Strings (Ryuunosuke Tanaka x Reader)

Chapter Four: A Walk

"So you've always loved volleyball? I think that's awesome. I haven't found my soulmate either so we're in the search together. Don't give up hope. I mean, at least we have each other right?" I smiled at him.

"Right!"

We shortly reached the end of the stream and I hopped off the rock at the end. I also let go of Tanaka's hand that I was holding before my parents got ideas.

I walked to my dads and dragged them to where Tanaka was waiting. My parents were almost towering over Tanaka and trying to intimidate him. They broke their act with a laugh and introduced themselves.

"Hello, I'm (L/N) Tatsuo, that's (L/N) Aki. You can just call us Tatsuo and Aki. We're (Y/N)'s parents." Dad Tatsuo stuck out his hand for a handshake but Tanaka had different plans.

Tanaka immediately bowed and practically yelled "I'm Tanaka Ryunosuke, (Y/N)'s string rival and friend! Nice to meet you!"

Dad Tatsuo was taken aback by the volume and gesture, "It's okay, you can lift your head. You don't have to yell."

Tanaka stood up straight and put a hand behind his head. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little nervous."

Dad Aki jabbed my side and whispered, "He's nervous, wonder why. Maybe it's because it's meet the crush's parents day."

I shoved his face away and shook my head. "Ice cream?"

"Yeah!" My dads yelled and raced each other to the shop nearby.

I already knew the way so I didn't mind them. They always did this whenever we went for ice cream. I pulled Tanaka's wrist and started running to the shop with him following.

It didn't take long until we arrived and the ice cream shop was pretty much empty. I took off my hood to be polite and stood at the counter. I ordered one scoop of (favorite flavor) ice cream as always. Tanaka ordered after me with a scoop of chocolate.

"I'll pay," Tanaka offered.

"No I got it." I winked at him and he looked a little confused.

When we got our cones, the cashier spoke to me. "How's everything going with school (Y/N)?"

"Eh, it's going well. Thanks for asking. How's everything with you?" I smiled at the cashier, Diane.

"Doing good enough, nice to hear you're doing well. Ice cream on the house!" She responded.

I walked with Tanaka and we sat at a table where my dads were already sitting. They sat next to each other and left Tanaka and I to sit next to each other. They definitely knew what they were doing.

"Is this free ice cream!?" Tanaka was in shock that we didn't pay.

"Tatsuo and I work here. We get free ice cream whenever we want. They also know (Y/N) so anyone with her also gets free ice cream. Pretty sweet, no?" Dad Aki often liked to tell people he gets free ice cream, it was his biggest brag.

Tanaka nodded and started eating his ice cream.

When we finished at the shop, we all were telling jokes and stories around the table. My dads had started to like Tanaka and probably wanted him to stick around. Actually no, not probably, they definitely wanted him to stick around.

We stood up and got ready to leave. The shop was actually a few blocks from the apartment, we just walk through the stream to take in the scenery. Tanaka sadly had to go his own way so we had to split.

"I should get going home, see you Monday. I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for the ice cream!" Tanaka waved goodbye and started running home.

"Wait what about your sweater!?" I called out to him.

"Keep it! It's a gift from me!" He yelled back and waved goodbye, the blue string slowly fading from view.

I turned back to my dads and they had a smirk on their faces.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing, nothing." Dad Tatsuo waved me off.

I started walking home skeptically. I tossed the hood back on and smiled in the oversized sweater. I guess this was mine now.

My face broke into an even bigger smile as I took in the small hint of Tanaka's cologne that was left in the sweater. I'm happy that I have someone like him as my friend.