A/N: Guess who was sick today! Me! As a result from my sickness, I stayed home and wrote all of you this!
Please check my profile for updates on all three of my stories. (:
To Draycos: Hopefully this chapter will clear some things up. As always thank you for your review! (:
Enjoy the next chapter in this fanfiction of an anime and manga that I do not claim to own in any way, shape, or form! :D
It had been almost a week since Brena came home after her first day of work. Right as she came in the door, Kari's mom was serving dinner, and that's how it was for most of the week. Brena was happy she didn't have to work Tuesdays, giving her time to rest, and the Sunday that she worked was pretty slow.
Amy, however, wasn't too happy to hear that her sister found a job and didn't even tell her. Kari was also upset, but for different reasons. And when the twins found out, of course they were upset, because that meant they wouldn't be able to get Brena into the club. Unless it was on a Tuesday, of course.
"Why are you so insistent on getting your sister here?" Kyouya asked. It was after school on Wednesday, and Kari requested Kyouya once again. He caught onto a conversation between the twins and Amy and let his curiosity get the best of him.
Kari thought about an answer to give him, but nothing came easily. "She's always been trying to be in control of Amy, and they always have to do something together. She obviously doesn't approve of the club, and Amy just wants her to be more open minded about people."
"Sounds like a pair of twins I know," he said mostly to himself. "Don't you think that Brena having a job does just what Amy wants?"
Kari straightened up a bit once she realized the truth of his words. "I guess it does..." she replied. Despite knowing that Brena was being less clingy to Amy, Kari still wasn't happy.
"So why do you insist on forcing her to be here?" Kyouya asked. He saw her thinking about it and smirked. He wasn't exactly sure why he smirked, but it was probably because he was right (again), or because he assumed Brena would be bad for business after meeting her once.
He frowned then and glanced at his computer, which he set aside for his hosting duties. He still hadn't figured out much about their family, besides their ethnic backgrounds and the fact that their father owned some business. His sources on that subject were unreliable, and he'd have to fix that soon.
"It's mostly for Amy," Kari said, taking Kyouya's thoughts off of his past time. "She's been worried about Brena since she never talks to us anymore, and I guess she just wants to make sure she's happy." Kari shrugged at the end and took a drink of her tea. Maybe she had been wrong for trying to get Brena into the club.
Kyouya was about to say something in response, but before the words could form, an idea formed instead. He glanced at his computer again and resisted checking his watch for the time.
"You know," Kari began. "It won't hurt my feelings if you need to check something on your laptop." She smiled at him when she saw a flicker of surpise come across his face. It was barely noticeable, but just like the quick glances he stole to his laptop, Kari became accustomed to watching for such rare moments.
"It can wait," he responded with a smirk. "Right now, you're more important." He couldn't abandon his hosting duties for a bit of research, now could he?
:-Meanwhile-:
Brena picked up her orders from the kitchen and brought them to table four. She had three other orders to take, and Kai had decided to sit a couple in her section. Brena inwardly sighed and walked quickly back into the kitchen to pick up the other orders.
She brought two orders to the proper tables before taking the couple's orders. Putting on a smile, she asked for their drinks, and took their food orders.
After placing the order, bringing them their drinks, and bringing the last order to the proper table, she sat down at the break table for a short break.
Just then, Ayaka came in to pick up food for one of her tables. "You have more customers," Ayaka told her.
Brena sighed out loud this time and stood. "Kai just loves sitting people in my section. I swear you're her favorite," Brena told her as she left.
She walked to the party of three and noticed the mess she'd have to clean up at table two. It took a lot for that family to clam their child down. She placed their order and brought out food for the couple before cleaning up the table.
Just one more week, Brena. Then you can try for Hiroto's job. Just one more week. This thought kept her going plenty of times when the rush became almost too much for her. That and when Hiroto actually came out to perform.
It was usually at 6 when he would show up on the stage. It was hidden by dark red curtains before that time, and Brena didn't even notice it until Hiroto first performed while she was working.
He had one of the best voices Brena had heard, and she had heard her fair share of great voices. He would usually sing songs that had a lighter mood when he first came out, but Naomi once told Brena that once 8 o'clock came around, he'd sing more of a variety of music and that's what really interested Brena.
:-:-:
The twins had their driver stop by an ice cream shop on the way back since a discussion about said food had them craving it. They ate outside where the sun shone bright and kept the air warm.
"This is delicious!" Amy said with a smile.
"Yeah, Haruhi brought us here once," Kaoru told her.
"We hardly eat ice cream anywhere else," Hikaru added with a laugh.
Kari smiled, yet said nothing. Her thoughts wondered back to her conversation with Kyouya before they left. Maybe it is better for Brena. Amy too, she thought.
"You okay Kari?" Amy asked. Kari looked up from her ice cream at her sister.
She smiled and waved it off. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about... stuff."
"What kind of stuff?" Hikaru asked curiously.
"It's nothing, really," she insisted, going back to eating her ice cream.
Kaoru and Hikaru shared mischievous smiles. "I think she's thinking about Kyouya," Kaoru said.
Amy giggled and nodded. "Yeah, she has been requesting him often."
"What were you two talking about?"
At this point, the three were leaning in close to Kari, who had a small blush on her face. "It's not like that!" she defended, causing them to back off with broad smiles. "We were talking about Brena is all."
Amy's smile faded into a look of curiosity. "Oh? What'd he say?"
Kari looked at her and put on a small, sympathetic smile. "He thinks that her having a job is good for all of us. You know how you two were prectically inseparable, but now Brena's doing her own thing, and you're doing your own thing and... well, he thinks it's better for you both. I agree with him, actually."
There was a silence at the table and Kari and the twins watched Amy for her reaction. She stared down at her ice cream, which was almost gone and thought about what she was just told.
She looked up at Kari and smiled. "I think he's right, too."
Kari smiled and the four finished their ice cream over an argument over which flavor was best.
:-:-:
That night, after dinner, Brena told her dad that she was going to check something out at work, and that she'd be home at about 10:00. After a bit more detail, he finally let her go.
The atmosphere of Mai-Yo after 8pm was very different than the atmosphere before. Brena realized this quickly as soon as she walked through the door. Most of the lights were off, save the lamps that hung down from the ceiling. The bar opened at 5, but wasn't quite as illuminated then as it was when Brena arrived.
The restaurant was more crowded than Brena had ever seen it, and she noticed that most of them were young adults. Everyone had their eyes focused on Hiroto, who was currently taking a drink of water. He smiled at the audience before him and gave a quick introduction to the next song.
"Enjoying the show?"
Brena turned and looked at Naomi, who was currently taking the role of hostess. Brena smiled a small smile and looked back at Hiroto. "Yeah, I guess I am. He's got a great voice."
Naomi smiled and leaned on her podium. "He really does. But don't go getting any ideas, he's mine."
Brena looked at the hostess in shock. "What do you mean?"
"Relax, girl I'm only messing with ya! But seriously, just don't."
Brena was confused, to say the least. She looked back to the stage and shook her head. "You're crazy, Naomi. But I'm pretty sure that's how you're gonna win him over."
Naomi laughed at her statement. "The funny thing is, that is how I won him over. He said so himself." At Brena's expression Nomi smiled and said "We're already dating, sweetie."
Brena laughed at the situation, but managed to play it off. "I knew it."
The two shared a laugh and Naomi sat Brena down at a table for two that was missing a chair. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, I actually just had dinner, I was just interested in how this place looked after I left."
Naomi smiled and followed Brena's gaze to the stage. "I'm sure you'll love it." More people entered at that time, and Noami quickly became focused again. "I can't wait to see you audition!" was the last thing Naomi said to Brena that evening.
So, Brena sat and watched Hiroto take in his current fame and popularity with everyone that sat in front of him and couldn't help but smile. She couldn't wait for her chance to be on the stage doing just what he was doing.
