Chapter one : One thing she knew ...
POV Ema
- And don't forget to give me homework for next week, Gabriel-sensei, putting away these things before going out.
- Aaaah finally finished, yawned Makiko, stretching for a long time. The teacher is super beautiful but what I would like his lessons to be less complicated to follow...
- You say that but you always have the average on arrival, I laughed, putting my books away in my bag.
- Maybe but it's you who always have the best grades of the promotion at the end, replied my friend.
- But no ... By the way, are you with or with ... Kagasawa-kun ... or maybe Kagezama ...? I did to change the subject.
- Yes, well whatever his name is, since he was too bad in every sense of the word. Next! Makiko said, gesturing with her hand as if she was throwing something over her shoulder.
- Maki-chan ... This is already the third one this month ... I sighed, sorry for this poor boy who should have been heart broken by now.
Hakichima Makiko, a friend I made the day I started university lessons a year ago. We were in our second year even though we were both on different routes. Maki-chan wanted to work in finance and take over the family business. As for me ... My dream was probably more modest but I wanted to become a primary school teacher. The course we had just taken was that of personal development with Gabriel-sensei. A compulsory subject for all students from the second year and which consisted in helping us in the development of our future project.
This course is less and less interesting and moreover useless, my friend always complained when we left the room to join the campus.
- You say that but you come nevertheless. Even if it is to see Gabriel-sensei, I giggled.
- So where is the problem? Have you seen that dream body and that angel mouth? Believe me, this is the kind of guy who is good for making you spend an unforgettable night, said Makiko, almost drooling.
I gave him a skeptical and slightly worried look. Makiko, or the fellows of these gentlemen, was back. What worried me most was that I knew she was really capable of trying to seduce the professor. Would she throw it like the others? Probably ... Even if I doubted that Gabriel-sensei was the kind of man to be fooled by the first petticoat that passed. I had to admit that he had the charm of the stranger. Coming from America with that blond hair and those blue eyes he had something to make any girl who met his gaze fall in love. Not that I didn't like it but hey..
And I know what you're going to tell me, continued my friend, living with the thirteen hottest brothers in Japan does not help to get an idea of the quality of the goods.
- Wait, what? I stopped clearly looking at her shocked.
- What? Its true no? Are you going to tell me that he never knows anything ironed for a year between all of you? Makiko asked me.
- Uh...
I didn't know what to say because there was nothing to say. Since I had openly declared to everyone that I wanted us to remain a family, nothing more had happened. I told Makiko who knew the current situation well, but we rarely discussed it.
- Wait, nothing at all? she insisted when we finally arrived on campus. Not even a little hug ?!
- Makiko! I blush embarrassed that she says it so loud. No nothing at all, but I don't see why it offends you so much?
- Well, that means ... Ema honey, how many guys have you been out with in the past year? asked my friend seriously.
- Huh? Uh ... no one since ... but you should know it, however, since it is you who have organized improvised meetings so far.
- Um ... And them, do you know if they have someone in their lives? she continued.
- Makiko ... Where are you coming from? Aren't you going to seduce them too? I joked knowing full well that she would be able to.
- Not at all ! Only, think carefully. If they don't try anything more, it may be because they have found love on their side, she tried.
- And so ? If that is the case I am delighted for them, I replied, starting to walk towards the exit of the campus.
Come to think of it, it's true that nothing has happened between my brothers and me since my announcement a year ago. Maybe they were tired of waiting? But if they had found love elsewhere I would be happy. I did not want to find the bad atmosphere that may have had at home at the time.
However, if it was possible I...
- Ema, do you want me to tell you what's wrong with you? Makiko stopped, placing my arms crossed in front of me.
Her pretty face was distorted by frustration and her deep black eyes looked at me as if to probe if I told the truth. Sighing, she passed one of those long black locks behind her ear and began to watch the students hurrying home. Me too.
- The problem is that you lie to yourself, she ends up saying. You do not see the looks of desire of the guys and you break hearts without realizing it.
- What? I was shocked at what she just said. But no, what are you ...
- Admit I'm right, she cut me off. You make the one that goes well when we talk but basically it's another choice. Ema, was there something wrong?
Suddenly I was afraid. I've never told anyone before. I didn't want Makiko to find out.
Well, if you want to know everything ... Look! Wasn't it Gabriel-sensei who just passed? I suddenly exclaimed.
- What? Where ?! cried my friend, completely forgetting our discussion.
I took the opportunity to save myself by running before she regained these spirits and harassed me with more questions.
- Wait what? Ema came back here right away! called me Makiko in the distance but it was too late.
When I got to the family home I fell on my knees out of breath. This girl is completely crazy! I thought. After I ran like a thief, Makiko chased me across the city. And it was not a joke. I was exhausted from running around to escape him. I remembered, however, that she told me that she did a lot of sport to maintain her body. No wonder she's doing so well.
I got up, always trying to catch my breath and rushed into the house with only one thought in mind: the living room sofa! Once in the elevator, I thought back to what she had told me. Somewhere there was truth in these words. I had never been very attentive to the things of love and the proof was seen when we looked at what had happened a year ago with my brothers.
The elevator beep woke me out of my thoughts and I suddenly find myself having only one goal: the large and comfortable sofa in the living room. Almost dreamily, I rushed into the mezzanine overlooking the living room and then I went down the steps leading to it. Still in my thoughts and trying to catch my breath, I didn't pay attention immediately to the people already seen in the room before a worried voice called out to me.
- Ema, are you okay?
I raised my head and noticed with amazement the presence of all my brothers, even those rarely there, and especially those of my father and my stepmother, Miwa-san. They all looked at me strangely. At the same time, I must not be at my best out of breath as I was and with strands of hair escaping from my ponytail.
- Dad…? I said in shock. But you shouldn't be back for at least two weeks…
- I know but Miwa and I have advanced our respective returns because we have a big announcement to make, he said, approaching me to take me in these arms.
- No help! I ran everywhere before coming here. I must smell the sweat! I stopped him before any gesture was made towards me.
- All over? But I didn't know you still had sports lessons at the university? asked my father worried.
- We don't have any, answered Yusuke-kun, who was also worried.
- Uh, it's that I had a sudden urge to run you see, I laughed awkwardly. History of keeping fit!
- But one-chan doesn't need to run with the body she has, my younger brother Wataru said to me kindly.
- Unless nee-chan thinks she needs to lose form, Fuuto spoke in turn with a teasing smile and not taking the time to let her gaze wander over me.
That one…
- Uh, whatever, said Miwa-san to change the subject. Ema-chan, a young girl shouldn't be in this state.
She approached me with a handkerchief to wipe my face. Sometimes I thought it was good to have a woman like her as a mother-in-law. Too bad she is not more present at home because of her work.
- Thank you Miwa-san, I smile at her.
- Come on Ema-chan, do you still call me that after all these years? she sighed genuinely sad.
- Sorry ... oka-san, I said not wanting to see her sad.
She smiled brightly at me and went to stand beside my father to make the announcement. I was on my way to the couch to sit down when a voice I knew only too well rang from the top of the mezzanine.
- Ah, I'm finally holding you! exclaimed victorious Makiko.
I turned around stunned to find that my friend was indeed here and not alone. Beside them was my older brother Iori, whom I didn't seem to have seen with the others downstairs when I arrived.
- But what ... How do you ...?
- It's simple. I just thought you would come here first after running away so quickly, she replied proudly as she walked down the stairs. And it was your nice brother who opened the ... Oh, am I disturbing something perhaps?
All of a sudden, I saw my friend transform and become the most polite person in the world before my amazed eyes.
- Hello, I'm really sorry to disturb you during a family reunion. I'm Hakichima Makiko, a friend of your daughter at university; she introduced herself, bowing deeply to my father and Miwa-san.
- Mah! I'm glad to meet you too, said Miwa-san. Ema-chan, you didn't tell us you had such a nice and pretty friend.
- Neither do I, I mumbled between my teeth.
- Is there a problem, Ema-chan? answered me with a big smile my "dear friend so polite".
- Not at all ! But tell me, did you still have an appointment tonight? I retorted, exaggerating of course again.
- Hmm ... so now that you tell me ... But what about you, you shouldn't have seen Gabriel-sensei for something...? she replied as if my previous question hadn't disturbed her.
What ?! I was alarmed. Before she could say anything else really embarrassing about my poor person, I grabbed her by the arm and led her to my suite towards my bedroom upstairs where I could strangle her in peace.
- Ema-chan? surprised my stepmother.
- Do not worry I come back as soon as I changed and took care of our dear guest, I say with a frozen smile.
- Should we add an extra cover for ..., started Ukyo-san but I interrupted him right away.
- Don't bother Ukyo-san. Makiko-chan lives far away and therefore cannot…
- Why not ? After all I would love to meet her, exclaimed delighted Miwa-san.
- Oh no, I thought resigned.
"Don't bother with me Asahina-san," my friend smiled to my mother-in-law. I see you have things to say and ..
- No problem ! Anyway, it's not a huge problem if you show up to listen to the announcement that we're going to make my husband and me
- Well ... In this case, Ema-chan you heard your mother, said my friend, turning to me.
With a sigh, I told him to follow me to my room and have, I knew, muscular explanations.
- You will tell me at the end what it was like this circus earlier, Makiko asked me once in my room.
- Nothing at all ... I growled, slouching exhausted on my bed.
- What about nothing ? You run like a thief when I ask you a simple question and you almost make a scene for me to leave your home! So let's tell you there's nothing there, my dear, 'Makiko got angry.
- I ... Good listen, I am sincerely touched by your concern for me but I assure you that everything is fine! And even if it was, I can't talk to you about it because ..., I stopped, biting my lower lip.
- Because what? Give birth or finish me here with your suspense, "she grew impatient, sitting on my desk chair.
Annoyed I got up from the bed to go to my wardrobe and take the necessary for a shower. I then rummaged in the last drawer under a pile of clothing and pulled out a brown folder that I put in the hands of my friend.
- Here, look if you want to know everything. But only do it once I'm out.
On this I let her discover the truth for herself without being able to prevent a tear from running down my cheek. What she was about to see would only be the beginning of something even more difficult.
POV Makiko
When I heard the bedroom door close on Ema, I couldn't help but breathe a deep sigh as I pushed myself deeper onto the pink office chair. I know what you are going to think. Does such an intrusive friend exist in this world? Yes, because I am the proof. And I don't make it happy even if curiosity is my pleasure and one of my worst faults to date.
I do it for her. I do it because I have promised myself that I will always watch over this idiot since ... Well, who knows how to spend last year. Even her family doesn't know anything. I guess that's why these brothers took their distance from Ema.
I cast a heavy glance at the brown envelope in my hands as if it were a time bomb. But I was ready to take the risk for my friend to whom I owed a lot. Ema was the only one who knew what my current life was. She had helped me where others had let me down.
Inspiring, I opened the envelope without knowing that what I was going to discover would change my life as it had changed the life of my best friend.
There, in my hands, I looked wide-eyed at the black and white image that would remain in my memory forever. The kind of image that can fill you with happiness at some point in your life or destroy it.
- Ema is pregnant…, I whispered in shock…
To be continued…