Contrary to what Azu expected, he did not face an immediate confrontation with his mother. When he entered the house, he was surprised to find a few guests at that time of the night. Sitting around the table, talking in a hushed voice was his mother, a few other women and a boy, who seemed to be of his age.

When he cleared his throat, everyone snapped to attention, with a look of horror and shock on their faces.

Mikumi let out a sigh, realizing that it was only her son. And then the next moment it hit her that the punk and habitual escape artist was back. Trying hard to put a lid on the mix of emotions that were simmering inside her, she forced a smile and asked, "Oh, you are back?"

His mother's lack of reaction unsettled him even more.

Adressing those who were freaked out by the sudden entry of a not so familiar face, she said, "Everyone, this is Azu, my only son."

Azu smiled awkwardly, bowing at the small crowd, who now looked relieved.

"Azu, we are having an important conversation here. Can you go wait for me in your room?" Mikumi asked, hinting that she needed him to leave the room right now.

"Ah, yes. Of course. I'll excuse myself then." Bowing once again, he left for his bedroom in a hurry.

The tension in the room when he entered was palpable. Azu couldn't put his finger on the reason why those ladies were here at his house. He remembered meeting one of them a long long time ago, when he'd visited his mother's bar for the last time in his life. 

She is one of them.

He thought.

She was one of those people whom he refused to associate with, after the constant episodes of bullying he faced. The thought left him feeling disgusted about himself, for he clearly remembered how sweet and kind she was to him, the one time they met.

He was lying on his bed, licking old wounds when the boy he'd spotted earlier entered the room.

"So you are the prince's bitch?"

Azu was taken aback by the unwarranted rudeness. He more than understood who he was referring to as prince, since this wasn't the first time the kids from the street jeered at him for being the beta of the tyrant's grandson.

How dare this guy insult me in my own house?

"Who the fuck are you?" 

Looking at him up close, Azu realized that the guy was taller than him and might be slightly older as well.  By instinct, he analysed the intruder, sizing him up and came to the conclusion that if it were to come to a physical fight, things might not go well for him.

"Relax, bro!" The boy said, and this time there was no malice in his voice. "Yamauchi Ryohei." He introduced himself, extending his hand.

Azu stared at him in for a couple of seconds confused and irritated, before taking it.

"Matsubara Azusa"

" I know." Ryohei  told him as he made himself comfortable on Azu's bed.

He's getting too comfortable for someone who insulted me like - seconds ago.

"And yeah, sorry about earlier. You reminded me of a certain someone and I couldn't help it."

"Is that supposed to be your excuse for calling someone a bitch at random?" Azu snapped.

Looking genuinely apologetic, Ryohei waved a white flag. "You're right. You’re right, so is there anything I can do to make it as if the last 10 seconds never happened?"

Satisfied that he had given him enough shit, Azu decided to let him off the hook.

"Nah, it's alright. Actually, I'm pretty used to people calling me names. So tell me, who's my lookalike?" 

The mood in the room had shifted and Azu felt like Ryohei may not be as bad as he thought he was.