Makoto couldn't believe how lucky he was to get the chance to return to his hometown, despite it being so early in his residency. After graduating Iwatobi, he decided to major in sports medicine, in hopes of becoming a physician. With Haru and Rin both focusing on training for the Olympics, it only seemed natural that Makoto would do his best to support them. The three of them had moved to Tokyo, despite Makoto's misgivings. It was hard being away from his family, but it would have been even worse being close enough to visit, but never having the time.
I'm really grateful to Haru and Rin for helping me through that time, he thought to himself. Without his boyfriends, even the even-tempered one of the three was bound to lose his cool. Yet that was exactly what was happening now. His siblings were in high school now. He hadn't seen them since he graduated; both Ren and Ran clung to him and cried, begging him not to go. It's not like I haven't had contact with them at all, Makoto thought.
The twins had made it a habit to email him every day. But they rarely sent pictures. Only Ran was kind enough to notify her eldest brother that she had dyed her hair almost blonde.
"Here's a pic, in case you don't recognize me~" she'd said in her email. Makoto was glad for that, because he wasn't confident he could pick his little sister out in a crowd with that hair. He was standing at the station near his house, gathering his courage. Rin would have laughed at him.
"Why're you so nervous? It's your own family!" Haru would probably have scolded him for taking too long. Makoto rang the doorbell.
His mother opened the door, and she practically lit up at the sight of him.
"I was beginning to think that you were delayed!" she said, smiling. Makoto leaned down to hug her as best he could with his hands full of bags.
"Where are the twins?" he asked. It was almost time for dinner, and he hoped that they had kept up the family tradition of eating together. As he stepped into the house, he saw the shadow of worry cross his mother's face.
"I should tell you this now, but those two are very different from when you left," she said quietly. When Makoto gave her a puzzled look, she only sighed. "You'll see," she said, moving into the kitchen to start cooking.
Makoto went upstairs to put his bags away, and noticed that his old bedroom now seemed to be occupied by his younger brother. At least they kept the nameplates on their doors, he thought with amusement. He supposed that he could leave his bags somewhere out of the way. Though he was tired, he really wanted to talk to his siblings and parents. He went back downstairs to help his mother with cooking and setting the table, and found Ren already there.
The youngest Tachibana son wore glasses, and his brown eyes were widened in shock when he saw Makoto. Though he wore clothes for being around the house, it looked like they were carefully ironed. From Ren's head to his neck, he had a tidy presentation. Like Rei, Makoto thought, smiling to himself. Ren's hair, however, was in a state of disarray that contrasted with the rest of his appearance.
"Need any help?" Makoto asked. Ren looked from his older brother to his mother in confusion. Mrs. Tachibana winked.
"I wanted it to be a surprise, so I didn't tell them you were coming," she said to her eldest son.
"Ah, be careful!" Makoto said, reaching for the pot that was tilting in Ren's hands.
"T-Thanks," the younger boy said softly.
Before Makoto could ask his brother anything, Mr. Tachibana came into the house.
"It smells more delicious than usual," he said when he'd taken off his shoes. He smiled when he saw his oldest son. "Ah, that must be why! Meals taste the best when the whole family is together. Not that your food isn't always delicious, dear." He kissed his wife, who smiled teasingly. Makoto was glad to see that the love between his parents hadn't faded. He hugged his father. "Try not to be too surprised," the older man said in Makoto's ear. And then he went upstairs to take off his jacket and tie. Makoto recalled days when his father was too tired to do much more than hang both things from his chair while he ate. And then Ran appeared.
Her long hair was curled, and she was wearing a lot of makeup. More distressing for her older brother was the crop top and ripped jeans. Her lipsticked mouth opened in surprise when she saw him.
"Mako-nii! She squealed. Makoto hugged his younger sister, trying his very best to not let too much shock show on his face. "I'll talk to you later. I have to go."
"Aren't you going to eat anything?"
"And ruin my outfit? No way!" she laughed. Her eyes flicked to Ren, and then she was gone.
The moment the door shut, Ren jumped up.
"I'll serve everyone!" The boy filled his parents' bowls first, and then Makoto's. He served himself last.
"So, how's school?" Makoto asked. Ren's chopsticks nearly fell out of his hands.
"Um...fine," he answered.
"Ren is a fantastic help around the house," Mrs. Tachibana said.
"That's right! I know that I don't have to worry when I leave, because Ren is taking good care of both the house and your mother."
"I hardly have anything to do!" Mrs. Tachibana giggled. Makoto's eyes met his father's, and he saw the pleading there. He nodded wordlessly. I'll talk to him.
After dinner, though, Ren practically fled to his room. Mr. Tachibana settled on the couch, and Mrs. Tachibana started doing the dishes.
"I'll do them," Makoto said, gently pushing her out of the kitchen. "But first, I want to talk to you and Dad." He pulled up a stool while his mother sat next to his father on the couch. "What's going on?" he asked softly. Both his parents sighed at once.
"Ren doesn't have any friends. He spends all his time in his room, playing games. His grades are slipping," Mrs. Tachibana said.
"And Ran stays out until 11:30, usually. We've talked to her about it, but her grades are fine..." Mr. Tachibana said.
"And what about their relationship with each other?" Makoto asked.
"Those two used to fight all the time, even after you left. But now they don't speak to each other at all. They're not bad kids. Just...perhaps going through a rough puberty." Makoto saw how much his parents hurt. I'll get to the bottom of this, he decided.
"It must have been hard on you," he said. And then he kissed his mother's brow and clasped his father's shoulder before returning to the kitchen and the dishes.