30 Kisses theme #14: radio-cassete player.
"...And Snow White and the prince were married, and they lived happily ever after. Yuuta, what in heaven's name is the matter?"
"'Nii-chan eats apples all the time!" The young boy sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "What if he gets a poisoned one?"
"I don't think we have any witches around here," Syuusuke said.
"You said Sugiura-baachan next door was a witch!"
"Ah--"
"Syuusuke! Don't tell him things like that!" Yumiko scolded. "Now Yuuta, there's no reason to be worried. After all, even if your brother does eat a poisoned apple, you'll be here to kiss him and wake him up, right?"
"Me?" Yuuta sniffed, voice filled with awe at having been entrusted with such an important task.
"I'm counting on you, Yuuta."
"Yuuta, what are you listening to?"
Yuuta yanked off his headphones. "Nothing," he said automatically, then felt stupid, since it was obvious that his brother had already seen him listening to them. "I just found my old Walkman and some tapes; that's all."
"Oh. Well, 'Kaa-san wants to know if you'll be done soon. She wants to take you clothes shopping if there's time before you catch the train back to school."
Yuuta looked around at his bedroom closet. Years of old school papers, clothes, and toys that had once filled the space were now sorted into two large boxes marked Keep and Trash. It wasn't how he'd wanted to spend his Sunday, but his mother had threatened to throw everything out if he didn't come home and sort through it. She'd sounded serious this time, too.
"Yeah, I'm almost done."
"I'll go tell her you're coming out of the closet, then."
"Aniki!!" Yuuta grabbed the nearest object within reach and threw it at his brother. It turned out only to be an old stuffed rabbit, but he missed anyway. It hit the door frame and flopped unceremoniously to the floor. Syuusuke chuckled and hurried off before Yuuta could find the toy cars.
"Stupid Aniki," Yuuta grumbled to himself. He picked up the Walkman and opened it. The tape inside was labeled Bedtime Stories in his sister's handwriting. He fingered the headphone cord thoughtfully as he contemplated the two boxes on the floor. Then, with a small, secret smile, he snapped the tape player shut and hid it under his snowpants in the Keep box.