After dinner, Ayari's mother took the opportunity to pull Meari into the kitchen to help her wash dishes, then had her husband go talk to Ayanokoji alone.
Ayari's mother saw Ayanokoji's excellence as a person, but for Ayari's father, who had experienced "hard knocks" in society and was now just an ordinary company employee, he focused more on Ayanokoji's plans for the future.
After chatting casually with Ayanokoji about everyday life and current affairs, Ayari's father asked the question he was most concerned about: "Ayanokoji, what are your plans after high school graduation?"
"As for me... I'll probably go abroad," Ayanokoji thought for a moment and replied.
Of course, he would go abroad.
This was something Ayanokoji had planned long ago; once he graduated from high school, he would be considered an adult, and legally, his father would no longer have any reason to control him. When else would be a better time to escape?
Ayanokoji had lived at school for a month and had already experienced the pleasure of "freedom"; he no longer wanted to return to the life of being constantly monitored.
Ayanokoji's original intention was to "escape," but to Ayari's father, he understood it as Ayanokoji wanting to study abroad for further education.
Studying abroad was a very promising path with a visible future, and most wealthy families would also support their children going abroad for college to "gild" their resumes.
Once you returned from overseas, regardless of how well you studied, as long as you had a diploma from a prestigious university, it would be enough to find an excellent job.
He had money in his family and was ambitious... He was very satisfied with Ayanokoji's future plans, and his thoughts became more active.
If Ayanokoji and his daughter, Meari, really became a "boyfriend and girlfriend" relationship soon, should he also let Meari study abroad with him when they graduate?
He still believed that graduating from Private Hyakkaou Academy had no future, unlike Advanced Nurturing High School, which guaranteed job placement. If Meari studied abroad, it would also be a good path.
Over the years, they had also saved some "dowry" for Meari, which was enough for her to study abroad.
He couldn't help but probe, "Actually, Meari also has an intention to go abroad, but she hasn't decided where yet. Do you have any good suggestions? Moreover, we're not comfortable with her going alone..."
Ayanokoji immediately understood what Ayari's father had misunderstood, but he didn't reveal it, following his lead, "Actually, I haven't decided on a specific university I want to go to yet.
But if Meari wants to study abroad, I will definitely support her. If she is willing, perhaps we can study in the same place and look out for each other."
Ayanokoji's words were already very clear in their implication, and Ayari's father revealed a satisfied smile.
It seemed that his daughter's affection was not unrequited; he also had a good impression of Meari.
He looked at Ayanokoji with even more friendly eyes and continued chatting with him.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Ayari's mother was washing dishes with Meari and also questioning her.
"Meari, it's just the two of us, mother and daughter, now. Tell me, who exactly is this boy? Did you deliberately bring him here to fool us?"
Ayanokoji was simply too outstanding, and Ayari's mother highly doubted that a boy with such qualifications would really be interested in her daughter.
Meari didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, Ayanokoji is really my friend. Hanatemari can vouch for that. If you don't believe me, you must believe Hanatemari, right? I'll have her tell you herself in a bit, okay?"
Ayari's mother was willing to believe the words of the rich young lady, Hanatemari Kazura.
She nodded and said, "Alright, call her and ask her."
"Just a moment, I'll call her after I finish washing the dishes."
"Don't wait. Do it now. Who knows if you'll coordinate your stories with her?"
As expected, family knows best; she accurately guessed what Meari might try to do.
Meari felt helpless. Did Ayari's mother really not trust her?
However, at least on this matter, Meari had no need to coordinate her story. She simply wiped her hands, took out her phone, and called Hanatemari in front of Ayari's mother.
The call wasn't answered immediately. After several rings, Hanatemari finally picked up.
"...Meari, why are you calling me now?"
Previously, whenever Meari called Hanatemari, Hanatemari would always answer quickly, her voice full of joy, seemingly happy that Meari thought of her.
But today, her voice on the phone was hoarse and tinged with a hint of panic.
"Hanatemari, have you eaten yet?" Meari greeted her first.
"Not yet. I've already ordered, but the food hasn't arrived."
Meari was a little surprised: "Aren't you at home today? Are you eating out now?"
Hanatemari, realizing her slip of the tongue, quickly explained: "Yes, I'm at home, but Ayari's parents aren't home today, so I ordered takeout."
"Oh, I see." Meari didn't question it further. Seeing her mother's calm yet probing gaze, she stopped with the pleasantries and got straight to the point: "Hanatemari, Ayanokoji came to my house today, you know that, right?"
"Hmm, I know. Didn't you tell me last night?" Hanatemari's voice was a little hesitant.
"Then why are you calling me now, Meari?... Is Ayanokoji with you now?"
Hanatemari's voice clearly became tense, a tension that even Meari could detect.
Could it be that Hanatemari thought this call was forced by Ayanokoji, and she was nervous because she thought their cooperation was exposed?
Meari cleared her throat and quickly said before Hanatemari could confess: "Ayanokoji is outside chatting with my father. My mother and I are in the kitchen, and she's right next to me.
She suspects that I brought Ayanokoji to fool them, and that he's not our classmate, which is why I called you."
"Oh, so that's what this is about..."
Meari could feel Hanatemari letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Auntie, Ayanokoji is indeed Meari's and my classmate. He's very smart, very gentle, not at all overbearing, and he's very good to both Meari and me..."
As Meari expected, Hanatemari indeed cooperated and said a lot of flattering things about Ayanokoji.
It was as if she had been paid by Ayanokoji, praising him from every angle, so much so that Meari felt a little embarrassed and quickly stopped her from continuing: "Alright, don't just talk about his good points, tell me some of his flaws!"
"Flaws, huh...?"
Hanatemari thought for a moment, then seemed a little shy as she said: "As for flaws, Ayanokoji sometimes has a bit of a mischievous streak. He always likes to tease you, make you embarrassed, and then watch your blushing face..."
Meari deeply agreed with this. Ayanokoji often deliberately played pranks on her, only stopping when she became exasperated.
After a few more words with Hanatemari, Meari hung up and spread her hands, saying: "Mom, are you relieved now? You must believe Hanatemari's words, right? But, Ayanokoji isn't as good as she made him out to be, so don't take it too seriously."
But to Meari's surprise, after listening to the call, her mother frowned deeply and suddenly asked: "Is Ayanokoji very close with Hanatemari?"
"We all have a very good relationship. Besides those two, I've also made other friends, especially a girl named Anna Kinomiya..."
"I'm not asking you about that."
She interrupted Meari: "Don't you think Hanatemari seems a bit too close to Ayanokoji? She talked about so many of his good points and knows so much about him. Usually, a girl only knows that much about her own boyfriend."
Ayari's mother's intuition was very sharp. She always felt that Hanatemari and Ayanokoji had a deeper relationship, but Meari didn't take it to heart at all. She smiled and said: "Mom, we've been together for a month, of course we have a good relationship. Don't overthink it!"
Since her daughter said so, maybe she was just overthinking it... She swallowed her worries, but still urged her: "Since you like Ayanokoji, settle your relationship with him soon. Don't wait for him to be confessed to by other girls first."
"Mom, do you approve of Ayanokoji!?" Meari's eyes lit up.
The reason she brought Ayanokoji home was to hear her Ayari's parents' evaluation. Now that she heard such words from her mother, she was overjoyed.
From her father's reaction, he seemed quite satisfied with Ayanokoji, and with her mother's approval, she would have no more worries!
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"