"Nee-chan, won't you do something about this?" Yuuta looked down at the floor, tugging the bottom of his sister's blouse embarrassingly.

He felt ashamed of his actions, but perhaps he might get Yumiko-neechan to talk to Aniki about leaving. He didn't really enjoy seeing Mizuki-san being taunted by his brother.

"What do you want me to do then?" Yumiko questioned the boy tenderly.

"Go home? Or at least leave us?"

"You're chasing us away? Ah! So you and Mizuki-kun really are on a date!" Yumiko grinned brightly.

"WE'RE NOT!" Yuuta blushed furiously.

"It's just… it isn't very nice… is it?" Yuuta mumbled.

"Yuuta is so considerate, like he always is." Yumiko smiled gently and gave him a soft tap on the head.

"Nee-chan! I'm not a ten-year-old anymore! Stop doing that!" Yuuta's beet-red blush had slowly ceased, but there was still a small tinge of pink on his cheeks.

Yumiko acceded to her brother's request and approached Syusuke (who was very happily annoying Mizuki) and wrapped her arm around his.

She then bowed slightly to the dark-haired boy, "We'll be going then, Mizuki-kun."

"Are we going? Why? I haven't even spoken enough to Yuuta yet…" Syusuke said.

Syusuke didn't really want to disobey his sister, but then again, he didn't want to leave Yuuta with that… that… that… What was his name again?

Okay, he knew that guy was called Mizuki.

Yumiko pulled Syusuke harder and harder as they moved further and further away from Yuuta and Mizuki. Syusuke never expected his sister to have so much strength.

"Have a happy holiday! Bye! And oh, Mizuki-kun, do come by our house someday!" Yumiko beamed at the two boys, waving as Syusuke gave one last grudging stare to Mizuki.

Mizuki decided for once to ignore Syusuke's death glare as he bowed down lowly to bid Yumiko farewell.

"Good bye, Mizuno-kun! See you, Yuuta!" Fuji Syusuke finally gave in and smiled his usual smile and left rather reluctantly.

Mizuki grimaced as Yuuta gave an apologetic smile.

"Come to think of it, we've a first year called Mizuno too…" Syusuke mused.

"You don't like Mizuki-kun?" Yumiko asked curiously.

"I find no reason to."

"I think he's a nice boy. Besides, Yuuta seems to be getting along fine with him."

"That's only because nee-san doesn't know what he has done to Yuuta…"

"Oh?"

Syusuke didn't really want to be reminded of what Mizuki had done to his dear Yuuta. It angered him.

"Syusuke, you do realize that you'll have to let go someday, don't you?"

The blue-eyed tensai just kept mum. He knew his brother well, and his brother did seem to be getting closer to that guy.

Syusuke knew that Yuuta still loved him (as a brother, sigh). However, Yuuta seemed to love that guy as well.

But things were somehow different with Mizuki; he doubted that it was just pure admiration for a senior. But he'll never let Yuuta go.

"Well, I guess it's time we visited the departmental stores. It's getting late…" Mizuki clapped both hands, realizing that they've wasted so much time. He had to get all the presents today!

Dragging Yuuta along, the older boy paced faster and faster.

"I wonder why your brother pretends not to know me anyway. I was such a worthy opponent and I'm his destined rival! Besides, even if I had angered him with something trivial that time, he shouldn't-" Mizuki said as Yuuta clenched his left fist.

"Trivial? I almost-"

"But you still love me anyway! Nfu! Ah, I'm so happy!" Mizuki picked out a strand of hair and began to twirl it around his fingers.

"You don't know what you're saying, Mizuki-san…" Yuuta answered, redness threatening to revisit his cheeks.