmm, so how was your boys night? How'd you get Count Chair-thrower to return to this shithole?"

Sighs of content escaped me as he ran his calloused fingers through my curls, "My time with Eito was quite possible some of the greatest hours of my life. Speaking of my life, I probably owe him that tenfold."

My eyebrow raised, "Should I be worried? I thought the eloping thing was a joke. Isao. I thought that was a joke."

His low baritone laughter filled his personal hotel room, "Perhaps. Perhaps not. No, in fact, we both owe him our lives."

He gently guided me to sit upwards as he slid off the bed and got on one knee.

My throat swelled. My heart raced. I could no longer hear anything but his voice. I couldn't see anything but his grey eyes. No... He couldn't be...

"Kishi Nanako, how long have we been dating?"

"S-since kindergarten."

He smiled and gave me that look. It's a wonderful look. It's the look of  "You are the most important being in this universe."

"We were on the playground. I was making you a daisy chain while you were on the swings. I placed the finished crown on your head and everyone teased us, asking if you were my girlfriend. I'll never forget the look of excitement and anticipation when you said, 'Well? Are we?!" I blushed and said if you'd have me."

"People teased us for weeks..."

"But they stopped after you kept putting bugs in their lunch," he chuckled, "You were such a wild child... Still are..."

I gave a sheepish grin, "Yeah, we should probably pray our future kids turn out like you."

Isao kissed my left hand, "A little girl like you would be the greatest gift any god could ever give me."

"Kiss ass."

"You love me."

I fake groaned, "Ugh, I do."

"Not as much as I love you, though."

"Yeah, you are pretty extra."

It was his turn to act exasperated, "Anyway, we started dating over a decade ago and haven't strayed since. Nothing, not even the disapproval of others, has kept us apart. I fully intend on spreading the rest of my life with you."

I pushed him off his knee and sat on his chest. Looking him in the eyes, I leaned forward, "Isao, I want you to be completely sure of the next few words I think you're about to say. You've had soba noodles your entire life. What if you wake up tomorrow and find you're craving... I don't fucking know, spaghetti?"

He flipped me over and cradled my admittedly chubby face, "Nana, my mother's Japanese. I think I'm fine living off of soba till I die. I promise that I mean these next words with my entire being."

I gently hit my forehead with his, "You better."

"Kishi Nanako, will you do me the incredible honor of becoming Oh Nanako?"

"Hmmm, yeah, gonna have to say no on that one. Sorry, hard pass."

He jumped away, looking like he was about to die.

I burst out laughing and threw myself on him to give him a kiss, "Nah, just fuckin' with ya. Fuck yeah, I'll marry you, Issy."

"Mother of God, Nana, you nearly sent me into cardiac arrest."

"Ooo, does that mean I make your heart stop?"

"...I want a divorce."

...

"Wow, that was mean."

"Was it though?"

"I mean, the poor boy poured his soul at to you, and you just..."

"Asuka, it's fine. I could literally tell Isao I wanted him dead-- which I do not-- and he'd still love me all the same."

My friend ran her perfectly manicured french nails through her long blonde locks, "Nana, I love you with all my heart, but you really do not deserve Isao."

"Oh God no. Nobody deserves Isao. The boy is literally perfect. He's tall, strong, sweet, smart, rich, and handsome. I'm literally engaged to one of those boys in an otome game, mark my words..."

Asuka let out a sigh and took a sip of her latte, "It seems like love is in the air these days. You know, Kurumi's only been here for like, a week and she's already got Lisa whipped."

"Oh yeah, I heard about that. And Eito and Yushina have this electric kinda chemistry. And wait, don't you have TWO boyfriends now? How's that going?"

She smiled at me, "Alas, I'm afraid, not well. Haruki didn't mind the idea of a threeway relationship at all, but, unfortunately, Kanato said he had to think about it for a while. But so far Haruki and I are having a lovely time. In fact, I just collected his v card."

"EW EW HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT SO CASUALLY EWWW!"

The blonde nearly fell out of her chair laughing, "Well, you asked. You're just upset Isao wants to wait until marriage. Anyway, I should get going. My dads are taking me to a cute little theater to see "Wuthering Heights." Mom's staying behind to hang out with my brother and sisters, so it'll be a rare quiet day for me."

"Yeah, yeah," we rose from our table at the hotel cafe. Just as Asuka was about to walk out the door, she turned to meet my eyes with a serious gaze.

"Hey, Nana, please be careful if you're gonna be walking around alone. I've notified the auction managers about a suspicious person who keeps appearing around the Tres Spades, but so far they haven't found them yet. Whoever they are, I don't think they're our friend."

My brows furrowed, "My dad seriously hasn't found them yet?"

"Yes. If they can evade one of the most revered and talented detectives in Japan, then I'd say they're pretty formidable. Anywho, enough depressing talk! Arrivederci, Nana!"

"Later, Goldie."

As the tall, gorgeous girl left the cafe, I began to think. Which usually was never a good thing.

"Hmm, I should probably warn the twins at some point.."

...

A/N: Fear not, I won't keep delaying the confrontation chapter. It's what's coming next. I just felt bad about not updating in a while.