The Aoyama household was unusually lively that evening.
Luggage cluttered the entryway, voices floated through the hall — deeper than the sisters', warm and familiar. The air smelled faintly of airport coffee and homecoming.
Suki's parents were back.
"Ryuzí, come on!" Suki tugged his sleeve, practically bouncing as he pulled him inside. "They've been dying to meet you!"
Ryuzí dug his heels in stubbornly. "…This is a bad idea."
"It's a great idea," Suki countered, grinning. "You're my boyfriend. Of course they should meet you."
Ryuzí's ears went red. "…Don't say that out loud."
Suki only leaned closer, whispering teasingly, "Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend."
Ryuzí groaned. "…Id—" He caught himself, lips pressing shut. "…Suki."
Suki beamed, tugging him further inside.
In the living room, Mr. and Mrs. Aoyama sat surrounded by their daughters, who were eagerly filling them in on everything they'd missed.
Emi spotted them first, smirking. "Ohhh, look who's here."
Rika squealed. "Ryuzí's here! Perfect timing!"
Hana sipped her tea calmly, though her lips twitched faintly.
Both parents looked up.
Mrs. Aoyama's eyes lit instantly. "Ah, so this is Ryuzí!" She rose, crossing the room with open arms. "Welcome, welcome!"
Ryuzí froze as she enveloped him in a warm hug. "…Uh—"
Suki laughed, clapping his hands. "See? I told you they'd like you!"
Mr. Aoyama stood, his presence steady but kind. He extended a hand. "Takeda, right? I'm glad to finally meet you. Thank you for taking care of our son."
Ryuzí stiffened, shaking his hand awkwardly. "…It's… not a problem."
Suki grinned, looping his arm through Ryuzí's. "More like he takes care of me."
The sisters burst out laughing.
Ryuzí's face went crimson. "…Stop talking."
Dinner was chaos in the best way.
The table was crowded with dishes — miso soup, grilled fish, tempura. Suki's mother fussed over everyone, piling food onto Ryuzí's plate despite his quiet protests.
"Eat more, you're too thin," she said firmly.
Ryuzí muttered, "…I'm fine."
"You're not. Here, have another piece."
Suki leaned over, whispering, "Welcome to the club. She does this to all of us."
Mr. Aoyama chuckled, sipping his sake. "It means she likes you."
Ryuzí's ears burned as he muttered a faint "…Thank you."
The sisters, of course, made things worse.
"So, Ryuzí," Emi said with a sly grin. "How long have you been dating our dear brother?"
Ryuzí choked on his rice. "…W-what—"
Suki answered without missing a beat. "Not long, but long enough." He winked.
Rika squealed, clapping. "You're so cute! Honey and Ryuzí forever!"
Ryuzí groaned, covering his face with one hand. "…I shouldn't have come."
Suki leaned closer, smirking. "Too late. You're part of the family now."
After dinner, they gathered in the living room. Mrs. Aoyama flipped through photo albums, showing embarrassing baby pictures of Suki.
"Look at this one," she cooed, holding up a photo of toddler Suki in a ridiculous bunny costume. "He cried when we took the ears off."
Suki flailed. "Mooom! Not in front of Ryuzí!"
Ryuzí stared, lips twitching despite himself. "…You haven't changed."
Suki gasped. "Traitor!"
The sisters howled with laughter, the whole room buzzing with warmth.
For Ryuzí, it was overwhelming. He wasn't used to so much noise, so much affection, so much open love.
But instead of suffocating, it felt… safe.
Like maybe, just maybe, he belonged.
As they left that night, Mrs. Aoyama hugged him again. "Come back anytime, Ryuzí. You're always welcome here."
Mr. Aoyama clapped his shoulder firmly. "Take care of each other."
Ryuzí froze, the words echoing in his chest. He bowed stiffly, murmuring, "…Thank you."
Outside, under the night sky, Suki grinned at him. "See? Not so scary, huh?"
Ryuzí's lips curved faintly. "…They're… loud."
"And loving," Suki added.
Ryuzí's chest tightened. "…Yeah. Loving."
For someone who had spent years drowning in silence, it was like breathing fresh air.
Suki slipped his hand into his. "So? You'll come back again?"
Ryuzí hesitated, then squeezed his hand lightly. "…Yeah. I will."