Ah, in that he's regarded very highly in Philippines society?" Inu asked.
Cleo chuckled and took another long look at the screen in front of them. "Well, he's an inspiration for those who want to strive for more than what we have here. He's proven that there are bigger and better things outside of Philippines and it's not impossible for us to have it within our reach."
Inu nodded in agreement. "He must be a great person." He briefly took his eyes off the screen and glanced over to his left. A few meters away he saw a familiar person sitting on a bench, staring up at the exact screen they were watching. Inu poked Cleo to get his attention away from the screen. "Look who it is over there." He informed me when he got Cleo's attention.
Cleo looked over to who Hanatarou was referring to. "Azumi?" He said this loudly enough for her to hear. Taking her eyes off the screen, she smiled and waved at them.
"Wait here a second," Cleo told Inu and went over to the bench. "Hey, Ashley. I just found this out and I uh, wanted to tell you the time difference between the Philippines and Massachusetts since you were wondering about that earlier."
Ashley placed her hands together in joy. "Really? What is it?"
"It's around 12 hours," Cleo replied. He felt pretty good that he was able to give her an answer for some reason.
"Oh... I see." Ashley directed her gaze back to the LCD screen which was still reporting the story on Harvey.
Cleo noticed her attentive gaze and decided to start a conversation about it if he could. He also turned to watch the screen. "It's good to know that Harvey is representing International Schools positively. I actually wouldn't mind meeting him and asking him how it is overseas. Have you ever met him..."
Cleo's speaking trailed off when he turned his head back to Ashley and found her face close to his as she stared up at him. It was sudden déjà vu since her closeness was just about the same as Azumi had done to him before. By reflex, Cleo arched himself back in the awkward situation.
He felt his face get hot at her closeness. Before he could ask what she was doing, she raised a hand and wiped something from the corner of his mouth. Once she had the substance on her finger, she withdrew her closeness from him. After inspecting it, she raised it to his eye level in the question of what it was. "What's this?"
Cleo couldn't believe it. This whole day he had traces from the powdered mochi ball he was eating earlier on his face and nobody informed him of it until now. Feeling quite flustered under Ashley's scrutiny, Cleo swiped his hand over his mouth for any lingering traces of powder. He decided it was the right time to go.
"Ah, it's just powder. I better head back home. See you at school." He said quickly and ran back to Inu, practically dragging him away in Ashley's direction.
Ashley blinked in confusion a few times as she watched Cleo walk away. In no time, she directed her attention back to the LCD screen. She did not notice across the street a black limousine with tinted windows and sat Cleo watching the whole scene before her. She had arrived just as Cleo approached Ashley.
Azumi did not like jumping to conclusions concerning her best friend but seeing what just happened gave her a slight feeling of jealousy. She shook her head of all thoughts and directed the limo driver to take her back home.
"Son, you're in a good mood today. Every day must be like a rollercoaster in your young life! What brings you so much joy this day?" David commented when he noticed Cleo was not in the pissed-off mood he was in the days previous. It was during dinnertime as usual when Isshin would take observations of his oldest offspring.
Cleo shrugged nonchalantly, not answering his father's inquiry.
David's smile formed into a Cheshire cat grin when a thought popped into his head.
"Dad, that smile is creepy," Yuna said honestly when she caught sight of his grin.
"Heh heh heh..." David gave a low chuckle. "I know what's the deal..."
Cleo raised an eyebrow. "Okay, what is it then?"
David took a deep breath before bellowing out the answer. "YOU'VE BEEN INVITED TO A PARTY!" Cleo stared at his father like he was an idiot for yelling out. "I'm correct, right? Come on, you've got to give me this one."
Cleo rolled his eyes at Davud's correct assumption. "Yes." He said, hoping it would get David off his back. Unfortunately, that was never the case.
David's eyes were instantly watered with tears and it made Yumi worried enough to run and get some tissues for him. She returned with a large wad of tissue which David used up in one long blow of his nose. "They're finally accepting you at the school! I've got to take you to buy a new tuxedo for the party. You've got to make a good impression!"
There's no way my impression could be made any better now. Cleo thought to himself. He declined his father's offer. "Sorry, Dad. It's just a regular teenage party so I don't think there's any need for dress-up."
"Oh, so the teenagers these days don't dress up for parties. That's a shame..." Cleo muttered, disappointed that his father-son time was a possibility no more. "So... that means you're going?" His face lit up in a smile again.
Earlier Cleo had made no definite plan to go to the party and knew most likely that he would decide not to attend. But by looking at the expressions of his proud father and his two sisters who looked happy that their brother was seemingly accepted by his peers, he decided in a change of heart. Just for them of course.
"...I guess I'll go." He answered. Smiles spread all across the table with a few more tears from David. "But just for a little while," Cleoberry added.
While Cleo was having dinner, three-fourths of B4 were at the other side of town at the local airport waiting for the arrival of an old friend. Azumi had not yet shown although Calex had called her cell phone multiple times before their arrival.
"Where is she? She's going to miss his arrival." Calex mumbled as his eyes searched the entrance of the airport.
"Perhaps she's going out of her way to find Cleo," Lucas replied.
"Hmm, she is persistent..." Calex thought out loud. He turned his head to the side, expecting to find Ashley there but found himself looking at the ground. "Eh? Ashley too! Where'd she go?" He frantically searched around him.
"She's up there and he's arrived." Lucas pointed out to Calex and started to make his way to where Ashley was standing.
"Oh... ." Calex sighed in relief and then went to join the others.