Chapter 38

Taking My Girlfriend to Meet My Parents, Part 7. 2007/02/12 18:20 So. The story of the face-to-face meeting of my parents and my girlfriend ends today. My dad is driving us to the airport in his car. The conversation naturally turns to reflect on the last few days. She still wants more… After my poor past has already been stripped bare and savaged… What’s with a parent’s obsession with photo albums, anyway? I’ve had enough of my photos being dug out of storage! … And now Y-ko’s got a whole new hand of embarrassing things she can lord over me! And when did they exchange e-mail addresses?! Plus, is it just me, or are they way too friendly?! I mean, sure, it’s better than the usual mother and daughter-in-law scenario, but I still don’t like what this relationship is implying… for me! And Mom! If anyone’s going to get stuff done to them, chances are it’s going to be me! —And as the harmless (except to me) conversation continued, we arrived at our destination: the airport. We put our bags on the counter, and it came time for the (exaggerated) farewells. Wow. She’s in serious mode for once. Yes, it may have been a good point! But is that the best comment a father can make in this situation?! Your son is being lectured about how to cross the street, and that’s the best you can come up with? Ahem, he coughed. I waved to my parents and headed through the gate with Y-ko. … It was a short trip, but it was well worth it. But for some reason, I feel incredibly guilty! Should I have picked one or the other?! To be perfectly honest, if I was forced to choose one and not the other, I’d have to go with Bianca… I guess? I don’t really know. … Me? Yes, I see. A very bold and cool statement, especially considering it came out of a pointless discussion about video games. … Well, damn. Sometimes she just knows how to be cool. …… Hmm? Wait a minute. Yes. She is all about the erotic games, the girl games, the dating sims. She keeps trying to force me to play them. I put the screws to her. If I can wring a statement out of her, I win! … Victory! I felt a wicked, leering grin form behind my face, just like the kind you’d see on the protagonist of a certain manga about shinigami and notebooks. … Huh? In exchange…? That’s not the kind of smile you point at your lover! That’s the smile the owner of a shinigami’s notebook makes when he announces his victory! And that’s how we came home! * Bianca or Nera: The central choice of the game Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is whether you will marry your childhood friend Bianca or the wealthy Nera—the ultimate dilemma. By the way, Papas (or Pankraz in the English edition) is the main character’s father, who dies during the game.