Chapter 20: Senior Year
"Only one more year," Yusuke commented as he and Ema walked the school grounds on the first day of school. "It's nice that we'll be on top as seniors this year—but it also means that next year we'll go back to being freshmen. Assuming I get in, that is."
"You'll get in," Ema said encouragingly. "You just need to think confidently. We'll study together for college entrance exams and I'm sure that Kana-nii and Kyo-nii will help us with anything that we don't understand."
"Right," Yusuke said, giving a firm nod. He needed to think positively and believe in himself. He had to get into Meiji University so that he could be with Ema. He couldn't let himself fail the college entrance exams no matter what. His thoughts about college were interrupted when he saw a large crowd of students gathered by the front gates. "What do you think is going on over there?"
"I don't know. Let's go see." The two were standing at the edge of the crowd when it parted and the reason for the build-up of students became obvious.
Ema gasped while Yusuke groaned. "You have got to be kidding me. What's he doing here?"
Fuuto smiled at Ema. "Hello, Nee-san. I told you that I was going to make your senior year exciting, didn't I?"
"F-Fuuto," Ema stuttered in surprise. She'd asked Fuuto multiple times where he was going to high school, assuming that it would be a school for entertainers like his junior high, but every time she'd asked he told her that it was a secret. "What are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious? Going to school. What else would I be doing on the first day of school?"
"But why are you here?" Ema asked. "I mean, why come to Hinode High School? Wouldn't a high school geared towards idols be a better choice for you?"
"I'll tell you why he's here," Yusuke ground out, folding his arms and glaring at his younger brother. "To harass us. Why else would he come here? Like you said, it'd be better for him to go to a different high school. I can't believe that it's my last year of high school and now I have to deal with you here and at home. It was bad enough just seeing you at home."
Fuuto tutted and shook his head. "You sure think highly of yourself, don't you, Yusuke-kun? My coming here has nothing to do with you. I came here for her."
Yusuke froze. Did Fuuto like Ema too? He couldn't, right? He was too self-centered to care about anyone other than himself. But that didn't mean that Fuuto wasn't attracted to her. Crap.
"Don't you need to get to the entrance ceremony, Fuuto-kun?" Ema reminded her little brother, eyeing the crowd behind him. She could hear them whispering about Ema and Yusuke being Fuuto's siblings. She hoped that this wouldn't attract a lot of attention for them. She knew that Yusuke would hate that. And probably wouldn't react well to it.
"I suppose," Fuuto said with a sigh. "I'll see you soon, Nee-san."
"Don't worry, Yusuke-kun," Ema comforted as Fuuto left, trying to make Yusuke feel better. "I'm sure that Fuuto-kun won't bother you too much at school. With his job as an idol, he won't even be here a lot of the time. I bet that you'll barely notice he's here."
"Yeah, I guess," Yusuke said, staring unhappily at Fuuto's back.
~.~
Every day that week Fuuto ate lunch with Ema and Yusuke and their friends. By the third week, Yusuke had lost his patience. He was sitting at their normal lunch table by himself when Fuuto appeared. "Great, it's just you here," Fuuto said sarcastically. "Maybe I'll walk around for a little bit before having lunch. Get some fresh air. It's stifling having to sit at the same table as you."
"You don't have to sit at the same table as me," Yusuke ground out, glaring at Fuuto. "There are plenty of other tables to choose from. Haven't you been here long enough to make your own friends rather than hanging out with us? Or is the famous pop idol socially inept at meeting new people?"
"Why would I want to make friends with commoners?" Fuuto asked. "And I assure you, I gain no pleasure from eating with you and your stupid friends. It's her company that I want."
Yusuke clenched his hand around his soda. The can crumpled and some of the soda spilled over the top and on to his hand. "What's your game, Fuuto?" Yusuke demanded, wanting everything to be clear. "Why are you doing this? Coming to our school, eating lunch with us every day?"
Fuuto sighed. "Is there anyone in the world stupider than you? Honestly, I don't know how the two of us can possibly be related. You have had plenty of time to make your move. You've had time with Ema to yourself for the past seven years as you two went to school together. If you've been too stupid to make Ema yours by now, that is not my problem."
Yusuke ground his teeth and angrily grabbed a napkin to wipe his hand with, but didn't reply when he saw Ema approaching the table.
"Hi, Fuuto-kun!" Ema said as she sat down.
"Hello, Nee-san," Fuuto purred, sliding into the seat next to her. "I've been waiting all day to talk to you. I have a concert two weekends from now and I was hoping you'd come. I saved a ticket for you."
"Of course," Ema replied, missing the triumphant look that Fuuto shot at Yusuke. "I always love coming to your concerts."
~.~
Friday night, Ema was sitting in the front row of a stadium listing to Fuuto and the band Forte. Every time Fuuto looked towards Ema, all the girls around her screamed. While it made her cringe, it also made her smile. It was nice to see that Fuuto was so popular and so loved by his fans.
Afterwards, Ema used the backstage pass that Fuuto had given her to go to his dressing room.
"What did you think?" Fuuto asked when Ema opened the door.
"It was great!" Ema said. "I loved the new song you sang. I hadn't heard it yet. And you're so good at getting the crowd energized and excited. It's late, but I'm wide awake after listening to you."
"I'm glad you liked the song," Fuuto said, walking towards Ema. His new song was about a guy wanting a girl who was oblivious about it. "You inspired it."
"I inspired it?" Ema asked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Fuuto now stood almost toe to toe with Ema and she stepped back in surprise until she hit the wall. Rather than answering her, Fuuto asked. "Do you know why I decided to go to your high school rather than attend one for idols?" Fuuto ran his hand through Ema's hair and without waiting for her response said, "So I could finally monopolize time with you without our other brothers around. They're always in the way and it's so annoying. True, I still have to deal with Yusuke, but he barely counts."
Ema reached up and grabbed Fuuto's hand, pulling it away from her. "I know you like to pretend to flirt with me, Fuuto, but don't you think that this is taking it a little far?"
"Pretend?" Fuuto mocked, raising his eyebrows. "Come on, Ema, not even you can be this blind. I'm not pretending at all. Isn't it obvious that I don't think of you as a sister? I never have." Fuuto broke the grip that Ema had on his hand, grabbing her wrist and pinning it against the wall. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her against him. "I see you very much as a woman."
Ema's eyes widened in panic as Fuuto started lowering his head towards hers and she used her free arm to push against Fuuto's chest. "That's not how I see you, Fuuto-kun."
"As a woman? I should hope not."
Ema flushed and shook her head. "Regardless of how you see me, I see you as my younger brother." Part of Ema was willing to admit that she'd known Fuuto hadn't seen her as a sister, though she hadn't realized he felt like this towards her. When Fuuto finally accepted Ema's presence at home and they'd started getting closer, she thought that Fuuto viewed her as a trusted friend he could talk to and share his dreams with.
Fuuto sighed. "Why do you have to go and make things so difficult? You know how little family means to me. I don't care about spending 'quality time' together or about supporting our brothers. Obviously I wouldn't think about our relationship in the same way you were."
"Maybe not," Ema said keeping her hand against Fuuto's chest, "but that doesn't change how I feel about you."
Giving another sigh, Fuuto let go of Ema's hand and waist and stepped back. "Fine," he caved. "I'll back off. For now." But only so Ema could get used to the idea of not thinking of him as a little brother. He was pretty sure that he'd made the first move on Ema out of his brothers (thanks to Masaomi warning everyone off of her until she graduated), meaning that he would be the one on Ema's mind.
~.~
"So, what do you think?" Sasakura asked, nervously scratching the back of us head. "I think that it would be a lot of fun and Mahoko-chan said that she was coming too." He glanced over at the red head staring balefully at him. "You're invited too, Yusuke-kun."
Ema turned around to look at Yusuke. "What do you think, Yusuke-kun? I think it sounds like fun." Sasakura and a bunch of their friends wanted to go on a group date that Friday to the opening of a new arcade/amusement park and Sasakura had asked Ema to be his date. "Natsume-kun's company did a lot of work for the arcade part of the park. I've wanted to check it out ever since Natsume-kun told me about it."
Yusuke hardly wanted to agree to a group date where he wasn't Ema's date, but she looked so excited and it seemed like she wasn't going to agree to go if Yusuke didn't say he would go too. "Yeah, sure," he agreed unenthusiastically. "Could be fun."
"I guess that means I'll be partnered with Yusuke-kun for the rides," Mahoko said with a sigh, appearing behind Yusuke.
"What do you mean 'I guess'?" Yusuke demanded. "If you don't want to ride with me, then don't ride with me."
"No, no, it's fine," Mahoko waved off. "Besides, we have to partner up because everyone else going already has their date. If you and I don't go together, we'll both have to find other dates."
"Fine," Yusuke agreed. "But we'll still have to get Kyo-nii's and Mao-nii's permission to go," he reminded Ema. Yusuke well remembered the reactions of his brothers when Ema brought Sasakura home to work on a project together. How would they react to her going on a date with him? While he wanted Ema to be able to go and have a good time, part of him also hoped that Masaomi and Ukyo would refuse to let Ema go with Sasakura. Then she could just go to the park with him instead.
~.~
"Mahoko-chan, Sasakura-kun, and some of our other friends want to go to the opening of the new gamer themed amusement park that opens this weekend," Ema told Ukyo as they made dinner that evening. "Is it okay if Yusuke-kun and I go?"
"It's a group date," Yusuke droned. He was sitting at the counter, his elbow propped on the counter with his head resting on his hand as he watched Ukyo carefully.
"A group date?" Ukyo asked, looking between Ema and Yusuke. "Would you two be going together?"
"Uh, no," Ema said a little awkwardly. "Sasakura-kun asked me to go with him. He came to our house two years ago when he and I were working on a project together. Do you remember?"
Did Ukyo remember the only male Ema had ever brought home? Of course he did, and he didn't like that Ema was now talking about going on a date with said male, group date or not. When Masaomi warned their brothers to back off of romancing Ema (including Subaru and Fuuto once they got home from the cruise) at least until she graduated from high school, Ukyo had agreed with him.
Family was very important to Ema and realizing that some of her stepbrothers harbored romantic feelings for her wouldn't be easy for her. However, when Ukyo agreed to it, he hadn't thought about Ema dating someone from school. Couldn't they have also made a rule that Ema wasn't allowed to date until after she graduated from high school as part of that agreement? He knew that thought was ridiculous and selfish, but it was how he felt.
"I'm not sure how I feel about you going on a date with a guy that I don't know," Ukyo settled on saying.
"It's not like a real date," Ema said as she washed potatoes. "It's more just our school friends going together. We're only pairing up because only two people can be together on the rides. Besides, Yusuke-kun will be there, so you don't have to worry about me. It's sweet for you to be concerned, though."
Ukyo turned his gaze back to Yusuke, who didn't seem nearly as excited as Ema about all this. Unfortunately, Ema had a point. With Yusuke going along, Ukyo didn't have a real reason to object to Ema going. Not unless he wanted to actually try enforcing a rule that Ema wasn't allowed to date until graduation. He didn't think that Masaomi would agree with that.
"Okay," he agreed reluctantly. "But I want the two of you to stick together. And I don't want you out too late. Be back here by eleven."
"Isn't that kind of early?" Ema asked, looking to Yusuke for support. If them going to the amusement park hadn't been a group date with Ema going with another guy, Yusuke would absolutely agree with Ema, but since it was technically a date, he wasn't interested in prolonging the event.
"Most bad things happen late at night," Ukyo argued, not looking at Ema as he stirred the soup. "I'm just concerned for your safety. If you'd rather wait, we can go as a family and stay later."
"No, I'm sure it will be okay," Ema said, disappointed. "Yusuke-kun and I will just leave early."
~.~
Tsubaki was just about to leave work on Friday when he received a text from Masaomi.
What do you want for dinner?
Tsubaki looked at the text in confusion and texted back:
Shouldn't it be Ema or Ukyo asking that?
Ema's out with some friends tongiht and Ukyo has to work late.
Tsubaki pouted that Ema wouldn't be home that night, but texted back that he wanted Chinese.
When he arrived home, Wataru was alone in the living room.
"Hey Otouto-kun," Tsubaki greeted. "Masaomi still not back yet?"
"No," Wataru said, not looking away from the TV. "He should be back soon, though."
Tsubaki realized that his youngest brother looked unhappy. "What's up, kid?" Tsubaki asked, plopping down next to Wataru on the couch. "Did you have a rough day?"
"No," Wataru said, finally turning away from the TV to look at Tsubaki. "But is Onee-chan going to leave us?"
"Leave us?" Tsubaki laughed. "Because she's out with friends? I know that we're spoiled by Ema usually staying home, but I'm sure she's not going to suddenly decide she likes her friends better and leave home."
"But she's not out with friends," Wataru argued. "Kyo-nii said that she and Yusuke-kun are out on a group date."
Tsubaki froze, not wanting to believe what Wataru was saying. "What do you mean Ema's on a date? Do you mean that she and Yusuke went out together with some of their friends?"
Wataru shook his head. "I heard Mao-nii and Kyo-nii talking about it yesterday. Ema's going with a guy from school. Yusuke-kun is there too, but he's not Ema's date." Wataru moped and looked down at the ground, kicking his feet against the couch. "I wish that I was old enough to be Onee-chan's date. Stupid Yusuke-kun. If I went to school with Onee-chan, I wouldn't let other guys get close to her."
Tsubaki jumped to his feet when the elevator opened to reveal Masaomi. Tsubaki clenched his fists and stalked towards him, feeling sick inside. "You lied to me," he accused. "You told me that Ema was out with friends, not that she was out on a date."
Masaomi sighed when he saw the look on Tsubaki's face. "I didn't tell you the truth because I knew you would react like this," Masaomi said. "It's just a date with a bunch of friends, Tsubaki, not Ema going out with a crush. Ema herself told Ukyo that it wasn't like a real date. I'm sure Ema just wanted to spend some time with her friends at the new amusement park, that's all."
"That's all?" Tsubaki asked, following Masaomi as he went to the table and started setting out the take-out he'd gotten. "Ema is out with a boy that we don't know and 'that's all' you say?"
"She's with the boy who was her project partner a few years ago, Sasakura-kun. And Yusuke is with her, so it's not like she's all alone."
Tsubaki's jealousy flamed even hotter when Masaomi mentioned Sasakura. He knew that stupid boy had a thing for Ema.
~.~
When Azusa got home from work, Tsubaki spoke with him about Ema's date and after dinner, Tsubaki made Wataru leave so that it was just Masaomi, Subaru, and the twins.
"Azusa and I have something we need to say to you, Masaomi," Tsubaki declared. "We know that you're heart was in the right place when you asked us not to tell Ema about our feelings for her until after she graduated from high school, but neither of us are willing to stand back and let some other guy take her. We just wanted to let you know that we're not going to follow the agreement you wanted to set-up between us all."
Subaru stared at Tsubaki in shock. Masaomi had talked with Subaru about waiting to tell Ema how he felt about her, but he hadn't realized that Masaomi had the same conversation his other brothers. He hadn't even known that any of his brothers felt the same way about Ema as he did. "If they're not going to wait for Ema to graduate, than neither am I," Subaru said, unwilling to lose out to them. "And what do you mean about losing Ema to another man? I thought that she was out with friends tonight. And isn't Yusuke-kun with her?"
"Sure she's out with friends," Tsubaki agreed, staring at Masaomi. "They just happen to be on a group date, something that Masaomi decided not to tell us."
Masaomi stared down at his empty plate, wishing that this night had gone very differently. Maybe he should have talked to Ema about not going on the group date, but if she found someone that she liked, he didn't want to discourage her from pursuing the relationship. Ema had a right to fall in love with whoever she wanted to. However, it looked like the consequences from Masaomi letting Ema go tonight might outweigh any benefits.
~.~
Ema and Yusuke got home just after eleven that night, texting Ukyo that they had made it home. Ema had a lot of fun and was still disappointed that she and Yusuke had to leave early. She thought that Ukyo was being a little ridiculous, but since he never punished Ema for staying up all night playing video games even when it was a school night, she didn't feel she had much room to complain. Then again, maybe Ukyo didn't know about that since they slept on different floors.
"Good night, Ema," Yusuke said when they reached the third floor, where his room was.
"Good night, Yusuke-kun," Ema said, continuing on to the fourth floor. To her surprise, Tsubaki sat on the floor outside her room, looking upset.
"Tsubaki-kun?" She said softly, not wanting to startle him. "Is something wrong?"
Tsubaki got to his feet and Ema stopped a foot away from him, looking into his face with concern.
Tsubaki smiled sadly at Ema. "You know that I always wanted a little sister. I was ecstatic when I learned about you and when you came to join our family. I've always adored you as my little sister, but…I just can't think of you that way anymore."
"What do you mean?" Ema asked, her brow crinkling in concern and hurt. "I don't understand, Tsubaki-kun."
One of Tsubaki's arms wrapped around Ema's waist and he pulled her to him, his other hand went to cradle the back of her head. "I love you, Ema," he whispered. "As a man, not as your brother. And I don't want anyone else to have you." Then he lowered his head and kissed her.
A/N: Yes! Finally, a cliffhanger! Usually I have cliffhanger's sprinkled throughout my stories, but the way I've been writing this fic there's been no place for one. Aren't you all glad I'll update in a couple days
