Chapter 1 K'so, You've Gone Soft
"Ryoma nii-san, Ryoma nii-san, wake up!"
Echizen Ryoma woke up with a start. His younger brother Ryota was standing at the foot of his bed, holding his blanket. The little boy was rubbing his eyes. Ryoma checked the clock-it was 2 in the morning.
"Ryota, why are you up so early?"
"I had a bad dream." the 3-year-old said, looking at the floor.
Ryoma inwardly groaned. Great… it looks like I won't be getting any sleep again "Why don't you go tell kaa-san?" he asked, with a hint of irritation. "Go, tell kaa-san, so I can sleep in peace."
"But, nii-san… their door is closed! I wanna sleep here… please?" Ryota gave him the much-dreaded puppy eyes. Ryoma felt all his resolve ebbing away, bringing his irritation with it. "All right… I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"Yay! Nii-san is the bestest!"
Ryota climbed into bed and immediately fell asleep. It was a rather tight fit… Ryoma had to stay still so he wouldn't squish the tiny boy beside him. K'so, Ryoma, you've gone soft. Seigaku regulars don't let 3-year-olds walk all over themsmiling, he went to sleep, his soft snores matching the rhythm of his brother's slow breathing.
"Oi, Ryoma, wake up! We're leaving soon!"
Grumbling, he got up from his soft, comfortable bed, almost tripping over the tiny figure curled up on the floor. His little brother was still in dreamland, hugging his blanket and sucking his thumb.
Shuffling down the stairs, he let his thoughts wander. School resumes tomorrow… I wonder if my senpais have gotten out of shape.
Echizen Nanjirou, the former tennis champion, was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. "It's about time you got up, brat. We're leaving in 6 hours."
Huh? Leaving? For what? Oh, right. Kaa-san and oyaji are leaving for Okinawa today. I hope they're taking chibisuke with them.
Rinko put a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and 2 slices of buttered toast, and in front of Ryoma. "Kaa-san! I said I wanted Japanese breakfast!" he protested, but started wolfing it down anyway.
"Ryoma-kun, we're leaving Ryota with you. He gets uncomfortable during plane rides, remember?" she said.
Uncomfortable? That's a major understatement. Chibisuke went nuts last time, even biting the attendants. But, he was toothless then, so it wouldn't hurt. Wait… did kaa-san just say they were leaving Ryota with me?"Yada! You aren't leaving little guy with me for one entire month!"
"Sorry, Ryoma-kun, but it's non-negotiable. Nanako is busy with school, and I would hate to bother her."
Have you overlooked the fact that I'm busy with school too? And that I'm a minor?Ryoma voiced these thoughts to his mother, who was still smiling at him.
"Don't worry. We've arranged it all. During your school hours, Ryuzaki-sensei will keep an eye on him. You'll only take care of him from 3:00 onwards."
Oh...okay. "I guess its fine. You'll owe me a lot of Ponta for that, though."
"Great, shorty! Tell that old hag to teach Ryota tennis... the boy still has a lot to learn." This sudden interruption from Nanjirou had Rinko and Ryoma rolling their eyes.
"Anata, Ryota's only three."
"So was Ryoma when he started. You're never too young to learn, right, shorty?" Ryoma just grunted and returned to his breakfast.
"Ohayou, kaa-san! Ohayou, tou-san! Ohayou, nii-san! Let's have Honey Stars and milk for breakfast!" Speak of the devil. Ryota was hopping down the stairs, still in his blue flannel pajamas with the duck print.
Rinko laughed and ruffled his hair. "Of course, Ryo-chan. You always have that. Here, eat up." She put his bowl in front of him, and took a bottle of milk out of the fridge. Ryoma promptly drank out of it.
"Nii-san, that's my milk! Kaa-san, Ryoma nii-san took my milk!"
"Ryoma, don't bully your brother."
"But I need my milk!"
"Sorry, your brother needs it more." Rinko snatched the bottle and returned it to Ryota, who promptly started drinking. Grumbling, Ryoma stood up and headed to his room. "Ryoma-kun, where are you going?"
"To change. I'm going to the public courts."
"Brat, we are leaving in five hours. You are going to be in full charge of a very mischievous three-year-old afterward. I say you stay home today."
"Oyaji…" Ryoma ground out through gritted teeth.
"Kaa-san, what's mis-ka-vus?"
"Don't mind your father, Ryo-chan. Just finish your cereal."
"Kaa-san, I'm already done. Can I go play now?"
"Ryo-chan... brush your teeth first."
"Okay." Ryota walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and returned to the table. "Can I go play now?" Rinko smiled, and nodded.
Ryota ran over to the yard and started bouncing his tennis ball, which was actually Ryoma's, on his tiny racket. His racket was custom-made and dark blue, with an R on the end. It was Nanjirou's gift to him for his 3rd birthday.
Inside the house, Ryoma was being forced by his mother to wash the dishes, because he stole his little brother's milk. Nanjirou was pretending to read the newspaper, but instead flipping through a magazine.
"Oi, Nanjirou, what are you reading? Oh, one of these things again! Go out and play with Ryota, or go take a bath." Smacking the former tennis champion on the head, Rinko shooed him out to the garden. Ryoma followed and watched his little brother.
Hmmm… chibisuke is quite good. I wonder why oyaji doesn't teach him more"Oi, Ryo-chan, wanna play?"
"Sure, nii-san."
I'm gonna go easy on him. For once I'm playing with someone shorter than me.
--Later--
Whoa... I'm exhausted. I can't believe playing with a three-year-old who hits the ball only 15 of the time would actually tire me out. Echizen, you're out of shape.
"Come, Ryota. We'll drop tou-san and kaa-san off at the airport."
Ryota's eyes widened. "Airport, nii-san? Are they leaving us?" his eyes filled with tears and he ran to Rinko, hugging her tight. "Kaa-san, please don't go. Please don't go!!"
"Ryo-chan, we'll only be gone a month. I bet you and your nii-san will have so much fun together that we'll be back before you know it."
Reluctantly, Ryota released his mom. "Promise?"
"Yes, I promise."
"Okay! Don't forget to bring home a surprise when you return!" talk about mood swings... that was remarkably easy. Most of the time he clings to kaa-san like a leech.
At the airport, things went by much more smoothly. Ryota was so amazed at the luggage carousel that he forgot to cry.
Ryoma was talking to his parents. "Hey, shorty, don't blow up the house, okay? And be sure you're good enough to beat me when we return."
"Oyaji…"
"Ryoma, remember to take good care of your brother! He eats cereal for breakfast, and you can have lunch at the cafeteria at school, and Nanako will come over at night to cook dinner for you. Don't forget to do the laundry, and wash the dishes, and clean the house, and make Ryota take baths twice a day. Oh, and his bedtime is 8, remember. You can have friends over, just don't wreck the house. Water the plants daily, and tie Ryota's shoes for him, and call me every night at 7:30, okay? "
"Rinko, don't panic. Shorty here can manage. Right, you brat? "
Ryoma just grunted and hugged his mother goodbye. Then Ryota came over and hugged Rinko again. "Kaa-san, come back soon. I'll miss you. You too tou-san, but you can come back later." They all laughed at this and Nanjirou and Rinko boarded their flight. Ryota waved and waved until he could no longer see his parents.
They rode the bus on their way home. Ryoma amused his little brother by having him count all the red cars he could see. They had an argument on whether the cars with red details were counted. "Nii-san, that car counts. 55."
"Ryo-chan, it doesn't. 54." "55."
"I said 54."
"It's 55 now. No, 56, 57, 58!" they reached 117 by the time they got to their house.
"Nii-san, may I watch Barney?" "Suit yourself. I'm going to shower." Doesn't chibisuke ever get tired? I feel like I've just fought a dozen Sanadas.
After several reruns of Barney and Sesame Street, a miserably failed attempt to get Ryota to wash behind his ears, and a deliciously cold and greasy pizza dinner, the brothers finally asleep, still in their clothes.