Dish.23 – Ruki-Nii
It is maybe my fastest update since the last time I posted the latest chapters. Thanks for all of you who have read this story and left comment, I really appreciate it and always wait for your comment(s) because I like to know what's my reader's opinion about this story.
And... enjoy the new chapter
"It's really a marvelous dish indeed. But, because of several component of this dish had been made before the prelim started, then we have decided that we have to disqualify you as well as this dish."
Kimura Haruki still remembered well how calm the girl named Nakiri Karen reacted to that 'cruel' decision given to her at the Autumn Election Preliminary. Even when almost all the audience on the spectator benches shouted their objection, Karen still looked unperturbed.
That time, Haruki thought.
Ah, it's not surprising her at all as it's not the first time for her to experience something like that.
That girl didn't show any pained look on her face even when the ciel étoile squad members surrounded her, telling her that the decision made by the judges must be wrong. With her ever cheerful voice, she told them that it's not a big deal that she got disqualified as she wasn't interested in participating in Autumn Election anyway.
On their way back home, not a single word related to that day's match being mentioned. The girl whom always called him by the nickname 'Ruki-Nii' just mentioned about trivial things such as the day's weather, their regular visit to certain supplier, and the newest menu in their favorite sweets café.
It was in the early evening in Nakiri Mansion when Haruki was about to discuss the next visit on Albion Confectionary, that he heard the younger Nakiri twins confronted Karen with that judging words.
"That curry dessert you've made at the prelim. The marinated pineapple and coconut ice cream that you've prepared before the prelim started... you put it intentionally to that dish so you'll get disqualified from the prelim. Do you hate competition that much?"
Haruki felt his heart burnt.
"You thought so... Erina?"
It all thanked to Karen's reply that made Haruki stopped whatever he was intended to do to Erina.
"If I did it intentionally just to get me disqualified from the prelim, there's another easier way to get it, right? For example... all I need to do is not present on the prelim."
Haruki still remembered how awful Nakiri Karen looked like at the morning of that day. The breakfast set he has prepared to her even didn't get touched at all. Instead of attending the opening ceremony of Autumn Election, Karen chose to sit on her favorite bench at the small garden near ciel étoile squad's HQ. Alone.
"Just for your information, Erina. I'm not someone whom like to spend my time on unnecessary things."
"... So why...? Why... you..."
"Because it's the curry dish which I've worked for since summer holidays. And I want the judges to take a taste on it. It doesn't matter if the end will turned out like that. Moreover, since in the beginning... I didn't aim their marks on my dish anyway."
Haruki knew it. Too well. As he had accompanied Karen in all of her practices as well as gave numerous ideas to the dish served by Karen at the prelim. He was by her side since the dish was merely an abstract idea, till it got shaped like that. That dish wasn't a mere dish to answer the prelim's theme.
It's... one of her treasures.
"Ren, I'm coming in."
No reply from the other side, so Haruki opened the door slowly. He didn't find the owner of that room. But when he got further into the room, he found the jet-black haired girl sat on the rocking chair by the balcony. Her gaze was full on the endless night sky with its stars and half-moon hanging on it.
"You will catch a cold if you stayed here with those shirts, Ren."
But, the girl didn't reply even for a word. So, Haruki chose to walk to her closet, fetching a thick cloth from it. Standing in front of her, then draped the cloth on her.
"Yappari, Ruki-nii is the one who know me the best."
There was no happiness in Karen's statement just now, even the girl said it with her cheerful smile on her face. It was what Haruki felt. Then, he replied.
"It's obvious, isn't it... Ren. So, stop saying nonsense stuff like that."
Her 'forced' smile slowly disappeared, as Karen gave her attention back to the night sky. Silence. Not she or the boy next to her spilled a single word out after that. But, it didn't matter. As that silence was the one Karen needed the most, at least now. When her emotion was spiraling, in the state of chaos.
Why... she always got misunderstood?
Karen was too drowned into her own world that she didn't realize her Ruki-nii has stopped her rocking chair's movement, then brought her into a hug.
"Let it all out. You know, getting all the things bottled up inside is not good for your health."
Karen wanted to fight back those words given by Haruki, but her body seemed already disobeyed what her brain commanded it to be. And she hated it. As when she did what Haruki told her, she will looked weak. So fragile, more than a tiny layer of ice.
"It's okay... to be weak in front of me, Ren."
As the final trigger got loose, she buried her face deeper on Haruki's chest. Her hold on his shirt got tighter. Haruki caressed her head, as well as her back. Listening to her cry, it was as if listening to all of her hidden stories. It was always the same, since both of them met.
Eight years ago... after his long period training.
Kyoto, Kimura Residence
Eight years ago – Summer.
"Nice to meet you, Haruki-kun. I'm Nakiri Azami, and this is my daughter Nakiri Karen. I hope you can befriend her."
Nakiri?
Haruki has heard that name. But, what kind of business the man from that family came to their house?
And that question got answered later in the evening of that day when his father – Kimura Akito – told him that the girl named Nakiri Karen will stayed with them for several weeks. So, he got the task to be that girl's friend.
Haruki didn't know how to start it when all the things he saw about the girl named Nakiri Karen was no other than stayed in silent, played by herself, and sometimes she cried in her room. On the early days of her stay in Kimura Residence, she was too attached to his Ikuya-nii. She always tailed the second child, like a hen and its chick. Then, it was almost two weeks of her stay that she started playing with the triplet sisters - Ayumi, Ayaka, and Aiha.
Since that day, Haruki found the girl looked less depressing. He often saw that girl smiled brightly when the latter played with his triplet sisters.
It was on certain dinner they had together that Haruki started to involve himself to interact to that girl whom already considered as the youngest member of Kimura family.
"Here your favorite tamagoyaki, Ki-kun."
Haruki got his eyes brightened once his oldest brother placed the said dish onto his rice. "Arigatou, Ichi-nii."
"I... Ichi-nii?"
It was when Haruki put the egg dish into his mouth that he heard that Nakiri girl repeated his words. Then he saw his Ayumi-nee beamed in energetic speech after that.
"It's our way to call Ichiya Nii-san, Ren-chan."
"You can call him by that nickname too, Ren-kun." The younger one of the triplet – Ayaka – added as she took the pickled veggie then ate it. "Since you've being the part of this family."
"... Family..."
Haruki stopped his munching when he saw the youngest girl in that room mumbled that word while have her gaze on her bowl of rice.
"What's wrong, Ren-chan? Why are you... crying?" Ayumi immediately left her meal then rushed toward the crying Nakiri Karen and brought the younger girl into a hug. "Hey... daijoubu, Ren-chan? Do you miss your family? Should I ask father to call Azami Oji-san?"
The last two questions got answered by her shaking head. Didn't know what she should do next, Ayumi kept hugging the younger girl. Then, the other two sisters – Ayaka and Aiha – joined and hugged the youngest between the four girls.
Haruki was sure that Nakiri Karen didn't say a single word out. But, seeing her crying like that... for unknown reason, he heard her voice. In her cry, it's as if she told him.
- This family is so warm, full of love. What kind of thing I can give to them in reply of the kindness they have given to me?
Present time
Haruki brought the sleeping Nakiri Karen to her bed. He didn't know how long that girl cried till she fell into sleep. It has been a while since Haruki saw that girl in that state.
It was right after Haruki closed the door of her room that his phone rang. He took a look on the screen, and found his oldest brother's name on it.
"Moshi-moshi, Ichi-nii."
"Hmm. I have heard about the prelim's result. Is she... alright?"
"Yeah, she is. It's just..." Haruki took a pause, as he was deliberating between telling his brother or not about that little misunderstanding issue.
"I'm listening, Ki-kun. Feel free to tell me all about it."
Haruki let out a small smile at his big brother's encouraging words. It was always like that, whenever he had a talk with his Ichi-nii. Even before he told the problem, his big brother always got a step ahead him to guess it.
"I'm just... wondering, if Ren didn't stay at our place that time... if Ren spent her time more with her family, with her sister... maybe... she won't..."
"What have happened, Ki-kun?"
Haruki didn't answer it immediately. He has known about his oldest brother's character so well. That the man named Kimura Ichiya was someone whom loved to get right to the point.
With a small sigh, Haruki answered. "Nothing..."
He chose to lie. It didn't matter if his brother won't buy it.
"Ki-kun… because Ren-kun has called you 'Ruki-Nii' that's meant you've become her big brother. And, big brother's duty is to protect their little sister/brother. You... must remember that."
"Hai, Ichi-nii."
"... Don't worry. You're not alone."
Haruki nodded slowly, even he knew that his brother won't see it directly.
"Get rest now, Ki-kun."
Haruki leaned on the nearby wall as the call ended. He closed his eyes, played his big brother's words in his head again and again. Not long after that, he opened his eyes. Then got back to Karen's room. He took a seat on the usual chair which he often used, making little noise as possible as not to wake her up from her peaceful sleep.
Haruki didn't remember since when seeing the sleeping Nakiri Karen become his hobby.
And he didn't remember since when the nickname 'Ruki-Nii' became his favorite nickname among the other nicknames given to him.
Even at first, he objected to be called by that nickname.
"Hey, why you keep calling me with 'Haruki-san'?"
The little Karen looked up from her unfinished sand castle to the little boy in front of her whom posed that question.
"... Do you mind with it?"
Little Haruki looked a bit confused by Karen's unexpected answer.
"... It's just... you always looked like got annoyed when people called you with your 'Ki-kun' nickname. And I don't want to see your annoyed face whenever I call you with a nickname... so..."
Haruki sighed as he ruffled his own hair in frustration. "Hey, it's... it's not that I hate that nickname, it's just... too childish... to me."
Little Karen stopped scooping the sand beach to her little bucket when she heard that short explanation. "I... see."
Haruki still hasn't let go of his confused look as he still didn't get the answer he seek for. It was when the younger one felt his gaze on her that she asked back.
"What...?"
"You said earlier... that you don't want to see my annoyed face whenever you call me with a nickname." Haruki said exactly the same sentence Karen has said earlier. "Are you... already have a nickname for me?"
Karen immediately ducked her head as she got busy with scooping the sand beach to her little bucket, trying so hard to ignore Haruki whom still had his gaze on her.
"You have!" Haruki shouted out those words as he 'unfortunately' dug his own scoop to the base part of the sand castle. When he realized it, he saw the sand castle between both of them fell apart in a dramatic way.
"Ruki-nii BAKA! What's your problem?!"
Both Haruki and Karen gasped in surprise by the sudden outburst. Haruki got surprised as it was the first time he saw that girl shouted out her anger... also for that nickname. Karen whom already turned red like a ripe tomato immediately left Haruki and run toward the older Kimura brothers whom in the middle of preparing for barbeque party. Haruki whom still in the state of shock only saw the running girl in silent.
"Ruki-nii...? What a strange nickname she made."
Haruki saw Karen mumbling something in her sleep. Her disturbed gesture, her frightened face. He moved from the chair to her bed. Brought his right hand to the top of her head, caressed it slowly, while his left one held onto her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid, Ren. You're not alone, I'm here... always, by your side."
The same words got sung again and again. Haruki will repeated it, countless times. Till she got ride off whatever dream she had that time.
His right hand stopped caressing her head once he saw her breath has gotten back into normal. He brought it to her dampened face, wiped off the stain of tears she had before as well as the sweat buds on her temple.
Out of all nicknames, why that girl chose 'Ruki-Nii'?
Little Haruki always curious about the answer behind that question, but he didn't dare to ask.
So, in certain time when he headed to his own room that he 'unintentionally' heard the interesting talks his triplet sisters had with Karen in their room when he walked passed it.
"Ne, Ren-chan. Why you chose Ruki as Haru's nickname?" The youngest girl of the triplet sisters – Aiha – asked with her curious tone in her voice. That very question too, that made Haruki stopped his walk. He looked at the closed shoji doors, then took two steps closer to it.
"Yes, I'm curious about it too, Ren-kun." The middle one – Ayaka – added. "Don't you think that it's not suitable to him? Hmm, how should I put it? It's sounded like an adult name."
"Ayaka is right. It's too good to that brat, Ren-chan." The oldest – Ayumi – didn't let herself left behind.
There a silence followed after Ayumi's comment, which strangely made Haruki whom stood outside the room got nervous. It was like waiting for his name got announced as the winner of competition he attended to.
"Uhm... nothing in particular. I just thought about a nickname that hasn't made by everyone in this house."
Huh?
Little Haruki got his unbelief look after hearing that ridiculous answer. He has tensed up for nothing, hasn't he?
"So that I can be memorized by him."
Haruki who was about to leave that place, stopped. He didn't quite understand with Karen's statement just now, but for unknown reason, he felt his heart got warm.
"Even it just a short time that I spend here, I want to be a part of his memories. Also, it's for my own egoistic desire. All of you... Kimura family, have showered me with so much love that I don't know how to reply it. By making my own nicknames for you all, I want to memorize each of you... in case, I got no chance to meet all of you in the future."
Haruki always wondered, why a little girl had that kind of thought. She's so mature beyond her actual age.
He was curious, back then. That was why he chose to follow her, to go with her, met the famous family called Nakiri family.
And he got the answer right after he stepped into the giant yet luxurious mansion of Nakiri family. Instead of the glamorous life he saw in that place, he felt nothing other than loneliness. No warm greeting he used to hear back in Kimura Residence. No lively chatting about trivial things. Cold backs, accused stares, and sometimes hateful looks given to the little girl with jet-black hair.
"Bring me to your favorite playground, Ren."
It was his first sentence to be spoken to her. And... it's also for the first time that he saw her gleaming eyes since the two stepped into Nakiri mansion.
Since that day, Haruki has made an oath to himself. Rather than being a mere part of her memory, he wanted to get deeper than that.
He wanted to be someone Karen can depend on. More than her own father, more than 'that blonde haired boy' she always talked, more than anyone else.
.
.
.
Haruki brought his face closer to the sleeping Nakiri Karen. Met his nose to hers. Her sweet caramel perfume filled his nerves. His heart was drumming against his rib cage, it felt a little bit hurt, but it felt pleasant at the same time.
He was care about her. So dearly.
He got angry when she got treated unjustly, when someone talked bad about her, when her hard-work got nothing to be credited, and when she got misunderstood. He felt hurt when he heard her unhappy laughter, when he saw her forced smile, when he saw her longing gaze.
And he felt the worst of it whenever he saw her cried by herself.
Years spent by her side, seeing her growth from the brittle little girl into a strong teenage girl, he has realized something.
He wanted to be a very special person that resided a special place in her heart. He didn't want to lose her, didn't want to give her to someone else. He wanted her to be his.
...
"Forgive me for my egoistical wish, Ren..."
With that apology which came like a whisper, he kissed her.
As if embracing the fragile glass, his lips enveloped hers in gentle way.
