I don't own My Little sister can't be this cute.
An Earlier Start
"Well then, I will take the smaller one, you may take the larger," Kyosuke said politely, before giving a small gesture to the beds. Kanako raised an eyebrow. The strength and smarts, she understood, the politeness… not as much.
"Thanks…"Kanako said, her voice trailing off, before she went into the bathroom and washed for bed.
Kanako screamed as she ran, her eyes blurry with the tears that fell wildly from her eyes. Her eyes were red from her crying as she ran down the street, away from that place that everyone was. The place where she was hit by people, that place where that family of her lived.
She wiped her face with her sleeve. No. She wouldn't let anybody passing to see her weakness. Her sister was the only one that could understand her, ever. Nobody else could ever understand her life… despite what they may have gone through. Kanako swerved a corner and bumped into someone roughly, someone a bit older than her. With dark hair and wearing dorky clothes, the boy was only a bit older than Kanako, and he seemed quite surprised by her sudden appearance.
"W-woah, are you okay?" he asked, helping her up. She took a look at his hand, and took it hesitantly, intent on using the kid as a punching bag. She was about to, before looking at him in the face. He had such a concerned and sincere look that Kanako hesitated.
"You okay? You look a bit… sad…" the boy said, and Kanako nodded slowly. The boy smiled at her.
"My Kaa-san told me that people can only get better talking to other people about sad things… you 'wanna talk to me about it?" he said boldly and somewhat idiotically .
"Sure…" Kanako said hesitantly, "My name is Kanako, by the way…" she took the boy's hand.
"Cool name! My name's…
"Kyosuke…" Kanako thought, as she washed her face. Just a few meters away from her, in the room was the boy she met when she was younger. The same one that had helped her get through her lowest point… and yet he didn't remember it…
He had been kind to her, hanging out with her whenever she asked, even putting up with her when she got angry and beat him up. No doubt he had to lie to his father plenty about the bruises on his arms that randomly showed up, whenever Kanako had gotten too angry and upset…
He was the last link to that time… when Kanako had fallen so low… that she had just wanted it to all end, and had tried to do so. But that annoying… enduring older kid… he'd always been there, whenever she needed him… Eventually, however, Kanako went to middle school, and they just… got distant.
She was in terrible mental state when she went into middle school, and so was violent to everyone, Kyosuke not being there to take her. That was when she met Kirino, and got along with her. She ranted about her Aniki, how annoying and weird he was, and how perverted he was. When she first met Kirino's older brother… it was like a dream come true. That is, until she came to terms with the facts.
The way she acted around his younger sibling… it was obvious that they had a strong bond, despite the way Kirino always acted.
"You always acted too nice for your own good, Aniki…" Kanako smiled sadly.
The first time they had met, she had purposely been as cruel as she used to act towards Kyosuke, maybe to remind him of her. He hadn't reacted the slightest bit though, making Kanako realize that he had completely forgotten about her.
Given, it wasn't surprising; they had been very young at the time, after all. Still, she expected him to at least react the slightest bit…
Kanako sighed as she dried her face off with the towel she had brought. She stared at herself in the mirror, imagining what would happen if she just suddenly confessed about their past to Kyosuke, and thus, confessed her affection for him. Then again, if it ever got out that Kanako Kurusu, the girl that everyone feared, even most high school students, actually had affection for someone of the opposite sex…
Besides that, despite how trustworthy Kyosuke had always been, it had been a long time. People could change a lot over time, as shown with how her own family had changed so much over time. Hell, for all she knew, under that cool, kind exterior nowadays, inside Kyosuke's heart could've been a gaping void, empty of emotion, or it could've been someone plotting sinister ideas or something… but yet, that didn't match him…
Still. It would pay to be cautious with him, no doubt, and so Kanako devised a plan to slowly open herself up to Kyosuke, starting with their trip to Abika tomorrow, all she needed to do was get rid of Ms. Otaku…
Kanako came out of the restroom in a tank-top and pink sweats with hello kitty designs on it. Normally, she wouldn't care much about her appearance, as not many people could tease her and get away with it… but she wanted Kyosuke to think she was cute. A weird thing for her, as she usually only got all cute for potential contractors.
"Hey, sit down, I'm getting some things set up on the computer…" Kyosuke said, sitting, legs crossed on his small mattress. He was so emerged in what he was reading that he didn't notice Kanako's shocked expression, her jaw dropping, eyes wide.
"D-don't tell me he's some kind of genius writer also now! Or maybe some sort of computer genius! Okay, this is just way too much-!" Kanako thought, until she saw what he was looking at. It was a video chat with a guy around Kyosuke's age, with scruffy black hair.
Kanako sat down next to Kyosuke, cursing inwardly that he didn't comment on her 'cute' look.
"Ah… cuz, this is Kirino's friend, Kanako…" Kyosuke said calmly.
"Hello! I'm sorry if my accent isn't the best, I am from America after all…" the guy said, with an American accent.
"Ah, it's okay… nice to meet you…" Kanako said, invoking an awkward silence as she waited for the relative to introduce himself.
"Oh, where are my manners! My name is Jonathan, please take care of me!" the guy said, standing up and doing a very formal Japanese bow. Kanako and Kyosuke simultaneously snickered, causing Jonathan to look embarrassed.
"What!" Jonathan exclaimed, directing the question to Kyosuke.
"Nobody says that anymore, Jonathan… you are waaaay behind times to be saying something like that…"
"Sounded 'kinda funny to… whatever, you guys video-chat often?" Kanako asked casually. Kyosuke nodded.
"Every week or so, just so he can try to taunt me about his 'progress' in dancing…" Kyosuke said, rolling his eyes childishly. Jonathan gave him an irritated look.
"Me!? Taunt you? Never!"
"Don't listen to a word this guy says, he's annoying, flirts a lot, and is generally more like my little sister than me," Kyosuke said to Kanako, pointing a thumb to the screen. Jonathan looked indignant.
"Hey! Ah… whatever, hey 'cuz, mind if I talk to Kanako-chan here for a 'sec? I promise, I won't flirt…" Jonathan said. Kyosuke raised an eyebrow at Kanako like, 'Are you okay with this?', and Kanako nodded, and Kyosuke left the room.
"So… what do you want to talk to me about…?" Kanako asked. She could think of a number of reasons why Kyosuke's cousin would want to talk to her, but didn't get quite the answer she expected.
"I just wanted to ask about your intentions for tomorrow, that's all," Jonathan said, seemingly innocently.
"Eh? All I wanted to do was introduce him to a friend or two of mine that know how to dance, that's all…" Kanako replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Really? Well in that case, don't waste your time, I can contact one of my very close friends in Japan who happens to dance professionally, ever heard of-this isn't going to translate well but… Reaping Stash?" Jonathan replied. Kanako looked thoughtful for a moment, before realizing that what he said sounded more like…
"You-you mean Blue Lotus?" Kanako asked, astonished. Jonathan nodded his head.
"Yeah, that guy. He's one of my classmate's brothers, actually, and we happened to get along rather well when we met a few times, and practiced. He lives pretty close, so if anything, if all you want to do is to introduce him to someone to help him with dancing…" Jonathan shook his head, "Don't waste your time. If it's something else though, I would like you to be honest with me, you have my solemn vow-I won't tell him anything 'bout it."
Kanako pondered for a moment, "Okay fine, my 'plan' as you're calling it, was to get to know him better…"
"As if you need to be alone for that," Jonathan replied curtly. Kanako sweat-dropped.
"Okay fine, I wanted to know how he was on the inside…"
"My little 'cuz could've helped with that, Kirino. That can't be it either, come on; fess up."
Kanako growled and pouted cutely, "Fine, I wanted to ask him to the dance next week, happy?" Jonathan laughed suddenly.
"That's great! Wow, I didn't think I'd ever meet a girl that would ask a guy to a dance… well in that case, good luck! Oh, and don't emotionally hurt him, he has a tough exterior but…" Jonathan said cheerfully, before stopping, his expression darkening. "Never mind, I shouldn't have let that slip. Call him back."
Kanako stared at the American kid for a while, contemplating what he had meant. Shaking her head, she called out, "Come back now, Kyosuke!"
The door swung open, and Kyosuke came back into the room, holding a few cups and a large bottle of cooled soda. It was a cola.
"Hey, thirsty?" Kyosuke asked, taking out the two glasses. Kanako stared.
"Okay… first of all, you do realize that both of us have already washed up, right?" she asked incredulously. Kyosuke shrugged.
"The bathroom's right there, and it's not like we're eating straight up food. Novelties of having one's bathroom connected to the bathroom," he said, raising the glass. Kanako shook her head and took the glass.
"And that you're probably going to get all hyper from the soda?"
"Are you kidding? I'm a high school student. I don't get hyper," Kyosuke said, pouring his own glass. "I have water if you want any though…" Kanako shrugged.
"Whatever, if you do it, I guess there isn't any reason for me not to. What now?" Kanako asked as Kyosuke bade Jonathan good-bye, before closing the video-chat.
"Well… maybe you could tell me a bit about yourself?" Kyosuke said. Kanako looked down as Kyosuke sat down across from her, placing the laptop on a cover on the large bed to keep it from over-heating.
"What do you mean?" Kanako asked casually, feeling her heart beat quickly. Kyosuke pondered for a moment, looking up and putting his index finger on his chin.
"Well, I guess you could tell me about a past, or your family. Or your favorites are okay to…" Kyosuke said calmly and casually. Kanako felt a cold creep up her spine. She didn't want to talk about this already!
"W-well… I like singing…" Kanako began.
"Because you like it when your fans seem to be worshiping you," Kyosuke said, remembering when they had hung out and how he became her manager.
"Right. I like the colors pink and purple, though I don't really wear them all that often. My favorite foods are mostly Japanese, though there are some good foreign foods…" Kanako listed off.
"Your favorite subjects are science and history, right?" Kyosuke asked. Kanako nodded.
"I… used to have a bit of a smoking problem…" Kanako admitted, and Kyosuke chuckled.
"Well I did see you on the T.V. that one time when you got in trouble for it," Kyosuke said, and Kanako growled at him, punching him in the shoulder. It felt like she tried to punch a tire.
"So otherwise, how is your life? I can't imagine it's all flowers and daises," Kyosuke said a bit off-handedly. Kanako hesitated.
"Well… I was at a pretty low point before…"
"Where you tried to commit suicide a few times. Three, to be exact, right?" Kyosuke said.
"…" Kanako stared at him.
"Ah, and of course, you gained your violent nature when your older sister left, fed up with your parents. You used to vent out your anger by always using people as punching bags, namely me."
"…" Kanako simply continued staring, as Kyosuke made a very, very wide smile at her.
There was a moment of silence as Kanako's mind processed what he had just listed off. The happy go lucky look in his eyes. His relaxed pose. Her eye flickered as she thought of all the times that she had tried, in a slight way, to get him to remember their childhood together, and get her mental support back. Now, he was openly listing everything that she kept secret. She resolved what she would do.
"YOU REMEMBER THAT!?" Kanako shouted, leaping up and pinning Kyosuke down, fist raised. No one, besides her, could EVER know that and live! Kanako punched hard, feeling impact on a hard chest, before raising her fist again and punching again, her other hand holding Kyosuke down. She continued punching, tears dripping down as she did. Her punches grew weaker and weaker as Kanako sobbed, and Kyosuke grabbed her punching hand slowly, pulling her into a hug. Kanako let the waterworks flow, as she sobbed onto Kyosuke's shoulder, letting year's worth of frustration flow. Kyosuke shushed her gently, and Kanako cursed inwardly.
"Damn you, Aniki! You… are the only one that could ever make me like… this…" Kanako thought, as she wept even more. She felt at home again, as Kyosuke patted her back like he did before when they were kids. Kyosuke shushed Kanako.
"It's okay… it's okay, Kanakana… it's okay…" Kyosuke said gently, using the old nickname he used to call Kanako. She complained fruitlessly.
"I-I only… I only want important people… t-to call me that…!" Kanako said unevenly.
"It's okay… I won't call you that if you don't want to, you know that…" Kyosuke said softly, patting Kanako on the back again. They separated, albeit Kanako reluctantly, and they stared at each other for a second as Kanako sniffled and wiped her tears. Suddenly, Kyosuke felt a strong pain in his stomach.
"Guh-!" he let out, as he laid back on the ground. Kanako drew back her fist and said coolly, "That's for not telling me right away that you remembered. And this-!" she said, lifting her hand again. "Is for not being there for me!" she said, punching him again. She got over him again, sitting on his stomach as she smacked him again and again.
"Are you sorry?" she asked bossily. It seemed she was still the same as before. Kyosuke reached his arm up slowly where she couldn't see and suddenly poked her in the side. Kanako did a little hop, eyes wide as she let out a little 'eek!'
"Hah… still ticklish, eh?" Kyosuke said from the ground, giving Kanako a shit-eating grin. Kanako growled and pouted again, getting ready to slap him, before Kyosuke suddenly jerked his stomach up, making Kanako get a small bit of air. In this time, Kyosuke pushed her lightly, making her fall towards the other side of the small mattress, and Kyosuke got out from under Kanako, before pulling out a pillow from the top bed and putting it on her legs, sitting on it and pinning her down. He then began to move his fingers at her.
"Y-you… pervert…!" she gasped, red-faced. She stared, scared, at Kyosuke's fingers.
"Haha… you never change do you?" Kyosuke asked, grinning wider. Kanako flushed bright red, pouting.
"I don't get it… why didn't I take you down as easily as before? You are bigger, given, but so am I…" Kanako stated, frowning. Kyosuke grinned fiercely.
"Because. Back then I wasn't someone that also knew martial arts, and was incredibly proficient in it. And to add to that, I had the brain capacity of a tapeworm. Oh, and of course, I've gained more muscle than you," Kyosuke said, smiling widely.
"Baka…" Kanako huffed, smacking him in the stomach again. The two stared at each other, realizing how long it had really been.
"How long has it been…" Kanako asked softly, looking down, avoiding Kyosuke's gaze. Kyosuke looked at the side to as he replied.
"A few years. Do you remember it? The last time we talked. That was a fun day, wasn't it…?" Kyosuke said longingly. Kanako shook her head as she smiled sadly.
"You call that a good day? Well, if my memory serves me… it was-"
Okay then, this chapter has only been slightly edited, mainly the scene in which they interact, and Kanako finds out how Kyosuke remembered her all this time, and just kept it a secret. Move along.
MG
