Under one roof

"Ah, I'm sorry," Akie said, awkwardly scratching his hair.

"As I said, young master, you don't need to be so polite. By the way, did something happen? You seem quite different now. And the Master seemed rather angry as well. Did something happen at school?" the butler inquired.

"Ah, I think Dad can answer that better," Akie said, rushing inside the mansion while the butler watched him with a smile. "Kids are always in a hurry," the butler muttered, following him inside.

As Akie entered the mansion, he found an unsettling silence. "Where did Haru go? How can I find him now?"

"Young master, you went to your room, right? Then how are you here again?" the nanny asked, surprised.

"Ah, yes, I went to the car again. I left something there, so..." Akie stammered, panicking.

"Ah, where did you keep my school bag? I think the thing is inside the bag," Akie asked, trying to subtly locate Haru's room.

"Young master, it's in your room. Where else would I keep it?" the nanny replied, pointing her finger towards the upstairs room.

"I'll go to my room now," Akie said and raced towards the room where Haru already was.

"You? How did you get here?" Haru asked in shock.

"How else would I come here? I came here by hiding in the back lock of the car. You didn't realize I locked myself in there," Akie explained.

"But why? What do you need?" Haru panicked.

"Relax, Haru. Why are you freaking out over such a small thing? Don't you want to know about your mom, just like I want to know about my dad?" Akie said.

"Of course I want to know, but how? We're just kids. We can't know what the adults are up to," Haru sighed.

"And I said, you may be a kid, but I'm not. I'll know everything once I talk to the adults. So, from now on, let me talk to you and meet your dad. I'll try to get something out of him that way," Akie declared.

"But what if you get caught? He won't be happy. You don't know how angry he is. He's not someone you can mess with," Haru warned, scared.

"You don't know anything. Have you even tried having fun with your dad? If not, how will you know if he enjoys it or not?" Akie countered.

"Stay here. I'll go meet your dad to find out the truth," Akie announced, changing into the clothes Haru was wearing. He left the room but soon snuck back in and whispered, "Yeah, but before I go see your dad, can you tell me which room he's in? Otherwise, I'll definitely get caught."

"Oh, yes! Go straight and turn at the end of the stairs. You'll find Dad there," Haru instructed.

"Thanks, Haru," Akie said, hugging him tightly before dashing out of the room again and walking towards Haruto Anzai's room.

"Dad? Are you in there?" Akie asked, peeking into the room.

"Dad?" Akie called again.

"Hiro, why are you standing outside? You don't need permission to enter my room. Come in!" Hiroto said, beckoning Akie inside.

"I thought you might get angry if I came in without your permission," Akie mumbled, looking down shyly.

"Come here!" Hiroto called again.

As Akie reached him, Hiroto pulled him into a hug, settling him on his lap.

"Do I look that scary you can't talk without worrying I might be angry?" Hiroto asked.

Akie nodded.

"Ah, my child. I might seem tough, but I'm not really. You're my only son, and if something happened to you, it would break my heart. That's why I have to be strict sometimes, but deep down, I love you very much." Hiroto explained.

"Then why won't you tell me about my mom? I know she's out there somewhere, but you're not telling me enough about her," Akie pressed.

"You'll know about it when the time is right," Hiroto repeated, avoiding his request again.

"But how did you get bullied at school? You never mentioned it. Why not? If you had told me before, I could have done something," Hiroto asked, concerned.

"Dad, I heard you talk to that teacher. You said she's helping you hide my existence. Why? If it's so important, and if I had told you about being bullied, wouldn't it have caused problems with your work? That's why I didn't think I needed to tell you. And I don't think I get bullied a lot, anyway," Akie explained, referring to Haru.

"It's nothing. Nothing is more important than you being safe. Everything I'm doing is for you. If I'm failing to keep you safe after all this, then what's the point? Okay? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? Now, whenever something happens, tell me. And thank your friend who helped you. I'm sure he's a good friend." Hiroto said sincerely.

"He already got your thanks," Akie chuckled.

"Oh, really?" Hiroto responded, starting to tickle him, making him erupt in laughter.

"When did you become so sly, Hiro? I didn't know you were so fun-loving!" Hiroto exclaimed between tickles.

"Ha ha, you don't know many things, Dad!" Akie laughed, soon scrambling out of the room and heading towards Hiro's room.

"Wow, you're laughing a lot! Did Dad play with you? How? What did you do to make him play with you?" Hiro asked excitedly.

"He tickled me, and we both laughed out loud," Akie explained.

"He did? Wow, I've never seen Dad like that. I wish I'd been there. I wanted to see Dad like this too," Hiro sighed.

"You will. So after I leave, play with your Dad. He'll like it," Akie suggested.

"Where are you going? Are you going home? Not staying here?" Hiro asked, disappointed.

"Yeah, I'm going home. If I'm late, Mom is going to be worried sick. So I need to be back before she finds out," Akie explained.

"What about the truth? Didn't you say you'd help me find my mom?" Hiro asked, hopeful.

"Yes, I will. And until then, I'll let you play with my mom too," Akie promised.

"Really?" Hiro exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement.

"Yes!" Akie confirmed with a smile.