“Ooh, thanks, that’d be great.” Marron set her book down and took the mug. “Thanks, Jisan Kenji. Hey, sit down.”
“Thanks, and, hey, anything for my favorite niece.”
“Only niece,” she corrected.
Kenji shrugged. “Hey, makes for less competition. So, tell me about this new guy of yours.”
Marron leaned back and grinned. “Well, he’s older than I am.”
“How much older?”
“Eh…six years?”
Kenji’s eyes widened. “Well, normally, that’s not really the best thing. But I trust your judgement, and you’re unusually mature for your age. I think you could handle it.”
“Yeah, convince Tousan of that,” Marron said ruefully.
“Do I know this guy?”
“Well, he’s a friend of the family.”
Kenji snapped his fingers. “Is it that…Go--something guy?”
Marron began laughing. “_Goten_?” she exclaimed in astonishment. “Oh, my, no way!”
“Well, who else?unless it’s his friend…Trunks?”
Marron stopped laughing rather abruptly.
Kenji stared at her and chuckled. “It is him! Well, he’s a good kid. You have my approval.”
“As long as you don’t tell Kaasan and Tousan,” Marron said beseechingly.
He hesitated.
“I’m going to tell them, I really will, right after graduation. But Tousan’s never wanted me to have boyfriends, and Kaasan’s a bit distracted what with you coming back…it’s only two months…please, Jisan, please.” She looked at him pleadingly.
He surrendered. “I could never turn down blue eyes.”
“Oh, thank you thank you. You are the best.”
Kenji watched her take another sip. “You guys are careful, aren’t you?”
Marron choked on her hot chocolate and began coughing. “Careful?” she repeated.
“Using protection and all?”
Marron dissolved into helpless laughter. “Oh, Jisan Kenji, that’s hilarious.”
He paled. “You _aren’t_?”
“Jisan, we aren’t sleeping together. He’s my _boyfriend_, not my _husband_,” Marron chortled. She wondered what was wrong with her?she wasn’t normally so giddy.
“Oh.” Kenji let a sigh of relief. “You had me worried.”
“That’s rich, Jisan Kenji. Whoa.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel kind of tired…I shouldn’t since I had a nap this afternoon.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I was out with Trunks and we fell asleep…and that’s all.”
“Oh, I believe you. You’re tired, huh? Well, why don’t you go to sleep?”
“I think I will…thank you for the hot chocolate.”
“Oh, no problem, Marron-chan. Sleep well.”
She didn’t reply…halfway asleep before he even left the room.
***
Jinzouningen Azami turned
on the light and looked around. “Where do you think they went?” she asked.
Krillin shrugged. “Maybe
they went to see a movie, too. She and Kenji seemed to be getting
along better
during dinner.”
“That’s true.” Jinzouningen Azami grinned. “Well, if we have the entire house to ourselves…”
Krillin turned bright red.
Jinzouningen Azami chuckled as they walked towards their room.