I had no idea where I was going, or what I was going to do. I just knew that I needed to get away from that house, and especially from my father. I hoped and prayed that Kirino would be OK. But I knew she would be- that girl can take care of herself. And besides, our father would never hurt her, no matter how angry he was. Me, on the other hand... yeah, dad would definitely hurt me.
I was cold. At first I didn't notice, because I had so much adrenaline flowing through my body. Even after being punched twice, my face didn't hurt, I was in too much shock from everything that had just happened. But it was a rather cold night, and the clothes that I had on (some thin black pants and a hoodie) were not nearly enough. After a few minutes of running, I realized that I needed to figure out a plan of where to stay for the night.
By chance (or maybe it was my instinct?) I had been running in the direction of my friend Manami's house. I slowed to a walk, and approached her house. I wished I had my cell phone so I could call and let her know I was coming, but I had no other option. I simply walked up and knockd on her door. After a some time, it opened and manami appeared, wearing her usual grandma-like pajamas.
"...Hello? Kyou-chan?" She sounded sleepy. Manami always went to bed early.
"Hi Manami. Yeah, it's me. Uh. I don't know how to say this... can I stay at your house tonight?"
"What!" Now she sounded awake. "Sure! But, uh, why? This is very sudden."
"It's a lot to explain. I got into some trouble at home and had to leave suddenly. Can I come in? It's pretty cold out out here. And I don't have anything so... please do me a favor!"
"Ah, ok. Um, wait just a bit please. I'll meet you outside. Please wait for me outside, by the gate"
"Oh, uh, sure." The door closed and she went back inside.
I walked back to the gate to her house. I was grateful to her for letting me stay at her house, but it was a little odd that she asked me to wait outside her house. Normally she always told me to come right in, just like part of her family.
After a few minutes, she came back outside. She was still wearing her pajamas , but with a brown coat over them. She was also holding some sort of bag.
"Hi." She greeted me in a very simple way.
"Hi. Oh Manami, you have no idea how grateful I am for having you as a friend right now! A lot has happened, and I'll tell you all about it, but for now can I come in please? I'm really cold."
"Yes, you must be cold. It's a very cold night, isn't it? It's not normally so cold this time of year."
"Uh, right. It is cold, so can I come inside please? Then I'll explain everything."
"Hmm..." She peered at my face very closely. "No, I think I can guess what happened. At least, the important parts."
"You can?" This girl really knew me way too well.
"Kyou-chan, isn't it obvious? Don't you remember what we talked about this morning?" She glared at me. "You were talking about restarting your weird relationship with Kirino- your sister! And now you come to me late at night, with a huge bruise on your face, looking crazy and looking for a place to stay! I saw you injured like that once before, when you were having family problems- its your father, isn't it? I guess he found out about you and Kirino. I know he has a bad temper. But in this case... I don't blame him."
"Hey, that's... pretty accurate." I didn't like being so easy to read. "But... you're still on my side, right? You're my oldest friend."
She paused, and gave me a very odd look. She was normally so calm, and warm... like a grandma. But not she looked like her actual age- a 19 year old girl, angry and confused.
"Yes, I am on your side. And on Kirino's. But that's why I have to give you some tough love here."
Now I was scared. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm not going to let you spend the night at my house tonight."
"But... why? Aren't we friends?"
"Kyou-chan." Her voice was becoming angry. "I begged you to break it off with her. I begged you. You know I... I always had feelings for you, more than just being friends. But you totally ignored me. You just... did whatever you wanted, as if your friendship with me meant nothing. You asked me not to tell your parents, so I didn't, but... I wonder if that was the right decision? And now you show up here, like this. It's too much for me."
"Manami... please!" I knelt in front of her. "Manami, I'm scared. I know I've been a horrible friend to you, and maybe I'm just crazy, I don't know what I'm doing. But I'm really scared right now. I don't know what to do, I have no place to go, and it's so cold, but I think my dad might literally kill me if I went back home."
"Kyou-chan..." Her voice softened a little. "I'm very angry at you, but I don't want you to die. So here, take this. It's a jacket, a blanket, and food, and a toothbrush. Also a little bit of money. With this, you can spend the night outside, right? Reflect on your actions, and then I think you can figure out a way to fix it in the morning." She handed me the bag she was holding.
"I... yes! I understand! Um... thanks... I guess." Manami was so practical. She was helping me, but only with the bare necessities.
"And Kyou-chan... Please don't come here again like this. I won't help you again. Not until you break up with her for good."
"Yeah, I got it. But... Where should I sleep? I really can't go home."
"How should I know! Figure it out yourself!" She snapped. "Maybe you can sleep in a park with some other perverts!"
"Right. I got it. Thanks for the stuff." And with that, I walked away. Manami went back inside, and slammed the door.
Well, now what? I checked the contents of the bag and it was exactly what she had said. A very unfashionable, but warm, brown coat which I put on. A packed meal of riceballs, much less fancy than her normal cooking. A thick blanket. And about 1000 yen in cash- not enough to pay for a hotel room, even if I went to a love hotel again.
With the coat and the blanket, at least I'd be warm for the night. But I still needed a place to actually sleep. I thought about sleeping in a park like she suggested, but then I imagined getting questioned by a policeman.
Policeman: "Why are you sleeping here?"
Me: "Uh, I just needed a place to sleep, and I don't have anywhere else to go..."
Policeman: "You look pretty young. Shouldn't you go home and stay with your parents.?"
Me: "No, I can't go home. My dad would kill me!"
Policeman: "That's horrible! Why would he do that?"
Me: "Because he found me naked together with my blood-related little sister, about to do some 'H stuff' with her."
Policeman: "... You're under arrest. I'm not sure if you actually broke any laws or not, but we'll think of something."
That was not a conversation I wanted to have! I needed to think of something better than sleeping in a public park. After some thinking, I finally thought of a place. It was still cold and uncomfortable, but thanks to Manami's supplies I made it through the night without freezing. I barely slept though- my heart was racing and my thoughts were a mess. Without a cell phone, I couldn't even contact Kirino- I could only pray that she was still OK. But at least I had a place to stay for the night. Some might say it's an odd place, but it's really quite normal when you think about it logically.
Ayase's house.