A/N: First is Yusuke! Simply because I wanted to start off with Ema attending Meiji for some reason. I'm also doing endings for Fuuto, Kaname, Masaomi, Natsume, and Tsubaki.
Yusuke
Yusuke was excited as he and Ema took the train to Meiji University for their first day of college. Their school life was finally Fuuto-free again, and Sasakura would no longer be there either. Yusuke didn't know if those things increased his chances with Ema, but they certainly didn't hurt them.
Sadly, it only took until their second class for Yusuke's luck to turn sour.
"Masato-kun!" Ema exclaimed. "You're here too?" Yusuke was really starting to hate the name Masato. Did Ema have to exclaim the man's name every time they saw him?
"Yep," Masato said, grinning at Ema.
"The last I heard from you, you hadn't decided which university you were going to," Ema said, obviously happy to see her friend.
"Yeah, I tried to tell you that I made up my mind and chose Meiji, but I couldn't get ahold of you."
"Oh!" Ema exclaimed, putting a hand to her lips. In all the excitement of going to France, Ema had forgotten to tell Masato about it. "I was out of the country this summer," she explained. "And I didn't bring my phone with me since calls would be so expensive."
"That's okay," Masato brushed off, glancing at Yusuke. "So one of your stepbrothers is coming here too? Sorry, I don't remember your name."
"It's Yusuke," Yusuke said, trying to be nice. Masato did seem like he was a good guy. Or, at least, he would if Ema wasn't so fond of him. "And I don't blame you for not remembering, with their being thirteen of us and all."
"Well, it's nice to meet you again, Yusuke-kun," Masato said, holding his hand out for Yusuke to shake. Masato smiled at Yusuke as he shook Masato's hand. "I hope that the three of us have a great school year together."
~.~
"So are things better at home?" Masato asked Ema quietly three weeks later. It was the first time he'd been able to talk to Ema without Yusuke around. So far Masato liked the red-head. Yusuke was a bit awkward, but obviously had a good heart. Masato hoped that the rest of Ema's stepbrothers were as nice. He couldn't help worrying about Ema ever since he saw her with her stepbrothers on New Year's and the atmosphere had been so tense.
"Yes, they are," Ema said, giving Masato a small smile. "Things were really difficult for a while. There were some things that happened that caused conflict, and then I found out that I was adopted, which just made me feel worse, but things turned out all right in the end."
"Geez," Masato said, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry you went through such a tough time." Part of him wished that Ema felt like she could rely on him more and that she'd called him, but he understood that that simply wasn't Ema's way.
"It's okay," Ema said, still smiling. "Sometimes the tough times just make you stronger, and they can bring you closer with ones that you love too."
"You've got me beat in the maturity department," Masato said shaking his head. "I don't think I could react like that. I'm practically a kid compared to you."
"I don't think so," Ema disagreed with a laugh.
A few yards away, Yusuke's heart clenched at the sight of Ema and Masato laughing together. He wanted to know what they were talking about, but part of him was afraid to go over there. What if he was just becoming a third wheel to Ema?
~.~
So far, Ema was enjoying university and her internship. Things were quieter at home with all of her stepbrothers who had confessed to her keeping their distance romantically speaking. Ema wasn't sure if they'd given up, but she was grateful for the space they were giving her.
Ema's only concern with life at the moment was Yusuke. He seemed a little down to Ema, but whenever she asked what the problem was, he'd just shake his head with an unconvincing smile on his face and say that it was nothing. From Ema's perspective, she couldn't see what might be upsetting Yusuke. Things were going fairly well at school and Masato, Yusuke, and Ema spent a lot of time together both at school and outside of school. They'd do homework together, play video games, and go to movies.
Ema's concluded that something must be bothering Yusuke at his work, but she never heard him utter a word of complaint. She wished that he would open up to her about what was going on with him.
~.~
"That explosion scene with the train was awesome!" Masato exclaimed as he, Ema, and Yusuke walked out of the movie theater. "I totally thought that the bad guy was going to get away, and then the train flipped on top of him."
"I liked the scene with the meteor shower at the end the best," Ema said. "It was such a hopeful ending with everyone holding hands as they watched the stars shoot across the night sky."
Masato shook his head playfully. "It's just like a girl to like that scene the best with all the other cool things going on, don't you think, Yusuke-kun?"
"What?" Yusuke said, snapping out of his own thoughts. "Oh, yeah, I guess."
"Well, see you two on Monday," Masato said, before waving and walking away.
Ema glanced at Yusuke out of the corner of her eye as they walked down the street. With the sun already down, the air was a little chilly and Ema wrapped her arms around herself before asking, "Did you not like the movie, Yusuke-kun?"
"No, I liked it just fine," Yusuke said, staring at the ground as they walked.
"Then, is something else wrong?" Ema expected Yusuke's standard response that everything was fine, but instead he stopped walking. Ema continued a few more paces before stopping in surprise and turning to face Yusuke. "What is it, Yusuke-kun?"
Yusuke looked up at Ema, pain in his eyes as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Am I just a third wheel here?"
"What?" Ema asked in surprise.
"I'm I just a third wheel?" Yusuke asked again. "I feel like I'm just tagging along on your and Masato's dates."
Ema's eyes widened in surprise before she shook her head vehemently. "No, not at all, Yusuke-kun. I don't think of Masato-kun that way. I had no idea you were thinking that." Ema paused, wondering if that was what had been bothering Yusuke all this time. That couldn't be it, could it?
"Are you sure?" Yusuke asked. "The two of you get along really well. You're always happy to see him and he always makes you smile. I want—I want you to be with someone who makes you happy regardless of how that makes me feel."
"How that makes you feel?" Ema echoed in confusion.
Yusuke's face heat up at his indirect confession, but he decided that there was no reason to take it back now that it was already out. "I—I've always…" Yusuke shook his head, frustrated at his stuttering. He'd imagined this moment so many times and he always sounded better in his head.
Taking a deep breath, Yusuke looked Ema in the eyes and said, "From the very first time I saw you when we were kids, I wanted to get to know you. You were so cute and nice. That's why I was upset when I found out that you were my new stepsister. I didn't want us to be part of the same family. I was ticked off when I finally realized that my brothers were falling for you, because I saw all the things that are amazing about you way before they did."
Ema could do nothing but blink at Yusuke, she was in such shock at his confession. When she heard the confessions of her other stepbrothers, she'd been hurt that they changed from thinking of her as their sister to thinking of her as a woman, but her relationship with Yusuke had always been closer to that of best friends rather than of a brother and sister because of their closeness in age and them going to school together.
"I always wanted to tell you about my feelings," Yusuke went on, "but at first I held back because you didn't seem interested in dating anyone yet, and then everything happened with the family and…I couldn't. You were so upset that I knew I couldn't do that to you."
Ema's heart warmed that Yusuke cared enough for her that he'd kept his feelings to himself, despite being the one who'd been in love with her the longest. She found herself happy that the one who'd always been by her side—even going so far as to try to protect her by ignoring her throughout junior high—had always loved her.
She wondered how she would have reacted if Yusuke had been the first one to confess to her. What if he'd done it when they first entered high school, before the others seemed to develop feelings for her? Would Ema have felt as lost and confused as she did when her other stepbrothers confessed to her? She didn't think she would have. Yusuke had never tried to be an older brother to her like the twins, he'd never been a figure for her to look up to like Subaru, and he'd never been a confusing flirt who needed care and attention like Fuuto. He'd just been by her side looking after her.
"Anyway, like I was saying," Yusuke said, looking down at the sidewalk again, "I don't want to get in the way of you and Masato-kun if he makes you happy. That's all that I really want."
"Yusuke-kun," Ema whispered, tears coming to her eyes as she threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around Yusuke's neck.
"Huh—what?!" Yusuke exclaimed. His hands flew out of his pockets as he raised his arms awkwardly in the air, not sure what to do with them. Was this a pity hug because Ema was sorry she didn't want him around when she was with Masato? Or was she sorry that she couldn't return his feelings?
"I—It's okay," Yusuke comforted as he awkwardly patted Ema's back, loving the feel of her against him despite himself. "You don't have to feel bad."
"Feel bad about what?" Ema asked, pulling back enough to look into Yusuke's face.
"About not feeling the same as me," Yusuke explained. He smiled sadly. "That would have been great, but life doesn't always turn out like you want it to."
Ema stared at Yusuke uncomprehendingly, than shook her head. Yusuke thought he heard her mutter something that sounded like idiot before she grabbed his face in both hands and lifted onto her toes to kiss him. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds, but Yusuke thought they were probably some of the best seconds of his life.
Yusuke stared at Ema in awe for a moment before his shoulders slumped. "This is a dream, isn't it? I'm sleeping and I haven't actually confessed to you for real."
Ema laughed at the disappointed look on Yusuke's face. He looked like he truly believed he was only dreaming. "No, Yusuke-kun, we're both awake. I promise."
"Really?" Yusuke asked, looking more cheerful. Then he blushed and said, "If this is really real, then prove it."
"Okay," Ema agreed, then lifted onto her toes and kissed him again.
~.~
"Yusuke-kun," Tsubaki said with an unreadable look on his face as he faced off with Ema and Yusuke, his arms crossed over his chest. "You chose Yusuke."
"Yes," Ema said firmly, entwining her fingers with Yusuke's. They'd told Ukyo and Masaomi about their relationship first, a couple weeks after they became a couple. Ukyo had seemed shocked, but hadn't made much comment. Masaomi hadn't said anything for a while, and Ema feared he'd disapprove, but then he'd smiled and said that he thought it was a good choice and hoped the two of them would be happy together. Now they were telling Tsubaki and most everyone else would find out at dinner.
Yusuke could feel his face flushing and his heart felt like it would slam right out of his chest, but none of that was related to fear of telling Tsubaki, it was just that holding Ema's hand still had that much of an effect on him. Yusuke wouldn't back down against any of his brothers, no matter what they said or did.
"Isn't Yusuke-kun a bit…" Tsubaki started to say, obviously leading to something unflattering.
Ema interrupted to say, "Yusuke-kun is wonderful. He's always protected and looked after me at school. He's always thinking about me before himself and he's brave, and kind, and hardworking."
Tsubaki looked at Ema as though wondering if they were talking about the same person, but then he shook his head. "If this is what you want, Ema, then I'll support you. But be warned, Yusuke, if you hurt her, Azusa and I will demolish you."
"I know," Yusuke said, standing tall and still feeling inflated from Ema's compliments. "But I'd never do anything to hurt her."
A few moments later, the two were in Yusuke's room, grateful for how well that had gone. They both knew that the conversation could have gone very differently.
"About what you said out there…" Yusuke began.
"Yes, what is it, Yusuke-kun?" Ema asked, grabbing his hands and looking up at him.
"Well I…" Yusuke felt his face flame red and really hoped that he'd stop doing that someday soon. "It made me really happy. Is it okay if I kiss you?"
Ema smiled and leaned towards him. Relieved and still amazed that Ema chose him out of all the amazing guys that wanted her, Yusuke tenderly pulled Ema to him, cupping her cheek with one hand before kissing her.
Yusuke pulled back to hug Ema tightly. "I always want to be with you," he told her. "Not just through college, but forever."
Ema smiled, grateful that Yusuke had found the courage to confess his feelings to her.
A/N: I feel like that last line is rather corny, but whatever. Next is Fuuto!
