this extra occurs during winter break; after chapter 72: winter time
▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬
▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬
I R O H A I N U K A I
犬飼 彩葉
student no. 29
Meeting my parents was one thing, having a to go to a party of theirs was another.
Especially if it meant that I'd be surrounded by the people they're doing business with.
I heaved a sigh, after everything that happened in Class E wherein I could finally show my true colors, having to put on that goody-two-shoes façade was something I hated more than anything.
And of all things that I could be in, it just had to be this goddamned formal party.
I wasn't even allowed to use my phone, dammit. I swear sometimes etiquette could go to hell.
"Iroha, please bear with it. I just really want you to meet this boy" my mom told me, and I looked at her agape trying to keep my sanity in check.
Did she just admit that she made me come here, in this damned place, to hook me up?
'What kind of mother does that?', I gave her a look and she immediately waved me off.
"Oh please, don't give me that look".
"Mom, I'm just worried that someday you'd marry me off to those rich snobs" I told her, trying my best not to sound rude. "If you're trying to match me up with a shitty ass rich kid who thinks he could do anything as long as he has the money, then please count me the fuck out".
So much for trying not to sound rude, my subconscious must've rolled her eyes at me.
"Hush, language" she brushed me off and I sighed.
I love my mother, but sometimes she just does the craziest things (and gets me caught up in them).
Time for Plan B, then: the truth. Though, she'd probably go ballistic if she knew.
"Mom, I'm already going out with---".
"Ah, Kozue-san, there you are" her friend, a mercury-eyed woman dress in formal clothing, cut me off midway, "Oh my, Iroha-chan was it? You've grown into a beauty".
I wanted to gag.
"Sorry, my son ran off somewhere, I'll see you two again, when I find him" she smiled apologetically, "Excuse me".
So it's her son, huh?
Ugh.
"Mom, see, even her child doesn't want to see me" I pointed out and she rolled her eyes at me.
"Nonsense, why in the world would you think that?" she asked, and I couldn't help but deadpan.
"Because I want to do the same thing he did".
"Iroha" she warned, as one of their other business partners were about to approach us.
"I'll go to the washroom for awhile" I told her, "I'll come back don't worry".
"Don't take too long".
✖︎︎●✖︎
To: Spawn of Satan
Subject: BAKABANE, SAVE ME IM DYING
KARMA,
I NEED AN ESCAPE PLAN,
PLEASE CALL ME ASAP.
MY LIFE IS ON THE LINE.
From: Spawn of Satan
Subject: lol, i'd prefer to watch you suffer
Sounds urgent.
But as much as I'd love to
witness your anguish,
I'm in a crisis myself.
To: Spawn of Satan
Subject: n/a
Parents?
From: Spawn of Satan
Subject: n/a
Parents.
From: Spawn of Satan
Subject: n/a
Welp, my mother's on her way,
I'll call you later when I get
away from the devil's clutches.
I heaved a sigh as I read his messages.
We meet them at least once in a blue moon, and we can barely even get along.
Great.
I walked back towards our table, with my mother's friend standing right beside her.
"There you are" she greeted me when I returned, and I gave one of those faked smiles towards the woman beside her.
"Iroha-chan, I'd like you to meet my son. He's the same age as you are" she told me.
"Were heading to him right now. It seems like he's having a conversation with his father and one of their business partners" my mother informed me, as we walked across the floor.
Well, I used to get in a lot of trouble, I could at least escape this one, right?
It was only a short while until I had to face this plan of theirs, the next thing I knew, we were already standing in front of the group of men.
I looked down, avoiding eye contact, only to hear a familiar voice speak up.
"I told you, I have a girlfriend" the person who I was assuming was her son, spoke, in an irritable tone if I say do myself.
"Well, when you meet this kind and beautiful lady, I doubt you keep that lie up" his mom, huffed, unconvinced as I looked up to see who the person was.
"Karma?".
"Iroha?".
Such a small world we live in.
Thank god, I thought for a second, before smirking myself. "Heh~ Your girlfriend must be so amazing huh?~".
"No, more like, she's lucky to have me around~" he countered smoothly.
"Eh? You two..." my mom looked at us, quite surprised that we were that close.
"We're classmates" he smiled, hiding his demonic attitude underneath.
"Of all the people, I can't believe you were trying to hook me up with Karma" I laughed softly.
"What about it?" his mom asked the meaning behind my statement.
"I told you, I have a girlfriend" the redhead told his mother.
"Iroha-chan?" His mother looked at me, "is that true?".
"Yeah..." I trailed on and faced my mom. "About that... I was going to tell you. You see, I'm kinda going out with this guy..."
My mom raised a brow, and it was Karma's turn to smirk.
"She's going out with me" he answered before I did, and the two women immediately gasped.
"You mean..." my mom pointed and I nodded.
"We're dating".
"I can't believe we went through all that trouble" his mom sighed.
I should have gotten her name, in the first place, I mentally scolded myself.
"Nice, to meet you then, Mrs. Akabane" I smiled politely at her.
"Likewise. Thank you for taking care of my son" she smiled at me.
"Rather, I take care of her" Karma corrected her and I jabbed his side.
"Well, that's that, may we be excused then?" he smiled at both his mother and mine.
My mom was the one who allowed us, "Sure, you two can spend the evening together"
✖︎︎●✖︎
We finally escaped, I sighed in relief, walking to the exit with the redhead beside me.
I've been dying to get out of there, I thought, as Karma placed an arm around me.
"I've been thinking about what my mother said..." he told me. "Iroha, since when were you kind?~"