"Converging feelings"
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July arrived with hot winds, intense sun rays enough to burn the skin or cook an egg in an outdoor frying pan.
Chibi's growth was more than clear, ending in an almost obese weight, but certain of being healthy.
Naoki was crawling due to the intense heat running through the walls of his room, such intense heat that he couldn't dress properly without leaving his clothes wet with the same sweat.
Kotoko was still not moving in with them, so Naoki was undecided whether or not to dial his cell phone to hear news about her. In fact, all he knew was that she had gotten another job over the summer vacation, which was why they hadn't seen each other since then.
"Onii-chan!" Yuuki appeared inside the room where he was already sleeping alone, without his brother.
"Yuuki," he sighed dejectedly, lying on the floor with a longing for fresh air.
"Let's go see that Baka" He announced with a giggle.
Naoki woke up from the trance of wanting fresh air to the trance thinking of Kotoko again.
"How?"
"Mom got to know where she works and we'll visit her" He said excitedly. "She is in Villa Romance, because a certain coach gave her that job"
Nothing more and nothing less than Sudou. Obvious. The other time I heard that he needed someone to take care of a summer house. He guessed.
"When are we going?" He wanted to know.
"Today"
"What?" He blurted out in defense. "But if it's barely ten in the morning"
"It doesn't matter." He deflected Naoki's words in a jiffy. "Mom says that with the subway we will get there in an hour and a half, apart it is not that far and we will only go both"
"Won't Mom and Dad come?" He asked, puzzled by his mother's behavior.
"No, just us." He jumped with excitement, starting with packing his suitcase and backpack with his notebook and writing supplies. "Hurry, Onii-chan to arrive as soon as possible and surprise that Baka"
He stood as a spring wrapped in energy alien to his past days of meditation with pure music played on his walkman. He put two changes of clothes, two of casual shoes, a change of light pajamas to withstand high temperatures, a small suitcase, underwear, personal hygiene utensils and a jacket in case it gets cold.
In a black luggage backpack, he put the walkman and a few cassettes to listen to on the way there, any book, his cell phone and the cell phone charger, a head cap and a notebook to write notes.
"Onii-chan." His mother entered the room overflowing with joy. "Are you ready to go out yet?"
"Mother, don't rush me." He cleared his throat as he finished fitting his freshly cut hair into a good hairstyle and his summer clothes did not cause him discomfort due to perspiration.
"I'm done!" Yuuki exclaimed, dressed in a blue short-sleeved shirt and light brown bermuda shorts, a small hat on his fisherman's head.
"Yuuki you look adorable" His mother squealed with pleasure.
"Mom" He snapped, embarrassed to the bone.
"By the way, Onii-chan, your father wants to talk to you before you leave" She said as a reminder, nothing special.
Having his things ready, he hurried to see his father at the study where he was found waiting for him with his hands on his belly.
"Ah, Nao-kun." He looked at him with pleasure, giving him a slight smile.
"Father" He nodded seriously. "Did you want to tell me something?"
"I was curious to know your plans for the future, do you remember?"
How could he not remember if he had barely found out that he was accepted into medicine. The problem was cheering up and revealing the truth, however, he would hide it for now and tell him when he is ready.
"I do remember" He muttered seriously.
"I want to know what you thought, son" He commented calmly, revealing the atmosphere of trust.
"I was thinking of changing my career" He admitted, tensing his body, hiding his secret. "I still don't know which one, but I'm not comfortable studying engineering"
His father thoughtfully watched as he continued to talk about what he would do about his future. Naoki froze in his chair, waiting for the chance to get out.
"I'll give you back here from Villa Romance" He stated seriously, rubbing his belly gently, meaning he was a little nervous. "Your mother told me that you are going to see Kotoko-chan, say hello to her and tell her that she is welcome when she is encouraged to stop living alone"
"Sure" He nodded blankly.
"By the way, are you Kotoko'chan's boyfriend?" He wanted to know, putting on a small excited smile.
Naoki blushed at the question. She's not my girlfriend yet, father, she will be.
"No" He replied in a low voice. "What's with the question?" He coughed a little incredulously. His father looked at him curiously, as well as satisfied to see a different expression in his older son.
"It just so happened that one day when I was coming back home" He began to relate peacefully, as if he remembered something pleasant. "I looked at you with Kotoko-chan in the night district, and you were holding hands"
Naoki was still in the seat, stuck with indelible rubber against the chair because if he could run away, he would have, but his fear was greater than his own strength.
"It seemed strange to me because I know that you're not like that." He continued without taking importance of his situation. "But I was pleased to know that there is a strong connection between you, and I am glad to suppose that you are Kotoko-chan's boyfriend." He smiled as he crossed his fingers over his belly, closing his eyelids with pride.
Naoki swallowed hard, biting his lower lip, squeezing both hands on the saddle rests.
"Kotoko is not my girlfriend" He stated feeling his mouth dry.
"Son" His father sighed, separating the fingers from his clasped hands. "I know you feel things for her, but if it calms you down I won't tell your mother" He assured smiling. "However, don't you think you can hide things from me for being who you are, remember that I am your father" He raised an eyebrow, authoritative. "And like your father, there are things that even if you don't tell me, I will know them because you are my son and because I love you"
Naoki looked up, feeling his mind blur with so many thoughts flying in the same place. On the one hand he wanted to deny his feelings, but on the other, hiding that he loved Kotoko fervently, was impossible. "I have always loved you son"
"Ah…" He sighed monotonously, unwilling to express himself. His father's emotional speech came like a bolt of lightning striking his chest like an arrow piercing his heart. Likewise, he loved his father.
"Nao-kun," his father named him. "I want you to know that the decision you make will be in my favor, but please don't delay taking action on it"
He nodded, bringing the matter to an end.
"Now if you allow me I will retire to get to Villa Romance early" He reported.
"Yes, son, have fun on the trip." He got up from the chair, adjusting his glasses. "We will talk about your future when you return"
"Yes father, we will do that" He assured just as he retired. "Take care of yourself." He made a slight nod and left for the trip.
The way out turned out to be faster than he expected, he was weighing on what he would do to make his relationship with Kotoko strong and close, he tried not to flinch but planning things did not help him advance in the game of love.
He needed action, not reason.
Act instead of thinking so much.
He listened to the Actually of Pet Shop Boys before seeing that his brother was in Morpheus' arms. He liked that his brother expressed himself more than he did, that he was less serious and closed to the world as he was throughout his adolescence.
He was proud to see that his brother was evolving rapidly compared to him.
Arriving at Villa Romance they were amazed at the beauty of the natural landscape, the wide greenery and the trees providing clean and fresh air.
To get to Villa Romance they had to go down a small path down until they came across the announcement that they had reached the place, while their brother did not cease to marvel at the beauties of nature.
They passed through the entrance to the Villa, asking for a room for two in the lobby. Fortunately, his mother reserved a room for him and Yuuki. Sometimes her mother's occurrences were effective.
Each was given the key to the room and the room number.
Leaving the suitcases at their disposal, they went to the room where they would stay on the first floor overlooking the greenish lands of the Villa's landscape.
"How beautiful it is here, Onii-chan," his brother screeched.
"Yes Yuuki"
"After dropping the bags, let's scare that Baka." He clasped his hands together as if formulating a bad plan.
"Don't scare Kotoko," he ordered seriously.
"Why not, Onii-chan?" His brother's eyes fell on him.
"Because I don't want to hear his scared screams," he pretended to complain.
And also because I don't like to see her scared, it's better when she smiles.
"She is very scandalous" He believed, despite being a terrible excuse. He no longer cared if his reasoning was slightly blocked, what mattered was Kotoko's heart. Nothing else.
"She is." He continued walking until he entered room 102 in the company of his brother.
A spacious and light-filled room greeted them, white colors with different shades close to cream. The smell of garden flowers was soft and gentle on the lungs, while the beds were a good size.
"Wow," his brother exclaimed, ecstatic with the place. "How beautiful, Onii-chan"
"Yes," he commented as he settled into the bed near the window.
Once settled in the room, they went in search of Kotoko without knowing where he might be in the Villa.
They passed through the lobby with the intention of asking about her, but were held back by an annoying presence: Sudou.
"Irie!" He called, glad to see him. "What brings you here? Ah! Aihara, right?"
"Sudou," he articulated irritably with his persistent presence.
"If you're looking for her, she's playing basketball with one of her friends" He pointed out the direction of the court, almost as if he had read her mind that he was only going because Kotoko was in that place. "Don't tell me that boy is your brother?"
"Yes, Yuuki" He introduced his brother seriously. "He's eleven"
"If it's a miniature copy of you" He laughed. His brother was embarrassed with such a compliment.
"Well, let's go" He announced with his haughty selfless presence.
"Wait." He held it back with some insistence. "Matsumoto will come"
"Take care of that" He snapped, pulling away from him in the company of his brother.
"Irie!"
They left in a hurry, striding along the right path to the basketball courts. Entering the courts, which only consisted of being two large pieces of land where a tennis court was located at the bottom of the basketball courts.
He found her immediately playing in her college team basketball pants. Blue color with white lines at the ends of the shorts. He played with his friend Nozomi, he seemed like a good influence and no threat to his other love rivals.
He looked much more cheerful than other times, moving freely without pressure around the court, struggling to beat the talented player who is Nozomi.
The boy's blond hair gleamed with the intensity of the sun, light breezes of his being floated as he moved across the court, bouncing the ball.
They seemed like a couple.
He came quickly, pushing away that silly new assumption for him. Nozomi is not a threat to me, I am just making ideas.
"Kotoko!" He yelled wide and clear. "Oi!" She stopped taking the ball from Nozomi who was about to score. She froze at the sight of him, her eyes widening like light bulbs and her mouth open in fright.
"Na ... nao ... Naoki-kun!" She said, amazed to see him.
"Ah, Naoki!" Nozomi greeted nonchalantly. "What are you doing here? Are you coming to play with us?"
"Baka!" Yuuki waved his arms, his eyes lit to see her, running towards her in a frenzy. Upon reaching her, he gave her a push and a tongue stick out.
"The actor in tragedies" She sighed, recovering from surprise. She bent down to shake his younger brother's brown hair, and was undoubtedly envious that his brother was so freely touched. "What brings you here?" And how did they find out that I work here at the Villa?
"The mustache mister told us" Yuuki commented.
"Sudou-senpai" She boasted suddenly. "That man is crazy"
"Mom regrets not coming, but even so we both came" Said his brother with his hand on his chin.
"Oh I see" She added with interested eyes and as if it were lightning. "By the way, he's Nozomi Yuuki" She introduced him smilingly. "My friend"
"His name is the same as me, I am Irie Yuuki" The boy agreed.
"Don't tell me you're Naoki's brother" He expressed amazed to see Naoki's brother. He nodded confidently with his posture. "Impressive, I mean, I didn't expect Naoki to have a younger brother, but it sounds good." He winked.
"Naoki-kun, do you want to play with us?" She suggested holding the ball that was lying on the ground.
"Yes, go ahead, it will be fun" Nozomi encouraged him with a smile inviting him.
Seeing that the two eyes of the girl rested on him in a happy way, indicating that he trusted his decision and that he wanted to play with it, he liked it. He agreed.
They played for two hours straight in the intense sun, which despite the strong breeze from the air and the trees diminished the strength of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
He noticed that the game was better when he had an extra company that gave that punch to the game that they won. He liked Nozomi, not because he was a good player, but because he respected him and treated him condescendingly and that pleased him.
Playing with Kotoko never seemed so beautiful to him, until he saw her mischievous laughter that seduced him widely, causing him to let his guard down and fly through the air inside his enamored mind.
Accustomed to those sensations, love did not turn out to be so gross.
