Ema lets Yusuke lead her (read: scurry) into the den. The television has two video game controllers haphazardly lying in front of it. Ema brightens. She loves playing video games!
"Do you want to play a round? I can teach you!" Yusuke looks excited at the prospect.
The pair double down for five, six, ("Just one more," Yusuke says with his tongue sticking out in concentration) seven rounds. Finally, Yusuke slams down his controller with a slightly frustrated look on his face.
"How are you so good at this? Are you cheating?" Yusuke groans in dismay.
"You wish!" She chirps happily. "I just get a lot of practice in. I used to play every day."
Yusuke is wide-eyed at this revelation.
"Wow, you're so lucky," He gushes. "I'm only allowed to play for a few hours a week."
"Daddy usually isn't home, so nobody keeps track of what I'm doing. Even oba-chan only checks in once a day, if that." Ema shrugs and executes a brutal punch-kick combo with the ease of familiarity.
"Wait, so you live by yourself?"
"Um, sort of," Ema tries giving an evasive non-answer. Yusuke is about to question her some more when he hears the commentator's voice
"KO! Winner: Ema!"
"Yes! I did it!" She whoops in excitement and turns over to Yusuke, who loses himself in her smile. Eventually, Hikaru coaxes the pair out of the den and into the dining room to complete their homework.
Thus, Ema ends the day by helping him learn the math.
He's a little embarrassed about having someone who isn't even in his class teach him math, but Subaru said that Ema understood his math homework and he's two grades ahead of them in school, so Yusuke folds like a deck of cards upon Ema's insistence.
"Wait, what about this? How do I multiply this part?"
Ema patiently shows Yusuke how the problem is similar to the number four on the practice worksheet. Yusuke's brothers would have given up by now, or passed the task on from brother to brother several times over.
Yusuke's been stuck in too many 'ask him, no ask him' circles. Ema is different. She isn't just a good tutor. She's fantastic.
Patient, kind, and each time she praises him Yusuke feels a warm glow in his stomach that matches his cheeks.
At some point, Subaru joins the duo with his own homework in tow. At that point, Ema abandons all pretense of doing her own work and begins the full-on tutoring session.
"I really appreciate your help. Thank you," Subaru stares soulfully at Ema. Yusuke notices. Ema does not.
"I like helping out when I can, especially if my friends are having trouble."
After several hours of work, someone knocks on the door. Yusuke is surprised they haven't been interrupted until now, but it looks like his time with Ema is over. Louis enters, with Juli in his arms.
"Hikaru said to tell you dinner is almost ready."
"Oh no, it's already dinner-time? I'm late!" Ema shoots up from the table, scattering pens and pencils.
"You should stay here. You don't have anywhere to be." Subaru blurts out. Ema's face turns a little ashen at the edges and Yusuke shoves him.
"Wait, that's not what I meant. Um," Subaru stumbles on his words.
"Why do you have to go? I don't get it," Yusuke complains.
"I'm supposed to check in with oba-chan. She watches over me and I'm already late. I'm so sorry but I have to get going."
Ema seems caught between staying, especially at the upset looks on the boys' faces. But she remembers Rintarou's scolding words and the way his disappointment washed over her like scalding hot water.
Ema gathers up her things and grabs a content Juli from Louis's arms.
"Thanks for looking after him. You must be really good with animals, I've never seen him be this calm before."
"We reached an understanding." Louis explains as he escorts Ema to the door. He helps her pull on her coat and carefully tucks Ema's plaid scarf into her coat while Juli scampers onto her hat.
Louis lean down and catches Juli's eyes.
"Please watch over her. Keep her safe." Juli nods like a soldier going to war. The boys wave Ema off with shouts of 'Come back soon!' and 'We'll see you soon, okay?'
Ema sniffles and pretends it's just because of the cold. Juli, uncharacteristically, doesn't say anything at all.
.
.
.
cut scene:
Ukyo emerges from the kitchen with foggy glasses. His stained green apron is scrunched in his hands.
"Where's Ema? I though she was staying for dinner?"
Yusuke grumbles something into his hand. Subaru doesn't look happy either.
"Did something happen?" Ukyo asks.
"She had to leave to check in with her neighbor."
"A neighbor," Ukyo repeats. He grimaces, "She should stay for dinner next time."
"She should stay forever," Yusuke mutters sullenly.
Looking around, Ukyo sees a certain stubborn glint in the eyes of all the Asahinas gathered at the table.
Hikaru sees it too. Well, well, well, I guess it's too late to deny that we've all gotten attached. Let the games begin.