5.1 — Stormy Skies, Warm Invitations
The thunder rolled.
By late afternoon, rain was falling like silver threads over Sendai City, soaking the streets and sending most kids home early. Chiharu and Minato stood beneath a shared umbrella, halfway soaked from their sprint through the gates.
> "We made it!" Minato beamed, rain dripping from his bangs. "That was fun!"
> "That was not fun," Chiharu muttered, squeezing her sleeves. "That was wet chaos."
> "You look cute with your hair down, though."
Her brain flatlined.
> He said WHAT?
> "W-W-What—"
> "Your braid came undone. You look like a sleepy ghost. But a cute one."
She nearly passed out on the spot.
The rain showed no signs of stopping, so when they arrived at the Aizawa household, Sayaka offered without hesitation—
> "Minato-kun, why don't you stay the night?"
> "Eh? Really? Cool! Thanks, Aizawa-san!"
> "It's no trouble. Right, dear?" she smiled sweetly at her husband, who had just walked in holding an umbrella... and already didn't like the direction this was going.
---
5.2 — POV: Hiroshi Aizawa (Chiharu's Dad)
Hiroshi Aizawa, 37, an office worker with decent shoulders and a dangerous glare, didn't know what it was exactly about Minato Tachibana...
But he didn't like how comfortable that boy was in his house.
> "Hello, sir!" Minato said with a polite bow. "You look strong, like someone from an action anime!"
> Hmph... well, he's polite—
> "If I grow up like you, I think Chii-chan will feel really safe. You give 'husband energy'!"
> H-Husband what?!
Hiroshi blinked twice, reeled emotionally, and turned to his wife with a pained look.
> "He's... too smooth. He's five. What is this aura?"
Minato smiled at him again, completely oblivious to the storm building behind those dad-glasses.
---
5.3 — POV: Sayaka Aizawa (Chiharu's Mom)
Sayaka stirred cocoa in the kitchen, watching Minato chat with Chiharu at the table. They were drawing, arguing over the color of dragons.
Then it happened.
> "Whoa, Aizawa-san, your cooking smells amazing. You're like a food goddess," Minato said with sparkling eyes.
She blinked. "Eh? Oh... thank you?"
> "You and Chii-chan look alike, y'know? You both have that 'warm mom' feel. Like the type who hugs you when you're sad."
Sayaka froze.
Her daughter was hiding behind the fridge, her soul visibly leaving her body. Chiharu whispered:
> "HE CALLED MY MOM A GODDESS, AND ME A MOM—DOES HE EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING?!"
Sayaka stared at her daughter. At her crushed expression. At the sparkles in Minato's eyes. And finally, she understood.
> So this is what she deals with every day.
She gently took a sip of her cocoa and muttered:
> "He's dangerous."
---
5.4 — Bedtime: Blankets and Broken Hearts
That night, the kids played board games and watched cartoons until it was time to sleep. Sayaka set up a futon next to Chiharu's bed for Minato. She left the room smiling.
> "Good night, you two. No late-night ninja missions, alright?"
> "Yes, ma'am!" Minato chirped.
Lights off.
Rain on the window.
Blankets rustled.
> "Chii-chan," Minato whispered.
> "Y-Yeah?" she whispered back, heart hammering.
> "I'm glad I got to stay over. Your room feels like... a nice place to come back to."
She curled into a ball.
> That sounded so romantic! But he probably just means it's cozy. Or maybe he means me? Wait—what does he mean?!
Minutes later, he rolled over in his sleep and stole her blanket.
She didn't dare move. Because even shivering in the dark, her heart was burning.
---
5.5 — POV: Hiroshi Aizawa (Still Jealous)
From the hallway, Hiroshi peered through a crack in the door.
He saw Minato sleep-talking.
> "Mm... dragons don't wear hats…"
And his daughter, sitting straight up with both hands gripping her pillow like a lifeline.
> "...He's hugging my blanket," she whispered into the void.
Hiroshi's left eyebrow twitched.
> I was never like this when I was five. I didn't accidentally seduce people.
He turned to his wife.
> "That boy is too dangerous. We need a protective charm. Or a holy sword."
Sayaka sighed.
> "He just said I smelled like curry and called me a goddess."
> "SEE?! Even my wife isn't safe!"
---
5.6 — Morning After
Chiharu barely slept. Her blanket was on Minato the whole time. Her heart was still racing when she helped set the table the next morning.
Minato came down in her dad's oversized hoodie.
> "Your house is so comfy, Chii-chan. It feels like... I've been here forever."
Chiharu fainted into a chair.
Sayaka sighed.
Hiroshi reached for the salt, muttering:
> "This boy is not human. He must be some reincarnated love god."
Sayaka paused.
Then glanced at her daughter, blushing and hiding her face in the cereal box.
> Reincarnated... love god?
> ...No, that's ridiculous.
But for a moment, she wondered.