The phone rang and echoed around the quiet house.
Hirosue ran to answer it in the kitchen.
"Hello?"
"Hello Hirosue san. Is Miko there?" Ryosuke's voice said.
Hirosue's face scrunched up. "Oh, Ryosuke san. Well, how are you today? Feeling good? I hope you're not sick unlike the rest of us."
"Oh no, I'm quite fine thank you. Are you sick?" a confused Ryosuke asked.
Right at that moment, Miko came down the stairs; her school papers in her hand. She looked up at the mention of her name.
"Oh no, no. I'm absolutely fine. It's just Miko. She's come up with this awful sickness."
"HIROSUE!" she squealed. Hirosue looked up at her with large eyes. "GIVE ME THAT!" Miko grabbed the phone from her brother's hands and put it to her ear.
"Ryosuke?"
"Miko? Is that so?"
"No, no." she croaked. "I just woke up with a, er, headache. And Hiro's just making a big deal out of it. But it's not. A big deal I mean."
Miko could hear Ryosuke knitting his eyebrows with concern. "Oh, okay then. Well, I called to ask if you would like to come to my place tonight."
"Why? Any special occasion?"
"No. My father is just holding a party for his colleagues. So, I thought you might like to join me."
Miko lolled her head to one side. "Hmm, okay. What time?"
"Seven. Not too fancy."
She smiled. "Okay. See you then."
A continuous beeping noise told her that he had hung up. Miko did the same and sighed. Suddenly realising that Hirosue was in the room too, she turned to him and put her hands on her hips.
"What was that?" she asked.
Hirosue frowned. "It's his fault Miko. And you know it."
Miko slowly straightened. She could yet again feel herself on the verge of tears. She shook her head and turned to leave. She stopped mid-way and said, "I don't want anyone to find out Hiro. And I mean no one."