Dinnertime

Back at Kyle's house, one particular (normally) overbearing CEO was being questioned by a very skilled - and slightly annoyed - interrogator.

To understand what is happening, let us go back to when the family of five was having dinner.

That was when it all began, though it escalated later in the night.

✿ Author posts on WN and neovel ✿

Dinner was a relatively simple meal.

White rice with stir fry minced chicken with basil leaves. A typical dish from Country Th. Alex used to wonder why they had so many types of food from various countries served. He had thought it would only be from either of his parent's background, such as from Country J, or Tz (which was basically a mix of Chinese and Western food).

Instead, they'd have all sorts of delicacies from all around the world.

They even had haggis once (thank goodness it was once) from Country Scots.

When he finally asked the question, his father had explained that he had wanted them to be exposed to all sorts of culture and food. Of course, for those that they liked, it would become one of their staple diets.

Such as today's meal.

It was Ariel's favourite.

Since today was basically 'her' day, dinner naturally consisted of her favourite food. They were even getting crème brûlée for dessert.

Ariel was so happy that her eyes were like slits, as she would be grinning even when she was munching on her food.

Sayuri was really pleased to see how happy her daughter was, and watched as Ariel carefully scooped up a spoonful of rice into her mouth. The rice had already been mixed with the minced chicken, making it easier for Ariel to eat.

They had just listened to Ariel's rendition of being dressed up, treated (and acted) like a Princess and how she had a wonderful lunch after waking up from her morning nap.

And the lovely snacks for tea.

Seems like Ariel was a little bit of a foodie as she had spent quite some time talking about the food.

"It was really, really wonderful today, Mummy," Ariel said after swallowing, then looked at her father, "Can we do it again, Daddy?"

Kyle replied, "Let's just say that while you are always welcomed, Rie, it doesn't mean you can come that often."

At this point, Kyle was a bit stuck as to how he could say it to his daughter without hurting her feelings.

He didn't want Ariel to feel like she could not come but the fact of the matter was, it was still a working area. He didn't care what other people would think and he was the boss, after all. There were plenty of people who could babysit her while she was in there.

It's just that he didn't want her to think that it was a playground - though he did love having her around.

Sayuri smiled at her husband's predicament, noting the slight discomfort upon his face. Of course, only she could detect it, but for others, it would seem like Kyle's facial expression didn't change.

However, Sayuri looked at Ariel then, wondering if her daughter's instinct would catch it.

Seeing Ariel tilt her head as she looked at her father, Sayuri's lips curled up to a smile. In order to stop her daughter from giving her father any clues, she asked her, "Anyone new that you met today who you found interesting?"

At this question, Ariel nodded. Sayuri waited patiently while Ariel swallowed her food again before answering, "Well, it is more 'weird' than being inte..inter..in.."

Ariel's face scrunched up.

She knew the meaning of the word but she always had trouble saying it. When she heard the word, she knew what it was but when it came to saying it?

Anything that was more than 4 syllables gave her problems but she could still do it after practising for a while. Five? Forget it.

Out of sheer frustration, Ariel stuck out her tongue and bit on it.

Not hard, of course.

It wasn't that she was sticking her tongue out to anyone, but more of her feeling angry at her own tongue for not being able to help her say the words out.

Kyle patted her head and said softly, "Don't do that, Rie. It's okay."

Ariel brought back her tongue in and sighed.

To make herself feel better, she took a bigger scoop of rice and put it into her mouth. Her small mouth was so full that her cheeks puffed up as she chewed slowly.

Kyle held in his laughter, thinking how cute his youngest daughter was, and continued eating.

"Well, we made a new friend today as well," Aurora pipped up, "Actually, we made a lot of new friends since it's a new class but there is one particular little girl that seems to have become quite attached to Alex."

"Oh?" Kyle and Sayuri said together.

"Do tell," Kyle prompted.

Aurora, having the stage now, happily did so, completely ignoring the glare from her twin in front of her.

"Her name is Isaura," Aurora reported, "She's a year younger than us and was one of the girls paired with Alex for the ice-breaking session."

"One?" Kyle asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We were put into pairs of two, but there was one extra," Aurora explained.

Kyle game a small smirk, thinking, that out of all the kids in the class, the Head Teacher had decided that the person who should get the 'extra' was Alex?

Interesting.

"I see," Kyle said, nodding, indicating that he was listening and encouraging Aurora to continue.

"And she just seemed to hit it off with Alex," Aurora commented, "Though, granted, both girls that were paired with Alex seemed to be enthralled by him."

Kyle's mouth twitched at that.

He, of all people, knew just how crazy some girls could be - even at the tender and young age of seven. Though that was perhaps just them being pure and acting out on whatever was on their mind while the older girls were more sly in trying to hide it.

Alex, being a typical boy, would need to be able to handle these sort of girls. Being cold and indifferent wouldn't cut it either because girls can be quite tenacious that way.

It might even make him more appealing.

He had to make sure that his son wouldn't kill a girl out of sheer frustration, too.

And he meant that in the literal sense, too.

"So what is your impression of her, Alex?" Kyle asked.

Alex looked at this father, thinking hard.

The fact that his father asked such a question rang warning bells in his mind.

Was this a test?

Of course it was - everything was always a test with him.

However, the question was, was his father trying to gauge his skills in studying people, or was it because Isaura was not what she appeared to be?

Alex knew that MIB can be as young as Isaura, and he had to look out for the ones that had been assigned to him. He hadn't managed to identify anyone last year, and he was determined to be able to pick out one this year.

Thinking about Isaura, the image of her goofy face and pure eyes filled his mind.

That? MIB?

Was she that good an actress?

Alex shook his head subconsciously.

Can't be.

It wasn't the fact that she appeared pure and innocent, but it was because she just did not make sense most of the time.

There couldn't be an MIB agent that young, that would have thought of such a persona, right?

Just thinking of the way she answered some things made Alex's mind spin.

Would acting stupid, or weird, be enough to attract him?

Hardly.

He wouldn't spare them a glance.

So he dismissed the thought entirely that Isaura could have been an MIB agent - or even that she was part of the member of 'his' team.

Despite being in the Accelerated Class, a prime place for an MIB agent.

"She is unique," Alex began cautiously.

"Oh, in what way?" Kyle asked.

"The way she thinks is rather different," Alex replied, "Her thought process is hard to decipher at times."

Kyle raised his eyebrow, "So you find it interesting to try and figure her out?"

"It's frustrating," Alex admitted.

Kyle laughed, "You mean, it's frustrating, yet, fascinating at the same time?"

Alex pursed his lips, not answering but in his silence, acknowledging the fact.

"Good luck then," Kyle replied.

At this point, Ariel shouted suddenly, clapping her hands together once while saying, "I know what you mean! I met a lady just like that."

Sayuri's head jerked up a bit, her eyes sharp as she smiled and asked Ariel, "Really? How so?"

Ariel, noting the seriousness of her mother despite the smile, shrugged and replied, "She was weird because she wanted me to call her Mama or something."

"Oh?" came the soft voice and Kyle gulped.

"Did you?" Sayuri asked.

"Yeah," Ariel replied, "Because she was crying and all. I didn't mean it, though."

Sayuri smiled and reached over to pat Ariel on the head, saying, "I know, sweetheart. Don't worry. I'm not mad at you."

Ariel nodded, smiling, and happily continued eating her meal.

Kyle, on the other hand …