"It is our first time in a host club. I'm a bit nervous."
Kururi looked around apprehensively.
"I closed the club for the night so you ladies need not worry."
Izaya was stunned at Shiki's gentlemanly ways.
"Listen to the yakuza and let the champagne flow!"
"You're underage, no bottle for you."
Izaya took the champagne from Mairu."
"Hey! Not fair!"
"Izaya-nii is right, no drinking."
"What-ever."
Mairu rolled her eyes dramatically. Izaya chuckled. He was not sure of what Shiki had told them to account for his being here but Izaya decided to simply trust him. His presence made Izaya considerably less nervous. Izaya could chat with his sisters without being paralyzed by apprehension. To his surprise he found mannerisms in them that he shared. In an attempt to piece back a cohesive sense of identity Izaya had studied his own facial expressions at length as well so he recognized it easily on someone else.
The experience was a strange one. Izaya felt displaced as if he was floating in midair and spinning at the same time. He was tempted to down a bottle of champagne but he decided against it. Already he was almost giddy. His sisters were no longer figments of a past that was not his but real girls whose warm bodies were casually pressed to his in innocent familiarity. It was a confirmation of kinship, normally teenage girls would never act so carefree around him. Briefly, he wondered just how Saki felt about it. But now was not the time to consider such matters.
"-so I took her bra and hid it. Served her good!"
Mairu beamed at this bit of wisdom.
"Bullies can be so annoying."
This was Kururi's version of events, more subdued. Izaya shifted a bit uncomfortably.
"Do you girls have bullying problems?"
"Nothing we can't handle."
"Still, Mairu…keep me informed, okay? I mean it."
She frowned, surprised.
"Gee, we've survived just fine without nii-chan's protection so far. It's not like we need you."
But Izaya believed that the bravado was hollow. He straightened up and looked into their eyes.
"Next time they bother you let me know. I'll see what I can do."
Izaya flashed the blade in front of their widening eyes. Shiki wondered at it. At length Mairu whistled.
"You're suddenly cool, baka-nii! Who are you and what have you done with our good for nothing brother?"
Both sisters stared him down and Izaya's disorientation climbed a notch. The horrible suspicion that they knew everything mingled with the consciousness of being acting a part of sorts. His smile was watery and a pale shadow of the radiance he so easily cast as a host.
"It's the new clothes. What do you girls think?"
"Flashy, won't help you mingle in a crowd, that's for sure."
"You look great, Izaya-nii."
Izaya actually blushed.
"So, I don't suppose you guys got me anything?"
"You can enjoy your company, be very glad for that and count yourself lucky."
"We ran out of allowance already."
"Stingy parents, you know how they are."
Izaya of course had no idea. He was not looking forward to meeting his parents, their parents to be more precise, and apparently that would not become an issue anytime soon if ever. Izaya did not know if he was relieved or disappointed.
The party was a lively one with Izaya finding Mairu's sarcastic retorts much to his liking (even when addressed at him) and realizing that Kururi was a sweet girl. But something was bothering him.
"By the way…why are you wearing your gym class outfit?"
"It's comfortable."
"She always wears it."
"Ah…I see."
Mairu rolled her eyes behind the glasses.
"Don't tell me you just noticed it now?"
"Of course not."
Mairu leered at him with a mischievous smile.
"Looks like you're getting mighty friendly with Shiki-san."
Izaya's flush returned and deepened. He coughed in an attempt of coming across as too mature to even answer but was all too aware that he failed.
"Izaya is very useful."
"Oh, I bet he is!"
She giggled girlishly, Izaya was at a loss. Kururi came to the rescue.
"It's okay, Mairu is just being…well, Mairu."
This provoked Mairu into jumping on her sister and gleefully squeezing her breasts.
"Boob attack!"
Izaya had to laugh. The party was a success of the crazy kind. Later, he stood on the curb as a car of Shiki's organization drove them away, waving.