Chapter 23: Movies and Stars
"You don't have to stay at the inn with me," Yusuke said, his voice a few octaves lower than usual thanks to congestion. "I'm the idiot who stood outside in the cold without a jacket last night and caught a cold."
"It's all right, I don't mind," Ema assured Yusuke. There was a famous salon in the area that Louis checking out and a high quality athletic shoe store that Subaru was visiting. Ema had sent Juli with Louis because she was afraid he would disturb Yusuke. "What if you needed something and no one was here to get it for you? Although…what were you doing standing around outside last night? Were you afraid Subaru and I had gotten lost?"
"Yeah, something like that," Yusuke said, staring at the carpet rather than Ema. They were in the boys' room and had a few movies Louis had picked up for them laid out on the floor. "So, which movie do you prefer? I don't really care, and you're the one who's stuck inside rather than hiking like you were supposed to be."
Ema was about to answer when the door opened. She and Yusuke both look over, surprised. Louis and Subaru had left less than ten minutes ago.
"What are you doing here?!" Ema exclaimed upon seeing Fuuto. "And how did you get in?"
"With a key, obviously," Fuuto said, waving the key in the air. "I'm not a delinquent who knows who to break into rooms."
"I don't know how to break into rooms!" Yusuke shot back.
Ema had to cough to stop herself from giggling. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage Fuuto, but Yusuke's reactions to him were funny sometimes.
"That doesn't explain how you got the key," Ema said. "Or what you're doing here."
"I'm working nearby and needed a break," Fuuto answered with a careless shrug. "Masaomi texted me yesterday that you guys were coming out here and I ran into Louis on the street just now while I was out for a walk. He gave me the key and told me poor you was locked up in an inn when you were supposed to be outside hiking because this idiot here caught a cold."
"It's not my fault!" Yusuke said. "And I didn't ask Ema to stay."
"Did you want to rest instead?" Ema asked, suddenly concerned she had forced her presence on Yusuke. She hadn't wanted him to be stuck alone at the inn, but hadn't considered that he might just want to sleep.
"No—"
"Well, looks like my big brother needs his rest to get over his cold," Fuuto interrupted. "I'd hate for him to have to miss school because he didn't get enough rest over the weekend. We all know he can't afford to miss any days with his grades as bad as they are. I'll just take Ema and entertain her in her own room."
"Wait, no! You can't just—" Despite Yusuke's attempted protests, the next thing she knew, the movies were in Fuuto's hands and they were both in the hallway.
"Well, where's your room?" Fuuto asked. "I can't exactly lead the way since I don't know where it is."
Ema glanced uncertainly at Yusuke's door. She felt bad walking out like that, but Yusuke really didn't look like he felt well. His skin had been flushed all morning and Ema was sure that Yusuke would have insisted on them going hiking if he'd felt up to it. He wasn't one to let a little cold stop him from doing what he wanted. Despite any protests he may have tried to make, he probably did need his rest.
However, that didn't mean she had to follow Fuuto's plan. "Why would you want to watch a movie with me?" She asked, crossing her arms. "I thought I was one of your least favorite people. If Yusuke's going to rest, maybe I'll just go hiking by myself." Except, she'd promised Natsume that she would be careful, and going hiking alone in an unfamiliar area wasn't being very careful.
"I want to watch a movie on my break and you're the only one with a watchable TV nearby, that's why. I've been working sixteen hour days all week."
Suddenly, Ema felt guilty. She knew Fuuto worked long hours when he was away from home. If this was his only chance for a break, who was she to deny him? Plus, she was sure that if she did leave, he would just find a way into her room to watch a video anyway, and she didn't like the thought of him being in her room by himself.
"Fine," she said, leading the way. Still, she wondered why he'd come in the first place. He didn't seem to like spending time with his family much more than he liked spending time around Ema, so why drop by to visit? And before he came, he couldn't have known they had movies available to watch.
She shook her head. Boys. They were impossible to understand, no matter what country they came from.
~.~
Ema sat stiffly on her bed while Fuuto lounged on the bed, leaning against the wall. She was not comfortable with this situation and was upset at herself for letting it happen. Just because she wanted Fuuto to be able to take a break and watch a movie didn't mean he had to do it in her room. She could have had Yusuke rest in her room with Fuuto watching the movie in the boys' room while Ema did something else.
Of course, that might have made Yusuke uncomfortable, and it would have inconvenienced him to make him switch rooms while he was sick. Ema sighed mentally. Since she wasn't comfortable with Fuuto being in her room by himself, it looked like this was the best situation after all. But that didn't mean she had to be happy about it.
Time passed and Ema, to her surprise, was able to relax. Mostly because Fuuto wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to her. Since the movie started, he hadn't said one word to tease, harass, or insult her. It appeared he truly had wanted to watch a movie, as he'd claimed.
Unable to help herself, Ema peeked at Fuuto to find his attention completely focused on the screen. Mentally shrugging, Ema leaned back against the wall like Fuuto was doing and watched the rest of the movie.
"Man, Ren Tarino does such a good job," Fuuto said, still staring at the TV screen, though it was only showing the credits. "The emotion he evoked in that last scene was incredible."
"I didn't know you were into actors," Ema said. Who would have thought Fuuto would be a fan of anyone but himself? But Ema supposed even idols had people they looked up to.
"I'm not into actors," Fuuto said, sounding offended. "I'm into acting."
"Acting?" Ema repeated. "You want to be an actor?"
Fuuto nodded. "That's why I spend most of my spare time watching movies, so I study the best."
"On top of everything else?" Ema said in surprise. Ema didn't imagine Fuuto had much free time between work and school. She wouldn't have guessed he spent what little free time he had on studying to become an actor. He was even more hard working than she had thought. "Don't you do anything just for fun?"
Fuuto looked taken aback by Ema's question, then he shrugged. "I'm not like my idiot brothers Tsubaki and Kaname who have time to mess around. I only have time to work toward my next dream."
"They're not stupid," Ema ground out, all her usual frustration with Fuuto rushing in. "Tsubaki has worked really hard to get where he is, and still works hard to be one of the best in the industry. You shouldn't look down on others."
"Why not?" Fuuto asked, appearing entirely serious. "If I'm better than them, if I work harder and longer than them, if I'm more successful, why not look down on them?"
Ema shook her head, disgusted with Fuuto. How had he come out of the same family as people like Azusa and Masaomi? "There are other things important in life than just those, Fuuto. And there are a lot of different measures of success than money and fame."
"Yeah?" Fuuto said disbelievingly. "Since I've already been in the working world for a few years, I think I may understand a little more about it than you. Anyway, this conversation is boring me." He leaned toward Ema, lowering his lashes. "You asked if I ever did anything fun. Why don't we have some fun right now?"
"Nope," Ema said, immediately hopping off the bed. "One movie is all the fun I can handle. Besides, Louis and Subaru should be back soon. I need to see if Yusuke is still awake and find out what we're doing for lunch today."
~.~
"I don't think this adventure was very relaxing," Louis said, folding his arms behind his head as he stared up at the stars. "Sorry about that."
"I don't think adventures are supposed to be relaxing, Louie," Ema said, amused. "Though I agree that this one was maybe a bit more stressful than ideal." The two of them plus Juli were laying on a blanket outside staring up at the stars. Since Subaru had gone hiking with Ema Friday evening, he'd offered to watch over Yusuke that night so Louis and Ema could do something. Fuuto, thankfully, had left shortly before dinner. Ema still didn't understand why he didn't leave after getting to watch a movie. Maybe he liked his family better than he admitted.
Juli snorted. "You're telling me. This was almost more stressful than being at home."
Louis sighed. "Definitely. I think I have more respect for Masaomi and Ukyo now, though. Taking care of little brothers is hard. Especially when they fight like Yusuke and Fuuto. I don't think either of them said one nice thing to each other today. It was only for a couple hours, but it made me exhausted. Next adventure, we should bring some of my older brothers again. Or Iori. He's good at being calm."
"I think Iori is one of the few people who doesn't get upset with Fuuto. And Masoami and Ukyo put up with a lot," Ema agreed. "They do a good job taking care of everyone. I think the Asahina household would fall apart without their support."
"Mmhm," Louis agreed. "Maybe we should do something nice for them, to say thank you."
"That sounds like a good idea," Ema agreed. "You know what I think another good idea is?"
"What?" Louis asked, still looking up at the stars.
"We should take an overnight trip with just the three of us sometime and go somewhere where we can see the stars even better."
"That is a good idea," Louis agreed.
"That has my full support!" Juli agreed. "A real vacation means no wolves being around."
They three of them stayed out together watching the stars until the cold drove them inside.
