They talk for a little bit, then Olivia interrupts, and She pushes Stella to her breaking point

“So Stella-san are you and, Johnny how you say... committed?” Haruto asks, stifling a giggle.

He tries to pass off the question as innocent, yet there is clear playfully intent behind his eyes. No doubt he’s asking this to tease Stella just a little bit.

“Heh I’d say It’s a bit early for the Haruto me, and Johnny just met yesterday.” Stella smirks.

“Ehhh just met, and already he is guest of yours, Stella-san your moving to fast.” Haruto laughs clapping his hands.

“Why are you jealous Haruto, did you wish for me to court you instead?” Stella says jokingly.

“Ew gross, we are family now Stella-san that’s very bad, yabai.” Haruto says smacking Stella on the side of the arm.

The two of the them then share a good chuckle, before calming down a bit.

“So Johnny what do you?” Haruto says, asking Johnny about his occupation.

Haruto assumes, Johnny must have some sort of high status job, or be the child of some rich business women to be hanging around with Stella. Unfortunately Johnny is neither, and her squirms uncomfortably in his seat. He really doesn’t know how to answer this question, fearing Haruto might suddenly look down upon him if he knew Johnny was just some homeless nobody. Again he usually didn’t care what people thought of him, yet most people weren’t genuinely nice people like Haruto is. Johnny can even tell that young man isn’t putting on some sort of front either, he really is this friendly. Or at least he is to people he thinks are of high status, while Johnny didn’t think Haruto’s attitude towards him would change if Johnny told him the truth about his situation he couldn’t be a 100 percent sure. Johnny is good at reading people, yet he isn’t perfect when it comes to figuring out some ones true nature. After all while he almost see into someone’s soul just by being around them for a little bit, and looking into their eyes. As the eyes are windows to the soul, those windows can still be... foggy at times.

“Um actually Johnny is under my care currently, you see Haruto he doesn’t have a place to go.” Stella says, her tone more serious as she speaks of Johnny’s situation.

Johnny is dumbfounded that Stella just up, and said that. He thought that she would have made up some story or at least side stepped the question. He almost feels a bit upset with Stella. While yes Stella did take care of him, and invite him here. He feels it really isn’t Stella’s place to be telling people about his situation. For one he didn’t want every one seeing him as some prince in distress. He can handle himself, and had for quite a while now. He’s a fighter not like most of your typical boys! As well who knew what some one would try to pull on him once they learned he was in such dire straits. Sure he trusts Stella when she said she would take care of him, but that’s in the now who knew where he would be later. Telling anyone here about him could get both him, and Stella in a very compromising position some time down the line. Upon hearing about Johnny predicament though Hartuto’s eye’s go wide, and he gives a little nod.

“Ahh I see, I see.” Haruto nods again, seeming to confirm that he can infer the rest of story between Johnny and, Stella.

Haruto then turns to Johnny, and puts a hand on his shoulder.

“Johnny you are strong like fire bird, we go through bad times so we find new happy times, don’t giving up!” Haruto says, his words holding a sense of weight, and conviction that made them seem like they were more then just an off the cuff comment.

“T-thanks.” Johnny says, a little overwhelmed by the passion in the boy’s eyes.

Johnny feels a little bit bad about getting anger at Stella for telling Haruto about his homelessness problem. Obviously Stella has known Haruto very well for years, and knows he wouldn’t try to take advantage of Johnny. As well with the look Haruto’s giving Johnny, he feels like Haruto has just become his biggest cheerleader.

“Have uh you had hard times?” Johnny asks, wondering why Haruto seems to want to encourage him so much.

“Mm hm, I‘ve gone through very bad times, but I’ve always had others cheering me on so I push though bad times to find the happy times.”

“So for now on I’ll cheer you on Johnny then you can make it to happy times to!” Haruto says with a cheerful smile, that radiated such positivity it could brighten up a stormy night.

A soft fuzzy feeling starts to grow in Johnny’s chest as Haruto says that. Johnny now can see why Stella is such good friends with Haruto. He seems to be such a pure guy. Really just some one who brings light to where ever he goes.

“Thanks it’s-it’s nice to know some one’s rooting for me.” Johnny says timidly, while looking down at his skirt as he is unable to meet Haruto’s eyes which radiate such affection his irises almost seem to shimmer.

A warm smile comes across Stella’s face as she watches the interaction between Johnny, and Haruto. Johnny’s shyness, and Haruto’s friendliness makes for such a funny, yet wholesome scene it warms Stella’s heart.

“So then Haruto, how has the idol life been?” Stella says, finally taking a bite out of her food which she had been neglecting up until this point.

“Ah it’s been great Stella-san recently I held my largest concert ever an-“

“What’s all this now?” A snarky voice says interrupting Haruto before he can finish.

Turning around Johnny, Stella, and Haruto find Olivia standing behind them with a sneer on her face. Stella narrows her eyes wondering what exactly Olivia is up to. She doubts her cousin has come over for a friendly conversation.

“I thought each family member was only allowed one guest at the party, or does the daughter of the head of the family not have to follow the rules.” Olivia scowls, as she flicks her eyes form Stella to Haruto.

“Haruto is part of our family Olivia , or do you not pay attention to who is in the family tree any more.” Stella shoots back, speaking Olivia’s name with audible contempt.

“I only pay attention to those who actually matter.” Olivia retorts, looking over Haruto with cold eyes.

Haruto mistakingly interpreting Olivia eyeing him as her waiting for him to
introduce himself, smiles and, extends a polite hand to Olivia.

“ konichiwa my name is-“

“I don’t introduce yourself, I don’t plan on remembering you anyways.”Olivia says, slapping away Haruto’s hand.

Haruto pulls his hand back looking upset, and confused. Wondering if he had some
how done something to cause offense.

“Hey stop it.” Johnny pipes up in defense of Haruto, the poor guy being less then deserving if that kind of hostility.

Olivia’s demeanor then strangely shifts upon hearing Johnny interject. Her expression drops all hostility, and she gives Johnny a innocent looking smile.

“Sorry my dear Johnny I was simple saying that one can’t really spend to much time remembering faces in a family as bit as this one.” Olivia says, in a almost benign voice, her pitch and tone slightly higher then before in a seemingly deliberate attempt to come off as harmless.

Johnny frowns pretty sure he knows what exactly Olivia’s trying to do here. Not only is she just being rude, and a general nuance to try and get Stella wound up, but she is also trying to charm, him right in front of Stella as another way to agitate her. Johnny sighs, it really can’t be any more obvious that this is what’s going on. The only thing Johnny wonders is if Olivia really thinks of he’s so stupid that she believes he wouldn’t pick up on this. Seriously does she think he’s just some ditzy boy who can’t see past a handsome face. Like does she not know it’s pretty obvious to Johnny that Olivia had motives? Johnny shakes his head sighing. Like even if Olivia is pretty handsome for a girl her age, there is no way Johnny could fall for some one who seems so shallow.

After all Johnny is pretty sure he can figure out the reason for conflict between Olivia and, Stella. If that mention of Stella being the daughter of the head of the family didn’t make it obvious, the fact that Olivia is a cousin of Stella. Which is the daughter of Stella’s mother’s sister no doubt means that Olivia’s distain for Stella no doubt came from envy, or belief that the role of one day running the company should be better suited to her rather then Stella. Honestly Johnny can even seen such resentment being fostered by Olivia’s own mother. Of what he knew of this family so far something like that seemed almost likely.

“Enough with this games Olivia leave us.” Stella glares, her voice having a bit of authoritative tone.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do, your not head of the house yet.” Olivia snaps back, meeting Stella’s glare with her own

“Do you only pride yourself in pestering me?!?” Stella says her voice wavering a bit, she’s trying to keep calm yet Johnny can sense Stella’s anger starting build.

“I’m just making the point that not everyone in this family is thrilled with you next in line to become the head.” Olivia shrugs, with a smug smile on her face.

“I mean your not even your mother’s first pick that would be your screw up sister.”

Stella clenches her fist around the plastic fork in her hand. The fact that this little brat has the gaul to call her sister a screw up after all she’s been though and, all she’s overcome. It’s not right, not right in the slightest. The insult also reminds Stella of her own insult. Reminds her of the fact that she said her sister couldn’t do anything right.

Olivia notices she seems to have struck a nerve. Grinning deviously she leans up in Stella’s ears.

“I saw that sad sap siblings of yours mopping around some where around here, what happen you two have a falling out?”

Stella’s guilt intertwines with her anger, pushing her father towards the edge. She can’t stand to listen to this for much longer.

“S-Stop it don’t insult Stella-San like that!” Haruto interjects, a worried look on her face as she can feel the tension in the air.

“Shut up!” Olivia barks, causing Haruto to finch back a bit.

“Honestly though I don’t blame you, I would cut ties with a failure like that to, she’s nothing but trash that should have never been let back into the family.” Olivia whispers into Stella’s ear, a look of pure glee on her face as she continued to insult Ashlyn right to her sisters face.

This is enough to finally send Stella over the edge. Snapping her fork in half she slams her plate of food down to the floor, scattering chicken sushi, and rice all over the floor.

“I’ve had ENOUGH you can insult me all you want but don’t you dare insult MY SISTER!!” Stella yells , grabbing the attention of most of the party goers in the room.

Most of the heads in the room turn to look at the commotion, whispering, and pointing start to break out as well. Almost all eyes are now on Olivia, and Stella.

Johnny for a second looks to say something, yet he can’t find the words. What can he say really? That Stella shouldn’t be bothered by all those nasty things Olivia was saying about Ashlyn? Besides he didn’t know if him getting involved could potentially make things worse for Stella. Remembering what Grace said, about how a lot of those in the family were also looking to exploit Stella as much as they can. If he got in the mix he isn’t sure if some how things couldn’t be twisted to make Stella look even worse. So Johnny just stays silence. His hands scrunching up his skirt, as he doesn’t know what else to do but watch on. Haruto as well looks over to Johnny with a concerned expression on his face. He too isn’t sure what he should do here. With the tension between Olivia, and Stella so potent that is seems like they might come to blows Olivia doesn’t know what a boy should do here. So both Johnny, and Haruto just sit there, almost frozen as the situation continues to unfold.

Olivia however has an expression like she just got all of her presents on Christmas. Making Stella get this anger, and getting the attention of so many of the family in the process this is to good to be true. All though little did Olivia know is that she may have just bitten off a little bit more then she can chew.

“I’ve had enough of you Olivia!” Stella yells as she suddenly grabs Olivia by the back of the neck.

“H-hey get off of me!” Olivia yells trying to break free of Stella’s grip.

“Oh I don’t thinks so, your about to pay for every single thing you said you brat.” Stella says, a need for retribution on behalf of her sister welling up with in her.