Part 8: The Aftermath – A Matrix for Judging Success

Tsukiko had left her apartment just behind her brother but walked at an easy pace in order to give him the time he needed to sort things out with Kudou-kun. She arrived just in time to hear Rikuou insult Kudou by taking a jab at himself. Kudou readily threw a string of insults back. "I think the two of you might scare customers away."

Rikuou laughed before answering. "That would be typical."

She furrowed her brow in contemplation – she had never seen them acting this way –before things fit into place. "Ah, the fabled 'normal behavior.' I take it things went well then."

"And how would you know about that?" He asked, regarding her 'normal' reference.

"I have sources."

"You mean 'co-conspirators.'"

"Why Rikuou, whatever do you mean?" Conspire is such a negative word.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. That little scheme of yours was a bit extreme to have originated in your head."

"I am sorry but we did have a conversation about this."

"When?"

"You don't remember?"

"No."

"Hmm. Yes, well. You were brooding rather intently at the time."

Rikuou gave her his standard 'I don't believe you' look. And though what she said was true, she knew him well enough to know he would never give in. "Maybe I had a little help with certain details."

"I see. I don't really appreciated being treated like a kid you know."

"You will forgive me, I hope?"

Instead of the appropriate response, Rikuou gave her his best sulking face.

"Stop being a baby about it Rikuou." Kudou added a light jab of his elbow to Rikuou's side before addressing her. "We know you were only looking after us."

"Oh, Kudou-kun, before we move too far away from talk of 'conspirators'," her lips twisted around the word, "I nearly forgot. I'm supposed to remind you that final tax returns for the store need to be filed this month."

"I don't know why I got stuck with that job. This useless lug here would do better with the paperwork than me."

"Because you know I'm smarter?"

"Because you can only be trusted with tasks that don't require human interaction!"

"My! This bickering… Is this really the way the two of you act when you're not pining away after each other?"

They looked at each other a brief second, small smiles growing on both faces, before turning their attention to the girl asking the question. The reply was in unison. "Yes."

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Author's Note: That's it! Hope you enjoyed it.