Yay, more reviews, more happy readers! I'm so glad! Well, I must sadly announce that my long term of holidays is coming to an end. College reopens on Monday, and I will again be plunged back into the world of pending updates and writer's block. Wish me luck.
Happy New Years to everyone in advance. Hope it's memorable for everyone. And here's the next chapter as promised.
And those who read Furuba I request you to try out the new stories I've written for that fandom.
A/N
*Oden-Boiled eggs, radish, konnyaku, and fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavored broth.
"Ooh, who's Haruki?" Kimi questioned Shouko mischievously.
"Huh?" Shouko looked up from her notebook to realize that Kimi had taken her cell phone out of her bag.
"Give that back Kimi!" Shouko lunged towards the girl, which only resulted in Kimi neatly backing away from her.
"Hey Shouko, sorry for not messaging, I was busy with college assignments. He's a college guy?" asked Kimi with a wicked gleam in her eye.
"That's enough Kimi! Really! I don't like it when people read my texts like that! You certainly wouldn't like it if I did the same to you."
"Eh, fair enough," Kimi said before handing Shouko her phone back. Shouko immediately stuffed it into her skirt pocket.
"So…are you gonna tell me?" The indigo-color haired girl gave her friend a pouting look.
"Tell you what?" Shouko took her seat again. Break had just begun and half the class was empty.
"Who's Haruki? Come on out with it." Kimi pestered poor little Shouko.
"Ah…well he's…"
"I already know he's older than us, he's a college student for God's sake! Where on earth did you make friends with a college boy Shouko?"
"He's Hihara senpai's brother," Shouko ventured slightly wondering how much to tell her inquisitive friend.
"Hihara senpai? You mean the trumpeter that was selected for the concours?"
"Yes," Shouko clarified wishing the cross-questioning would stop.
"So let me get this straight. You're on good terms with Hihara senpai's older brother even though you and Hihara senpai don't interact that much at school?"
That sounds about right.
Shouko gave her head a slight nod.
"Woah…I don't believe this Shouko. How did you manage to become friends with a college guy?"
Shouko hesitated before answering; she didn't want to explain her whole situation to Kimi because Kimi would keep on picking at her until she was left as a blob of nerves.
"He needed some help. And according to Hihara senpai I was the only one who could do it."
Kimi raised an eyebrow as though expecting more details but Shouko pursed her lips and atared out the window.
"So…are you going out with him?"
Shouko's head whipped around fast enough for her to crick her neck. Rubbing it, she stated in a firm voice, "No. I'm not going out with him. He and I are more like…brother and sister," she finished.
"Pity. Can I have him?" Kimi laughed at the stony face Shouko was bearing. "I'm just kidding girl."
Shouko fixed her gaze onto her hands. She was still feeling muddled about Haruki. Kimi wasn't someone she had wanted to entrust the information to.
"Is he handsome?" Kimi asked suddenly, putting her hands down on the desk.
"Pardon me?" Shouko could not believe what her companion had just asked.
"Judging by Hihara senpai's appearance, I'm guessing his oniisama must be as good-looking as he is. Or is he even better?" Kimi winked causing Shouko to turn a delicate shade of crimson.
"Um…well…he's very tall…much taller than Hihara senpai. And his hair is dark green but the style is the same. He's a basketball player," she concluded.
"I see. Well what a surprise from you Shouko." Kimi sprang away from the desk and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going?" she called after her friend.
"I was going to get a juice box. I'll see you later. I can see that Hihara senpai's oniisama is having some positive effects on you. This is truly unexpected!" she skipped out of the room.
Shouko smiled gently and rested her face in her palm.
Yes, very unexpected indeed.
|/\/\/\/\/\/|
Haruki quickly texted out his message. At least now he had an idea of what to do Thursday evening. The idea was not what one would call ideal but it was light, casual, and would definitely be fun. He quickly tapped the keys mentioning the time, location and expected wardrobe. After the message had been sent he flopped back against the pillows.
Kazuki had beat him at 'rock, paper, scissors' so Haruki was lying shirtless on his bed while his brother went for a shower. He stretched, the action revealing well toned biceps and a perfect, flat muscled abdomen. Sunday was the day he was waiting for. Nagashima sensei had fixed his meeting to bring Shouko along on that day. Shouko would have to explain in what ways Haruki had improved her life. If her answers were satisfactory then Haruki would get the full extra credit.
The bathroom door opened and Kazuki stepped out, hair damp and a towel wrapped around his waist. "Go ahead bro," he said as he shook water out of his hair.
Haruki descended down from the top bunk and reached for the towel he had draped across the chair back.
"Were you texting Fuyumi chan?" Kazuki asked reaching for his deodorant.
"What makes you ask that?"
"Well, your inbox is filled with only her messages these days."
Haruki paused in the action of placing a foot inside the bathroom. "You've been reading my messages?"
The younger boy flushed and hastened in his speech. "Well when you became all moody last weekend I thought there might be an answer in you SMS inbox so I just-ARGH!" Kazuki recoiled as Haruki gripped him into a powerful half-nelson.
"You should know better than that Zuki," the college boy said as he tackled him onto the bed.
"Come on bro! Have mercy on me!" Haruki messed up Kazuki's hair while Kazuki wriggled frantically trying to free himself from his brother's grip. The towel around his waist loosened slightly.
"You better think about you actions. Outside." Haruki gave a playful push that was strong enough for Kazuki to land outside their bedroom door. The towel was now perilously dangling on his lower hips. He made a grab at it just as Haruki slammed the door shut.
"Hey Haruki! Oniisama! Open up! I'm a guy in a towel here!" A series of pounding knocks issued on the door.
Ignoring them, Haruki stepped into the bathroom and locked the door.
|/\/\/\/\/\/|
"Riding on your Kawasaki is more difficult in a skirt," Shouko commented as Haruki helped her down.
"It was worth it though," Haruki replied as he took in the adorable way she looked in her outfit.
Since Haruki had told her their next outing was going to be highly casual one, she had selected a light blue denim skirt which had small pink designs near the hem and a matching pink top. Small clips had been secured in her hair and she wore knee length white socks.
"So what is this place?" Shouko questioned her oniisama as she looked at her surroundings. Shouko was still blushing a little more than what she normally would have and Haruki's presence had done nothing to relieve it. She was jittery at best and clueless as to what to expect from Haruki.
Haruki secured his vehicle in the parking lot before answering Shouko's query. "Well, the joint we're going to is called Ken's. It's basically a small restaurant of sorts."
Why on earth did the idea of having dinner in a local restaurant sound so much like a date?
Shouko mentally banged herself, forcing her brain to not do anything foolish. After all, Haruki wasn't behaving any different than usual so why should she? The person in front of her was beyond her limit to be perceived as anything except as a brother. How much of an age gap was there between them anyway? 4, say, maybe 5 years or so. She had never asked him when his birthday was.
"Are you all right?" The green haired youth walked up to the teal haired girl and touched her arm. Haruki ignored the fact that his stomach did a mini back flip at the contact. "You were spacing out a bit. Is the heat getting to you?" He looked up at the warm August sky which was just starting to darken slightly.
"No I'm all right," Shouko said immediately and shook her head. "I'm sorry," she added meeting his eyes. "I was just thinking that there's a lot I haven't asked you, even though you're my oniisan."
Hoping that sounded all right she waited for his response. Haruki looked blank for a moment before his lips twisted into the same understanding smile that she grown accustomed to.
"We have all evening. You can ask me anything you want. But first, food. I'm hungry." Haruki's grip moved from her arm to her wrist and she guided her to eatery. Shouko lowered her face slightly as the blood rushed to her cheeks again.
Upon entering Ken's, Shouko noticed the odd way the place had been set up. On entering, there were several small tables scattered across some distance which could seat about 4 people. The rest of the restaurant had been cleared and there a number of marble countertops, each bearing a small stove, a spice rack, and cooking utensils.
"Um…Haruki kun?" Shouko allowed tentatively.
"Hmm?"
"This place…it's…different." To which Haruki laughed and laid a hand on the top of her head.
"Oh yeah I never mentioned the specialty of this place did I?" He gestured towards the countertops. "This restaurant doesn't serve it's own food. Rather, it gives customers their menu, and the ingredients needed to prepare their order. In short," he pointed towards a pair standing in front of a mixing bowl near one of the stoves. "We make our own food here."
Curious, Shouko glanced at the space. What an odd idea. But yet…it was somehow different…refreshing.
"Kazuki and I used to come here a lot," he added. "Shall we sit down?"
"Oh, yes!"
They occupied a table next to the window and soon enough a man scuttled towards them. He was wearing no uniform but offered what looked like a menu card.
"What's your care Shouko?" Haruki asked her after perusing his menu.
"Oden sounds good."
"All right. I'll take teriyaki."
"Thank you. If you would please wait at counter 4, I'll bring in the ingredients." He walked away.
"Have you ever cooked Shouko?" Haruki asked his kouhai.
"Does toast count?" she asked humorously.
Haruki chuckled at that.
"What about you Haruki kun? You know how to cook?"
"I had to learn. When your parent's occupations require them to go out of town every weekend and you have a brother who eats like a hippo, you're not really left with much of a choice."
Shouko giggled at his description of Kazuki.
"So this'll be a first for you then."
"I guess so."
"Let's try it out." With a grin he led her over to their counter.
|/\/\/\/\/\/|
"Careful Shouko. If you let the broth remain idle like that, the vegetables will burn."
"Oh, sorry," Shouko said weakly as she hastily grabbed the spatula. Haruki really knew his stuff; she had been watching him enviously as he smoothly tossed together meat and vegetables while dashing on the right amounts of spice and salt.
"Here, mix it all from the bottom so that the pepper doesn't concentrate in one place. Otherwise you're going to chock your food while eating." Shouko froze when she felt Haruki come up behind her. One strong arm settled on top of hers while a wide palmed hand softly gripped hers. If she had fainted at that moment, she would have done so with a smile.
"Like this," Haruki muttered over her shoulder, his breath tickling her ear as his hand moved hers in the proper stirring method. He smelled of cologne, something that was a cross between woody bark and leather. Hoping her hands weren't trembling she tried to focus on the food she was preparing.
"I think it's steamed long enough. Go ahead and switch off the stove." Haruki backed away and the magic evaporated. Shouko shook her head and fiddled around for the knob.
If she had looked over her shoulder at that very moment, she might have noticed the faint pink blotches spreading over Haruki's cheeks.
|/\/\/\/\/|
"That was a really good meal Haruki kun," commented Shouko as Haruki drove through the streets of Yokohama.
"Yeah? Well I'm glad you liked it."
"Maybe we could do this again someday." The words were out of her mouth and she froze when she realized it. Was she inadvertently hinting to Haruki that she was hoping he would take her out again?
The time at the restaurant had been fun. Shouko had asked question after question and Haruki had satiated all of her queries. Perhaps she might have enjoyed it more if she hadn't felt like a girl going out on her first date. The atmosphere had been like that.
Haruki slowed down as they neared a stoplight. "You want to go again someday?"
"Ah…well that…if you're not too busy then-"
"Relax Shouko. If I ever become free I'll call and let you know all right?"
"Okay." Shouko suppressed a yawn with her hand. She hadn't gotten enough sleep last night due to her anxiety as to what might happen when she saw Haruki again.
"Late night?" he asked as he waited for the signal to change color.
"You could say that." Shouko resisted the urge to rest her cheek against Haruki's warm, broad shoulder. Her eyelids were drooping slightly, the effect of the hot filling meal she had eaten. There was no chance of her getting started on next week's assignment tonight.
As the Kawasaki started to move again, Shouko upset her balance and quickly gripped Haruki's waist to keep steady.
"You all right?" he asked while navigating the roads.
"Yeah, sorry. Had a little clumsy moment." Shouko was grateful his back was to her.
They arrived at her gate and Haruki offered her a hand to help her down.
"Thanks for tonight Haruki kun. I had a lot of fun."
"Same here. And don't forget you have to come with me to the university this Sunday. You might want to think about how I've helped, though I feel I haven't, and if you've changed in any way." His face suddenly changed expression and became much more childish, making him an exact replica of Kazuki. The puppy eyes and protruding pouting lip were the same.
"Please do a good job, or else I won't get full credit."
Shouko laughed aloud at the way he had delivered his words. Haruki also grinned and patted her head.
"Well good night then. I'll see you Sunday."
|/\/\/\/\/\/\/|
"Don't be nervous, just relax and speak normally. Be yourself," Haruki said reassuringly as he walked beside Shouko up the steps leading to Yokohama University.
"I've already laid out what I'm planning to say. Don't worry about me oniisan! It's all good." Shouko smiled brightly at him, and Haruki resisted the urge to rub his face against hers. She really was too cute for her own good.
"Haruki kun!" a voice called out from behind them.
The pair barely had time to glance back. To Shouko's bewilderment, Haruki's right arm had suddenly been gripped by two slender hands. They belonged to a young woman who looked to be around Haruki's age.
"Ah, Sakuragi chan," Haruki said looking slightly embarrassed at the scene.
Shouko silently observed the unknown female. She was much taller than her, putting her on an equal footing with Haruki. Long red hair trailed over her shoulders in waves. Large blue eyes glittered like sapphires in a face that bore a flawless complexion. Her mouth was generous, and she was wearing shorts that revealed much of her shapely legs.
"This is my sibling, Fuyumi Shouko," Haruki offered when Sakuragi didn't say anything and seemed content with just hugging his arm.
Who is she? Shouko thought to herself. Haruki kun's girlfriend? Did he even have a girlfriend?
Sakuragi looked at Shouko for a few seconds before giving a smile that looked forced.
"So you're the little girl that's been stealing Haruki's time away from me."
"Sakuragi…" Haruki said in a reprimanding tone.
Shouko felt herself shrink a few inches. Girlfriend or not, this woman definitely had some claim over Haruki that she didn't. That was obvious; she was just a temporary sister after all. An unexpected wave of jealousy and hurt washed over her. How she wished she had the courage to hold Haruki's arm like that!
"So when does the brats program end anyway?" Sakuragi asked, resting her cheek on Haruki's shoulder.
"Don't call it that. I think it's a good way to bond with other people."
"Thank God I earned my extra credits in other ways. I would have simply died if I had to spend time with a kid. It gets boring talking to someone younger don't you think?"
Shouko was trembling; from annoyance, frustration, or jealousy she didn't know. Just who did this person think she was?
"I'd better get going Sakuragi chan. My meeting starts soon. Come on Shouko." Haruki reached for Shouko's hand, dislodged himself from the other woman's hands and led her inside the building. Shouko kept her eyes trained towards the ground; the backs of her eyes felt prickly and hot. She prayed she wasn't going to break down.
I think this is the longest chapter I've written for this story so far. I hope everyone found it satisfactory.
Next chapter: the meeting with Nagashima sensei, and dealing with Sakuragi.
Please review!