Once the two Asahina sisters finished up their little reunion, Ayaka decided that it was time for the three of them to leave the train station.
"My car's parked nearby outside. We're going back to my house so you two can get settled in. Then we'll eat outside and go sightseeing. Sound good?"
"Totally Ayaka-nee! I can't wait!"
"I agree as well Tateyama-san, but... um... may I use the restroom before we go?" Hibiya's cheeks had gone quite red for such a simple question.
"But Hibiya-kun! We won't be able to drive Ayaka-nee's house as quickly." Hiyori implored. "I told you not to have that drink before we got on the train, remember?"
"W-well, you're also the one kept me from going to the restroom before we got on! If you had just let me go then I wouldn't have to now! So don't blame me Asah-... Hiyori." He forced himself to say her given name, as to not seem rude in front of her sister.
"But, but-!"
"Hey hey, no arguing you two. Let's be mature about this. Hiyo-chan, I think it's just fair that we let Amamiya-kun here take care of his business, alright? He's our guest y'know." Ayaka reasoned to her sister.
Hiyori looked down to her feet. "O-of course. Sorry, Hibiya-kun."
Hibiya merely sighed, bowed in thanks to Ayaka, and left looking for the nearest restroom, muttering variations of "annoying Asahina" under his breath.
The moment Hibiya was out of sight, Hiyori sprang right back into her perky demeanor. To anyone other than Ayaka it would have been scary almost.
"Gahhh! Isn't he just the best?! The coolest, cutest guy you've ever seen?"
"Well, I'll admit he's exactly as you've described him Hiyo; cool-headed, mature, and also quite the looker for his age." She playfully winked and made a clicking sound with her tongue.
"Oh, I know." Hiyori rubbed at her warm cheeks. "And soon, I'm gonna marry him."
That caught Ayaka off guard. "EH?! Y-you're only twelve Hiyori! Don't go saying things like that so soon. You have you're whole life ahead of you!"
"B-but I thought you liked him Ayaka-nee; you said he was cool and mature and everything!" Hiyori put her hands on her hips, displeased with her sister's change of opinion.
"That doesn't mean I approve of you two together," Ayaka said with a huff and crossed arms. "I'm sorry Asahina Hiyori, but you're still too young to be making these types of decisions. You'll have to wait until you're a grownup like your onee-chan here." She pointed up to herself with a smirk.
It was Hiyori's turn to cross her arms and roll her eyes. "Augh, no fair Ayaka-nee! That'll take forever, and I'll be dead by then." She turned away in a pout.
"Heh." Her smirk now genuinely warm, Ayaka patted her younger sister's hair teasingly. "Oh don't go saying things like that now too. Fine Hiyori, I suppose in maybe ten years or so, you and Amamiya-kun might be a cute pair."
Hiyori was suddenly hugging her sister again. "Oh do you really mean it Ayaka-nee?!"
"Geez Hiyo-chan, you have to stop being so clingy!" Yet she didn't pry Hiyori off. "Hehe, but yes yes, I do mean it. I've practically lived it! Clingy girl tries to win over stuck up boy? It's uncanny how much your predicament is similar to... Kenjirou... and I..."
Upon hearing that name, Hiyori quickly slipped out of the hug and scanned Ayaka's face in worry. Her older sister's seemingly eternally willful, merry-filled eyes were downcasted on the floor, hallow and empty. Oh no, no, no. She didn't want her sister to be sad, thinking about that time, especially after they had been so happy lately.
"...Ayaka onee-san, if you don't want to talk about all this marriage and stuff, I understand! Please, uh, let's just talk about something else, like-"
Something seemed to awake in Ayaka's eyes, and she instantly bounced back into her sunny demeanor like Hiyori had moments ago. She had to have learned it from somewhere. But even to Hiyori, Ayaka's bounce back seemed a bit too fast. Before she could really question it however, Ayaka's tongue was on the roll.
"Ah no no no! It's okay Hiyo-chan! I'm fine talking about all this, as you know I sometimes get caught in my own little world is all. Hahaha silly me!" She pounded a fist at the side of her head and stuck out her tongue for added effect. Hiyori didn't know if she completely bought it.
"Alright then I guess..."
"Great! So as I was saying, you two just remind of Kenjirou and I when we were younger. When we met during university, I instantly declared that I loved him and that I was going to be his wife. He, uh, told me that he had no interest in a 'pathetic woman' like me." She clutched at her heart theatrically.
Though before Hiyori could extent a hand in comfort, Ayaka was moving again. "But that didn't stop me! Oh no no. I just kept on trying to impress him, kept on changing myself for the better, and eventually he agreed to go on a date. And then BOOM," she proudly stuck out the finger that held her wedding ring. "One thing led to another, and soon we were married."
"Woooow," Hiyori gushed and stared at the gold ring in awe. She couldn't help but imagine Hibiya and herself wearing similar ones.
"So I guess what I'm saying is, when you two are older, just keep trying your best and Amamiya-kun will come around."
"I'll do my best Ayaka onee-sama!" She mock-saluted, which Ayaka returned with a laugh.
They spent a few more minutes just chatting and catching up. But it wasn't long until Hiyori began to grow tired of waiting.
"Hibiya-kun has been gone a long time now. Does it really take this long for boys to...?"
"Hey now, it's a pretty big station and I think I'm correct with assuming he hasn't been here before like you. Maybe he just got lost?"
"No way! Hibiya-kun is much too smart to get lost. He'll probably be back any minute now, you'll see."
"Huh, well alright then," Ayaka replied not sounding very convinced. "Either way we'll be going out soon, so bundle up a bit more; winter's here are a lot colder than they are back home."
Hiyori listened and promptly began putting on her hat, gloves, and lastly, her scarf.
"Hey, where have I seen this scarf before...?" Ayaka inquired, bringing the bright red scarf tails up to her face to examine.
"Don't you remember? Ayano gave this to me the last time the five of you visited."
"Oh, ah, I must have forgot."
Hiyori chose to ignore the slight falter in Ayaka's voice.
"Yeah, she said it was just taking space in her closet and she didn't have any use for it, so now it's mine!" Hiyori nuzzled into it more. It was her favourite scarf too, and the only one she used during winter.
"Ah, I remember now. My memory's really slipping these days, huh? How silly of me." Ayaka replied lightly, shuffling her hands in her jacket pockets.
Hiyori tilted her head at her sister's sudden deflated tone. Still, she ignored it.
"Speaking of Ayano; I brought her, Tsubomi, Kousuke, and Shuuya presents! Y'know, to make up for all the birthdays I missed." Hiyori began to unzip her bag, eager to show the presents off one by one.
"A brand new pair of earbuds for Shuuya, new earrings for Tsubomi, some of those dorky comics for Ayano, and, oh! I caught this special bug for Kousuke!" She held the jar right at her sister's face, quite proud of her catch.
Sweat beaded at Ayaka's forehead as she stared at the gifts. "That's, um, so sweet of you Hiyo-chan! I'm sure they'll love them when they get back."
Hiyori raised her brow. "Get back from where? Aren't they at your home?"
Ayaka's eyes widened. Slowly she brought a hand to her temples. "Did I really forget to tell you...? I was sure I did. My memory really is slipping..."
"What do you mean, Ayaka-nee?" Hiyori clutched the jar holding the bug, dreading the words to come.
"Nothing bad Hiyo-chan! They're all just out of town visiting Kenjirou's relatives for a few days. They'll be back after February 15, and then the five of you will have plenty of time left to spend. It'll be a surprise for them since I didn't tell them you were coming. And uh, I guess I forgot to tell you too. Sorry about that." She rubbed her neck in a weak display of apology.
"...oh..." She solemmly packed the presents back into her bag, crestfallen.
It all honesty, Hiyori wanted to protest, to whine and say how much she had been looking forward to seeing her (technical) nieces and nephews again. But her parents had told her not to be selfish on the trip, and to be understanding of Ayaka who was letting her come at all. So she forced a smile to plaster itself onto her mouth.
"Uh, it's okay Ayaka-nee. I can wait until then I guess. And it's not too bad anyway: it means Hibiya-kun and I have more alone time together!"
"Yes, yes, good," Ayaka said hurriedly, a little too eager to drop the topic.
They didn't resume any conversation after that. A more tense atmosphere seemed to overtake the comfortable one that had been there just a few moments ago. Hiyori really hated it; it would no longer let her ignore her doubts.
Had her sister really forgotten to tell her something so important? She was usually always so on top of things. In fact, something about Ayaka seemed... off. Hiyori looked up at her through the corner of her eye. Now that she was really looking closely at her sister...
...had those bags under her eyes always been there? Ayaka's hair seemed a bit more disleveled too. Her clips were put on sloppily, as if she hadn't been paying attention in the morning.
Before she really knew it, Hiyori was full-out staring up at her sister. It didn't get past Ayaka.
"Is everything alright Hiyo-chan?"
"Yeah... it's just, are you feeling okay, Ayaka onee-san?"
"Of course I am," she answered incredulously.
"It's just that you seem a little bit different today, is all." Hiyori mumbled to the side, a bit shy now.
"I assure you that I'm fine Hiyo, really."
"But-"
"Hiyori," Ayaka said in a stern, demanding tone that Hiyori had never heard her use before. It almost made her want to step away. Not that she would have been able to, as Ayaka was suddenly kneeling and her hands were firmly on her little sister's shoulders.
"Have I ever lied to you?" She asked in a surprisingly calm tone. Her eyes gleamed an intense black.
Hiyori blinked. Her answer was immediate.
"O-of course not!"
A small smile formed on her big sister's face once more. "And I never will. So when I say I'm fine, I really am fine, alright?"
"Alright," Hiyori said, completely reassured. "I'm was being silly, gomenasai."
"It's alright, Hiyo-chan," Ayaka said happily with a soft pat on Hiyori's head.
"Now that that's all sorted out, I think our next matter would be to find out where that boy of your's has gone. It's been fifteen minutes alread- oh, well speak of the devil."
Hiyori swung her head, and there was Hibiya, speed-walking ferverishly towards them.
"There you are Hibiya-kun! We've been waiting for forever!"
"Gomen ne, gomen ne," Hibiya bowed once he had caught up.
"Ayaka-nee was starting to think you got lost or something, haha, can you believe it?"
"..."
"YOU DID?! HIBIYA-KUN!"
"U-URUSAI!"
"Now now you two, what's important is that Amamiya-kun is back now and we can finally get going." She eagerly picked up both kid's bags.
"Bundle up and we're off!"
"Yoohoo!"
"Hmph."
Soon Hiyori and Hibiya were strapped into the backseats of Ayaka's car, and were driving out to the suburbs of the city.
Before Hiyori could start blabbering about the pretty winter scenery, she felt a tug on her coat sleeve.
"Yes, Hibiya-kun?"
"Uh, I just wanted to say um... thanksforbringingmealong." He muttered out with lightning speed.
"What?" Hiyori's eyes started to glow. Did he really just say...?
"Uh, nothing! I-I said, thank you for making me wear all this winter stuff is all! It really is cold here."
"Oh uh, you're welcome then!"
"Whatever." Hibiya then quickly busied himself with staring out the car window.
Hiyori meanwhile, (newly inspired by Hibiya's poorly disguised gratitude and Ayaka's words on trying her best) made a decision. This trip was going be amazing. No matter what happened. No matter if her favourite relatives were a few days late. No matter if her sister was acting weird. No matter if Hibiya was still being distant. Hiyori would fix it all. She would make sure of it.
It was all going to be perfect.