"We're going to that new jewelry store after school today -- do you want to come, Sakura?"
Sakura slumped a little. She really wanted to go, but she had her math tutoring. "Sorry, Chiharu, I have somewhere else to be."
"Okay." Disappointed, Chiharu turned to leave, but a strong voice stopped her.
"Wait." Touya looked at his little sister, meeting her eyes. "Go. I'll tell him you'll be late."
"Really?" Her eyes were bright.
Touya nodded, fighting a smile.
"I'll be there, Chiharu!"
"Great!" She went to tell their friends.
Sakura used to eat with her friends, but ever since she saw Tomoyo die she had eaten with her brother and Yukito. They were her primary support system after the accident and it was still fresh enough for her to stick by them. Neither young man protested, though Touya insisted on exercising his right to tease her.
"You have to do my chores for a week," he told her when she tried to thank him. That shut her up.
"That's okay," Li replied when Touya told him. "I may not even be able to do it today."
"Really," Touya replied.
There was something to the tone of his voice that made Li look up. The young man's eyes wanted to know what was more important than his little sister's education. "There are some things I have to take care of." He glanced at Meilin's empty desk, and Touya caught it.
"Call us if you can't come."
"Okay."