Author's Notes: Sorry for the long delay in chapter updates lately! I've only recently gotten back from a trip so my storyboarding schedule and whatnot got delayed. I'm also busy writing a PMMM fic (which is now my primary story, succeeding the recently finished FCP!) but I'll try to keep this going! Thank you for your patience, and here is Chapter 3!

First Impressions

Chapter 3

"Satoshiiii~ ungh…"

It was 4PM Japanese standard time at the Tainaka Household. On the sofa sat my sister Ritsu who was sweating like crazy with a horrified expression on her face. If it weren't for the heavy-duty electric fan she had set up at point blank, I'm sure she would have turned into a puddle – a horrified puddle. Do puddles even have faces… or wear headbands, for that matter?

"Gahhh~!"

Damnit, stop digressing, Satoshi. Hah~ It can't be helped. Whether or not she would become a puddle with a horrified face, I was the one at fault. Kinda. Rather than come home with the tub of strawberry ice cream she had been craving for since freaking last year or whatever, I came home saying they had run out. Naturally, since she saw me holding on to the bag of the convenience store, still slightly wet at the bottom from the ice cream tub that was there, she didn't buy it. I should have said I passed by New York and was mugged. That would have worked well… However, I don't exactly feel good seeing my sister on the verge of a heatstroke.

"Let me go get you some iced water, sis."

She turned to me with her dry lips and nodded. I then went on to get some water and ice. I returned and I sat down before her, waiting for her to finish her drink. A refreshed sigh was followed by an inquisitive stare.

"Satoshi-kun." She said, many times more calmer than before, "Explanation please?"

Scratching my face, I obliged. It wouldn't hurt to let her in on what actually happened. I told her about the convenience store then about my *ahem* meeting with Ui. I tried to mention that bushy-haired devil as rarely as possible without tweaking the story (too much). At the end though, Jun was the topic my sister wanted to talk about.

"Don't tell me you've got some problems with that girl." Ritsu said, folding her arms inquisitively, "She's your friend's sister – and possibly a potential member of the Light Music Club to boot!"

Darn she's sharp! Scratching my face, I adamantly denied her claim.

"Nah, nah. We just aren't really close, that's all."

Not really close was an understatement – but I didn't need to point that out now, did I?

"Is that all, huh…" Ritsu hummed, "Then what's stopping you from going back to Ui's house and asking for the tub of ice cream? It shouldn't be too embarrassing."

"Yeah, Jun and I are cool!" I said, standing up from my chair, "So, I'll be going there right now!"

"Oh? Good to know!"

"That's right!" I continued proudly, "Just you wait sis. We'll have that strawberry ice cream soon enough!"

Nodding off, I went out of the house then closed the door behind me. Right there and then, those words floated around in my head – words I would have shouted out loud had I not been in a sleepy residential district. 'Jun and I are cool?' You dumbass!

Throwing my hands into my pockets, I walked cautiously back towards the Hirasawa household. Luckily, clouds had rolled over the sky, meaning I probably won't suffer a heatstroke as quickly. The only thing that really worried me now was what I would do the moment I arrive.

'Oh Ui-chan, leavest that bush-haired demon behind and lend me thine ear as I tell thee how much I lovest thou!'

Nah… that wouldn't work at all – it'd be way too corny. Though Ui does seem to like my corny jokes whenever I say them… Wait! I'm not going there for Ui – I'm there to get my ice cream back. Talking with Ui wouldn't be that much of a problem. The person I should be concerned about is that Jun.

Front door is out of the question. I could text Ui and ask her to hand me the ice cream outside – sadly, I don't have her number. That leaves me with one option – sneaking in. Tactical Espionage Action (TEA) time, baby.

I arrived at the front gates of the Hirasawa household then made a run for the sides. Hugging the wall and crouched, I inched through the side pathway hidden from the windows above. If I pressed my ear against the wall, I could hear the muffled sounds of Ui, Jun and Azusa chatting happily amongst themselves. Perfect – they were distracted. Now's my chance.

Still crouched like that, I found my way to the back entrance. This was the way Ui had showed me in a while ago so I knew this entrance would be unlocked. Damn… I'm such a stalker. I swear, Ui, I'll never break into your house again. Just this once. Shaking my head I opened the door then stepped inside.

The girls were in the dining room, so I thought I'd have free reign over the kitchen – I'd just open the fridge, get the ice cream and get the fuck out. It was at that time though that I remembered one sad particularity – the kitchen of the Hirasawa household was connected to the dining room. Luckily for me, the girls weren't going to be staying for long.

"I have to be going soon." Azusa said, thanking Ui for the watermelon. She headed for the door and was promptly followed by Jun and Ui. Go time! I dashed for the fridge, took my ice cream and retreated back into the corridor. Hah, would you look at that – it actually worked. No alerts! Thank you, Hideo Kojima.

I was just about to head back out of the house when I realized that Jun had chosen to stay behind. Ui and Jun then went back to the dining room and sat together. Curious, peered into the dining room and was surprised. Ui wore a serious face and Jun seemed… disheartened.

"What's this about, Jun-chan?" Ui asked

"I think you already know." Jun sighed, "That punk."

'That punk'! Why I oughta beat the crap out of her – that bushy-haired devil…

"I think we've been mad at each other for too long." Jun then said, "Plus, for a stupid reason too."

Stupid reason…? Looking back at it now, I don't really remember why Jun and I ended up this way all too clearly. All I can remember was…

"It was in our last year in Elementary, the first year my brother Francis and I transferred from Canada…" Jun continued in an embarrassed tone, "Satoshi came forward to introduce himself to me and my brother. We barely spoke Japanese then. I thought it was kind of him."

She thought I was kind? Seriously?

"The thing is…" Jun sniffed, her hands now clenched into fists, "Trying to be funny, he made a joke about my hair. He said my hair was very bushy… So the other kids started teasing me. I got mad at him because of that, and he got mad at me. All the teasing was forgotten come Junior High and all, but here we are, still ready to rip each other's throats out."

That's...

"What do you want to do about it?" Ui asked.

"I…"

Just as Jun was about to speak, I realized that the sides of the ice cream tub I was holding on was starting to water up. I nearly let go of it, catching it halfway before it could fall. That however didn't stop me from letting out an audible "Oh shi-"

"Who's there?" A startled Ui cried. Evacuate, now!

Getting up from my entrenchment, I made a run for the back entrance. However, that was where the two girls had seen Azusa off. It was now locked and I had no free hand to unlock it – the ice cream tub was now too slippery to hold with just one hand, not to mention fucking cold. Desperate, I lifted up my knee and rested the tub on it while one of my hands clawed at the lock. I eventually got it open, however…

"Satoshi-kun?" Ui asked, puzzled to see me in such a pose. I must have looked like a thief or a pervert – or both.

"I… I can explain! J… just gimme a minute and…"

"You were listening in on us, weren't you?" Jun then grumbled, her eyes now filled with anger. I avoided her eyes, but that only answered her question for her. "Get out of my sight, this instant!"

"Jun…"

"GET OUT!"

"FINE!" I shouted back, marching out of the back entrance. Jun then slammed the door behind me.

"Jun-chan…" Ui said calmly, "He did want to talk… And what about that thing we were talking about...?"

"Bah, forget it. Let him rot!"

I heard this exchange weakly as I walked out with the ice cream. Pyrrhic victory much… I felt worse now than the way I did before coming here. Jun seemed like she wanted to make up, but the way she roared at me… I should feel angry, I thought. However, all I felt now was confusion.

Maybe it's time to call the cavalry – I'll talk to Ritsu about this. For real this time.

To Be Continued