Akira did not know what Sayaka said to Daiki after he came back from his golf trip. However, after that talk, her father acted with extreme care and caution. He was attentive to Sayaka like she was the queen, and he was a faithful knight.

He poured her tea, served her food and pulled her chair. He also came back early after work with a range of ostentatious presents like a huge bunch of roses, an edible arrangement and craft chocolate.

In essence, he behaved like a lackey.

Akira looked at her mother with curiosity and wondered if she could learn about the skill she had used to turn her father into a loyal servant.

Her mind drifted to a certain fox with evil eyes. How good would it be to have that Takahashi Kaito as her minion?

The thought filled her with pleasure as she pictured herself ordering him with a wave of her hand while he rushed about to fulfil all her wishes.

However, after a moment, she wondered why she was thinking about him. He had not appeared before her for a whole week. Perhaps, he was already gone. From what she had gathered from her mother's gossip about the city, he was not even a resident of Mountain Ridge.

Maybe, she would not see him again. She stabbed the sunny side up egg on her plate.

It would be a good thing if he did not appear before her. If he did, she would show him who is the boss. She stabbed the egg again and again.

"Akira, are you alright?" Sayaka asked cautiously as she looked at the massacred egg.

Her daughter had impeccable table manners and would eat all her food with care. Therefore, the strange behaviour made her a little worried.

"Yes, everything is alright." Akira smiled. "I guess I'm not hungry."

The smile on her daughter's face was a little wider than usual, but it made Sayaka a little scared. She wondered if she was imagining it.

She looked at her husband. He discretely shrugged his shoulders. He had also noticed the peculiar actions, but he thought it best to say nothing after seeing the fate of the egg.

"Are you worried about the bet with your aunt? Don't worry. Seiji said he knows someone with a suitable violin. At worst, we will buy another crystal piano." Sayaka comforted Akira.

Akira frowned a little. She did not care about the bet. It was not interesting betting on something she knew she would win. But at least, she would put that vile woman down and own something new and interesting by the end of the day.

"There is no need. Hina will bring my violin before the party." Akira responded.

Sayaka realised that Akira truly did not care about the bet.

"Then, why do you seem on edge?" She asked.

"I am not on edge," Akira responded stiffly.

"Tell it to your breakfast." Sayaka looked meaningfully at the plate.

Akira looked at her plate and realised that she had subconsciously made a mess while thinking about Kaito. Her embarrassment turned into anger when she realised that she had allowed him to affect her mood and thoughts.

She stood up suddenly.

"I'm done with breakfast. Excuse me." She left the table.

Sayaka watched her walking away.

"I wonder what's with her. I thought she was settling in well. Do you think she has changed her mind about staying with us?" Sayaka asked Daiki.

Daiki felt helpless. Every time Akira did something different from usual, his wife would assume that she was uncomfortable and wanted to leave.

"It is a good thing she is being something other than perfect, don't you think?" He said.

"What do you mean?" Sayaka asked with sharp eyes.

To her, Akira was the cutest and most perfect baby on earth.

Daiki raised his hands to prevent his wife from becoming mad. If he angered her again so soon after the golf incident, he might be kicked out of the bed for real.

"If she is acting perfectly, it means she treats us like outsiders, or she considered herself a guest in the home." He explained. "If she is willing to show us a different and less composed side, it means that she is accepting us."

Sayaka felt uncertain. In her understanding, Akira was just a composed and self-possessed girl who did not lose control over her emotions.

"Have you seen the way she treats Seiji? She is more casual with him. Wouldn't you like it if Akira laughed with you?" Daiki asked.

Sayaka remembered the cute laugh she heard the previous Saturday.

It was true!

Akira treated Seiji better and more honestly than both of them put together. The worst part was that Seiji was never around, but he enjoyed the best relationship. The thought made Sayaka depressed.

"Don't worry. We are her parents, so it will take more time. Her brother is only two years older, so it is understandable for them to get along." Daiki comforted his wife. "In any case, we are better off than Kazuo."

Sayaka became angry when Kazuo was mentioned.

"When I see that boy later, I will smack him and set his head straight." She said. "How dare he not believe his mother and stand with outsiders against his own family? He even wants Akira to apologise to Hanae!"

Daiki felt gratified after seeing his wife's new attitude. He was afraid that Sayaka would feel guilty and change her mind after Kaoru called her. But that call had made her more firm in her decision to stay away from her sister's family matters.

He wondered what words were exchanged.

He would wait until he was fully on his wife's good side before asking. For now, it would be foolish to poke the hornet's nest.

After all, it was the day for their daughter's first public appearance in Mountain Ridge.