Chapter 41 Moving Forward

Ema went to Kaname's room after getting home from her dinner with Tsubaki where he'd confessed he wanted to date her. She knocked, hoping he would be home and that she wasn't disturbing him.

His eyes flashed with surprise when he opened his door and saw her standing there, but then he smiled. "Yes? Something I can do for you?"

"Can I come in and talk for a minute?" she asked, not wanting to have this conversation in the hall.

"Of course," he agreed, stepping back to let her in and shutting the door behind her.

"Someone asked me out and I didn't get upset," she blurted excitedly. Then she laughed self-consciously, rubbing the back of her head. "Sorry, that probably seemed random. But a guy I think a lot of asked me out, and I didn't have any negative thoughts about me or him. Actually, I thought that there must be something special about me if he would want to date me."

"I can think of a lot of special things about you that would attract plenty of guys," Kaname said, raising his eyebrows as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And did you tell this guy you think a lot of yes?"

"Oh no," Ema said with a laugh. "I still don't want to date and he was very respectful of that. But I know that I was only able to react well, to think that it was a compliment, because of the talks you've had with me." She smiled shyly, shrugging one shoulder. "So I wanted to tell you thank you again."

Kaname seemed caught off guard. "You're welcome," he finally said. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Well, that was all. I'll see you later. Good night, Kaname!" She gave him a cheerful wave as she left.

He slumped against the door after she was gone. He was happy she was doing better. Really, really happy. But she'd looked . . . radiant as she walked in, her face bright and excited and her whole aura full of joy. And for the moment he'd thought she'd said yes to the guy who'd confessed to her, he'd been disappointed. And he'd been relieved when she said she turned the guy down.

But what did it matter to him other than being concerned for a friend? If she'd been that excited about dating a guy, he should have been excited for her. Not upset. Not . . . jealous. Because that was the dark feeling that had entered his chest. That another guy had made Ema that happy. That she was that happy to be with some guy. But that wasn't the case. He had helped make Ema that happy. And, ridiculously, he felt like he wanted to keep being the one who made Ema happy. To be the one who gave her that joy and excitement.

He was a playboy. He had lots of girlfriends and no serious relationships he liked it that way. But he also knew he didn't want that forever. He wanted a family. A wife and kids who were devoted to him and who he was devoted to.

All of his talk with jobs and the future with Ema had him thinking on changing his job. On finally finding a career. His mom had been trying to get him to take a position in her company for years and he was considering finally taking her up on that offer. Maybe when he did, it would be time to be time to settle down with just one girlfriend. None of his current girlfriends were the type he'd settle down with, but Ema . . . He hoped that maybe when he made these changes in his life, it would coincide with Ema feeling up to dating again. If that was how things played out, he hoped he was first in line to ask her out. It could be nice to see where things between them might lead.

~.~

That night, Tsubaki lay in bed, replaying his conversation with Ema from that night over and over in his head.

Holding back wasn't his style and it was maddening to be so close to Ema, yet keep his feelings to himself. But tonight showed that he'd been doing the exact right thing. He could tell how much his restraint meant to Ema. How much she appreciated that he wasn't putting any pressure on her. She trusted him. And she thought it was amazing that he would want to date her. Those were both good things, right?

He rolled over and stared at a picture of him and Azusa on his nightstand. It would be a lot easier to be patient if he knew that he would get Ema in the end. He'd meant it when he said it was terrifying to think some other guy might get Ema. He was sure he could convince her he was the best choice for her if she would give him the chance. But would she give him a chance? He hoped so.

But if he and Azusa had already fallen for her, who knew what other guys had? All he could do was remain close to Ema and hope she turned to him when she finally felt ready to date. And, hopefully, she'd decided to go to college in Japan and remain living with the Asahinas. Proximity would give him a lot of advantage against other guys who might want to date Ema.

~.~

Shin looked nervous as he approached Natsume at work and Natsume wondered if Shin had screwed something up that he would have to fix.

"Hey," Shin said, trying for a casual tone and failing.

"Hey," Natsume said back when he didn't continue.

"So," Shin said, dragging out the word as he scratched the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at Natsume. "You and Ema still doing okay?"

"Yes," Natsume said slowly. Why was Shin bringing up Ema? And we did he look so awkward about it?

"Um, are you sure about that?"

Natsume narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Shin's eyes caught Natsume's, then skittered away. "Uh, I was just talking to some people who are working on the zombie apocalypse game—the one where your girlfriend is voicing the lead, and apparently your brother Tsubaki is voicing the other lead." He paused. "And some people on the team think they're dating."

"Of course they're not," Natsume said, the words out of his mouth before he even thought the statement over. He raised his eyebrows. "Don't you think I would know?" But his heart raced as he thought harder. Would he know? He was, of course, only dating Ema for pretend. Would either of them tell him if they started dating? But it hadn't been that long since Ema blew up about Subaru asking her out. He couldn't imagine that she'd changed her mind about dating so quickly.

"Right," Shin said, looking even more awkward. "It's probably just a rumor. Sorry."

"No, it's fine," Natsume said, reaching out a hand to stop Shin from running off. He didn't want his coworker to think he was mad at him. "Ema is Tsubaki's childhood friend too. He always wanted a little sister and got six younger brothers instead, not counting his triplets. He's always treated Ema like a little sister. I'm sure that people who don't know their relationship would misread it." At least, he thought Ema was like a little sister to Tsubaki.

"Oh," Shin said, relaxing. "Yeah, that makes sense." He laughed. "Man, gossip happens everywhere, doesn't it? Sorry about that."

"It's fine," Natsume said again, but the rumor bothered him for most of the day. Because maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a rumor.

He held out until he got home from work, then he couldn't help texting Ema.

Hey, I'm betting this is just a rumor,

but there are some people working

on the zombie apocalypse game

who think you and Tsubaki are dating?

He made the text a question just in case they really were dating. He didn't want Ema to think he'd be upset at the idea. Though he would be.

Ema sent back an emoji of someone face-palming themselves and he immediately blew out a sigh of relief. Of course it was just a rumor. Ema's text followed shortly after.

Tsubaki and I are treating each other the exact same

as we did for the anime we worked on.

Only, we don't have Azusa with us now.

Apparently, with him people get that

we're not dating, but without him people

think we are.

He smiled before texting back Shin's statement that gossip happens everywhere.

I thought that was probably the case.

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't

behind on the goings-on at the Asahina

household.

Ema assured him he wasn't, which was a relief. But he also wondered how Tsubaki and Ema normally treated each other so that other people mistook them for being in a relationship.