Hello all, thank you for the reviews~ :*

I do hope you enjoy the chapter and I will update again as soon as I can :)

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"Ah, hello Amu-chan!" Tadase answers, hoping he didn't sound as awkward as he felt.

"Hey Tadase-kun, what are you doing here?"

Tadase comes out of his hiding spot, walking closer to her, "I am just passing through on my way home."

"Oh...so why were you watching me then?" Amu asks, frowning as she gets up from the park bench.

Tadase sweatdropped, obviously surprised that she had even noticed him.

"Erm...I erm-"

"Ehhh you were watching Amu Tadase? How stalkerish~"

Tadase flushed in embarrassment as Ikuto jumped down from the tree he was lounging in with ease, landing on his feet and turned to smirk at the blonde whilst Amu, on the other hand, was not amused.

"Were you watching me too Ikuto?"

Ikuto shrugged nonchalantly, "Hmmm maybe? I couldn't hear anything of what you were saying anyway. I was actually sleeping up there until your loud girly squeals with your friend woke me up. What was she helping you with anyway? I listened but I'm not certain of what exactly you two were talking about."

"It's none of your business."

Ikuto and Tadase froze immediately, recognising the voice and turned to see Aiko standing there with one hand in his pocket and his school bag casually slung over his shoulder, he had a tight frown on his face telling them that he was not in a good mood.

"A-ah, Aiko-kun! Good afternoon!" Tadase greeted meekly, wary of Aiko's demeanour.

"Hn"

The two watched as he came towards Amu, kisses her cheek, wraps his arm around her waist before turning to look at them.

"What do you two want with my sister?"

"Erm, I was just passing through. I'll see you two tomorrow!" Tadase says in a rush before hurrying off much to Aiko's amusement.

Amu felt her own lips twitching to form the same expression as her brother but a part of her did feel a little bad for Tadase; Aiko can be pretty damn scary if you set him off.

"I need to go too. I have a package I need to receive at home. See you Amu."

The twins watch as Ikuto chara changes and leaves making Aiko's smirk grow wider. Amu sees this and shakes her head.

"Must you scare everyone away?"

"Only if they have certain intentions towards you then yes."

"You make it sound like I'm as pretty as Utau when I'm not."

Aiko pokes his sister on the forehead causing her to pout cutely at him, "You're beautiful Amu, inside and out hence why I have to protect you."

Amu blushes pink at this but Aiko continues.

"Honestly I try not to think how even more gorgeous you'll be once you're older because when that happens; you would grow taller, your arms and legs would be longer, your body would develop into a woman, you would wear makeup and you would be much more confident of yourself hell maybe bolder even. I bet by the time you turn 16, I would be walking around with a kendo stick to hit anybody that drools over you or even looks at you in a way that I deem inappropriate."

Amu playfully pinches his cheek, her own cheeks turning to a rosy red shade in embarrassment, "Idiot."

Aiko ignores his stinging cheek after Amu finally lets him go and kisses her temple before tightening his grip on her waist, "I'm being serious, I cannot protect you all the time."

"I never asked you to."

"Oh yes and watch my sister be sucked into an abyss of early romance, deluded fantasies and naivety? Oh, that truly does sound lovely. Look, you and I both know that I was once a side of you; the selfish, protective, callous, cautious and cynical side of you. I know you Amu and being deeply romantically invested in somebody isn't something you want right now. Sure you want to explore dating, fine I got no issues only that you don't use words like love so easily compared to the male Guardians that has confessed to you."

Amu blushed and Aiko deadpans, "You do get what I'm telling you aren't you?"

"Yeah. Of course, I do, we did share a mind once so naturally our thoughts are the same, it's just...Ikuto and Tadase have really been there for me you know? I don't know how to reject them delicately."

Aiko rolls his eyes, "If they're ballsy enough to say they love you then they're man enough to hear a rejection and if they don't want to hang with you anymore because you said no then fuck them, it's their loss."

Amu smiles and kisses her brother's cheek causing him to smirk, "Let's go home."

The twins head off, walking side by side with their hands brushing against each other every so often.

Tsukiyomi Residence

Ikuto was surprised when he returned home to find the package he was waiting for already inside along with Kukai next to it, reading the description on the large box.

"Why are you here?"

"Yo! I came here to see Utau but she's busy practising her new dance routine and doesn't want any disturbances."

"She's not practising in the gym room is she?"

"No, her own room, why?"

"Good because I want to set this thing up ASAP."

"Can I help?"

"Fine, I wasn't very keen on carrying this heavy ass box up myself."

Kukai chuckled and together with Ikuto, they picked up the heavy box making both males glad that they had each other to carry the large box. Ikuto led and slowly the two teenagers carefully moved up the staircase steps carrying the box together.

With the Hinamori Twins

"You think Yua likes you?" Amu repeats.

Aiko nods causing his sister to frown.

"What exactly makes you so sure?"

"The look in her eyes. There was something so..sweet and gentle. Innocent even."

"Ohhhhh, like when one of our fans come up to us to confess right?"

Aiko nods whilst Amu's frowns deepened, tilting her head in confusion.

"Since when does something like that bother you? I mean, you're used it to more than anybody."

Surprised by her lacklustre response, he narrows his eyes at his sister, "She's your friend, won't that be awkward for you?"

"Idiot, you're my brother. As long as you two are happy, why would it bother me?"

For the first time since he came to the park that day, Aiko smiles.

Later that Night, Hinamori Residence

Aiko frowned, tapping the curved end of his pencil repeatedly against his sketchbook. Amu already had her article design draft but he hasn't decided on what to do for his. He couldn't pick Amu's brain for her help because she was busy downstairs with Dad, their father was her with taking pictures. They're even doing a video tutorial on how to do back-to-school hairstyles Amu was doing for her article.

Aiko turned to his laptop and unlocked it quickly, to try & search for some inspiration again but nothing suited his fancy thus far so obviously he wasn't very confident that he could find something. He sighed deeply which caught the attention of his mother that was walking past the door.

"Aiko? Something the matter?"

"I can't figure out the layout for my interview article" grumbles the irate pinkette.

Midori smiles and takes the sketchpad from the teen, "Let me help you dear."

Aiko watched, focused as he looks on over his mother's shoulder as she draws three different layouts and even indicates what colour she would recommend for font and background. The two spend the next hour discussing the design of Aiko's article layout.

Downstairs

Tsumugu was impressed by his daughter's layout, it was very well thought-out, clear contrast and most importantly, eye-grabbing. When he complimented her, Amu bashfully admitted she had help from her hairdresser who gave her a couple of pointers causing her father to smile even wider. He was proud to know that his daughter gave credit when credit is due.

"Papa, when can you develop the photos?"

"It won't take long, I can give it to you in the morning the day after tomorrow."

"That's good. Aiko and I will be meeting the editor on that day and he would want hardcopies of the article drafts."

"So you and Aiko already have your softcopy drafts set?"

"I'm halfway done with mine but Aiko is struggling. You know him, Mr Perfectionist."

Tsumugu chuckled, "You were the perfectionist before you had split into two, mind you."

Amu laughed, it was great how comfortable she was with her family now. They knew everything now; the Guardians, the charas, Easter, Embryo and so on. It was really good not to feel lonely anymore.

Suddenly there was a loud shout of "YES!" that almost made daughter and father jump in their seats. They heard Midori's loud and amused laughter realising all was well until Tsumugu realised that Ami may have woken up. He rushed upstairs quickly and Amu followed just to see what Aiko was up to.

Upstairs

Aiko was thrilled, he kissed his mother hard on the cheek and once he saw Amu, he ran over, picked her up bridal style and swung her around laughing causing his sister to giggle at his excitement.

"I do hope you remember that our soft copy submission is tomorrow."

Aiko stopped and frowned and Amu felt her lips twitch, wanting to snicker at him but their mother caught their attention.

"Why is the magazine is in such a rush anyway? You've only just started school."

Amu sighed after her twin had put her back on her feet, "Apparently, everyone is working overtime on the revamp, everyone is changing a lot in the articles they had or hell starting a whole new one and all of it has to be ready in time for the deadline."

Aiko nods until he remembers what he was supposed to tell his mother, "Tomorrow, Amu and I have a group photoshoot and interview with the Guardians after school."

"Ah, but a group interview? I have a feeling you two will have your hands full especially after what you kids had told me of their reaction when you told your friends you joined the magazine."

Aiko scoffed, "The only one who can cause trouble is Rima. She is the most pissed."

"Nagi may be a problem if that is the case. You know how those two argue." Amu reminds him.

Midori smiles sympathetically the pinkettes who looked troubled, "Regardless, I know you two will be fine. You've always proven to able to handle yourselves and the situation well when the times call for it so don't worry too much."

The twins smile at their mother's words, "Hai!"

Tsukiyomi Residence

Utau stared at the huge, big, tough-looking thing in front of her.

"You bought me a punching bag...why exactly?"

"So that you don't break my phone again."

Utau flushes in embarrassment immediately and mumbles something under her breath about she didn't mean to but Ikuto wasn't listening and instead, turns to look at the punching bag one last time. It was huge, sturdy and dark blue in colour. It looked strong and sure to be a good stress relief for Utau to punch the hell out of whenever she was in one of her moods. He then remembers what he wanted to tell his sister.

"Thank Souma by the way, he helped in putting this up."

The blonde's eyes widen in surprise, "He helped you?"

"Yeah but he's already left saying something about his chef brother was cooking or whatever. Call him later after dinner and thank him."

Without another word, Ikuto leaves his sister in the gym to ponder over her thoughts.

Why would Kukai help Ikuto with this?

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Have a good day! :)