Reincarnated In Another World As A World-class Volleyball Player

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Aika-san?"

The words leave chewed lips in an embarassed and sheepish mumble, bouncing off the walls of the nearly empty hotel. There's a slight shake in his voice, a tiny tremor that catches the attention of the one who is called.

A hum of acknowledgement between pursed lips is the response given as Aika turns her body slighty to face the young boy, abandoning her work for a moment as she places the pen down onto the table with a soft 'click' against oak wood.

A near burst of laughter escapes the older woman's lips as the corners of her lips turn upwards but she relentlessly struggles to muffle her giggles, pursing her lips tighter. She tilts her head to the side, a silent query that translates to 'what's going on?'.

She can't help but ask such a question, though she knows that the boy would be slightly embarassed to answer her question. Hakuba Gao, the arrogant and egoistic boy she called nephew, had his head down as he clenched and unclenched his hand repetitively. It's a strange and unfamiliar sight but Aika doesn't bother to comment much on it — she knows how defensive the little kid can be.

"Do you know... Where... The girl is?"

His mumble sparks amusement to swim in Aika's orbs as she smiles widely though Hakuba can't see the genuine enthrallment that his aunt is going through due to his unusual behavior. The boy takes a sharp breath, filling his lungs with air as he begins to realize that he didn't even know what your name was. Exhaling, Hakuba raises his chin to match Aika's gaze.

"Do you know where she is? The girl who kept annoying me?"

His words are leaning towards the unkind category but Aika doesn't bother pointing it out, it wasn't something new at all. She liked to think of it as her nephew not knowing how to word things properly instead of him actually not caring about the consequences of his words and being downright insulting and rude to anyone he pathed ways with.

Back to the matter at hand, Aika did know who Hakuba was referring to given she hadn't introduced him to anyone else for the past few days. A fond expression settled on her face as she tapped her chin in feigned forgetfulness.

"..Hmm... You mean Nakamura-chan?"

"Ah! Yeah! Her! Nakawhatever!"

A bead of sweat comically trailed down the older woman's skin as she nodded, unsure if she should just accept the fact that her nephew had just referred to her friend's granddaughter, "Nakawhatever". Given it was a family name, it had more impact. She'd have to lecture him later on.

"They left since..."

As those words left Aika's lips, Hakuba could feel the hope leaving his body as his face dropped.

"Nakamura-chan and her family went ahead first to Nozawa Onsen for the Lantern Festival! We'll catch up with them though! I already called Fei-san so she can watch over the shop till tomorrow!"

An incoherent stutter slips out of the lips of the boy as his eyes widen, jaw slack, almost like he can't believe he was being sad for a girl he would be meeting again in a few more moments. Catching that he wasn't looking so cool that time around, he crossed his arms against his chest and huffed, turning around swiftly with a sharp click of his tongue before he walked out- well, stomped out.

His mumbling became louder as he got farther away from Aika, wanting her to know that 'no, I wasn't worried for Nakawhatever, I was just asking!'.

Though Aika knew it was a lie, she couldn't help the soft and amused smile that graced her features.

Though her attentions towards Hakuba was shifted once she heard the door open, the hanging bell chiming, announcing the presence of a new individual. Easily allowing a gentle and welcoming smile appear on her face, she turned her body to face the person.