Hating You
Squit Ayumin

Chapter 2: Arrangements

Kari stared at her reflection in horror. "Mum! I can't wear this!"

Her school uniform was replaced by a light pink dress, matching heels, a simple silver necklace and silver drop earrings. As minimalistic the outfit was, she felt extremely overdressed.

"What are you talking about?" her mother asked, fixing Kari's hair up. "You look very pretty!"

"Mum! I look like I'm trying to impress him!"

"What's wrong with that?" Mrs Kamiya finished her daughter's hair. "TK will think he's a very lucky young man."

"Why would he think—Mum!"

Suddenly, the door opened and a familiar face walked in, though they hadn't seen him since he had left for his second semester at university. "Hey Mum. Hey Kari. Sorry I didn't knock."

"Oh, Tai!" Mrs Kamiya left Kari's side to hug her son. "Oh, my goodness! You've become so big!"

"Hi Mum," Tai replied, half as enthusiastically. He smiled and waved his hand at his younger sister through their mum's hug.

"Kari, look how handsome your brother looks! My, how quickly you've matured!" Mrs Kamiya was still hugging Tai's head. "How is university life?"

"It's all right," Tai answered vaguely.

Mrs Kamiya gave Tai another tight hug before ushering him towards the door again. "That's very nice, Tai. Now, go to your room and change. I laid out what you need to wear tonight."

"But Dad and I were about to watch the game," Tai protested.

"You can watch it once you change! Tonight is a very important night for your sister! We're going to the Takaishis."

Tai looked at Kari and smiled smugly. "You look nice, Kari."

Kari frowned. "Tai, tell Mum I look like a five-year-old princess."

Mrs Kamiya frowned at her children.

"I think you look very pretty," Tai said obediently before leaving to go to his room.

"Mum, what did you mean when you said this is an important night for—"

Mrs Kamiya sighed dreamily. "Why am I blessed with the most handsome son and the most beautiful daughter?" She pondered for a moment and walked to Kari again. "Now, how should we do your makeup, dear?"

"Mum!"

"TK, is Matt here?" Tai asked good-naturedly, finally breaking the awkward silence between the Kamiya family and the youngest member of the Takaishi household.

"Y…yeah, he's around…" TK looked very flustered at the sight of them, his cheeks slightly coloured from embarrassment. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise it was such a formal dinner…"

Kari wished deeply she could turn invisible. She was in a dress. Her mum was in a dress even more formal than hers. Her father was wearing a suit. Tai had refused the suit jacket, but he too was pretty formal.

TK was wearing a t-shirt and basketball shorts, and his hair was wet.

She had never felt so stupid in her life.

"Come in, Mr and Mrs Kamiya," he said politely, stepping aside to let them in. "Hi Tai… Hi Kari…"

Kari was embarrassed again that he was forced to say her name.

"Ah, hello."

The quintet looked to see TK's older brother and Tai's friend, Matt standing before them, his outfit also fairly dressy.

Kari thought that, despite being brothers, Matt and TK's similarities ended with their blond hair and sapphire eyes. Matt was slightly more attractive—irresistible even. Their personalities were both rather serious, but TK tended not to be as moody as his brother. Matt was a musician, his impressive abilities ranging from harmonica to voice to bass guitar. TK was an athlete, basketball nearly engulfing his life the way soccer engulfed Tai's. TK also had more friends, as Matt wasn't quick to socialise with people he didn't know.

"It's been a long time," Matt said, smiling at the guests.

"Oh my!" Mrs Kamiya exclaimed, looking at the brothers. "You two have become so handsome! Kari, will you look at them? Aren't they so handsome?"

Kari wanted to die.

Tai grinned, clearly enjoying their discomfort. "Yeah, Kari, aren't Matt and TK the cutest?"

Matt shot Tai a look that Kari was thankful for.

"You two just keep looking more and more alike!" she added, taking them into a hug. "You two are practically twins!"

Matt looked troubled, as if offended.

TK noticed Matt's reaction and grew offended.

"I bet you two just get all the girls!" she continued to gush. "Kari, tell me. Does TK get—"

"How's uni life, Matt?" Kari interrupted.

Matt shrugged. "It's all right."

"I'll just, erm, get my mum and dad," TK announced quickly before disappearing inside.

"Mum!" TK hissed, walking into the kitchen. "You didn't tell me I had to dress up!"

"Peel this for me, will you, honey?" Ms Takaishi asked, handing her son a potato and a knife.

"Mum!"

Ms Takaishi quickly wiped her hands on her apron. "I'm sorry, son. I thought I had told you. Besides, didn't you see me, your father, and your brother all dressed like this?"

"No."

"Hm, I thought I asked Matt to tell you…" Ms Takaishi shrugged and put more potatoes in front of TK. "You can change later. The Kamiyas will be here soon, and—"

"There's already here," TK said dully, picking at the potato. "Didn't you hear the doorbell?"

"They're here?" Ms Takaishi exclaimed. "Hiroaki, why didn't you tell me the doorbell rang? TK, hurry up and get changed! Give those to your father." She quickly took off her apron and threw it aside. "Oh dear, I hope I don't smell too much like food."

"Mum, I have to go to basketball practice—"

"Thank you, honey. I love you," Ms Takaishi responded, kissing her son on the forehead before dashing out of the kitchen.

TK frowned as he gave his partially peeled potato and knife to his dad. "Dad, what's going on?"

"I'll be damned if I know," Mr Ishida growled, picking at his potato unskilfully.

"I brought a video camera!" Tai announced happily.

"What a wonderful idea, Tai!" Ms Takaishi exclaimed. "You're such a thoughtful older brother!"

Tai nodded proudly before turning the recorder on and focusing it on TK's face. "TK, why do you look like you have somewhere else to be?"

Everybody turned his or her attention to TK, who had been slouching by the wall, staring at the clock and tapping his finger against his elbow.

TK, as it was widely known amongst the teenagers present, hated when adults thought badly of him, so he had a habit to appear as gentlemanly and perfect as possible around them.

He looked alarmed and flushed, immediately standing a little straighter. "Did I look like that? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

That seemed like a sufficient answer to everyone, who resumed normal conversation. TK, on the other hand, looked ready to murder someone.

"Stop looking like your brother." Tai had gotten up and was now nudging TK on the side. "It's not a pretty look."

Matt and TK scowled as Tai smiled and turned the recorder to them. "So, Takaishi-Ishida brothers. How are you feeling tonight?"

"Fine," came Matt's cold answer.

TK just turned away to face their parents, deciding to listen in on their conversation rather than deal with Tai's twisted form of entertainment.

"…And TK is just so talented in the kitchen! He helps me all the time. As a matter of fact, he was just helping me prepare dinner before you arrived!" Ms Takaishi gushed. "He's also very clean and considerate. He tries to do the dishes before I come home, and he likes to do laundry. Why, just the other day…"

TK frowned—in his mind. His mother was once again making him sound like a maid.

"Wow!" Mrs Kamiya smiled at TK. "I hear from Kari you're on the basketball team. Perhaps one day you can teach Kari how to play. She's always wanted to learn, and the two of you are such good friends."

Kari looked up, alarmed.

She had never, ever said that.

TK looked at her, puzzled, before smiling. "I'd be more than happy to teach her."

"Don't you guys have a basketball court outside?" Tai asked, grinning evilly. "TK, you could teach her right now!"

"What an excellent idea!" Mrs Kamiya beamed. She shook Kari's shoulder excitedly. "Kari, isn't that a fantastic idea?"

TK's smile faded for a second. "Erm, I don't really think we should just leave to play some pointless game. It's rude, and dinner won't—"

"Dinner doesn't start for a while," Ms Takaishi interrupted, checking the clock.

"But Kari's wearing such a pretty dress!" TK tried, looking at Kari for help.

"Yeah," Kari mumbled dully.

"TK, you should lend her some clothes," Tai suggested, enjoying his game more by the second. "You have a closet full of them."

"Look how cute they are," Tai teased, pointing his camera towards them. "Smile guys! TK, look over here!"

"Leave him alone, Tai," Matt said irritably.

"I'm sorry, Matt. I didn't realise you had such an incestuous relationship with your brother." Tai stuck his tongue immaturely at his mate. "All I want to do is just record this momentous day."

"I'm cold."

Tai turned the camera to Kari and turned the recorder on. "Here is the ensemble TK has chosen for my little sister. T-shirt. Shorts. Her heels. Typical guy wear—" He turned the camera to TK and darkened his voice. "—for the summer. TK, how dare you let my little sister freeze?"

TK looked apologetically at Tai. "Sorry. I forgot."

He then took off his jacket and handed it to her.

Kari noticed him glaring into the distance as he gave it to her. She took it, not knowing what else to do. She could feel TK stiffen as the icy wind chilled his spine, making its way up his oxford shirt.

He didn't let it show on his face. "I guess the first thing you need to know is how to shoot a basketball." He paused. "Do you know how to shoot a basketball?"

Kari hadn't heard any of this, still too busy trying to put TK's jacket on her. When she had finally put it on, she saw TK looking impatiently at her.

"What?" she asked.

His irritation visibly increased, but he turned around and pointed to the hoop. "Do you see the square-like thing right there?"

"What?"

She had no idea what TK was talking about.

Tai was silently cracking up behind the camera.

Matt kept glancing at the door, not nearly as entertained and ready to go back inside.

"Do you know what a square is?" TK asked slowly.

"Yes," Kari muttered.

He either didn't hear her, or he was insulting her. "It's a polygon. A quadrilateral. Four equal sides—"

"I know what a square is," Kari said louder.

"Well, that's a start," TK said with slight sarcasm. "Now, aim the ball for the top-right corner of the square."

TK bounced the ball to Kari—who didn't catch it.

"You were supposed to catch it," TK stated.

Kari had not been expecting him to throw it, and she didn't notice in time. She quickly took the ball and attempted to throw it towards the hoop, her eyes closed.

She opened to see TK desperately attempting to hold in laughter, the basketball in his hands. "That's called an air ball. That happens when you don't throw it hard enough."

"TK, stop being an ass," Matt said once he reached over and turned Tai's camera off. "She doesn't know how to play."

Matt had almost expected to see Tai ready to charge at TK and break him in half, but Tai seemed more upset that Matt had turned his camera off.

Kari grabbed the basketball from TK and tried again.

Another air ball.

This time, TK let out a small laugh.

Furious, she took the ball and threw it at his head. He looked surprised for a second, but his smile returned when she missed.

TK stared at the ball rolling away from them before bursting into fits of strained laughter as he pointed to her.

"I…I…I can't… haha… I can't do this…!" TK managed to say as he laughed. "This whole thing is so stupid. Why am I teaching you how to play basketball? In this weather? And you're wearing my clothes! I still don't even know why you guys are even here!"

Tai had finally gotten angry with TK and picked up the basketball as it rolled to his feet. He threw it in the air and skilfully kicked it towards TK's direction.

It didn't miss.

TK painfully held the side of his stomach.

Kari walked two steps ahead of him, clutching her brother for warmth.

Tai walked alongside her, his arm protectively holding her shoulder.

Matt walked beside TK, showing him little compassion.

"I told you to stop," Matt said.

"I think I'm going to vomit," TK muttered, coughing.

"That's what you get for not listening to me the first time."

TK stopped and frowned. "The least you could do is ask if I'm all right."

"Clearly, you are," Matt responded. "The biggest feeling you you should have is feeling like a jackass."

Matt ignored TK's grunt that sounded suspiciously like, "Worst."

When he was hit by a basketball going approximately 120 km/h, TK had completely lost his appetite.

He felt a hard nudge.

"Eat," Matt ordered.

TK rolled a piece of meat between his fork before he finally put it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

His stomach lurched rebelliously.

"…TK?"

TK looked up when he heard his name. "Pardon?"

"Mrs Kamiya was just talking about how lucky you are to have a friendship that has lasted for as long as yours with Kari," Ms Takaishi summarised. "Don't you agree?"

TK put on his best smile. "Yes, of course. It's rare to have such lasting friendships."

He avoided eye contact with Kari.

Mrs Kamiya beamed and she set down her fork. "I simply cannot wait any longer! This is far too exciting to contain!"

Ms Takaishi suddenly smiled as well. "I completely agree."

Mr Ishida and Matt semi-curiously looked up. Mr Kamiya shook his head as he put another bite of food into his mouth. Tai turned his camera on, as if he had been planning for this moment. TK and Kari stared at their mothers, surprised by the outbursts.

"Together, Natsuko?"

"Of course, Yuuko."

"1, 2, 3," they chanted in unison. "You're getting married!"

Mr Ishida had excused himself for a cigarette. Mr Kamiya joined him, although he did not smoke. After a moment, Matt excused himself as well. Tai turned the camera to TK and Kari, recording their response.

Or lack of.

TK and Kari were still in the position they had been since their mothers broke the news.

"M…Mum…" TK said slowly, his voice hollow. "This is a joke, right? Arranged marriages don't even exist anymore. And…and I'm only seventeen. I'm still in high school. I don't even lov—you can't be serious when you say you want me to—"

"Marry him?" Kari exclaimed. She stood up, looking desperately at her mother. "I can't, Mum! Not him! I can't believe you would pick him out of everybody in the world!"

TK stood up and interrupted, "Ka—"

"We're not even friends! We don't even talk! I don't even know him!" Kari continued, disregarding him. "Mum, I know it's your family's tradition, but I can't. I can't!"

"Kari!" Mrs Kamiya said, looking surprised. "You act as if this is some sort of surprise. We told you we had arranged for you to marry TK since—"

"You knew about this?" TK asked, eyes wide in shock.

Kari was offended that he looked at her as if she were some crazy psychotic maniac who wanted to marry him. "No! I mean, I knew of the tradition, but Tai didn't have to do it and—"

"Hey, I almost had to do it," Tai defended. "Don't make it look like Mum favours me."

Ms Takaishi was slightly more sympathetic to her son. "TK, it isn't guaranteed. Of course we won't force you into anything like this. We simply want you two to give each other a chance. Mrs Kamiya and I were talking one day, and she convinced me how great of an idea this is."

TK and Kari didn't respond.

"For that reason, the two of you will live with each other until February to see if you're compatible!" Mrs Kamiya announced.

Tai put down the camera, the colour from his face drained. "You…you want Kari to live with… with TK? Mum, do you realise he's a guy?"

"Of course, Tai, but TK is the very definition of a gentleman!" Mrs Kamiya smiled. "I trust him very much."

"Oh yes, please don't think badly of my son. He's simply perfect."

"Of course, so is my little Kari." Mrs Kamiya beamed. "Why don't we take them to their new flat right now?"

"You picked out our flat?" TK asked loudly.

"Surprise!" Ms Takaishi exclaimed. "We just couldn't help ourselves. It's really nice. You two will love it."

TK tried not to make eye contact as Tai gave him the most terrifying glare he had ever seen.

Rika wondered for a moment if this is what she was destined to become.

When she had come home from school, her mother had forced her to go to one of her tea parties, not allowing Rika any time to refuse.

She currently sat in a room of one of the biggest houses she had ever been in, listening to some forty-something woman and her mother discuss the latest gossip amongst the in-crowd of Tokyo mothers.

"Rumiko, your daughter is so gorgeous! I can definitely see her following your footsteps in becoming the next supermodel!" The woman smiled at Rika.

"I'd rather do something productive with my life," Rika blurted. "Not walk down some stupid catwalk."

"Rika!" Ms Makino exclaimed, condemning her daughter for her rudeness. "I'm so very sorry, Yuzumi. Please excuse her."

Rika sighed as she set her head on her wrist. After her bad day in school, etiquette wasn't the first thing on her mind.

Yuzumi smiled. "Oh, it's quite all right. I have a son around her age too." She glanced at her watch. "In fact, he should have been here over an hour ago. I hope he comes by so you can meet him, Rika."

As if on cue, the sound of a male voice came from the front door. "I'm home!"

"Come to the tea room for a moment! We have guests!" Yuzumi called back. She smiled. "You would love him, Rika. He's quite handsome, if I do say so myself."

Rika scowled. Yuzumi was basically her mother's double.

"There you are!" Yuzumi stood up to greet her son. Slightly interested, Rika looked up to see him. Horror overcame her as none other than Ryo Akiyama stood at the threshold.

"Hell—o," Ryo's tone changed as he caught sight of the girl sitting on the couch. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I was invited here," Rika said, as if defending herself. "What are you doing here?"

Only after she had asked did she realise the stupidity of her question.

"I live here," he answered.

"Oh, you two know each other!" Yuzumi exclaimed, delighted. "How grand!"

Rumiko smiled widely as well. "Rika, Akiyama Corporation and I are sealing a modelling deal in Australia, so we're all going to take a trip down there for your winter holiday! Isn't that fabulous?"

"WHAT?" Rika shrieked.

"We're going to two weeks! Haven't you always wanted to go to Australia?"

"NO!"

"Jesus, Rika, stop screaming. We're indoors!"

Ryo looked at his mother. "Mum, does this mean I have to go?"

"Well, it is a family thing. You know how rare those are, so we'd prefer if you went…" Yuzumi gave her son a glare that stated he had no choice.

"I am not going to fucking Australia for two weeks with this asshole!" Rika screamed. "The rest of you have fun, but I'm staying right here!"

"You're really mature, cursing in front of our mothers like that," Ryo muttered. "You got both of us into trouble—again."

"Do not talk to me."

After Rika's outburst, Ms Makino angrily told Rika to relieve her bad day outside while Mrs Akiyama had "suggested" for her son to follow.

Therefore, the two were currently in the patio of the Akiyama household's backyard. They stood metres away from each other, neither really wanting to get too close to the other.

"We could have probably gotten ourselves out of it if you hadn't blown up like that."

Rika ignored him.

"You ruined my holiday," he muttered.

She turned around to glare at him. "And exactly what do you think this is for me? Some sort of prize?"

He shrugged matter-of-factly. "Obviously, you get the better part of the deal."

She narrowed her eyes. "And exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

He stood up, smirking. "Exactly what it sounds like."

"Hey!" Rika shouted as Ryo began to walk away. "Where are you going? Our parents said to stay here!"

He turned around and smirked. "This is my house. I can go wherever I want. And you seem like a delinquent. Do whatever it is that people like you do."

Rika glared at him as he left, her dislike for him adding by each second.

"Phew, that's the last one!" Tai announced as he set down a card box onto the floor of TK's and Kari's new flat.

"What a beautiful place!" Mrs Kamiya looked around, examining their flat once more. "Well, let's begin to unpack!"

Tai spoke up. "No, Mum. You and dad should go home. TK and I can unpack from here. We'll have some in-law bonding time."

She beamed at her son. "Why, thank you, Tai. How very thoughtful of you!"

He smiled back.

Mrs Kamiya gave each of the children hugs and kisses before she left with her husband.

Once the door closed, Tai immediately turned to TK, his expression changed.

"TK, I'm telling you right now. If you lay a single finger on my little sister, I will kick your ass so hard people won't be able to recognise you anymore." Tai grabbed the collar of TK's shirt to emphasise his superior strength. "Maybe you are the nice guy our parents think you are, but Kari doesn't seem to like you much, and I'm going to rely on her impression."

TK stared at Tai, obviously intimidated.

Kari felt the smallest bit sorry for him. "Tai, it's fine. You don't have to… threaten him."

Tai looked over at Kari. "I just want to straighten out any questions he may have. TK's a guy, Kari, and, with the exception of me, all guys are bastards who are after one thing."

TK stood there, his chest involuntarily held close to Tai's fist. "Erm…"

"Tai, TK and I can handle it from here. You should get home. I don't want to burden you," Kari tried.

"No burden," Tai said, finally letting go of TK rather harshly. TK stumbled backwards clumsily. "But if you insist, I guess I'll go home. Call me if he bothers you, Kari. I'll be over in a nanosecond to beat him to a bloody pulp."

TK mouthed a silent thanks to Kari, who appeared not to have noticed as she got up and hugged her brother goodbye.

Tai gave TK a final glare and ordered, "You better do all the heavy lifting, Takaishi."

After TK assured him that he would, Tai smiled at Kari and left.

Awkward silence ensued.

"I guess… I'll unpack my room?" TK asked unsurely, reaching down to pick up a labelled box. "Do you need me to pick anything up?"

She looked insulted that he considered her so weak. "No."

"Oh," TK said awkwardly. "Erm, well then, I'll be in my room."

She sat down beside one of her boxes and opened it. "Bye."

He stood a metre away from her, his body pointing towards his room while his head was turned towards her. She sat with her back to him, examining her belongings.

He gave her a few seconds in case she wanted to say something else before he felt too awkward and went to his room, closing the door behind him.

When TK finally left his room a few hours later, he saw that Kari had organised most of the kitchen.

"Er," he said loudly, trying to get her attention without actually communicating directly to her.

She turned around.

"Save something for me. I don't want you to do everything."

She shrugged as she began to put things away from a box to a cupboard once again. "It's fine."

He grew annoyed. If she was going to live with him, the least she could do was be a little friendlier.

"Well, I have to go to basketball practice," he announced, lifting his duffle bag for Kari's back to look at. "I'll be back later."

She turned around again, looking annoyed. "If you really wanted to help, you could have said something earlier. I assumed you were being lazy."

"I thought you were unpacking your room too. I was under the impression we'd do shared areas later," he answered, his voice tinged with irritation. "Anyway, I'll be back after practice and I'll help you unpack then, so you can just start with your room now."

"I'm already unpacking the kitchen," she said, holding up a dish. "I'm not going to drop everything I'm doing and start with my room just so it'll fit your convenience."

"Well then, leave something for me," he said lowly.

"Fine."

That was a good enough answer for him, and he promptly left, relieved to finally be away from her.

Ryo looked up as his door opened. "Oh, TK! Good. Help me with my homework. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to use for mu—Are you all right?"

"My mum is insane," TK replied, looking quite pale as he took a seat on Ryo's couch.

"She can't be as bad as mine," Ryo muttered. "They're forcing me to go on holiday with that Rika girl from school. Do you know her? I met her for the first time the other day, and she's completely mental." Ryo spun his pen around the side of his head. "My whole winter holiday is wasted."

"My situation's worse." TK turned around to face his friend. "My mum arranged a marriage for me—to Kari Kamiya."

Ryo laughed, clearly thinking his friend was joking.

"I'm serious!" TK snapped.

Ryo stopped abruptly by the change in TK's tone. "Seriously?"

"Yes! They even made me move into a flat with her, and she just sits there and doesn't say a word to me. It's so awkward."

"Kari Kamiya," Ryo repeated. "Who is she again? I thought you two used to be friends."

"Which makes it even more awkward, because she hates me now," TK explained as he let out a sigh. "I was too nervous to go back there after practice, so I came here instead."

Ryo chortled. "She has you that whipped already?"

TK shot Ryo a glare. "It's not funny, Ryo. I can't go back to my own home. And her older brother hates me and keeps threatening to end my life. He practically knocked me out with a basketball earlier, and I'm still bruised."

"He hit you with a basketball?" Ryo added with a chuckle, "And you bruised?"

TK frowned.

Ryo tried to hide his smile. "So when's your wedding?"

TK frowned deeper. "There is no wedding."

"But you said—"

"It's an arranged marriage, not a forced one. All I have to do is tell them I'm not interested in two months, and I'm off the hook."

Ryo smirked. "Can I be your best man?" He added once he saw TK's annoyed face, "At least Kari seems like a nice girl. I'm stuck with the devil for two weeks."

TK didn't respond.

"But I guess that's better than marrying her," Ryo said, laughing.

TK shot him another glare.

Ryo cleared his throat. "Anyway, physics… I really need your help. I had to sit outside for the lecture since I was late, so I don't really get anything."

TK thought for a moment, weighing his options. On one hand, he could help Ryo with his science homework. On the other hand, he could go home, face Kari and unpack all night.

Sighing, he replied, "What do you need to know?"