Chapter 19

It was Sunday morning. Sarah left early to go to church as per her routine, leaving Yakumo and Harima. Since they were going to the zoo today, Yakumo was somewhat excited. She wasn't stressing about what dress to wear or what things she should talk about because it was Harima she was going with. At this point, it was the least of her concerns. Perhaps because they lived under the same roof and spent time together that things like these came naturally to them.

Thinking about it, Tenma worried more about the preparation than the actual "date" itself when it came to Karasuma. Whereas he wasn't bothered by such trivial things, as long as they shared time together.

After their breakfast, Yakumo sat on the veranda while she waited for Harima who was washing the dishes. While they were eating earlier, they had talked about Shiba needing some exercise. Yakumo assumed they would take Shiba out for a walk as usual. After that, there were a few hours for them to do some chores. They would go to the zoo after lunch like last time. It was their schedule for the day and Yakumo found no problems with it.

Harima arrived with Shiba trailing behind him, but what Yakumo noticed was that he was holding a chew-toy shaped like a bone.

"Oh Imouto-san. Sorry if I took long. I went to look for this first." Harima said, motioning to the object in his hand.

"It's alright." Yakumo answered. "Are we going out for a walk again?"

"This time, no." Harima answered. Yakumo looked puzzled so Harima continued, "We're gonna walk in the zoo later so I don't think we should walk Shiba today. We might get tired early."

"Oh."

"But there are other ways to exercise a dog than simply taking them out for a walk." Harima took out the toy bone and waved it in front of Shiba. Once Shiba saw it, his fluffy tail began wagging. "I've been teaching him how to fetch. This way, we won't have to go out for a walk. It's like this," Harima tossed the toy a few meters away and Shiba ran after it. He bit on it and returned but Harima needed to pry the toy out from the dog's mouth, resulting in a brief tug-of-war. Harima finally got the toy back as Shiba looked at him excitedly.

"Well, he's a training in progress." Harima said, a little embarrassed. Yakumo, though, looked impressed. She had seen animals doing tricks on TV before but she had never seen them done in front of her.

"I never knew Shiba could do tricks." Yakumo remarked.

"I just try to teach him." Harima replied sheepishly. "You once said that I could be a good animal trainer, right? It's worth a little shot." Yakumo couldn't help a small smile at that.

Harima threw the toy for a second time and Shiba fetched it with the same result as the last. After the third try, Harima handed the toy to Yakumo, much to her surprise.

"I think you should try this one out." Harima said. "This is much easier than feeding him if you ask me." Yakumo took the toy and threw it. Shiba ran to fetch it and then returned to her. In her eyes, however, it was a big dog barreling down on her with fangs bared. This made her panic and she quickly went behind Harima which made him laugh.

"It's okay, Imouto-san." Harima said after a few chuckles. "He won't tackle or run you over."

"He just surprised me." Yakumo replied.

"It's fine." Harima said, taking the toy out from Shiba's mouth. He returned the toy to Yakumo and she threw it again. Shiba fetched it but this time, Yakumo didn't run away because she was already beside Harima.

"Now that you're able to feed him, can you take the toy out of his mouth?" Harima asked.

"I… I'll try." Yakumo answered. She slowly stretched a hand towards Shiba's mouth but quickly retracted it out of nervousness.

Seeing this, Harima held her hand in much the same way as with the time he helped her feed the dog. Yakumo became stiff and Harima chided her to relax. Feeling that she had calmed down, Harima led Yakumo's hand to the toy in Shiba's mouth and gripped it with his hand over hers. Since Shiba wouldn't give in without a struggle, he stubbornly held on to the toy until Harima was forced to call his name out and cause the dog to loosen its grip. The toy was left in Yakumo's hand and Harima took a step away.

"I told you he's a training in progress." Harima said. "Dogs are sometimes possessive so they won't easily give you something if it's already in their mouth. They sometimes bite if you're careless, even if they seem friendly."

"So, there's a chance I might have been bitten?" Yakumo asked, quite surprised.

"Don't worry, Imouto-san." Harima answered with an assuring smile. "As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you, even Shiba." The words lingered in Yakumo's mind for a moment. Even with just a few words, it made her feel that he really meant it.

"Imouto-san? Shiba's waiting."

Yakumo woke up from her reverie and tossed the toy with more force than intended. Shiba ran after it for some time. The dog returned with the toy but Yakumo was still apprehensive about what Harima had said earlier and didn't move to take it.

"Perhaps I've been too forceful this time." Harima said and he pried the toy out of the dog's mouth. "I didn't mean to scare you like that. Maybe someday you'll get used to it."

There it was again. Yakumo was always surprised at how Harima could be so perceptive at times like these and yet completely naïve in other matters. That's just how he was, never resorting to any sort of feigned concern when it involved her.

They did this exercise for a few times until Shiba showed signs that he wasn't up for the next one since he was panting more heavily and moving quite sluggish now.

"That wraps it up for today." Harima said. "We'll go to the zoo after lunch like last time. That leaves us a few hours until then. As for me, I'll check on the motorcycle. I can't have him breaking down on us while on the road. You really can't be sure about accidents."

"Okay. That sounds good." Yakumo replied. "Just call for me when we're leaving. I sometimes lose track of time."

"You don't say." Harima said with an amused grin which made Yakumo blush a little. "Well, time for my mechanical buddy to get his treatment. If you'll excuse me." Harima walked away to his motorcycle while Yakumo continued standing where she was.

Did he just make a quip about her? Yakumo assumed it was because they were friends that he did that. Her friends do the same thing almost every time around her.

But it was still strange, though, coming from Harima. It was almost a playful tease.

Smiling inwardly, Yakumo went inside. Her homework wouldn't do itself.

x-x-x

After an uneventful lunch and dishwashing, Yakumo and Harima went to the zoo. Yakumo was starting to enjoy riding on the motorcycle. It felt free and at the same time secure. Looking at the cascade of scenery to her side and the cool breeze blowing about, she had never thought that driving could be so calming and peaceful. It almost made her somewhat sleepy.

When she had first started helping Harima with his manga, she was worried about the gossip when the two were spotted riding a motorcycle together. For a girl to ride with a boy could only mean that they were dating. No other interpretations needed. That's just how gossip works.

But now, she doesn't think about any of that anymore. This blissful moment, this closeness she could feel, drowned out the background noise, much like the constant outside thoughts that barraged her mind. To think that the only boy whose mind she couldn't read could also make her shrug off distractions from just his mere presence. Her arms around his body made her truly feel the distractions were nothing but a distant whimpering. In her mind, they were the only ones here while the outside world quickly passed by in a blur.

Yakumo smiled a little. How her thoughts made her more of a melodramatic poet than a manga editor.

Whatever her mind interpreted it out to be, she was happy. And that was all she really longed for.

x-x-x

The two arrived at the zoo but this time, they each bought their own ticket instead of Harima paying for everything. Yakumo couldn't let Harima spend so much on her every time and persuaded him that he had driven them there so at least she could buy her own ticket. Harima found nothing wrong with Yakumo's reasoning and agreed.

Like last time, Yakumo and Harima went to the giraffe's pen first to check up on Pyotr. Once the giraffe saw them, the animal quickly galloped in their direction.

"Yoh, Pyotr!" Harima greeted. "It's been a while!" He reached out to pet Pyotr but the giraffe drew his neck back.

"Okay. He's mad again for some reason."

"Hello Pyotr." Yakumo greeted calmly. Pyotr's head lowered and gently nuzzled her cheek.

"I know, Pyotr. You miss her more than me." Harima said dejectedly.

"You said he's mad about something." Yakumo said, petting Pyotr's head.

"Oh yeah. Look here, Pyotr. I'm a very busy man now. With all that's happening, I can't keep visiting you every day like I used to do in the past."

Pyotr's big, beady, half-lidded eyes stared at Harima. Yakumo felt there was some communication between the two as they simply looked at each other.

"I admit I think once every two weeks is quite long." Harima said. "How about this: once a week and that's all I can give. Anything else would need me splitting up into clones."

Pyotr slowly blinked and then nodded. They had reached an agreement now, Yakumo could tell.

"So, Imouto-san. Is it okay if we visit the zoo every week now? I know I'm asking too much of your time, but the animals would like it if they saw you too instead of just my face. It'd be fine if you pass because you're too busy."

"It's fine with me." Yakumo answered. "I'm starting to like visiting the zoo frequently."

"Okay. Thanks a lot, Imouto-san."

Harima noticed that Pyotr's head was about to bump aside Yakumo like last time and he quickly sprang into action. He swiftly went between them and put his arms around Yakumo, keeping her away from the young giraffe.

"No, Pyotr!" Harima warned. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop doing that to her!"

Pyotr veered his head away and blinked a couple of times.

"Uh, sorry about that." Harima said. "I swear, Pyotr is sometimes as stubborn as a rock."

"It's fine. Thank you." Yakumo replied and smiled. Up so close, Harima really noticed her smile. It wasn't unnerving, that he was sure. He couldn't put it into words but he was feeling somewhat appreciated. His thoughts stopped when he felt his head being bumped by Pyotr.

"Hey! Stop it!" Harima complained, still shielding Yakumo away from the big animal. Yakumo couldn't help but giggle at this little squabble. This continued for a while until Pyotr got bored.

"Thank goodness." Noticing his arms were still around Yakumo, he retracted them and stepped back.

"Oh sorry. You know how Pyotr is a goof sometimes."

"You don't have to apologize to me every time, Harima." Yakumo said. "It's okay."

"Well, I can't help but make sure if it's alright with you. I also think that I'm asking you too much."

"You've also done a lot of things for me. Especially with the chores."

"We're even then. Anyway, we still have many more to visit." Harima looked at Pyotr and continued, "Pyotr, you can mess with me but not anyone else, especially not Imouto-san. We'll be back, you big lug. Stay safe."

The two walked away to their destination. It was the gorilla's pen, specifically Igor's. Yakumo was now acquainted with the large gorilla but the gorilla was still shy and not making any eye contact. He only responded to Harima whenever he came close to him.

"How about you hand him this banana, Imouto-san." Harima said. "One way to have a connection with animals is to give them food. That also lets them see if you're trustworthy or not based on your stance."

Yakumo took the banana Harima handed her and showed it to the gorilla. Igor seemed very suspicious, looking back and forth between the banana and Yakumo. Then he took the banana with an outstretched arm and scampered away, opening the banana to eat it a safe distance away.

"Igor is painfully shy sometimes," Harima said. "But he's getting used to seeing you around."

"I sure hope so."

"You're already making some good progress. Igor wouldn't show up at all if I was with a different person."

They took off after Harima said that Igor felt uneasy whenever there were people around him for too long. Next, they went to see the lion, Caesar. Yakumo was able to vaguely read Iori's thoughts and of Caesar's also. They were practically the same, with them being felines and all. It was the same with the tigress, Joan. Yakumo was starting to think that maybe she had an affinity for cats no matter the size. Harima's remark of her being a Neko-girl didn't help matters. He was surprised that Caesar and Joan had bonded with her so quickly and they acted like domestic cats around her.

After visiting the two big cats, Yakumo and Harima headed towards the aviary where they saw a man with a falcon perched on his arm. It was an attraction for the public to take pictures with and there was quite a crowd around. Harima caught Yakumo staring at it and said, "You want to take a picture? I think they only do this occasionally so it would be a waste if we let it pass by."

"Don't they usually charge for that?" Yakumo asked.

"They… do. We'll just split the bill if that's okay with you."

"Okay. I haven't seen a falcon up close."

"Well, it'll be on your arm later." Yakumo flinched. "Come on, Imouto-san. There are fewer people now."

The two approached the trainer and asked to get a picture taken. Initially, Harima was appalled at how much it cost for just a picture with a glorified bird. But then again, he had spent a lot more when in Eri's company. It was more on Eri's insistence and it wasn't really his money though. This time, Harima would split the bill with Yakumo so it would be tolerable, unlike Eri shouldering everything, making him feel cheap every time.

Harima had his picture taken with the falcon first. He wore a thick leather glove and raised his arm to shoulder-level to let the falcon perch on his gloved hand. For a brief second, Harima fancied he should try falconry because it looked bad-ass, but quickly decided against it because he didn't want to add another animal on top of Shiba that would scare Yakumo's cat away. Then the picture was taken and it was Yakumo's turn to hold the falcon.

Yakumo felt uneasy that a bird of prey was about to be perched right on her arm. It was quite small and lighter than she expected, though. Still, she couldn't help but move closer to Harima when the bird was placed on her arm.

"It's okay." Harima assured her. With a nod, Yakumo stared at the camera and smiled for a picture. The bird surprisingly flew back to the trainer once they were done. They waited for a few minutes and then they got their photos. They were wallet sized and came in pairs and so they took one of each.

Staring at the photos, Harima had to admit he looked good in it. Perhaps spending a near fortune wasn't so bad after all. After a few seconds, he realized that he had never taken a photo together with Yakumo. Well, that near-kiss incident didn't count because it had been an unfortunately stolen shot. They were prepared for a photo this time and it wasn't awkward or forced.

It might have been his imagination but he couldn't remember ever seeing Yakumo smile in any photos he had seen her in before. Most of the time, it was a small, modest smile.

But now.

"Harima? Should we still go to the aviary?"

"Oh! Of course," Harima took out his wallet and quickly slid the picture inside the picture slot. In his haste, he unwittingly put it on top of Tenma's picture and then returned the wallet to his back pocket.

"Let's go, Imouto-san. Sorry for the delay."

The two went to the aviary. To Harima's disappointment, it now had an entrance fee. It wasn't that large a sum but he would still prefer something which was free. After paying for their tickets, the two went inside and noticed the aviary had more birds than when they first went. It was larger now that the construction of all the walkways had been completed. They crossed a small wooden bridge over a small pond where ducks floated about. Not long afterward, a robin appeared and perched on Yakumo's shoulder.

"Here's your little friend." Harima said. "But I'm not exactly sure it's the same one from last time. They all look alike."

"Whatever the case, I'm glad we met again. I nearly forgot about him to be honest."

After walking for a few minutes, they sat on a bench to take a rest. They scattered some bird seeds from time to time and a flock of birds crowded in front of them.

"So, Imouto-san." Yakumo turned to Harima. "Why are you afraid of dogs? Did something happen that makes you afraid of them?" Yakumo couldn't outright tell Harima that she was intimidated by a dog's rabid thoughts, but there really was one event that added to her fear.

"When Tenma and I were kids, we saw a puppy lost in the street. It looked harmless so I approached it so we could return it to its owner. It quickly bit me on the hand and ran away. It really hurt and once Tenma saw I was bleeding she panicked. She once heard that when you are bitten by a dog you'll feel very weird and then you'll die. She really thought I was going to die right then and there… and I believed it. Our father told us that it wouldn't happen since the dog had gotten the rabies shot. He knew the dog's owner who apologized profusely to us. We were lucky it wasn't a stray dog and we got scolded after that. It was my fault to begin with, but Tenma insisted that as the older sister she was responsible for my safety. From that point on, I became wary of dogs because it really hurts to get bitten."

"Is that so? Looks can sometimes be deceiving when it comes to animals." Harima stared at the birds pecking on the ground. "Dogs may bite and bark but they are loyal and loving animals once you get to know them. Perhaps if you look at it that way, you may start to like them instead of fearing them."

Yakumo had practically heard the same thing last week but it never got old hearing Harima's explanation.

"I don't know about cats." Harima continued. "They sometimes look very lazy and unconcerned in many things. Even I don't know if they're going to scratch me or not at times."

"Iori is alright, even if temperamental. Perhaps I can help you tame cats."

"If it requires climbing a tree and then falling from said tree, I think I'll pass.," Harima chuckled. "I've had enough falling from the sky for one lifetime."

"Cats aren't all that bad."

"And dogs aren't all that bad too."

"If you put it that way, they're practically the same."

"Yeah. They're still pets that need to be properly taken care of like the animals here in this zoo."

"Now that you mention it, how did you get to know all these animals? When did you and Pyotr and the rest first meet?" Yakumo asked. Harima was slightly surprised by the question.

"Oh, that? Hmm, if I recall correctly they once had an owner who worked in a traveling circus a long time ago. But the owner was old and his family opposed. I guess they couldn't bear the circus life anymore. Still, the owner insisted on taking care of the animals even if his relatives disapproved. One day, I stumbled upon them in an old warehouse. I got to know the old man and grew fond of the animals. However, he got very ill to the point he couldn't come to the warehouse anymore. His relatives took him in and just left the animals there. For a few days, I took care of the animals on his behalf, but unfortunately, he passed away. I guess being away from his pets distressed him and took a toll on his health."

"I'm sorry." Yakumo said. "I - I didn't know."

"It's okay, Imouto-san. That's just how it goes. The thing was that the animals were left under my watch at that point. I couldn't just leave them alone. And then, you know that incident with the news reporter and stuff."

"I think they're doing fine here despite all that happened."

"But to tell you the truth, Imouto-san, I think it's better if they're out there, where they truly belong. They're still wild animals and aren't meant to be confined like this."

"So, you want them released instead?"

"Well, as I said, they're circus animals. They're practically harmless now so they won't survive out there. We need to find a compromise in their case, that's what Itoko told me. Sometimes you just need to sacrifice for others, even at your own expense."

We're so similar and yet so different in some ways, Yakumo thought. Sacrificing for others even if it meant their own happiness.

"Eventually, the zoo offered me a cut in the profits because the animals brought a lot of visitors. They only had a huge red panda that scares people with its size. But in the end, I declined. It's better if they spend that share for the animals' food and shelter instead. I'm just thinking that if I buy a ticket, it would go to the animals' welfare and that's fine with me."

"That's really kind of you. I'm sure the animals also think the same."

"You're giving me too much credit, Imouto-san. I'm sure you'd do the same."

"I don't know about that."

"No, really. You know when you got sick last winter? Pyotr wasn't the only one who led me to your house. Some other animals also went along to see if you were alright."

Yakumo looked surprised. "I – I didn't know that. I thought Pyotr was the only one who alerted you?

"Animals take care of their own, Imouto-san. They saw you protect them from that hunter with a gun. In return, they want to keep you safe too."

"Okay. I feel indebted to them now."

"Don't be." Yakumo looked at Harima, confused. "Friends should never owe each other favors. That's why you're friends, right? It's just normal for friends to help each other without expecting something in return. Except for money. That is different altogether."

Yakumo softly laughed at the last part. She couldn't decide if Harima was just being cheap or frugal.

"I think that's enough for today." Harima said, stretching his arms. "We'll visit next week and before you know it, we're back here again."

"Okay. I'm starting to like visits like this. I never really went out often before."

"I'm glad you're starting to like it. Let's go before they lock us up here with the birds. Trust me, you don't want to sleep with birds perched above you. I've been there."

Not wanting to imagine that scenario, Yakumo stood up alongside Harima, and then they walked towards the exit. Before they went outside, Yakumo bid goodbye to the robin and it flew out of sight.

"Perhaps you should give him a name." Harima said. "Or is it her? I'm not sure about birds."

"I'm not really good with names." Yakumo admitted.

"Iori is a good one. Ya'mo, too."

"Ya'mo is the name of my character, not a bird."

"Oh! I didn't mean it to sound like that!"

"I know. I'll think of something eventually."

The two went back home riding Harima's motorcycle. It was late afternoon and the warm glow of the sun turned the sky into different shades of orange, purple and blue. It almost looked surreal. Yakumo looked on as they drove past by.

For only the second time, she knew something new about Harima that maybe most people didn't know. His actions were sometimes commendable and yet he didn't have the compulsion to show it off. He needed to be asked first for him to reveal it and even then, reflected it back saying it's normal for a person to do the same. Yakumo had seen her fair share of boys showing off to impress her but with Harima, it was more like he was embarrassed to say it. Perhaps he thought that if someone found out that he was an animal lover underneath his intimidating exterior, he would lose what reputation he still had. He was even afraid for his manga to be revealed to the world.

But these things made him stand out above everyone else.

Yakumo leaned on Harima's back, the man she had noticed when no one else would. It made her briefly wonder what reason Eri had to start to like him. Did Eri also know this about him? Yakumo wasn't sure, but given that they were classmates and had spent more time together, the two would surely have gotten to know one another quite well. Eri did pick him to be her fiancé out of all the boys who courted her.

Shrugging the thoughts away, Yakumo closed her eyes and began to savor this fleeting moment. On second thought, they were going to return next week so it wasn't fleeting anymore. Still, it didn't make it any less meaningful. In her mind, they were the only ones here until they got back home and back to their lives.

And Yakumo wasn't one to waste such precious moments.

x-x-x

At the Tsukamoto residence, Harima tapped Yakumo's arm a few times to inform her they had arrived.

"Imouto-san? We're home."

Yakumo didn't respond. Harima tapped her arm again but still, Yakumo was silent.

"Imouto-san?"

Harima finally turned his head around and saw Yakumo leaning her head on his shoulder, seemingly asleep. This surprised him since sleeping while riding on a motorcycle was quite dangerous. Strangely enough, her arms were still wrapped tightly around him. Harima remembered that Yakumo could in fact sleep in the most unexpected of places and still be somewhat aware of her surroundings. As baffling as it sounded, Harima figured she probably got tired from walking, just like what happened last time.

Turning the motorcycle off, Harima pried Yakumo's arm off him and put it around his neck to carry her on his back. Yakumo in turn held tightly but not enough to choke him. He couldn't carry her in his arms since he needed his hands to open the gate and the door.

Even after all this, she was still asleep. Harima decided to put her on her bed since she didn't look like she was going to wake up anytime soon.

Walking to Yakumo's room always brought up some memories. He had carried her a few times now and always because something bad had happened. Even if he went with good intentions, it would still result in him being thrown out.

This time, he was sure Yakumo wasn't sick or had fainted. For a change, nothing had gone wrong. He recalled he had never seen Yakumo smile so many times in a single day. He had advised her to smile more often. There was some appeal to it, he knew. She was Tenma's sister after all so they probably shared the ability to melt even the coldest of hearts with a smile. Tenma's smile was bright and heartwarming while Yakumo's was endearing and calming.

While walking towards Yakumo's room, Harima heard her mutter something.

"….love you."

Harima stopped walking and turned to look at her. Yakumo was still asleep and she had just muttered something random in her sleep again.

They really are sisters, Harima thought, remembering the same instance with Tenma.

Harima laid Yakumo down on her bed. Standing up, he first checked if Yakumo would grab him by the leg like last time. It didn't happen and so he turned around to leave. Before he left, he noticed the eye-catching sole bonsai by the window now had company. It was a vase holding the flowers he had given her. The flowers were slowly wilting but still presentable. Harima mentally noted that he should give her another batch of flowers to replace those. Gently closing the door behind him, Harima added a thing he would buy occasionally from now on.

x-x-x

"Daddy? What did you mean when you said I'll meet a person who will make me smile someday? And something… you said after that."

"You're still too young to find that someone, but someday I hope that you're also going to smile for him."

"But you're here, and you're my dad. Isn't that enough?"

"Family is family. But out there, you're going to meet a lot of people. Maybe even make some friends. And among them, you'll find someone to love and who will also love you back."

"There's someone like you out there?"

"Probably. There may be someone like me, and some who are different. But I want you to understand something: these people also have burdens that they carry with them. Despite how bad they look to you, they're trying to be the very best that they can be in their own little way. You don't have to like them all, but try to understand them at least. And then one day, among those people you cherish, someone will make you smile just as I do."

"You make me smile, daddy! And I know I love you! That will never change!"

"I know."

x-x-x

Yakumo opened her eyes slowly. She was feeling very happy and content, she knew. But what greeted her was pitch black. She couldn't see anything. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she tried to recall what happened here.

Here?

Yakumo looked around as her vision adjusted to the dark.

This is my room. Wait. How did I get here? Did Harima –

Realization sank in and she finally remembered that she had fallen asleep on the way home.

While riding a motorcycle.

Completely embarrassed, Yakumo left her room and went downstairs to apologize to Harima. She stumbled upon him eating dinner with Sarah. They were almost done and they seemed to be having a conversation when Yakumo saw them.

"Oh. Good evening, Yakumo." Sarah greeted. "Did you have a good nap?"

"…Yeah." Yakumo replied with an embarrassed nod. "Um, Harima I'm sorry if I fell asleep again."

"Don't worry Imouto-san. No harm done." Harima answered. "But if you're gonna sleep like that, make sure Sarah or I are around; just to be safe. I cooked dinner if you're hungry."

Yakumo smiled. "Thank you."

"Oh, Yakumo!" Sarah suddenly exclaimed, surprising both Harima and Yakumo by her volume. "We were just talking about an activity we did last year. Harima finally agreed to take the part after some convincing. I don't want to repeat what happened last year with a problem in the schedule. It's still a long way off from today but I just want to make sure it'll all go smoothly!"

"I only agreed because you brought up how I messed up last time when I barged in uninvited." Harima said.

"Hush!"

"What kind of activity is it exactly, Sarah?" Yakumo had an inkling about what kind it was but nonetheless asked to make sure. Perhaps it would magically be different than what she was thinking.

"Silly Yakumo!" Sarah replied with a beaming smile. "A wedding pictorial, of course!"

x-x-x

Shawn was having his evening drinks on his expansive balcony overlooking the city below, glowing like a million gems scattered in the darkness. He took a sip of a vintage tawny port and let it linger in his mouth to savor the taste. The taste of cherries and caramel was just right for its exorbitant price and rarity. Most fools wouldn't even notice the difference between finely aged wines and cheap backwater drinks. This week he was trying tawny instead of ruby ports to check if he still had a palate for such tasting.

Indeed, he still had it.

Despite drinking wine that probably cost as much as a house, Shawn's thoughts had been consumed with a certain man who had the nerve to intrude and ruin everything he planned. Of course, he was just playing around to put Max in his place by taking his girl. But it had evolved into something of a challenge that needed special attention. The thought of being humiliated more than he had ever been in all his life galled him to no end.

Kenji Harima.

Now he understood how that mongrel had defeated Max. It was a pity, rather, to learn Max got beaten up so badly. He almost felt sorry for the man.

Almost.

Again, Shawn thought about that man called Kenji Harima and how to beat him in this game. He couldn't care less about that half-Japanese now. This wasn't about her anymore. It was his pride as a man at stake and Shawn was never one to back down. Backhanded tricks weren't his style but he could do no wrong in knowing the enemy. He would meet that man again for a dinner this Friday. Before that, Shawn ordered Will, the most observant of his men, to dig up every possible weakness that man had.

Especially about food preference.

Taking a menu off the table, Shawn opened it and grinned in amusement.

Author's Corner: Sorry for leaving this behind for so long! I should have updated much earlier, but I've been very busy and my procrastinating half had been very much in control of me lately. Sorry about that. Hopefully, I get back on track!

In other news, have others read the special chapter released for School Rumble? It's not another School Rumble Z chapter but a new one that takes place 8 years after the series ended. It isn't much to be honest. There are some changes here and there because of the time skip but overall still the same. I'm not sure about Yakumo's new hairstyle, though. It looks like Hinata's hairstyle when she was young. Harima on the other hand went full bad-ass. I'm still unsure about that even if he looked more GAR than usual. I don't know if it will be continued but I'm glad the series was kinda updated after all these years.

Anyway, I apologize again for the massive delay and any reviews are appreciated! Ciao!