Complications

"Of course!"

Mino tried to act gentlemanly by flashing a smile and walked in without the slightest bit of hesitation. But on a closer look, it could be seen that his ears were completely red.

Feeling as if steam would come out of his any moment, he frantically prayed to the Almighty for his attempt to work out.

And it sure did.

This gesture was not ignored by her. In order to prevent her mind from getting carried away, she unhesitatingly turned back and started walking towards the stair leading to the next floor in a hurried manner while pinching her left cheek all the time.

"She's acting rather strange isn't she..."

Mino muttered to himself...

"You know the reason too don't you?"

and promptly received a reply. Nearly jumping out of shock, he turned to find Maina's mother staring at him with an amused expression.

"....Pardon?"

"Don't mind me. They all have gathered already. The attic. Quite disappointing, but it's true that you are late."

"Well I was guiding a man to the supermarket. I thought that it won't use up extra time normally since it's located nearby. But the man was walking slowly while chatting with me, he found me to a patient listener. I couldn't say no to him..."

"Ah... always helping people and too nervous for your own good. But I can happily declare that my daughter has chosen a worthy boy."

Ignoring the woman's curiously dangerous words, he climbed up the steps, his hand sliding along the wrought iron railing handle.

The stairs were most probably made of bricks, since they did not make the characteristic creaking sound while he was climbing it.

The cool marble covering pressed against his feet, and it was a good sensation. The second floor was a bit warmer than the first, most likely because its ceiling is the floor of the roof which gets direct sunrays.

[ It must take so much hard work to clean up and dust this place...]

Wondering about how were they able to maintain such a big house, he finally reached the end of the stairs. A green coloured collapsible gate greeted him, for some reason it was closed in spite of Maina entering.

*fweeeeezzzzzhhhh*

With a loud sound, he opened the collapsible gate and closed it too. The roof offered a good view even though it was the house was not that high. The cool breeze that was blowing cooled him down. Sluggishly walking on the floor which was slightly warm due to facing the harsh sunrays for the entire day, he went to the other side of the roof. There he saw a closed door. Not bothering to knock, he just opened the door and right away walked in.

"It's kinda rude to open a door without knocking you know?"

The moment he entered the room, he was greeted with criticism...

"Too exhausted..." Mino replied in a bored voice, not in the least interested to talk with the speaker. However, to not appear rude, he smiled a nervous smile. The speaker however, did not intend to make things easy for him. Warret was going to walk over to him ---- for who knows what --- before he was stopped by Amene.

"Ah... let's not quarrel. Warret! No need to correct him every time. I bet he knows these small things very well."

"Then why doesn't he even try to follow them!"

Mino made an uncomfortable face. He turned to look at Royo, who was sitting at the table busy eating a teacake.

"Uhmm! Take a seat everyone! What are you doing, quarrelling!"

Maina puffed out her cheeks as she said that, and that childish gesture made Mino chuckle lightly.

"Hey Mino, you look better today. Seems like you don't usually give any importance in keeping your appearance neat and tidy. But you should... look, you look so different and better."

"Thanks, I'll try to keep myself prim and proper."

He said this while he pulled out a chair beside Royo and took a seat. Amene was sitting beside Maina. The table was rectangular with Maina directly across Mino.

"Eh? Why are you invited here? And why do you look like a smartass? Your goofy look's nowhere to be found..."

Someone exclaimed in shock. It was Royo, who did not notice him until just now.

"M-Mino... you alright now?"

Maina raised a voice of concern. The others looked at her for a moment, and then their eyes focused on Mino.

Mino, who was not used to be the centre of attention, immediately became nervous.

"Err....I a-am alright... th-thanks f-for the concern though... M-Maina..."

He nervously breathed out a reply in a hurried tone. His previous calm facade was blown away like smoke.

"Were you injured Mino?"

"Hmmm..."

"Maina, how did you come to know when we couldn't?"

Amene had a surprised expression on her face. Warret's face reflected puzzlement. However, Royo didn't make any reaction.

"You guys dunno? I saw his friend Ashu enter the classroom alone with a pensive face. So I asked him whether if anything was wrong. He told me that Mino was seriously injured and was taken to the infirmary for some first aid. There was some chance that he would be taken to the hospital he said. Jeez, that Ashu worries too much. You look perfectly fine to me Mino." Royo said this.

"Serious! Hospital! He didn't tell me any such thing! He told me that Mini had a slight injury!"

Maina's flaring shout of rage burst out. She looked really livid and her voice was very loud.

"Hey hey Mia... calm down. He's not seriously injured at all." Amene tried to calm her down.

"What makes you say that?!"

"Actually there's something which bothers me... There's no way Ashu's lying is he?"

"Ummm... he hasn't a reason to...."

"What are you trying to say Amene? Mino got injured and he's fine now. That's all to it."

"Haha don't overthink stuff, your face has already started to shrivel up Amene!"

Even after getting these responses from Maina, Warret and Royo respectively, she did not let go.

Her voice turned low and serious and she said...

"Mino... if you got seriously injured, then how come you don't have wounds and bandages?"

"....!!...."