BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
-TheSilentReader-
CHAPTER 37: What?!
Did this happen before? Yuuki wasn't sure, but he felt that this had happened already . . . both of them in the same bus? Sitting closely to her? Yeah, that was months ago, with an extra in the form of Fukuzawa Yumi.
"So,"
"So . . . ?"
He fidgeted with a zippered pocket of the bag pack on his lap. He pulled the slider left and right, zipping and unzipping the teeth. He must think of a topic before his nervousness got the better of him. Finally, he settled on their common ground, Yumi. "So, how was Lillian? I heard from Yumi that the elections are coming soon."
Unlike him, she was unnaturally calm. Or so that's what he saw. "Yeah. I am running for Yumi-sama's place."
"I heard you ran for Rosa Chinensis last year."
Her brows drew near each other with a mere millimeter; it was a very minute movement but it was still there, marring her face as if a bitter memory was remembered. But within a fraction of a second, it was gone. "Yup. I lost though, by Onee-sama. But I expected it; I wasn't trying my best to win, I wasn't even campaigning back then. Didn't you know that I secretly voted for her?"
Yuuki asked, even though he wasn't sure if it was proper: "Then, why did you even run in the first place?"
She smiled. "It's a secret."
"Can I guess?"
"Ugh, well, okay."
He seemed to think deeply, "Maybe, your plan is to lose in the first place? Or something happened to you and Yumi back then that you wanted to stay away from Yu—the Yamayurikai, so you challenge them in the elections."
How . . . how . . . ?! "How did you know all about that?"
He looked away to the window. "I don't actually know the details; I just guessed. You two had this love-hate relationship before." He gulped . . . "Last Christmas was not particularly bright for her. I can hear her grumped from her room back then."
"It's that bad?!"
He looked back at her, and managed a smile. "Yeah, why? I thought that it's because she couldn't find a petite soeur yet, and Sachiko-sama might be pestering her already. You know, she was very happy when she informed me that she already had a little sister."
She was silent for a moment. She felt that she needed to say it . . . to apologize. "I'm so sorry for that."
He grinned. "What are you apologizing for? I mean, thanks to you, she was back on her toes. Getting a petite soeur did complete Yumi."
She snorted. "Based from what you're saying, you don't know a bit about what happened then."
He sighed. He was getting too worked up—or rather, too concerned whenever the topic was about Touko and Yumi. But why couldn't he help himself? "I don't know, and I wouldn't pry. The important thing's that she was happy again when she became you Onee-sama. She really has this tendency to be the mother hen. She does that to me sometimes. I just don't say it to her."
"Then, that will be delivered the next time I see Onee-sama." She teased.
He frowned. "That's not cool."
She raised both her hands when she saw him alarmed. "I was kidding. Why would you even think of that?"
Crap. Why was it that she has this reflex? She was always like this whenever she noticed her Onee-sama had the same saddened face—crap.
"Because you said so!"
"Am I that bad?" Ugh, why did I ask this question? It's too late to—
"No! I mean, it's embarrassing. When it's you who'll say that to her."
When two "friends" happen to be traveling the same direction at the same time, it's pretty hard to ignore them. You cannot just look at the other direction and just . . . ignore him, and neither was that other person. Even though you happen to get separated because the bus was almost full and there were two chairs vacant but the first one was nearer to the driver's seat and the other one was at the back of the bus. Somehow, the ride would be too boring, and one of them would get tired of being too away (with no one to talk to, just to kill the boredom) and would rather stand up near you than to sit on that chair at the back of the bus. Well, with Touko and Yuuki, the latter had less patience in this thing, and had the less pride. Someone was bound to get bored, get past the shy stage, and get over it.
But that was not the case. He got into the bus first, and the last seat was beside him. Of course, someone would break the silence, and it happened that it was he who did it.
And somehow, the awkwardness that each of them felt disintegrated as time passed by.
"Well, I am running for Rosa Chinensis. And I intend to win." She said proudly.
"I my case, I'm in leave. All I need to do is to study for the exams."
"Who's managing the Hanadera council then?"
He answered, after a few seconds. "I still oversee it, but most of my work I gave to Yano-kun already."
Somehow, he felt nothing when he said his name in front of Touko. Why's that?
"Yano-san." She repeated.
"Yes. Yano-san."
"Is he running for president?"
He snorted. "He is. He's quite determined to replace me."
She grumbled. "What a pain that is when we'll work together in the next school festivals of our academies."
Somehow, he was relieved that she didn't like his apprentice. "You really don't like him, do you?"
Her voice was louder and less controled than usual. "I don't. He's egotistical, braggart . . . and he has blond hair. I hate men with fake bleach-blond hair."
"You really don't like him." It was more of convenience.
"Do you?"
He looked away, since, he already got past that feeling of hatred—no, strong word—annoyance (?)—nah, too mild—for Yano. Well, it was all over now. Nothing would change if he'd hold grudge now. "First of all, I picked him as my apprentice. I saw something in him even though he was a delinquent. He joined his club just to stay away from his obligations in the school. He always picked fights. But he was mindful of the Hanadera tradition, more so than me. He couldn't have picked a club if he isn't. But he was just uncontrollable."
Yano wasn't too bad for an apprentice—he recognized that. But when it comes to Touko . . . .
"So, that's when you came in. What did you do to get him into the council?" She asked.
"Challenged him in a fight. If he won, he'd be free from the council's control but if I did, then he'd join us. I knew he had honor. When he lost, he accepted his punishment, even though he didn't like it."
Daang. She seemed more interested about Yano, even though she repeatedly say that she doesn't like him.
Inwardly, he sighed.
"He doesn't appear like that to me." She admitted.
"Why?"
"He's a jerk."
"Okay. I won't argue with you." True that. "Maybe, he just wanted attention."
"From me?" She was surprised that she said that.
"I . . . I don't know. What?! Why? Did he bother you that much back in Lillian school festival? Well, aside for the . . ." He won't mention that kiss. He won't.
Her voice took a lower pitch than usual. "Well, he was such a pain. He's my first kiss, you know."
He defended himself. "It doesn't count. That was a play. There was no emotion involved, especially with that kind of work." This defence was not for her . . . not really . . . but for himself.
"You mean, acting?"
He said, grimly. "Yes, it doesn't mean anything."
"Are you saying that to make me feel better? What you're saying won't sound good to Shimako-sama . . . you kissed her then."
"It was just a kiss. But she wasn't the person that I want to do that with."
She accused. "You're very harsh."
"She knew about it. We told each other that. We made it clear that it didn't matter." He said, defiantly.
"Are . . . are you hurt by that?"
He asked back. "Are you hurt that Yano-san took your first kiss?"
"It is important." She hesitated.
"Is it really important?"
"It was my first. You can never forget your firsts."
"Then—"
"Then, of course, I'm hurt by it! He's the last person I wanted to kiss me." She blurted.
Two elderly women sitting across the next aisle was staring at them as if they were foul-smelling, rotten eggs. The two began to eye them as they whispered to each other—which was heard across Yuuki and Touko's hearing range—terribly loudly, "Young couples these days . . . they don't know which and where is private."
Unknown with each other's thoughts . . .
What?! A couple? She rejected me even before I confessed, for heaven's sake . . .
Couple? I couldn't even accept his feelings even though I like—no. Yeah.
They became silent for a while; they did not bother to apologize to the couple who were disturbed because of their conversation.
She suddenly said, in defense for her onee-sama's friend. "Surely, you were satisfied with yours with Shimako-sama."
I wouldn't deny that. Shimako was one woman who made me sway myself from you. I almost want to date her just to forget you . . . but that would be too harsh. Shimako-san deserves more than that. ". . ."
"Why aren't you saying anything about her?"
He admitted. "I don't want to. It hurt the both of us."
"She likes you." She shook his arm, as if convincing him. "Why, didn't you like her? She's perfect! She's someone I admire; her kindness—"
Idiot! I can't believe you're endorsing her to me. You're so harsh, Touko-san!
"I like someone else. It would be cruel to her if we dated and I have another person in my mind instead of her."
The bus was already at the hospital. Touko did not notice that. But she did notice Yuuki frowning before standing up from his seat and scooting away with the crowd, leaving her sitting. He was not looking back.
Those two elderly women eyed them again. But this time, Touko and Yuuki didn't notice.
He just lost it. The moment they were talking about that kiss of Yano and Touko, it made him cringe. He was voicing what has been on his mind that it was just a play, nothing could be gained from that . . . he thought that that was what Touko was thinking. That she disregarded that kiss, that it didn't matter, than it was all for competition. Well, against him—because that was this was all about, right? He accepted that role because he wanted to take spite of her. He was being played on for months before the Yamayurikai play, and she responded in kind. It was all to hurt each other. He could have objected—he had that power, but he didn't.
It hurt Shimako too. He assumed that for her, it was nothing, but when he found out that she had feelings for him, everything backfired. He could have accepted her feelings and get on with it—to forget that liking Touko ever happened, but he can't do it. He had to be brave to face the consequences of his actions—and as a result, he became honest with his feelings for Shimako, no matter how hurting it was.
Now, that he knew how Touko was hurt by everything that happened two seasons ago, it made him remember the things that he shouldn't have done.
He looked back, and saw Touko stepping down the bus. He braced himself to gain courage, and walked towards her.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault!"
He was about to bow down, when he heard Touko said, "STOP! Please, do not apologize all the time!"
But he still bowed. "It's all my fault. I thought we got over it; we told each other that we got over it last Christmas, right? Turns out, I still feel ashamed that I did not do anything. That I played along because of my selfishness. And months ago, I shouldn't have conf—"
"Oh, Maria-sama . . . please, stand up! I don't want to replay that scene in M station!"
M station? What do you mean by . . . ?
"What replay?" A voice from an old man revert them back, and found out that they were still in front of the hospital grounds; the bus had left, the people had walked into the buildings. Only they remained. And a very slim, aged man, wearing a white coat and a thick black sweater underneath it, was smiling at them.
He jumped, and tried to fix himself before acknowledging the senior's presence. "Matsudaira-sensei!"
Touko was equally surprised. "Oji-sama!"
Please, just act normal. Hold the phone—did he hear anything?! I hope he didn't hear anything. No . . . just, no.
"What replay?" He repeated.
"Oji-sama, it's nothing!"Really! It's nothing! Let us go inside and treat this—whatever this is: Yuuki prostrating himself again and she shouting "do not apologize all the time!"—as nothing.
"What did you do to the poor man, Touko?" Still with that faint smile.
She knew it. Her grandfather won't stand down with this.
Yuuki came to the rescue, only with mediocre results: "No . . . ugh, Sensei, it was just . . . um, I was apologizing because I . . . I haven't recognized her presence in the bus! I should have assisted her . . . ano . . ."
"That's odd. Shouldn't Touko be the one who'd assist you, since she knows more about the hospital?"
"Eto . . . yes, Sensei, that's it! I wasn't aware of the presence of your granddaughter, as I was saying . . ."
But the old man took Yuuki's shoulders as well as Touko's with both his arms and proceeded to the main entrance of the hospital. He said, "You two are so early today. Yuuki-kun's shift is to start on the next hour, and you, dear Touko, are expected two hours from now. Now, what's the fuss?"
"Really?" She checked on her wristwatch and, indeed, it was two hours early. Find some excuse . . . think of an excuse, was there a valid excuse anyway? She wouldn't just say that it's because she didn't know the start of Yuuki's shift—no. That is definitely not the reason.
She will inherit the hospital someday! A heiress can visit her property anytime she wants! That's it!
But to say that was already too late. Yuuki was now acting like an idiot. She forgot that she should defend Yuuki too, not just herself, if they wanted none of her grandfather's prodding!
Yuuki asked, "Eto . . . we are that early?"
They kept on walking, and stopped at the information booth.
Touko's grandfather patted both their shoulders. "Punctuality is a sign of dedication, surely you must know about that? Or do you have other business in the hospital?"
"No." Yuuki cleared that his business here does only involved his work.
"Yes."
"You do, Touko?" He asked.
Touko grinned meekly, "Yeah, I am to inherit the hospital, right? I must start now . . . since you told me that prudence is a sign of dedication."
"I said, 'punctuality', not 'prudence', Touko-chan."
"Yep. That's what I'm talking about. Prudence. Are you hungry, Oji-sama?"
Few hours later
"You shouldn't apologize all the time."
A clang emanated from the clashing tray and table.
It was an hour after lunch, and Yuuki was just taking a break from his shift with two male employees, when all of them were astonished by the looming shadow created by the young woman in front of them. Touko looked at her with fire in her eyes, and did not shift away her stare from Yuuki's own brown. The two men, who was beside Yuuki, noticed that the woman—the granddaughter of Matsudaira-sensei—and was about to walk away, since they felt that she was emitting rabid vibes all over the place—
Touko looked at them, one by one, as she greeted them, "Hi, Haruto-san, Juni-san. Could I borrow Yuuki-san for a moment? We have something important to discuss . . ."
"Gotta bounce now, Yuuki-san!" Both Haruto and Juni said. They slithered away from their seats and away from the table.
Alone again.
Touko's eyes emitted annoyance, "It's embarrassing for me, and for you saying sorry all the time. Have you no pride?"
"Eto, hi, Touko-san."
"You shouldn't apologize all the time. Didn't you hear what I said?"
"I heard you! I'm so—"
"I said, don't apologize!"
"So—okay. Okay."
She arranged her own tray to the table and sat across Yuuki.
She fiddled with her food. She already made her point across Yuuki's thick skull, but after that, she should have no business with him any longer. To stay with him seemed illogical. Thus, before she could ever stop herself, she blurted out in embarrassment, "Come on, say something."
"What do you expect me to say? I'm sorry?" And he's back, mocking her again.
"You're insufferable."
They looked at each other's plate, and found the other doing the same thing that they'd been doing—stalling once more.
"Please, eat up." Yuuki offered.
"Okay."
"Please do not mind me." He said.
"Please do not mind me too. Itadakimasu."
They ate in silence.
"So,"
"So?"
"How's your petite soeur?"
"P-petite soeur?"
Few days ago
"Nah, you just don't want anyone wearing your hairstyle."
She then put out a brush from her bag and began to slide its teeth along the length of Yumi's chocolate-brown hair. It was as soft as it looked. Yumi had given up the pigtails long ago, and somehow, Touko missed it. That hairstyle made her remember how energetic Yumi was in her second year.
"Say, Touko."
"Hmn?" She whispered.
Yumi fiddled with the white table-cloth as she spoke, "I know It's not me to question you about this, but . . ."
"But?"
"Have you thought of having a petite soeur?"
"Imouto?"
Yumi's head began to move, just like when she's very nervous, which didn't help Touko's task. "Yes, I am to graduate, and yet, I haven't have time to see you take that responsibility. You know, once the exams were finished, I can have enough time to know your future petite soeur."
"Eh . . ."
Then, from Touko's bird's-eye view of Yumi's shoulders, it slumped, "I thought it's your intention to look for one as soon as possible, but I guess I am irresponsible in reminding that to you."
"It's not you—"
Then, that shoulder stiffened, "I know. But, you see . . . sometimes I feel envious of Yoshino and Shimako. Well, particularly, of Shimako. She really likes her Grandma role with Yuiri-chan, and it's going to be fun if I can experience that too."
"Do you want me to look for a petite soeur?"
Then, Yumi turned around to face her little sister. "Do you want to?"
"Well, if you want to . . ."
Then, she put her hands on Touko's shoulders, "I want you to have a sister, but do you want to, I mean, have a little sister? Not for my sake, but for your sake?"
"Eto . . ."
"Are you still not ready?"
"What? No! I am ready to have a sister!"
"Really? You mean, you have someone in mind?"
"Eto . . ."
"You don't?" Then, her shoulders slumped again. "Oh."
"Jeez, Onee-sama."
"I'm sorry."
Then, without thinking, Touko put her free hand on Yumi's head and ruffled her bangs a bit, not minding if she had more work to do to arrange them once more. Doing that just felt nice. "Onee-sama, don't apologize. It's my fault; I should have taken care of this matter as soon as I became a second year. I should have looked."
Yumi whispered, "You didn't meet any first year?"
"There's—"
The Biscuit Door opened with a blast, and both the Red Rose sisters jumped just to stabilize themselves.
"Yumi-sama! Rosa Chinensis!"
"Aikira-chan?!" Both blurted.
"You're not fair! It's been two months and we still haven't played! You promised!"
Touko was the first to feel offended. They were having a moment here! "Aikira-chan, how dare you barge into the mansion with such—"
"Everyone, calm down." Yumi softly and playfully nudged Touko's forehead with her fist, then put her hands on her hips, and faced the impertinent first year. "Aikira-chan, is this about Go?"
It took two deep breaths before Aikira decided to be much more courageous than before. Seldom has that she had to pursue for a person just to scratch an itch. "Yes. I challenge you! I am still holding to your word!"
Oh, yeah, right. "Do you have anything that we can use? A board? Chips? Do you have them with you?"
"Yes!" She was holding a paperbag; she closed the Biscuit door and put the bag at the middle of the oblong table. Then, she pulled from it a Go board, and two tupperwares of chips of white and black. "Are you still going for the black chips?"
"I have that privilege." Yumi smiled, and then sat on her chair once more. "Ah, Touko, do you mind if I played in front of you? When Touko shrugged, she raised her hand to wave her fingers to the first year to come near, as she directed her little sister. "Please continue arranging my hair. You've forgotten about it."
"Ah, yes, Onee-sama."
"Well then, Rosa Chinensis, let us start this match, then we decide."
"Decide?" Touko suddenly cried out.
"Please be quiet, Touko-chan. For you, I will win this."
Huh?
Aikira moved on to a seat next to Yumi and arranged once more the board between them. She handed her the box with black chips, and as if on cue, Aikira quieted down, and put her first move with a tack! Same was with Yumi, who was now holding several chips in one hand, putting chip after chip without any hesitation every after Aikira's move. Touko never saw such fast gameplay until now. She thought that the game would end too soon and at that speed she wouldn't even find a single strategy being played by both competitors.
Yumi was the first to halt, after rapid succession of moves. Then, she said, "Touko, jeez, you are neglecting my hair again."
"Pardon me." She replied as she tried to resume to doing her grande soeur's hair.
"You are not yourself, Rosa Chinensis. How can you give me two eyes in one move?" She then put a piece at the middle of black chips, then removed it, and replaced them with white ones.
"Remember what I taught you, Aikira-chan. Timing is always the key to victory."Yumi just smiled and placed a black chip on a random place in the upper left plane of the board, which make Aikira confused. She thought it was another weird move from the Rosa Chinensis. But she tried to hide it; what is Yumi-sama doing?
She tried to buy time to think the purpose of that move. She put a white chip near to the two eyes to strengthen the defense of her newly acquired territories. "Hearing that makes me wonder where you actually learned that from."
Surprisingly, Yumi was least a bit concerned of her disadvantage in the game. She even propped an elbow and said cheerfully at her opponent. "Oh, I've been through a lot when I was your age."
Again, another random tried to remember the last five moves Yumi had done before Aikira captured those two eyes. "You're not that old."
Another move from Yumi."I know. But when in Lillian, three years seems to be longer, but you want to extend it just the same. Do you know what I mean?"
She put another white chip beside her earlier move. "I wouldn't. I'm still a first year. I need two years more to agree with you."
"You're right, Aikira."
Surprisingly for her, the moment Yumi unlatched her resting cheeks from the palm of her hand, Rosa Chinensis took a handful of black chips her pile. "Oops." Then, she removed one of the guarding pieces in Aikira's building territories, replaced them with hers, and then, almost fifteen of white chips were replaced one by one with black.
How could she be so stupid?! Those moves weren't about winning easily . . . of course. Of course. Damn, she couldn't read what Yumi-sama was trying to do.
"How many territories you have already?"Asked the humble senior.
"Three."
"I have two."
After that everything settled in silence. Touko was able to finish fixing Yumi's hair into two pigtails while Yumi sat comfortably while playing Go with Aikira. Then, the Rosa Chinensis en bouton sat across the table, facing the Go board, watching her Onee-sama and Aikira, again, in silence.
Who would have thought, that this girl, who boisterously announced to Yano that she was her little sister, was now playing with her onee-sama.
It had been months ever since the school festival, and nothing was heard about that. No gossips about her and Aikira. That means, Yano did not say anything to anyone.
"I heard as I passed by Maria-sama, that someone was claiming to be your little sister, Touko."Yumi suddenly said.
Aikira jerked off her seat. Touko gulped.
"I haven't heard anything about that." Touko grumbled.
"Yeah, that first year is really something." Aikira was shaking her head. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
"When did you hear that?"
"It's been the talk ever since the school festival. But I guess things are really stagnant in the gossip lines now."
"I see. You mean, you heard that from Lillian students?"
"Pretty much, yeah."
"Okay."
"I still don't know who that girl was. But once I discover her," She said as she placed another black chip on the board—another seemingly useless move— "that first year who claims you, I should challenge her into going here and present herself. That girl sure has guts."
Both juniors shivered.
"But I really want to take care of my future granddaughter before I graduate. Don't you think, Aikira-chan?"
"Eh, whatever you want, Rosa Chinensis."
She put a white piece in the board, gaining another territory. Aikira extracted three black pieces and replaced them with white ones.
Yumi sighed again. "Maybe, I'll play Go with her, when I'm bored. Or, teach her my little secrets."
"Really?" That made Aikira's voice and ears perked up.
How simple-minded this girl is, Touko thought.
Yumi seemed surprised."What? Are you going to say, 'I volunteer!'?"
"What? Me? Touko-sama's petite soeur? Nah."
When Touko heard that, she immediately felt a bulging vein on her forehead.
"I don't know, really." Yumi sighed. She then looked at her opponent and sighed again. Then, she gathered three black chips from her pile and then put one on a blank spot in the board. With that, Aikira groaned visibly from her seat. Then, Yumi gathered two white chips next to the newly-placed black chip and replaced them with the last two white chips, as she said, "But you know . . ."
"Know what, Onee-sama?" Touko queried, as Aikira put another chip to gain defense to Yumi's increasing black chips in the board. It looked like Aikira was losing her another territory.
"Nothing."
It was Yumi'sturn. She placed another chip of her own. Then, she got a handful of black chips from her pile in a Tupperware. Aikira looked as if she were constipated. And with Yumi's other hand, she harvested white chips one by one, and replaced them with the black ones.
Even though Aikira still has two eyes more than Yumi, the latter still gave a challenging grin of a dominant and winning opponent. It was because Yumi and Aikira were seeing where that former's game was heading, even though Aikira technically had the upper hand. Yumi asked, adorable even though her head was tilted high in smugness, "Are you still willing to continue this?"
"Shit."
Yumi laughed. Aikira followed.
Touko totally felt out-of-place. There was something in this first year that makes Yumi-sama happy. Could it be because she was a willing and enjoyable Go partner? If that were the case, then, it wouldn't be so hard for Touko to do the same for her only grande soeur. She can play well—she might—since she already has a record . . . she defeated Yuuki, for heaven's sake . . . right?
She might as well be at par with her Onee-sama.
"I told you, Aikira. Timing is everything."
"Well then, what's the deal?"
"Let me think . . ."
Present Day
"Petite soeur? I don't have a petite soeur." Touko was a bit flabbergasted when she heard that.
Yuuki was the same. "Really? That's weird. I thought that first year, Rosa Gigantea en bouton petite soeur's best friend, Reizei Aikira-san, is your little sister."
"Huh? Where did you get that idea?"
"I assumed that's the case. She was in the Rosa Mansion whenever Hanadera council went there for practice back then. Then, that isn't true?"
She snorted, "She's there as a volunteer. But, she is not my little sister."
"Whatever you say. But . . ."
"But what?"
"I mean, so, was everyone in the council assuming that Aikira-san is your petite soeur? Because if that were the case, we're entirely wrong about you two."
She did not say anything after that. They ate once more in silence, and later, Yuuki had to return to his duties and she was left alone again.
Petite soeur.
She was thinking too much about herself that she forgotten that.
What's it like to have one?
She was too happy being the little sister. She couldn't imagine being the onee-sama.
But when she think about it . . .what is it like to have one?
The next day (Monday)
Rose Mansion
It was a lovely afternoon when a knock on the door paused everyone from their current tasks. They expected no one today. But when the door opened slowly, they were greeted by a person who they don't recognize . . . at first.
"Gokigenyou."
Maybe it was because of the soft, feminine greeting.
"Aikira-chan?" Yoshino and Shimako was shocked to see the girl with unruly, short hair in the mansion, after months. She visited weekly, but that was only when she and Yuiri had their dates—which involved too much junk food and games. Aikira doesn't hide her crassness, nobody in the council, not even Touko mind that much.
Or that was what they thought.
There was a time when Touko was spilling her irritation over that first year when she heard Aikira told her best friend that, "Touko-sama has this stick stuck on her butt. She needs to have fun." Yuiri spank Aikira at the back of her head and said in her usual monotone, "Maybe you're right, but you're the opposite of her. You don't know how to control yourself, Kira."
That made Noriko laughed until she was on the floor, on all fours, banging her fist.
"You're laughing at me?!"
"Hahahahahahahaha!" She was snorting to hard, as she tried to talk, "you . . . you really have a stick on your butt. No offence, but it's true. Even Yuiri did not object!"
"What's with the first years?! She needs to be reprimanded!"
"Why don't you? You're the type who likes to reprimand others. You are like Sachiko-sama, you know. And you need more than Yumi-sama to get that stick out of you." She said after bouts of laughter.
"You're worse than her." She grumbled.
"You're no fun."
And now, they were not shocked because Aikira was here; they were shocked because Aikira came without banging the Biscuit door and because she wasn't looking for Yumi for another challenge at Go. Instead, she came with all the proper bearings of a lady, except for her trademark of unruly hair.
"Reizei Aikira, at your service."
"Are you here for Yumi-san?" Yoshino asked.
"No."
"Are you here for Yuiri-chan?" Shimako asked.
"No."
"Well, then . . . what can we do for you, Debate Club member, Aikira-chan?"
"I came here to help here in the Rose Mansion."
Everyone looked at Touko, who was behind her Onee-sama at the time. She said nothing. All the while, Yumi said nothing.
That made Touko's suspicions true: people really thought she's my petite soeur. Or she's going to be. But, Yumi-sama mentioned nothing. She was still annoyed that Yumi invited Aikira in the mansion, but what was her purpose? Touko told her months ago that Touko was Yumi-sama's only petite soeur. Did she change her mind? No, that's not possible.
"Yumi-sama invited me here."
Maybe . . . Yumi was giving her a candidate for her?
She wanted Aikira to be my little sister? But . . . I don't like her!
"Yumi-sama?" Both the White and Yellow Roses rose from their seat.
"What's wrong with that?" Yumi asked innocently. "We're hardly in the mansion anymore. Someone is bound to help our younger sisters, even though it's temporary."
"'Bound'? Yumi-san," Shimako narrowed her eyes; she seemed to be surprised with Yumi's reply. "Are you all right in the head?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Yoshino huffed. "Sorry. We didn't get you right away."
Then, the mood of all the Roses shifted into something that thus far, only Yuiri had experienced. Aikira anticipated this . . . but she never anticipated that she would feel nervousness.
Yuiri thought, Kira, what happened to that crazy head of yours? And what's this? You haven't told me anything about this.
Rosa Feotida began, "Why don't you sit down first, and have a cup of tea?"
That line froze both Yuiri and Aikira—the former remembering the first time she was invited, the latter bracing for the three powerhouses in the Student Council to "flood" her with tea and questions.
Aikira knew the drill. Yuiri talked to her about it after she went to the Rose Mansion for the first time. But why is she so nervous?!
"Is this . . . ano, is this common for all that enter the mansion?" She asked. That made Yuiri, who was in the sink, froze.
"You're very sharp, Aikira-chan." Rosa Foetida leered. "Don't you think, Rosa Gigantea?"
"Yes. She definitely knows why she's here. What did Rosa Chinensis tell you?" She propped her chin on her raised palm.
"To help in the mansion."
"Because?"
"I lost in a Go match."
"Just that? Rosa Chinensis?" Foetida eyes locked on Chinensis'.
"Yes. You heard me. And Rosa Chinensis en bouton needs to catch up with Rosa Gigantea en bouton, if you know what I mean."
"So, you nominate her, yourself." Foetida grinned.
Touko knew what this was. Yumi was forcing a candidate into the mansion without her permission. She interceded, "Do not exclude me into your conversation, seniors. Clearly, it's my fault why she's here. I will take responsibility for her, since this is all my Onee-sama's plan."
"And what is that, Rosa Chinensis en bouton?"
That was the first time Yumi called her by her designation.
"For me to choose a petite soeur soon. Your plan is to discover that person, because I wasn't saying anything. That's why you chose Aikira-chan to go here, so that I'll retaliate and reveal that first year who was claiming to be my little sister months ago." She laughed, and put her hand on Yumi-sama's head. Yumi closed her eyes tightly, as if she was expecting a spank, but Touko didn't do anything. Instead, she chuckled.
"Ah, Onee-sama, Sachiko-sama and Rei-sama's ways were really effective for Noriko and Rosa Gigantea back then . . . but it doesn't work for me. I helped in planning the whole thing, right?"
The Maria-sama Ceremony.
"So, it was futile?" Yumi whispered.
"Yeah, pretty much."Touko smirked. "But in a way, you suceeded, because you made me think about it. I admit, I'm not sure that I'm ready to have a little sister. But it's true, someone did claim that she was my petite soeur. And it's true, that she really had guts, because she said that in front of me."
No no no no . . . you wouldn't dare . . . ! Aikira warned repeatedly.
"She's—" not for you to know, Onee-sama. But she didn't complete that.
"It's me!"
Touko looked incredulously at the younger student. She eyed Aikira: You are not supposed to talk!
"It's me. And I had my reasons, when I told her back then. But now, I am willing to become her little sister."
"You're not!" Touko objected. "You're . . . you're just here because of Yumi-sama. Because you lost in your last game! You wouldn't be here if it weren't for that!"
Wait, that is going too far! I wasn't even thinking of that!
"Wha . . . Th—that's true. But, if being your little sister would make me play with her most of the time, then I wouldn't mind. It would cancel out all the disadvantages of being your little sister." She said arrogantly, just to get Touko riled.
"You . . . ! That's going too far!"
"Hell yeah, I am! You're just making me your petite soeur so that you'll fulfill your obligation to Yumi-sama. For her, but not for me. You're supposed to choose a sister to guide her, and because you wholeheartedly want to." Aikira panted out.
Wait, when did I sound so . . . romantic?
Touko gave her a smirk that would definitely make Sachiko blush. "You want to be my petite soeur? Fine. I will make you regret that you became one because of a selfish reason such as Go."
Bitch-mode ON!
She smirked back. "Fine! Then I'll make you regret that you became my Onee-sama, just so to fulfil a stupid obligation. I'm not much into this sister thing, but challenge accepted."
They stared at each other with challenged eyes. Then, they laughed their own sinister laughter.
The rest of them said to themselves, they really do hate each other.
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: What do you think?