Ryousuke gathered up his books as the bell rang, signaling the end to another day of lessons. After arranging to discuss their latest group project later on in the week, he made his way out of the lecture theatre with the rest of his course mates.

Shielding his eyes from the evening sun he made his way to the car park, grabbing a bottle of water from the cafeteria as it was closing up. Ryousuke sighed softly as he tightened his grip on his laptop case. The evening after classes was always his favourite time of the day. It seemed like it was the only moment of actual peace he had in his life now. The cool breeze, soft chirping of the birds and the gentle fragrance of the herbs lining the path helped to calm his mind. He would have to go home and revise his lessons for the day to lock it in his memory, but for now he let his mind quiet down and just enjoy the peace of his surroundings.

Reaching the FC, Ryousuke set his backpack and laptop in the backseat and got into the driver's seat. A minute later he pulled the Mazda out of the car park and drove home, mentally planning the rest of his day.

"Aniki, you ready to go?" Keisuke asked, stepping into his brother's room. Ryousuke, with just a towel wrapped around his waist, was selecting some clothes from his wardrobe.

"Ah. I was just getting ready." Ryousuke closed the closet and walked over to the bed, starting to get dressed.

Keisuke walked out onto the balcony to give his brother some privacy. He reached into pocket and pulled out his pack of Mild Seven. Shielding his lighter from the wind, he lit his cigarette and spent the next few minutes smoking in silence. Hearing Ryousuke come out onto the balcony as well, he offered him a cigarette, leaning in close so that Ryousuke could light his cigarette with Keisuke's. Ryousuke nodded his thanks and turned towards the night sky.

"Na, Aniki. Are we going up to Akagi after the dinner?"

"Yes. I got Fumihiro to call up the rest of the team. They'll meet us there at 11."

Keisuke and Ryousuke were to meet their parents in the city later for dinner; an event that happened with less regularity when Ryousuke started racing and even more so when the Akagi Redsuns was formed; Not that either of them were looking forward to it. While Keisuke could still talk casually to his parents about his day and other mundane topics, Ryousuke's only contribution to the conversation would be when his parents asked him about how his classes and grades were. After that the silence would become uncomfortable and it would be up to Keisuke to drone on, just to bring some life back into the occasion.

He sighed, looking at his brother from the corner of his eye. He knew that Ryousuke was a private person by nature and wasn't the sort to talk about his day, but still it worried Keisuke that his brother never wanted to talk about anything other than work or racing. It was as if Ryousuke didn't bother about anything else in life or that he didn't trust Keisuke with his feelings.

The thought saddened him. He had come to Ryousuke whenever he had a problem or if he wanted to talk things out. Especially during his high school years when he'd been in a gang and wanted out. His brother had been there for him physically, bearing the brunt as well for Keisuke's desertion.

"Something wrong?" Ryousuke asked, looking at Keisuke. "Such a sad expression doesn't belong on your face Keisuke."

"Iie, nothing's wrong. Just remembering some stuff from the past."

"Ah." The conversation lapsed back into silence for a while before Ryousuke asked, "How are things with you and Kyouko?"

"Good. We're meeting up tomorrow for dinner. A meal at the diner for dinner and a stroll in the park for desert." Keisuke replied with a smirk.

Ryousuke smiled in return, shaking his head at Keisuke's enthusiasm.

"What 'bout you Aniki? Any late night meeting with a girl from school?" Keisuke asked with a grin.

"Not unless you consider studying 'Epidemiology' by Ms. Janet Wilks as romantic." Ryousuke offered with a straight face.

Keisuke shook his head this time. "Na Aniki. Have you ever gone out with a girl? I can't remember you going out with someone even in high school." Keisuke asked.

"No, never. I haven't met anyone I've been interested in getting to know." Ryousuke replied seriously.

Keisuke looked over at Ryousuke for a few moments before replying.

"Virgin."

"……. Urusai."

Keisuke snickered as Ryousuke walked out of the balcony.

The yellow Mazda pulled into the parking lot next to Hachi-Roku and the rest of the Project D vehicles. Dinner had been unremarkable and the brothers left for Akagi as soon as it was over. There weren't any challenges for the rest of the week and so Keisuke and Takumi just spent the night polishing up the skills they learnt on their last challenge while Fumihiro and Ryousuke went over the cars' data. After three hours the team called it a night. As the rest of the team drove off, Ryousuke and Keisuke headed to the FD. Reaching the car, Ryousuke reached into his back pocket to pull out his wallet before sitting down. Keisuke looked over at his brother, watching him search through all his pockets.

"Lose something?"

"My wallet I think," Ryousuke said with a frown. "I must have left it in the restaurant."

"They probably kept it for you to pick up tomorrow."

"I'll need my student card for school though. Let's pass by the restaurant on the way back."

Keisuke nodded and the brothers got into the car and drove towards the city.

"I see a light on Aniki. Want me to follow you inside?" Keisuke asked as he pulled up next to the restaurant.

"Iie, I'll just be a minute." Ryousuke said as he got out of the car and headed towards the building. He looked through the window and saw someone sweeping the floor. Ryousuke knocked on the door to get his attention and the waiter rushed forward to open the door.

"I'm sorry sir, but the restaurant is closed. If you'd like to make a rese-"

"Sorry, but I was here earlier and I think I may have left my wallet behind."

"Oh I see. Come in sir. Just let me check with the manager," the waiter replied, stepping aside to let Ryousuke in.

Ryousuke looked around the empty restaurant while waiting for the waiter or manager to return. The lights at the bar were the only ones on and the soft music from the speakers added to the peaceful atmosphere of the place. He quite liked the change from how it was earlier. The lights had been a bit too bright and the noise from the crowd had added to his discomfort.

"Here you go sir. I'm sorry you had to travel all the way back here again at this time." said a new voice, almost as deep as his own.

"Thank you for taking ca-" Ryousuke said as he turned around to address the new speaker and stopped as he finally looked at him.

Ryousuke was startled by the look of the other man's eyes. They were darker than his and had such an intensity in them that it took him a second to start speaking again.

"Umm, thank you for taking care of it for me." Ryousuke finished taking the wallet from the man and shaking his hand.

"No problem at all. Glad I could help. My name is Mishima Eiji," he replied shaking Ryousuke's hand.

"Takahashi Ryousuke."

"Takahashi-san, I hope you will come back again soon." Eiji smiled, his thumb moving slightly over Ryousuke's hand.

Ryousuke nodded, nervous over Eiji's gesture and walked out the door without another word.

He climbed into the passenger seat of the FD and motioned for Keisuke to drive.

"Missing anything from your wallet?" Keisuke asked as he drove off.

"I don't think so."

Keisuke turned towards his brother and saw him looking out of the window, his head turned slightly away from him.

"Aniki…Are you…blushing!" Keisuke asked, incredulous that something or someone could fluster his brother that much.

Ryousuke continued to look out the window not saying anything.

Keisuke started laughing at Ryousuke.

"Was it a waitress? Did she offer to bend down and pick up your wallet for you?" Keisuke asked between laughs.

Ryousuke turned towards Keisuke and frowned, his cheeks still pink.

"Urusai Keisuke. Just keep your eyes on the road." Ryousuke said coldly. He didn't need his little brother laughing at him right now.

"Hai hai."

Keisuke pressed down on the accelerator and sped home, still smiling to himself at his brother's behaviour.

'If she flusters you this much, she has to be interesting. I hope you try and go after her Aniki.'

Japanese Translation

Urusai Shut up

Hai hai ya ya

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