Chapter 11:

Yuji couldn’t believe that he met both of Yumi’s parents in the same night. 

“I-I’m not supposed to be here ma’am…the master ordered me out of the dojo.” 

“Oh don’t listen to him! He’s just trying to scare you. Come, have some tea with me!” 

She gave Yuji a nice smile, and he instinctively followed her. She led him to the dojo’s kitchen, which was basically her own quarter. 

“Thank you for taking me in, Mrs. Hoshira…” 

“Please! It’s my pleasure! And stop with the manners, you can just call me Yumi’s Mom!” 

She said, joking about Yuji’s manners. 

“Here…have a seat. You’re safe here…that big scary Toshi can be a real pain, always scaring off anyone that goes near Yumi.” 

“How did you know that me and Yumi were…seeing each other?” 

“Trust me honey…anyone can see the signs.” 

Yuji started to gradually open up and even let Soy sauce roam. 

“Is that your kitten? He’s adorable!” 

“Thanks! He’s all I have left nowadays…” 

He said, drifting off to flashbacks. 

“I’m sorry dear…no one should ever be traumatized like that. That attack was terrible when I saw it. I tried to stop them from harming you guys, but Toshi threatened to kill me if I ever told someone about the attack…” 

They both exchanged struggles. 

“Let’s stop with the negatives, how are you and Yumi!” “We’re fine…I hope she’s okay. Her dad seemed pretty mad at her for protecting me. I think he found out that she’s trying to see me.” 

“I can’t stand when he does that…it’s so annoying when Toshi doesn’t accept love.” 

“W-Who said anything about love M-Mrs. Hoshira!” 

He squealed, all Yumi’s mom could do was giggle and sip her tea again. 

“Baby…it’s okay to accept your feelings…you never know how you’ll feel until you show them.” 

She said, encouraging him to start showing his affection.

The aroma of the room calmed Yuji down, and could only make him think about Yumi more. 

“I…I never realized just how much I like to spend time with her…She just feels, I don’t know, different from everyone else…” 

He admitted, his face growing with blush. 

“That’s a sign, darling. I promise you, she feels the same. She may not show it, but I know my daughter the best!” 

She joked, though carrying sincere adoration. Soy sauce crawled back in Yuji’s lap, and fell asleep from the calm setting. Yuji and Mao sat and drank their tea, talking about Yumi and Yuji’s meetups, funny stories of Yumi as a child, and overall…how Mao supports the two of them. “Yuji…I think you’ll be really good for my daughter. I can tell just by looking at you. You know how they say opposites attract?” 

Yuji’s face immediately went beet red. 

“I-uh-Wha!? I’m not in love…or am I?” 

He thought. All of their memories seemed to flash at the thought. Meeting at the Sakura Garden, Going to the Café, her Lying for him. 

“Maybe…We are.” 

He said, this time with a hint of real love awakening. 

On the other side of the dojo, Yumi and her father were still in the log room. Toshi sat her down, and stared at her to intimidate her for minutes. 

“You know that doesn' t work anymore Dad…” 

She mumbled. 

“Be quiet, you have no right to talk…” 

He commanded. 

“That boy that I brought in here…you know him, don’t you?” 

He asked, trying to hit the nail on her head. She immediately wanted to drop her tough exterior, yet she kept her calm and had to keep this up until they were done. 

“No Father…Why would I see a boy?” 

“There’s a reason…I just can’t put my finger on it. I’m gonna get this one out of you, Yumi.” 

He said, contemplating about his daughter. 

“That boy is controlling you…I know it. He’s trying to weaken you.” 

Yumi’s fists slightly twitched at the sound of her friend's name coming out of her father’s mouth. 

“He’s not controlling me, father…” 

She said. 

“Then what is he to you then? He’s obviously some weak villager…” 

That’s what set her off. 

“He’s not just a weak villager…He’s Yuji Toshida…” 

She said, still emotional from the situation that he had to go through. 

“He’s skilled at cooking, he’s funny, and he’s…” 

“He’s what…” 

“He’s…my friend, father. He’s my friend.” 

She confessed, a little surprised herself from her confession. Her Father sat perfectly still, almost lifeless at the confession. Suddenly, he threw a kunai* at the wall. It was perfectly stuck in the log that she pulled out of Yuji. “My daughter…skipping   training…disobeying her clan…to see some boy…” 

“He’s not just a boy, Father! He’s so much more than what you think he is…” 

He sighed once more, and retrieved his kunai from the scroll. 

“I will not allow my daughter to see some weakling!” 

He scowled, clearly upset at the thought of his daughter growing weak. He was walking out, until Yumi blurted out one last thing. 

“He’s so much stronger than you know! He’s even stronger than most of the ninjas in your stupid clan…” 

Toshi immediately turned with a deadly stare. 

“Say that again…” 

Yumi stared back at him. 

“I said…He’s stronger than most of the ninjas in your-” She barely dodged another kunai aimed at her. 

“No more…I will not hear anymore of this…” 

He mumbled. 

“Go and tell that boy of yours that he has three days…and that he’s a target…” 

He left the room, the kunai stuck as a symbol of the measures that Toshi is willing to take.

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