Epilogue
Katsuro's brow was creased, and he was holding his folded hands in front of his mouth in a way that made him look more like Kyo than ever as he stared up at Hajime, his thoughtfulness obvious even through the computer screen.
"So...you're actually gay? Not bi, but gay? You've never actually liked girls, at all?" he finally asked, looking at Hajime, and Hajime shook his head. "Even though you went on dates?"
"It's called denial, Katsuro," Hajime said, his voice terse. "And no, I've never liked girls at all," he said, feeling impossibly awkward under the scrutinizing stares of two pairs of amber-red eyes.
"Well, I think it's a good thing," Sachiko said happily from the other side of the split screen. "Boys are a lot more fun than girls, and they're a lot cuter, too, so it only makes sense you'd like them, Hajime!"
Both Hajime and Katsuro blinked at that, then they stared at their little sister with matching appalled expressions.
"You're not supposed to be thinking anyone's 'cute' yet, Sachiko," Hajime barked. "You're not even eleven!"
"And don't let Mom or Dad hear you talk like that, unless you want Mom to be all over you or Dad to have a heart attack," Katsuro added, frowning.
Sachiko stuck her tongue out at them. "Don't be so stupid, you two. And I'm almost eleven, Hajime, so don't take that 'I'm so mature' tone with me."
"Eleven's still too young for you to be worrying about stuff like that, Sachi," Hajime said, and that time she rolled her eyes.
"Look, just 'cause you both decided to take your time dating doesn't mean I have to. Maybe I wanna see what the big deal is," she teased. "You both seem to like it, now you've started."
Hajime started to bristle, then he sighed and looked at Katsuro, attempting to ignore Sachiko's obvious button-pushing. "So I guess...that means things are going well with Asuka, then?"
Katsuro couldn't hide his pleased grin as he looked down. "They're ok."
Sachiko giggled. "'Ok?' Is that what you're calling it, Katsu, when you're either seeing her or talking to her every single day after school? When you're even picking up 'extra practice time,' so you can see her more? What're you really practicing, hmm?"
Katsuro was blushing, and his tone was defensive as he said "Hajime lives with Mutsuki, are you going to get on his case, too?"
"Depends on if Hajime only says things are going 'ok,'" Sachiko said, grinning up at Hajime.
Hajime was staring at his sister incredulously. "Seriously, Sachi, what the hell happened to you? You're a kid!"
She glared at him, her cat-like eyes narrowing and making her look menacing in spite of her innocent face. "I am not a kid, Hajime, I'm almost eleven!" she repeated. "And I'm growing up, in case you haven't noticed," she said primly. "Though if you haven't, that's your fault for moving so far away."
Hajime shook his head, then glanced at his brother, who was giving him a pained look. "Is she always like this?"
"When Dad's out of earshot," Katsuro said with a sigh.
"Daddy needs a gentler touch," Sachiko said virtuously, then sighed herself. "You two both suck for treating me like a little kid, but you've got nothing on Daddy, or Mom, either. Being the youngest sucks sometimes, everyone treats you like a baby," she said, collapsing dramatically back onto her bed.
Hajime actually chuckled at that. "Being the oldest isn't always awesome either, Sachi."
"And both of you have it way easier than being in the middle" Katsuro grumbled. Then the three of them eyed each other, and finally they all laughed.
Sachiko sat back up and leaned close to the screen. "So you never said, Hajime; how are things, with Mutsuki, hmm? Guess they have to be good if you're telling us, but...are they really good?" she asked, grinning at him.
Hajime blushed. Clearly he either needed to start talking to his sister more, or else a whole lot less, because this new dynamic between them was really unsettling.
But even with the blush, he managed to smile. "Yes, things are good. Really good, even, but I'm not talking about it anymore with you," he shot at Sachiko, who had a devilish grin on her face.
"That's ok. I'll just ask Mutsuki, he's always been more open than you, and he loves me, besides," she said, her eyes glinting mischievously.
"You are not allowed to talk to Mutsuki about this!" Hajime yelped, his face reddening.
"Who's not allowed to talk to me about what now?" Mutsuki asked, sticking his head into the room.
"Hello, Mutsuki!" Sachiko caroled, at the same time Katsuro awkwardly said "Hi, Mutsuki."
Mutsuki grinned as he stepped in and walked up to Hajime's open laptop. "Hi Katsuro, hi Sachiko!" Glancing at Hajime, he raised a brow. "Are you trying to stop me from forming a loving brotherly bond with your siblings, Hajime? Rude!"
"He's really mean sometimes, isn't he, Mutsuki?" Sachiko said with a huff. "You know you could probably find someone a lot less grumpy to date, right?"
Once more, Hajime exchanged a glance with Katsuro, suddenly feeling a wave of sympathy for the fact Katsuro had to navigate a new relationship while living with...that.
And a great deal of relief that his parents had come to Tokyo alone.
But as Mutsuki sat on the bed beside Hajime, beaming as he settled in to talk to Hajime's brother and sister, Hajime felt a wave of contentment wash over him. He'd been fighting against this for so long...
And those days were finally over.
