#5. Reunion

The two men went on in cheerful conversation over the sake while little Ai stared at them from the doorway, fascinated. She never saw Papa smile like this. It made him almost like a little boy, someone she'd love to make friends and play with. Whenever he was with her and her sister, however, he was a grave-looking grownup, and grownups were not meant to be befriended… except by other adults such as uncle? How long will it take for me to be as big as Uncle? she wondered.

Suddenly, she saw Uncle's eyes land on her. He actually saw her? Her father followed suit, and it was then that she hastily realized she neglected to hide enough of herself in the doorway, fixated as she was on their talk.

"Ai," said Papa in his old self again. "It's not right for you to listen in on people."

But Uncle remained jolly. "Let her be, Eiichiro. I wouldn't mind in the least if it was my own daughter."

"You say so, not knowing how it is to have a daughter."

Uncle laughed it off and motioned the girl to come close, and she did so hesitantly, embarrassed at being told off by her father. Uncle rubbed the top of her head. "There, there, it's alright. You're a good girl." He looked her over approvingly. "You're becoming a fine young lady already."

"I am glad, then," Papa just said. The men drank their sake in silence for a while, until Papa told Ai to go back to her room. As soon as she was out of sight, he leaned close to Uncle. "I think she's a bit too young to be a fine lady."

Uncle laughed again. "Oh no, Eiichiro, I have eyes only for your eldest. Only the crème de la crème will do for me."

Papa sipped his cupful thoughtfully. "Shall I send for her now?"

A maidservant combed Arisa's hair and dressed her in a simple short-sleeved blouse that showed off her white arm, adding some subtle fragrance. They carried the whiskey set for her down the hallway, which they handed over at the door to the parlor so she could deliver to the menfolk in person.

Uncle was awestruck at her as she came in. Her floral hairpin and pearl earrings accented the overall loveliness of her face and complemented the grace of movement as she poured them the whiskey and handed them the glasses. This—a supremely fitting spouse, a true Kubo princess—and Uncle felt so lucky to lay eyes on her this early.

At one point, having drawn close enough to the man, she found him touching and caressing her hand, enjoying the luscious texture of her skin. She quickly shook it off and resumed the motions of serving. Papa didn't look so pleased, but Uncle only chuckled to herself. "Your future husband will be having quite a mouthful, I see."

Mercifully enough, they eventually got sleepy from the sake, and Uncle stood to retire to his chamber, limping a bit. Papa was more steady, and he was helped up by his daughter all the way to his room. He resolved to talk some sense into her tomorrow morning.

Shortly after breakfast the next day, Papa and Mama sat across their eldest in a more private chamber. "What you did last night was very shameful," he told her.

I think you should be telling that to him, she thought to say, but only stiffened. He somewhat read her mind. "Girls like you cannot shame your seniors for the same offenses."

"But I am still a person," she said. "And what he did was still uncomfortable."

"That will be of no consequence,' said Mama. "You are the pride of our branch of the clan, you will not spoil it by whining like a child."

"That is no way to treat a pride of the Kubo, is it, Mother?"

"That's how it always was," concluded Papa. "And your uncle is not some inferior outsider, he's of the Kubo, also, so he's not at fault."

Arisa closed her eyes and held back her tears. "When am I to marry?"

"It does not matter to you. Listen. Their branch is even wealthier than ours. Uncle has a prosperous construction firm. You will be richer than me or your mother someday."

"I suppose it won't be shameful for our family if I remained unmarried for the rest of my life?"

They raised their eyebrows, but had to agree. "So?"

"Please, Papa, Mama. I wish to be a proper lady. Not property."

In the end, they could only sigh in bewilderment. Papa relayed the girl's answer to uncle that afternoon, but the man stayed on for almost a week. He was probably hoping such a fickle teenager as Arisa will change her mind. He rarely appeared outside of his room, though. No more drinks with Papa now.

In the meantime, Arisa continued to focus on her studies and co-curricular activities. Her parents were generally pleased with her public face that they let the matter of marriage pass for now, reckoning they'd try again when she gets a little older. Meanwhile, Ai stayed behind with the tutors.

Toward the end of that week, Arisa suddenly remembered Ai. She had been too busy to think of home. She bought a box of specialty pastries and returned home that day earlier than usual.

She found the house deserted. The servants all appear to have been sent away on some chore (with a little tip, it turned out). She hurried to Ai's room and

Her heart stopped.

Uncle was sitting on Ai's bed, and Ai on Uncle's lap. He was necking and petting her while the hapless little girl shivered and sweated profusely. He relished that sweat. He even licked quite a few drops of it.

"You beast!"

The man was startled and Ai scrambled out of his grasp to rush to her sister's arms. Onee-chan was livid with rage. "What do you think we are?! You actually believe you can have our whole clan under your own putrid thumb?"

The man staggered to his feet. "It is your fault," he hissed. He half-stumbled past them on the way out. "It is your fault!" he shouted as he ran off. "Be responsible for your sister!"

In the following days Arisa ordered all tutors away from Ai and locked the girl up in her own room, especially as their parents will be in Tokyo for a week almost, and left only guards in the house, specifically instructing them to inform her whenever their uncle was about. But the man did not return. Every day when she came home from school Arisa would go straight to her room with the keys to a lock she had installed on the outside, and every time Ai would run into her arms and cry about how she kept hearing the man's smoothly sinister voice, whereupon she'd just hug and kiss and apologize over and over for not being with her, showering her with treats and gifts that the little girl was too bothered to enjoy, anyway.

Arisa looked forward to her parents' return. Surely, they will not allow something as reprehensible as this, even if it be done by an aspiring Kubo patriarch.

Sure enough, days as she brought to them Ai who was weeping in her bosom, the parents were speechless from shock. They took the girl in their arms and comforted her, promising she will never see her uncle ever again. Afterwards they handed her over to a servant and gave the audience their elder daughter pleaded for.

"Prosecute him!" Arisa tearfully beseeched. "Defend my sister!"

They were at a loss for words.

"Aren't you going to stand in behalf of your own child?"

At length, Mama spoke up. "Arisa… you're too young to know."

Hah?!

"Dear," seconded Papa, "I strongly recommend you appease your Uncle."

No way. "But why?!" This can't be happening. "Have you already abandoned us?"

"Apologize to your uncle."

"But we were the ones—"

"No, Arisa. You weren't the one abused. Ai was. Let him apologize to Ai, and then you apologize to him."

Arisa's head seemed to spin. She wanted to break down completely in front them, yell at them, openly reproach them… but no, there's a better deal. "Papa," she choked. "Mama. I ask that you please let me and my sister be away from Uchiura for a time."

Mama raised an eyebrow. "What of your studies here? And which of our relatives do you plan to stay with? Your uncle's wealth and influence reaches across the entire clan."

"I'll ask the Nanjous."

The couple was thunderstruck. Mama clenched her fist and approached her threateningly. "You fool!" she roared yanking her by the arm. "Are you going to drag our family pride in the mud?!"

"I will not tell anyone about what happened, Mama! We just want to get away from that monster!"

"You think your own childish assumptions are enough?!"

"Chiharu!" commanded Papa. "Enough!"

He stood up, motioning his wife to follow, and wordlessly left Arisa there. The couple spent the rest of the day sitting on their bed in anguished silence.

Late that afternoon, he told her of his decision.

"Eiichiro!" the wife protested. "This will be an insult first of all to you! And that child cannot expect any respect from that place."

His shoulders slumped. He could only sigh. So Arisa was still blaming him for what had happened. She never spoke a word to him when she came back from her captivity with the Nanjous, but neither did his wife speak to him at all, and it took a full month for things to normalize somewhat. "We both know that. It is my fault."

Tears began to well up in Mama's eyes. "What has happened to our family?"

Papa could not keep his conscience at bay forever. Gone now was the sake and the laughter. Without those distractions, the truth was all that was left to see. He had just compromised his own children. Just as he had compromised them that time long ago.

Even if her course of action was clear to her, Arisa couldn't help but feel torn as she rode down in her chauffeured family car alone, down the expressway to Tokyo. Humbling herself before the Nanjous felt nearly as awful to her as Uncle's assault had been to Ai, but she felt all too responsible for everything.

"I hope you would consider," she said in front of the Nanjou couple—and their daughter Anna—with a shadow over her face. She was asking them if they could lend them one of their resthouses in the Kyunins for them to stay in. "But all of that are going to be part of the resort," mused Mr. Nanjou. "I'm not really sure…"

"Hon," said Mrs. Nanjou. "Don't we have that old manor house over at the main island? It's unused right now. Are we going to attach it to the resort, also?"

The man took some time to mull it over. Well, he did overlook that one. It was somewhat large, but it wasn't as grand as their properties on Okaa-san. And it was old; not falling apart, but it would be extra-costly to refurbish it to luxury grade. It could be a great dormitory, though, especially as there was Nankaisei Academy on that same island, if only there would be students affluent enough…

"Alright," he finally said. "I will negotiate the rate with your father."

"Arigatou gozaimasu," she said with a bow. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Anna Nanjou affecting that cat smile. Her blood boiled. She had hoped never to see that one face ever again.

And now, nearly five years later, she was seeing her for yet another favor, and once again it was for Ai. Nanaka could almost smell the tension seizing Arisa in her seat as the car drove through that wooded stretch of road of Okaa-san. It had taken a lot for Arisa to even come over to the island and now they were seeing Anna again. Nanaka felt like she achieved a world record even just for her secondary role in all of this.

"Have you eaten already?" she asked Arisa. "You don't look well today."

This Nanaka. Arisa knew she was just taunting her. "And you? You look a bit too well if you ask me."

"Ahahah. I'm just glad. It is…" She looked away dreamily. "It is just marvelous. All three of us finally…"

"Humph." But this really was such a singular event. Something could only follow once the three of them meet. A boundary from which there was no turning back.

The car finally arrived at the unassuming street gate, which opened instantly to let them dive into the tunnel. As soon as the darkness blanketed them, Arisa's breathing got heavier. She can't believe she's actually back in this place.

"Here, Dollie!"

The frightened little girl dressed up in a fancy tea-party costume dashed through the labyrinthine corridors. There seem to be no end to this. Each door she flung open only led to more doors.

Unfortunately for her, the little lady of the house knew the mansion better than her.

Arisa turned around a bend.

"Gotcha!"

Arisa snapped back to the present. She was in the Mystic Veranda, Nanaka sitting next to her; she had also been a victim in this house, but showed no sign of anxiety whatsoever. And before them both, across the exquisite rosewood coffee table, sat their former tormentor.

"You don't seem to be well, Kubo-san," said Anna echoing Nanaka's remark earlier. There was a hint of that cat smile she had on when Arisa had asked her parents for the dormitory, and repressed playfulness lurked in her eyes, but her expression was otherwise calm, somewhat congenial, a face one would expect from a host formally receiving guests. But there was no pretentious small talk. Just long stretches of silence.

"Of course," was all Arisa could say. "I'm a bit nervous. I'm asking a favor, after all."

"But we have been such good friends, us three."

Another long pause ensued, and the maid returned to replenish their refreshments. They were still basically staring each other down long after the servant was gone.

Tiring of this, Anna went straight to the point. "Are you worried about your little sister again?"

"I am always concerned about my little sister. Please don't make it sound like I habitually burden you with requests."

"Arisa," said Nanaka touching her hand, "don't be so worked up. Anna has no reason to be tired of us."

"Indeed," agreed the heiress. "In fact, I'd hate it if you'd come to me only when you want something." She pushed a biscuit into her mouth and washed it down with tea. "Like people do with the rich."

Arisa relented. "Ai must be hating me now," she explained. "But I only want her to be in good hands. Please… take care of her."

Anna pondered for a while. After that she stood up and went to the azalea bushes. "I don't think I should grant your plea."

Arisa made a small face. "Even just for a year?"

"No."

She sighed. "Well, I guess there's nothing left for me to do but finish these snacks and laze around, if you intend to hold on to us."

"Anna," said Nanaka, "I think it's alright if it is for her sister."

Anna reached out for a blossom and fingered it without actually picking. "First, I don't see any sense in someone asking for favors from an enemy, if that's what Kubo-san thinks of me."

"What are you even shooting at?" questioned Arisa.

"Second, once I have your sister, I might as well make her mine. For life. I will even make her a Nanjou if I could. Not even your parents can stop me, I believe. That," she said turning around and approaching a silently outraged Arisa, "in exchange for yourself. I have been doing some thinking, you see, ever since you have returned to the Kyunins.

"Now I realize we have only been waiting for each other to make the first move. Since neither of us would, something else must. We're here now, and yet you still keep your distance. So if you can't accept me just yet, please let me have your sister in your place.

"Just so you know, I have much to teach her."

Arisa only closed her eyes and lay back in her seat, still seething. So she is going to lose Ai. She has pushed her so hard, pushed everybody close to her hard, and now she must take responsibility once more.

The rest of the afternoon went ahead in clouds shading the Nanjou estate, overlooking the sea, later giving way to breathtaking sunset colors, then lapsing into a starry night with wispy cloud remnants interspersed across the greater cloud of stars that was the Milky Way. And then, everything began to lighten up with the still-hidden dawn first casting a gradient of navy blue, then purple, greeting the hues of oncoming sunrise. And then—shine! It was morning again over the estate, and the sky was a bright early morning cerulean, completely unlike yesterday's clouds.

At around this hour the limousine re-emerged from the tunnel entrance, followed by a pickup carrying stuff, then went up to the great terrace that lay at the foot of the rise where the Nanjou mansion sat. The convoy stopped there, and everybody stepped out of the limo, Nanaka, Arisa, and finally Ai, who had once gawked at the estate, but was now actually going to live here. The "forest kingdom" will now receive its latest princess.

The porters began to unload Ai's luggage out of the pickup, but the valet rushed over to inform them that Madam Nanjou wanted to talk to the child first before her room is opened, so the baggage made a quaint heap there in the middle of the terrace.

The girls went on ahead, arriving at the lobby of the mansion just as Anna herself was coming down the bifurcated staircase. "Ah, you must be starved already. Breakfast is served at the banquet hall."

The airy dining hall had large windows looking directly out on to the terrace way below where both pickup and limousine were parked, the awkward luggage pile a little away to the side of the truck. The table was lively with servants constantly coming in and replenishing the dishes with all sorts of delightful treats. The (clattering) of cutlery and crockery made the air itself tingle. Ai could barely contain her excitement.

For her part, Anna regaled the girl with stories of her travels abroad, the sights she saw, the interesting folk she met, and the fabulous jewels and clothes she got from select sources in distant locales. Ai responded earnestly with enthralled chatter.

As the servants cleared the last of the dishes, leaving only dessert, an uneasy air returned as Ai realized the two of them have been the only ones talking.

Soon enough, Nanaka stood to go. "Well, I suppose our business is finished here." Arisa, still silent, also got up, followed her out, and never looked back. Ai only gazed at their backs curiously, which was interrupted by Anna whispering more fantastic tidbits in her ear.

Soon, Anna left the table as well, saying she needs the toilet, leaving Ai there alone with her thoughts and a last servant clearing the table. For a short while she stared into emptiness, absently playing with the slice of custard pie with her fork.

She turned her eyes to the window and marveled at the sharp cobalt blue of the late morning sky. It was her first time here; her mind was just taking all of it in, registering all the sights and sounds of this new place.

She rose and went to the window. Below her the chauffeur was doing a few checks on the limo. They were going home now.

Eh?

Just then, the whole of her awareness belatedly but forcibly kicked in, finally registering in full a certain fact: They were leaving. Arisa, her Onee-chan, was leaving.

Wait…!

She bolted and rushed down the hallway, past the puzzled servants, through the vast lobby, and finally out to the terrace… the place was too expansive… all this distance, all this distance to cover! Why did this place have to be so big?!

When she finally got there, she found that the limousine was already well ahead and disappearing down the ramp. Only the untidy pile of possessions remained. It was hard to believe… now that the car has actually left. She was alone, alone with the exquisite forest dwellings with only the beautiful stranger Anna.

She had wanted to say something. It was probably just a cordial farewell ritual, something that she in her anger at Arisa purposely dropped until her sense of propriety obliges her at the last minute. Or perhaps…

"Ai."

She gasped. Turning round—Onee-chan?! Arisa stood amongst the rhododendron bushes and was somewhat hard to see in the floral shrubbery. But she was there, apparently waiting the whole time just for her.

"O… Onee…chan." It felt weird saying those words after a long time, but even now, the first word to come into her mind was not "Kubo-san," which she thought to call her after moving in here.

Arisa explained. "I was, um, having my reservations leaving so soon."

But this was the moment. To say her mind. She can't let another limo take it away from her. "Onee-chan, did you… Were you actually serious in letting me go?"

"…"

"You knew I was mad at you, and that I said I didn't want to see you again, ever. But I felt you'd just send me off to An-chan's or Shuka-san's… not somewhere as fantastic as this. Maybe you figured I'd forget everything… forget all about home… forget I had a sister…"

Arisa wanted to say, "I did," after all, that was the plan basically, at least maybe a year, maybe forever, but instead she said, "I'm still here."

A great change came over Ai and her own feet began to step… forward… taking her straight to her sister.

"Onee-chan!"

Arisa caught her imouto in her arms.

They sank to their knees still holding each other in each other's arms. That was the answer Ai has been looking for. "I can't stay here!" she cried. "I can't… I can't just…"

"I know," sobbed Arisa softly. "I'm here."

"Amor vincit omnia. How sweet."

They turned to see Anna, eyes still moist. "You jerk,"" coughed Arisa. "You came here just to catch us in this."

"But I thought you were leaving here already," she said in mock disappointment. "Make up your mind, will you?"

"You planned this."

Smirk. "So what?" She knelt there beside them. "So I guess that means…" The deal. Arisa wasn't really keen on giving away her imouto. Anna succeeded. She got Arisa back.

"Hai," said Arisa wiping away her tears. "I can't drag my feet any further; I have a sister who relies on me."

"And me too." Anna gathered the both of them in a fierce hug and holding back her own tears. "Can I just keep the both of you?" she whispered.

"What about Ai's things?" asked Arisa. "Surely you're not going to leave them out there in the elements."

"And I don't want to give a whole room just to take in all that, humph." Giggle. "When the owner's not really going to move in here, after all, so I left them there so they could get back into the pickup in one sweep."

"I knew it. It was all a trick of yours."

Anna tugged Arisa's ear playfully. "And you're happy about it, am I right? Believe me, I am."

"But Nanjou-san," said Ai, "didn't the limo just leave? Then who—?"

"Nanan-chan wanted to give us three some sweet sweet private time. She borrowed the car to fetch the club so we could all have a sleepover here tonight. They're down at the dive shop right now."

Ai's face brightened as it never did since that fateful night at the dorm. Yep, Kubo Ai was, fully and officially, back.

Insert ED song:

Yuuki wa Doko ni? Kimi no Mune ni!

Lyrics: Hata Aki; Composition: Odaka Koutarou & UiNA; Arrangement: Odaka Koutarou.

Released November 15, 2017

The first regular school day came amid a faint scent of flowers in the spring breeze. It further enlivened Kanako and Ai as they stepped outside to begin their second year at Nankaisei, but Yoshiuyki was rather sleepy, thinking the new school year as merely another hurdle to overcome till the next break.

"You're such a cold rock, Yoshiyuki," remarked Kanako. "We're second years now and you still don't realize the importance of a good start to the day."

He only yawned in her face. She draw back. "Eugh. Morning breath, zura…"

"That's quite enough," said a voice form the door. Arisa's. She was still in her home clothes at this hour. Those exact words coming form said person would have frightened the wits out of them, but the tone was gentle and laid-back, like a mother to some kids' play. "Masaka, you forgot to brush again, haven't you, Yoshiyuki-kun?"

"I'll do it at the lavatory."

"I'm positively surprised Minase-san never had a problem with that breath of yours." Either because Grandma was better at reminding in that department, or didn't actually get close enough to him in the morning, maybe both, but regardless, Yoshiyuki will be returning to her next week and he is staying at the dorm till Sunday when he packs up. However, Arisa still entrusted the girls to him. Without the peace squadron.

Insert BGM: RED GEM WINK Lyrics: Aki Hata; Composition and Arrangement: Kyou Takada.

Ai ran out to the lawn and spun around in glee. She felt she could do anything now that the smoke had cleared between Arisa and her. "It's so great! I can't believe we we've got out of our first year. Soon, I'll be in uni!" Excited giggle.

"Ai," said Arisa, "you must finish third year first. And please get your studies over and done with before anything serious." This with a glance at Yoshiyuki.

"Oh sis, you sound just like a Mom."

"Well, ahem, I am your mother and your father out here, am I not?"

She saw Arisa's casual house dress. Yes, she does really play the part of a mother well enough. She smiled warmly and went over to her Onee-chan to hug and kiss her on the cheek, something she would never have dared last year. Also unthinkable before was Arisa kissing her imouto on the forehead and lovingly stroking her nigh-crimson head. She had always been serious about standing in as Ai's parent, but only now did she allow herself to show it openly and unashamedly.

"Arisa-senpai," asked Kanako. "Aren't you going to school today?"

She smiled sheepishly. "I have been a bit drained with the opening ceremony and all. The Director wanted me to take a whole week off. They're just too polite, but I think they're itching to kick me out already overstaying like this."

"Well, I don't mean anything mean, but, you'll look really good in uni, zura. Ahhhh, I'm so jelly right now…"

She slowly shook her head. "I want Ai and I to enter college, together. No ifs, no buts."

"But…" Groan. "I know! Why don't you apply to be the Director? You're already an absolute monarch and all, so…"

Embarrassed at this, she pushed both girls out onto the footpath. "Enough talk! You'll miss the bus!"

The two went on and waved back, then suddenly Ai dashed back to playfully cling to Yoshiyuki's arm and lead him along. "Come on, Yoshi-kun, I made some really yummy omelettes just for you!" She dragged him along for a short distance then ran off to Kanako who was already at the road while he lumbered on, still sleepy and uncaring.

"Yoshiyuki."

He felt a soft hand hold his.

"Here." Arisa gave him a double-decker bento wrapped in tastefully woven cloth. "Ahem. I think my treats are at least as tasty as hers. I… I was the one who taught her, after all."

And then, she pecked him on the cheek.

Now Yoshiyuki was fully awake, if stunned. Uh… O-OK… He just turned around uneasily and went on to the road, still slowly but now because he was dazed, holding the bento with both hands like it was some exotic item of great power. Arisa stayed on to see them off. "Ai… I must say. You made me feel somewhat envious."

Up next: Nanaka's story.