Dinner at the Saiki household was nothing like Bai Ying expected.
Not that he'd imagined a red carpet or a personal chef, but after everything he'd heard about the family dynamics—from Saiki's reluctant glares and sighs—he figured he was in for something at least moderately awkward.
He was wrong.
It was chaos.
Makoto wasn't sure what he expected when he rang the doorbell—maybe some light conversation, an awkward parent trying too hard, or even Saiki pretending not to care. What he didn't expect was to be greeted by Saiki's mom practically glowing with delight.
"Makoto-kun! Oh my goodness, you're even more handsome in person!" she beamed, pulling him into a hug before he could even say hello. "I loved you in love between time! You were so heartbreakingly noble!"
Makoto blinked. "Uh. Thank you."
SYSTEM: Warning. Target's maternal unit is an enthusiastic fan. Caution: risk of overexposure.
Saiki's father wandered in behind her, adjusting his glasses with a baffled expression. "Our son… is dating a movie star? How does that even happen?"
Before Bai Ying could respond, Saiki's mother, Kurumi, quickly ushered him further inside with a gleam in her eyes. "Makoto-kun, please sit here!" she chirped, pulling out a chair at the table like she was seating royalty. "We're so excited to have you!"
Bai Ying smiled politely, bowing his head. "Thank you for having me. The house smells wonderful."
"Oh, it's nothing fancy," she waved off the compliment, but she was beaming. "Just my usual curry. But I added extra carrots since you're so handsome—ah! I mean healthy! Extra healthy!"
Saiki coughed as he walked past, clearly regretting everything. "Mom."
Kurumi ignored him entirely, fluttering about to set the table.
Their father, Saiki Kuniharu, was already seated and watching the entire exchange with wide eyes. "So... you're the Makoto Teruhashi....this is unbelievable! My son's dating a movie star!"
Bai Ying tried not to look directly at Saiki as he took his seat across from him, but the awkward psychic energy in the room could've powered a city block.
Then came the final nail in the coffin.
"Well, well, well," a new voice drawled from the hall. "What's this? A dinner date with my favorite little brother?"
Bai Ying froze.
There, leaning casually in the doorway, was an annoying blonde with a permanent smirk that radiated malicious older sibling energy. Kuusuke.
Kusuo's older brother, Kuseke, sauntered in like he was the protagonist of his own terrible spinoff. His eyes immediately landed on Makoto, and the smirk on his face made every hair on Makoto's body want to fight for its life.
"Didn't know we were entertaining celebrities now," Kuusuke said, strolling in like he owned the place. "Should I have brought an autograph book?"
"Oh, Kuusuke, don't tease," Kurumi said, waving him over. "Makoto-kun is our guest."
"I'm just saying," Kuusuke said as he took the seat beside Saiki. "It's not every day a national heartthrob dates my socially allergic little brother."
Saiki's expression didn't even twitch. Bai Ying wondered if that was out of control or just pure self-preservation.
He cleared his throat. "We're not really dating. It's more like—"
"But you're letting the tabloids say you are?" Kuusuke cut in smoothly, propping his chin up with his hand. "Interesting. Do you always lie so easily, or is this a Makoto Teruhashi special?"
Bai Ying blinked, thrown.
SYSTEM: Warning: Kuusuke Saiki has entered. Vibe level: Hostile. Sanity level: Questionable. Threat level: Medium-High.
"I didn't lie," Bai Ying said carefully. "I just didn't correct the misunderstanding."
Kuusuke raised a brow. "So you're fine with the whole country thinking you're dating my brother?"
"Yes," Bai Ying answered without hesitation.
SYSTEM: Target Saiki reaction: Subtle surprise.
Kurumi clapped her hands. "See? Isn't he adorable?"
"Adorable isn't the word I'd use," Kuusuke muttered. Then, louder, with a sharp grin, he added, "Do you even deserve him, you monkey?"
Bai Ying froze.
"Are you dating him because it'll help your career?" Kuseke asked with the subtlety of a chainsaw. "Or is this just a rebound from your last co-star?"
Kurumi gasped, horrified. "Kuusuke!"
"I'm just asking! Don't glare at me like that, Saiki. It's a valid question."
"It's not," Saiki muttered.
SYSTEM: Psychic sibling confrontation loading...
Kurumi stepped in again, practically vibrating. "Makoto-kun, I loved you in that detective series! That school scene made me cry so much—was that real crying or acting?"
Bai Ying blinked. "Um… acting. Mostly."
Kuniharu leaned forward. "Wait, that was you in that detective series?!"
"Oh god," Saiki whispered.
SYSTEM: Host integration: 72% complete. Status: Accepted by parental units. Danger: Kuusuke.
Bai Ying managed a polite smile, trying to deflect the tension. "I appreciate your kind words, Mrs. Saiki. It's always rewarding to hear that my work resonates with people."
Kurumi beamed. "Oh, it does! I've watched all your films. You have such a range! From action to romance, you're just wonderful."
Saiki's father, Kuniharu, nodded thoughtfully. "It's quite something, having an actor at our dinner table. Never thought our son would bring someone famous home."
"It's not like that," Saiki interjected, his tone flat.
"Oh, come on, saiki," Kuusuke said with a smirk. "You can't deny there's something going on here. The tabloids are all over it."
Bai Ying glanced at Saiki, who remained expressionless.
"Well," Bai Ying said, "sometimes the media exaggerates things."
"Exaggerates?" Kuusuke leaned forward. "So, you're saying there's nothing between you two?"
Across the table, Saiki rubbed his temples like this dinner was slowly ending his will to live.
"I'm saying that our relationship is our business," Bai Ying replied calmly.
Kurumi clapped her hands. "Exactly! What matters is that you're here, and we're sharing a meal together."
Dinner continued with Kurumi serving generous portions of curry and rice.
"This is delicious," Bai Ying complimented.
"Thank you! I added extra carrots, just for you," Kurumi said with a wink.
"Mom," Saiki muttered.
"What? It's true!"
Kuusuke chuckled. "So, Makoto, do you often dine with the families of your co-stars?"
"Only when invited," Bai Ying responded.
"Interesting," Kuusuke said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "You must be quite the charmer."
"I try to be respectful," Bai Ying said evenly.
Kurumi interjected, "Makoto-kun, do you have any upcoming projects? I'd love to know what to look forward to."
"I'm currently reviewing scripts," Bai Ying replied. "Nothing finalized yet."
"Well, whatever you choose, I'm sure it'll be fantastic," she said warmly.
As dinner concluded, Saiki stood up. "I'm going to my room."
Bai Ying hesitated, then followed. "Thank you for the meal," he said to the family.
"Anytime, Makoto-kun," Kurumi said with a smile.
Bai Ying followed Saiki into his room, still feeling like his soul had been wrung out and hung up to dry. He quietly shut the door behind him, half-wondering if Saiki's bedroom had always felt this dim, or if it was just the weight of tonight settling on them both.
Saiki plopped onto the floor cushion near his desk, as if the dinner they'd just endured had taken years off his psychic life. Bai Ying hesitated before sitting on the edge of the bed again, wringing his hands.
In Saiki's room, the atmosphere was quieter.
"Sorry about my brother," Saiki said, sitting crossed legged on the cushion.
"It's okay," Bai Ying replied. "I can handle it."
Neither of them spoke for a long moment.
"...So," Bai Ying finally said. "What do we do now?"
Saiki didn't look up. "Ignore it and hope it goes away?"
"Bold strategy," Bai Ying muttered, flopping backward onto the bed with a sigh. "Your brother's terrifying, by the way. He basically threatened my bloodline."
"you could have not come."
"Your mom made curry and said I was her favorite actor. What was I supposed to do, Saiki? Say no to free food and maternal approval?"
Saiki tilted his head slightly. "...Fair."
They fell into another silence. The weight of rumors, awkward dinners, and Kuseke's evil smirk all buzzed like white noise between them.
"You could still deny it," Saiki said eventually, voice unreadable. "If you want. It'd make things quieter."
"I don't want to."
That got Saiki to glance up. "Why not?"
Bai Ying tensed. His thoughts were immediate and unwanted.
Because what if he finds out I like him—
"You like me?" Saiki said.
Bai Ying froze. "What."
"You said you like me."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I was thinking it," Bai Ying insisted, voice rising with indignation. "I didn't say anything!"
Saiki looked at him calmly. "You said it. Out loud."
"I did not! I would know if I did!"
"Are you sure?" Saiki asked, all too composed. "Because you said it very clearly. 'Because what if he finds out I like him.' Word for word."
Bai Ying blinked rapidly. "You're lying."
"Am I?"
Bai Ying turned inward, jaw clenched. (System? Did I say that out loud??)
The system's reply was infuriatingly vague. [Hmm… maybe you did say it out loud. You are kind of dramatic.]
(That's not an answer!)
[It's an emotionally supportive shrug.]
Bai Ying slapped both hands over his face. "Oh my god, this is the worst day of my life."
"You're overreacting," Saiki said.
"You—!" Bai Ying made a strangled noise and collapsed backwards onto the bed, burying his face in his hands. "This is the worst way to confess. I had a whole plan, damn it!"
Saiki raised an eyebrow. "A plan."
"Yes! I was going to rent a helicopter and have it drop flowers that spelled out 'I like you' on the soccer field during lunch. There was going to be music, maybe a spotlight, and me dramatically descending from the clouds like some tragic prince!"
"That sounds like a fire hazard."
"It was romantic! And now I've ruined it by thinking too loud in your beige room like a weirdo!"
"Pretty much."
Bai Ying groaned. "I was going to wear a cape, Saiki. A cape."
"You're doing too much."
"I'm doing not enough! This is a catastrophe!"
"You're confessing," Saiki said mildly, "not proposing marriage."
"Same energy!"
A beat.
"…So you do like me," Saiki said, more of a statement than a question now.
Bai Ying groaned into his hands. "Yes. Fine. I like you. I'm insane, clearly. Congratulations. You broke me."
A long pause followed.
"…A little," Saiki said quietly.
Bai Ying peeked between his fingers again, blinking. Saiki looked vaguely uncomfortable. His ears were definitely pink. He wasn't smirking, though, just a little… softer.
"You like me too?" Bai Ying said, voice barely above a whisper.
"You're annoying. And theatrical. And your fanbase gives me headaches."
"Rude."
"But you make things less boring," Saiki added, as if it hurt to admit. "And I don't mind that."
Bai Ying blinked. Then smiled, a real one, warm and wide. "That might be the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to me."
"Tragic," Saiki replied flatly.
Bai Ying sighed, flopping back dramatically. "So what now?"
"Now we brace ourselves for your entire fanbase and my entire family making our lives hell."
"Oh," Bai Ying said cheerfully. "So like a normal Tuesday?"
Saiki rolled his eyes, but he was definitely smiling. Just barely.
"…So can we kiss now?" Bai Ying asked, hopeful.
"No."
Bai Ying groaned. "Why not?"
"You confessed in a panic spiral. That doesn't get a kiss. That gets an intervention."
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
Bai Ying pouted. "Okay but can I at least hold your hand?"
Saiki got up and walked toward the desk. "If you touch me without warning, I'm teleporting you to Siberia."
Bai Ying sat up straight. "Wait. Wait. You just said teleport."
Saiki froze.
Bai Ying's eyes narrowed, gears turning. "So you are a psychic!"
Saiki turned slowly, face blank. "No, I'm not."
"You just said you'd teleport me."
"It's a metaphor."
"A metaphor for what? Taking the train at light speed?"
"Exactly."
Bai Ying pointed at him dramatically. "You've been reading my thoughts this whole time, haven't you?!"
Saiki stared at him. "You're clearly the kind of person who says all their thoughts out loud. I haven't had to read anything."
"Oh my god, I knew something was off!" Bai Ying shot to his feet. "First the coffee jelly thing, then always being exactly where I am, and now the teleporting—!"
"You're being paranoid."
"I'm being observant!"
"You're being dramatic."
Bai Ying gasped. "Admit it. You're a psychic! A little telepathic rat!"
"I'm not admitting anything to someone who calls me a rat."
"Psychic weasel?"
"No."
"Mind-reading bastard?"
"…Closer."
Bai Ying flailed his arms. "Unbelievable. And to think I was going to confess with a helicopter. A helicopter!"
"You still could."
"Oh please, you'd see it coming from ten miles away with your third eye."
"Don't be ridiculous," Saiki muttered, walking past him. "My third eye is for emergencies."
Bai Ying squawked. "That's a confession! You admitted it!"
"I said nothing of the sort."
"You so did!"
"You're hallucinating."
"You're gaslighting me again!"
"I think you're just suffering the consequences of liking someone smarter than you."
"Oh my god—"
Bai Ying groaned and grabbed the nearest pillow, hugging it dramatically to his chest. "Unbelievable. I'm in love with a pathological liar who probably has telekinesis."
Saiki didn't look up from his seat. "I'm not your boyfriend."
"You're literally gaslighting me and threatening to teleport me. That's boyfriend behavior."
"I'm not your boyfriend."
"You confessed."
"No, you confessed."
"You literally said 'a little' when I asked if you liked me!"
"That could mean anything."
"You're impossible!"
Saiki sighed like he'd aged a decade. "Why are you like this?"
Bai Ying grinned and flopped over again, clearly pleased with himself. "Because you like me."
Silence.
Then—very quietly—Saiki muttered, "Unfortunately."
Bai Ying's heart jumped.
"So we're boyfriends now right?"