My life has changed a lot lately and I think I can say that it has only been good changes.
My friends, my parents, Ryo.
Ryo met my parents before they went back to work, I really thought it would be worse than it actually was.
“He's beautiful!” was the first thing my mom said when she met Ryo. It was accidentally he took me home and my parents were arriving, so my father invited him to come in and have dinner with us.
I think my parents figured out that Ryo isn't just my friend for two reasons.
First when, he had his arm around my waist when we found my parents by surprise.
And second...
"What school do you go to, kid?" My dad asked after we started eating.
"I changed school not long ago, now I study at Senomon High School." Ryo was fiddling with his plate trying to disguise the fact that he didn't want to make eye contact.
My parents shared a look like 'now it all made sense' because the Oya boys are my brothers but Ryo is not from Oya.
"And your family? I seem to know your last name."
"Mom..." I tried to warn her, so that she wouldn't judge his family by the money, like she did before.
My mom seemed to realize her mistake. "I'm sorry, but that's not really what I meant. I really think I've heard your last name."
"My father had a company..."Ryo pretended to clear his throat. "Now he's a private driver."
I avoided talking about Ryo's family, it seemed too heavy topic for him.
"You seem like a good boy, Suzaki." My dad said with a smile.
"Do you like books?" My mom asked.
"I like hearing your daughter talk about the books she likes to me." Ryo flashed me a smile.
"Awww! That's so cute! Your dad was never this romantic!" My mom said smacking my dad on the shoulder.
"I took you on a cruise last year!" My dad complained.
"Because you won a sweepstakes!"
I looked at Ryo apologizing silently, but he just kept smiling.
Soon dinner was over and Ryo said goodbye to my parents.
"Thanks, the food was great." Ryo thanked us, we were approaching the door.
"Feel free to come visit whenever you like." My mother said when we stopped.
"Take good care of our daughter." My dad said with a serious look.
"I'll do my best." Ryo said respectfully.
We went outside and I looked out the window to make sure my parents weren't spying on me.
"I'm sorry that was sudden." I whispered just in case.
"No problem, I enjoyed it. It was a good time."
"Thank you...Do you want me to walk you home?" I asked.
"No, go enjoying time with your parents." Ryo told me wrapping his arms around me and kissing my cheek.
"Fine, I'll let you go. Don't get in trouble." I said laughing.
"I don't promise anything…" He chuckled too, before letting me go and walking away.
I think sometimes Ryo feels sad about things, like when my mother mentioned his family, but he still avoids telling. I hope he can open up to me one day.
A little while after my parents went back to work, I decided to cut my hair. Fujio insisted that he knew how to cut hair like a pro, but as I was in my right mind, I declined.
I cut my hair to shoulder length. Tsuji firmly encouraged me to color.
I thought about it and ended up painting pink streaks at the ends, Tsuji approved, but still said I should have been more radical.
"Oh my God! Lady, you are so different! " Jamuo shouted when he saw me.
"Did you like it?" I asked laughing.
"You look even more like an Oya student." Fujio said circling me to see the back of my hair."That's the ultimate compliment, I assure you, little sis."
"Thanks!" Over time I stopped trying to correct it and just accepted. "It took me a while to decide the color."
"It suited you." Tsukasa told me.
"And it matches the butterfly on my jacket." I said turning for a moment.
"Was it on purpose?" Tsukasa asked.
"No, I only realized after I left the salon." I was so happy, not that I didn't like my old hair, but I also liked the change.
"Since Oya's 𝒞ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑢 has a new look, will she buy us lunch, what do you think?!" Fujiu said clapping his hands.
"What's that got to do with anything?" I said feigning indignation.
The first time Ryo saw me with my new hair, which was actually right after I bought lunch for boys
He came to pick me up so we could go to the ice cream shop.
"You look beautiful." It wasn't just the hair, he always said that when he came to pick me up.
"Thanks." I say shaking my hair. "You should dye your hair so we'll be matched."
I went to Ryo and intertwined my hand with his.
Ryo thought about it for a bit. "Would colored hair suit me?"
There was also Doka, who as soon as she saw me, she screamed so loudly that I almost didn't hear the compliments she said to me afterwards.
"OH MY GOD YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!"
"Thank you, Doka..."
A few days after I dyed my hair, I went to meet Murayama, Furuya and Seki they were passing by and Seki said he wanted to see me. He gave me a brotherly hug when I got there, he lifted me up and I got scared when my feet left the ground.
"Hi! Good to see you!" I said after Seki let me go.
"You look so different!" Seki pointed at my hair.
"It's been a while since I decided to change." I said smiling, Seki assured me that it was beautiful.
"What big news 𝒞ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑢 of Oya have to tell us ?" Murayama scoffed, I just laughed, at his attempt to piss me off.
"Oya is fine, Fujio is taking care of everything."
"I think it's great that he didn't screw up." Murayama complained.
"If it makes you happy, we miss you." Changing the subject I turned to Furuya. "And how are you, Furuya?"
"I'm fine… I mean, apart from having to put up with these two." Murayama and Seki started to boo him as soon as he said that.
How could I ever be afraid of these three?
"I've heard some rumors going around..."Seki whispered, looking around to make sure no one was around. "Rumor has it, now that the great Murayama is gone. They want to take Oya's place at S.W.O.R.D."
"Who would do that?" I asked, I couldn't believe anyone would be dumb enough to stand up to Oya.
"I'm not sure, but I heard that school of stuck-up boys who wear red, has changed leaders." Seki continues.
"How do you know these things?" Murayama asked with a confused face.
"I hear!"
The three of them started to argue if this was a lie or truth, but my mind could only think of one thing.
Stuck-up boys who wear red...