Chapter 205 - Nuances

"Of course. You will see, I always keep my word…"

Suzuki Ara smiled at her husband's words. She totally believed him this time. She had no idea, but something deep within her told her that this was the truth.

"Alright," she murmured; her loving gaze trained at her spouse.

She was still a bit sad he's going to leave, but at least now, that feeling was replaced with excitement. It was as if she was really looking forward to their future.

The test she had to deal with? She'd do it and even ace it. She didn't care before and it was just a total coincidence that her grades were all good. But this time, Ara was inspired to do her best for Ryuu, just as her husband was working hard for them.

For the future – for their future .

"I'll bring you to Denenchofu," Ryuu told her afterwards as he took her hand and started guiding her back towards the luncheon hall.

The two of them walked leisurely hand in hand, their eyes on each other.

"No need. My brother will take me there. I rather you'd go and finish your business as soon as possible so you can come home earlier," Ara declined.

She reckoned if she let Ryuu take her home, the newly discovered selfish side of her would protest and wouldn't want to let him go. In short, she didn't want to make it more difficult for the two of them to part.

Homura Ryuu seemed to understand this and smiled knowingly at his wife. "Alright," he conceded, but he teased her immediately right after. "Don't cry okay? I'll come home immediately."

"I won't," Ara protested laughingly.

Her crying over this was totally funny, but, since it was possible at her current emotional state, she didn't want to linger on the fact any more than necessary.  

Soon, the two of them reached the hall where everyone was waiting for them. Even the couple, who had shared their spotlight, was there too.  Emi and Gin stood side by side with the former blushing so hard as she stared on the floor, and Gin smiling like a fool as he waved at them.

Ara grinned at them upon seeing they were holding hands and waved back. She then nudged her husband on the side so he'd look at them as well. However, unlike her, Ryuu didn't wave although he looked pleased. The two of them walked towards the other couple.

"Finally made a move didn't you?"Ryuu told Gin with a smug look.

Gin pretended to look offended. "Ya! Is that how you talk to your elders?"

Ryuu's eyes then glinted evilly, his grin widening as he reminded the older man something. "Well, according to the law, she's now my little sister. So when you marry, I'll be your big brother."

The announcement made Gin groan, but it was a good-natured one – one that made everyone who was listening laugh at their light-hearted banter.

"When's the big day?"Ara asked; excitement glinted in her eyes as she stepped away from Ryuu to stand on Emi's side and take her hand.

The other girl just blushed harder as she shyly looked at Ara's face. She was however obviously happy as well.

"Ah – er…"Emi hesitated as she helplessly glanced at Gin who groaned again.

"I haven't popped the question, princess," he confessed with a sigh.

"You chipmunk…"Ara growled as her eyes turned to slits at the colorful man who resembled her other brother. "You want to get beaten up?"

Gin looked totally offended this time. "I am going to do it, just not today okay?"

When Ara didn't look convinced, Gin quickly turned to Ryuu. "You, take your wife and make her behave. She's messing up my game," he said as he glared at the Koutaishidenka.

Oh.

Hearing that Gin seemed to have something planned made Ara's feathers unruffled. Still, she took one last chance to bully him. She leaned closer to Emi as if to whisper in her ear but spoke loud enough for the men to hear her anyway.

"Emi, don't let this chipmunk bully you too much okay? If he does something you don't want just kick his balls. Or…"

Ara paused as she eyed Gin with an evil glint in her orbs. "Or just dump him. I'll introduce you to someone who totally looks a lot better."

She was talking about Alistair of course. Even if Gin and Alistair looked similar they could pass for twins, her brother, the Ritz King looked miles better in terms of aura. Gin was a clown. Alistair had a mysteriously beautiful air about him.

But of course, it was just a joke.

Ara knew that physical appearances did not matter at all. When a person fell in love, he just loved. Regardless of the nuances like how the person looked, how his personality was, his good and bad traits – they're all insignificant things.

It was why Emi still loved Gin in spite of the treatment she received from him in the past nine years. She just loved him.

"Ya! Homura Ara, you keep your paws away from my girl," Gin growled at her as he pulled the chuckling Emi away and hid her behind him.

"Oh? Not confident in your looks, are you? How are you sure I can find someone who looks better than you?"Ara countered mischievously making Gin frown at her.

"Aren't you also a demigod? Of course, you know people who look better than me," Gin answered smoothly. "Alistair – that guy you said who looks like me for example."

Hearing this, Ara turned to her husband in surprise, and Ryuu nodded, confirming her silent question that Gin also knew about her. Oh, and she really applauded the chipmunk's good memory. She couldn't believe he still remembered Alistair when she just mentioned him in passing at the hospital when he visited.

"It's great you know then. You better watch out," Ara unabashedly warned as she laughed at the other's helpless look.

"Oi sister, are you bullying Gin again?" Aki then asked from behind that they all stopped their talks of demigods and brothers from another world.

The men knew Ara still needed to tell Aki about it. But today was neither the place nor the time to do it and so all of them answered him at the same time, including Emi.

"No, she's not."

"No, I'm not."