Chapter titles: So I was thinking of a chapter title for this current chapter (Sugar Sister) and looked back at some of the titles I'd given 7-8 years ago. And boy was I mortified HAHAHA.

They were such lame titles! Like "On Love" and "Can't Bear to Part". So cliché and irky (blearghhhh).

Maybe I should have named the previous chapter something nicer… Like, "The Uncle Reunion" (ok actually no that sounds like a reunion of a group of old uncles HAHAHAHA)

This chapter is dedicated to Valentine's Day, where Love of every kind is celebrated 3

Shouko has been hiding behind the cardboard tree ever since her little mistake on the stage during the class performance. Her class had gone back to the gathering area and only the individual performers remained. Her form teacher tried to coax her into coming out and sitting with the other individual performers but to no avail. So she just handed Shouko her clarinet and went back to watching over the other children.

Shouko had never felt like digging a hole in the ground and hiding in it before. She slumped against the tree and stared at the instrument in her hand. Ok, don't make the same mistake as I did back then, she told herself.

Sasaki had seen Shouko's mistake but was unable to locate her after his class item ended. Unwillingly, he was ushered away from the stage. Non-individual performers would be joining the audience from the back door after all classes were done. He had wanted to give her some form of encouragement especially after that silly mishap, but now he can't even find her. He sighed as his class exited the hall.

Outside, the classes queued up to enter the hall and he was made to sit and wait on the grass. Sasaki sulked and plucked at the grass lazily, until his eyes drifted on a stray patch of wild flowers at the foot of a nearby tree. He stealthily slipped under his teacher's watchful eyes and dashed for the tree. Bending down, he plucked several of the flowers before he jumped when he heard an "ahem" behind him. His teacher dragged him by the ear all the way back and his classmates laughed at him.

Inside, Shouko had forgotten whatever she told herself. In fact she was in a panic attack now. With trembling fingers, she did the fingering on the clarinet but they either slipped or she forgot the fingering. Oh nooooooooo… she desperately tried to remember what her teacher had told her previously before on dealing with mental blackouts.

As if Len could read her mind, he took his coat with him and slipped past the audience. Before leaving he specifically told Kazuki to stay out of trouble and Kazuki stuck out his tongue the moment Len turned his back on him. He walked along the sides so as not to draw too much attention to himself, and slipped behind backstage.

There were several teachers keeping the kids quiet there, and upon seeing a parent enter they quickly went to ask him to return to the audience. But when Len told them he would be real quick and he just came to give something to Shouko, the young female teachers gave in to the dreamy Len.

When Len found Shouko, she had a cardboard box over her head. He smiled and removed the box gently. "Len-nii!" Shouko exclaimed in surprise. He put his finger over his lips to hush the girl, whispering to her that the audience could hear her. Then he removed his coat and placed it around her.

"I noticed you always liked to hide your face with your blanket when you get nervous." He paused. Then he slowly moved in and gave her a squeeze. "Just imagine my coat's your jacket. And don't worry, I've been listening to you daily. You'll do great out there."

As quickly as he came, Len returned. Shouko clutched the coat in her small hand and smiled. Like magic, her nervousness was gone.

Shouko felt like she was in a daze throughout the entire performance. Even after stepping off the stage she still felt light-headed. As she fell in with her class outside the hall, Sasaki spotted her. He broke away again from his class and could hear his teacher screaming and threatening to tell his parents right this moment, but some things were just more important.

Goofily, he ran towards her and shouted her name "Shouko!" At the call of her name, Shouko snapped back to her senses. Bewildered she stared as Sasaki stopped right in front of her. But now that he had finally gotten her attention, he was at a lost for words. He hastily took out the bunch of flowers he had plucked and extended them out to her. But Shouko had both hands full, one with her clarinet and one with Len-nii's jacket. Flustered and getting more embarrassed by the moment, he grabbed her hand with the clarinet, stuffed the flowers in the hole underneath the clarinet, and bounded away.

Everyone around them was laughing, even the teacher who was previously made at him for running away couldn't help but laugh at his silliness. Sasaki was flushed. He sat back on the ground and hid his face between his knees, plucking even more furiously at the grass.

A little while later, all the children went back up to stage for a final bow. Len raised his eyebrow when he saw Shouko carrying her clarinet upside down with a bunch of flowers inside. Then he trailed his eyes to the red-faced Sasaki and sighed. Azuma was the only one who understood what was happening and his chuckled. The rest of the children were bewildered.

On the car ride home, it was a mayhem of adoration for Shouko's playing and nagging for her to spill the incident that led to her gift of flowers. Rather confused, she just kept quiet and Ryoutaro had to step in to defend her against the nosy sibilings.

As Len drove closer to the door, he spotted a young high school girl in her uniform waiting by the gates. Oh no, what now? The young girl was slender with shoulder-long blonde hair. Mixed blood maybe? Instinctively, Len turned to Ryoutaro and asked "Is this another girlfriend?"

Ryoutaro's jaw dropped. "N..No…NOOOO!" The rest of the children casted him a doubtful look. The girl saw the car approach and she started waving her arm enthusiastically. Unwillingly, Len slowed down and lowered the window. "Can I help you?"

"Yes. Yes indeed." She had a foreign accent, and her Japanese wasn't very good. "I'm look for Keiichi, a small boy. Age 5. Lives here does he?" Realising her bad Japanese, she muttered something in French.

"No way! Keiichi is younger than me but he already has a girlfriend!" came an exclamation from inside the car, followed by a thump on the head and an Oww…

Len ignored Kazuki and asked "I'm sorry, may I know how you're related to that boy?" in fluent French. The girl's eyes lit up. "Great you know French!" All the children were amazed at how fluent Len spoke. "I'm his sister!"

Len paused.

"What did she say?" Azuma nudged. Len took a while to reply. "She says she's lost her way." And quickly winded up the window.

There were a few reasons why Len did what he did. First, he didn't believe her. Second, he was afraid she'd come to take custody of him, but yet she's parentless. Third, no matter how he looked Keiichi didn't look like a French except for his hair colour. But the greatest reason was that he had pretty much enough of drama for one day.

Unfortunately for him, the young girl understood what he said and started pounding on the door as he drove, screaming at the top of her lungs. "Thief! Weirdo! Pedo! Return my brother!" in Japanese as loud as she could.

Somehow he managed to get everyone into the house and calm down. He even apologised to the girl who was now crying about how the mean man was stealing her brother away from her.

When she finally calmed down, she then explained that she was at a summer camp when her parents and Keiichi flew overseas for holiday. However her parents died in a train accident and the officials couldn't locate Keiichi. She herself, Kari, was then sent to the custody of her uncle and aunt. Their mother was French and their Dad Japanese, hence they decided to name their kids differently. Last year, she came across the international news that Len had exposed Light Orphanage and their schemes, and in one photo she spotted her brother. She wasn't quite sure at first and so hired personal investigators to verify if that boy truly was her brother. When they did, she told her aunt and uncle of her plan to study in Japan to meet her brother, they supported her. In fact, they even flew over themselves because they were worried about Kari. Financially she had no issues, as the insurance paid handsomely on top of the wealth her parents had already garnered. She and her aunt and uncle moved into the same neighbourhood and she enrolled herself into a nearby school.

Kari then started crying again. "I'm so glad I can meet you again Keiichi! I thought I'd lost my entire family! Waaahhhhh!" Keiichi patted her hair softly and snuggled into her arms. He didn't have much memories of an elder sister. But he did remember her presence vaguely, and he remembered times when she'd bury him in pillows and then start wondering outloud "Where is my brother? I can't find him. Has anyone seen my brother?" And he would giggle himself silly. Siting in her lap, her familiar scent made him comfortable. Keiichi then began to ask her questions about his parents and how she's been doing. The usual sleepyhead Keiichi was suddenly talkative. Perhaps it's because he felt comfortable with Kari.

Seeing that they had calmed down, Len then went to the kitchen to fix a bite for everyone.

"Wow Keiichi, aren't you lucky, your sister is rich!" Kazuki said. "Maybe she could give us the newest Nintendo?"

"Sure! Anything for the family of my brother!"

"Score!" Kazuki shouted. Only to be whacked by Ryoutaro.

"Keiichi, when do you want to move in with me and Aunty and Uncle?"

"Never!" Keiichi exclaimed and pushed her away, running carelessly to the kitchen.

"I don't want to leave this place." He announced defiantly.

Kari was a little taken aback, but luckily she didn't push. "That's all right too I guess. I'll come to see you every day anyway so it'll be like we live together!"

Len dropped the knife when he heard that.

"I'll fetch you to school. Pick you up from school. Study with you. Bring you to the theme park. Go to watch fireworks. There's lots of things we can do to make up for lost time!"

"I think she's using sister as an excuse. She sounds like she wants to date him!" Kahoko whispered to Azuma.

"No no no…" Keiichi said exasperated. "Len-nii do something!"

Len-nii placed the plate down and seriously told Kari in French, "I think you should take it slow. He just got to know you. And he's still young, there'll be plenty of opportunities to bond together as siblings. Keiichi is still young and he's very attached to the other children here. You should probably bring your aunt and uncle around so that everyone can slowly get accustomed."

"What on earth is he saying?" Kahoko whispered. "It's magic words for a magic spell… to blow away the evil witch." Kazuki replied. Len threw him a glance.

Kari stood up and patted her skirt. "I understand. I'm sorry for intruding so suddenly. Just that I'd been waiting for this day for so many years!"

Len then left the Ryoutaro in charge of the house while he sent the girl back home. The girl was awfully quiet. But she suddenly said "Thank you, for exposing that orphanage and free-ing the children. I really owe you my gratitude. If you ever need any help do not hesitate to ask me. I may not have much influence but I'll try." Len was quite taken aback at her sudden maturity.

He smiled. At least Keiichi had a dependable sister to rely on. After introducing himself as the guardian to Kari's aunt and uncle, he bade them farewell and promised to have a meet up during the summer holidays.

With Keiichi's past finally unveiled, the only ones left to go were Azuma and Shouko.

BONUS STORY

It was late by the time Len got back home. There was a LIVE broadcast about the classical music scene in Japan and Len was "invited" to attend to share his views. "Forced" because his orchestral conductor hated the talk host and hence came up with a lame excuse that he was busy. So being the concertmaster he was evidently the next best choice.

However he couldn't understand why the talk host gifted him a penguin plushie as a form of thanks for turning up on the show. It was about the size of an arm, white and fat, and had ear muffs. Len had little appreciation for cute things, but he was sure Kahoko or Shouko would like it. So he sat the penguin on the couch and went to bed.

Early next morning, the penguin was gone.

Len appreciate the days when Megumi would come over, because that meant that he could sleep in. In the past, he always gave her a spare key so that she could let herself in. It wasn't that Len trusted her with his home, but rather it had happened one too many times where she'd stand outside ringing the doorbell for over an hour.

He only gave her the spare key after she threatened to quit. Len usually slept in through most noises. The only time he woke up was when Kazuki deliberately opened his door and farted too freaking loud. Unforgettable.

He dragged himself to the toilet to wash up, and then dragged himself out to get breakfast. As he passed by the children's rooms, he heard a faint cutesey voice saying "Pingu! Pinguuuuuu!"

Was that Kahoko? But he could hear her screaming at Kazuki downstairs. Probably Shouko, as he peered into Shouko's room, only to find it empty. Len started to creep quietly, peering into one room after another. Until he spotted Azuma in his room, seating the penguin on his bed. Azuma gave it a light pat on the head, then hugged it and cooed "Pingu!"

Len wasn't so sure how to react at first. The cool and calm Azuma who never wore his expression on his sleeves is now merrily cuddling with a penguin plushie. Azuma even gave it a name! It's probably true that everyone has a soft spot for something then.

But he had to admit that he had never seen Azuma smile so happily before. Usually the young boy's eyes would only crinkle and there would be a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. Somewhat similar to how Len smiled, except with less slyness and more innocence. But now Len was seeing Azuma grin like a silly boy. He had to admit that he'd never know Azuma would have such a cute side to him.

For days after that, Len would often peer into his room and not be able to find the penguin anywhere. But in the early mornings or late nights he would hear a soft "Pingu" float through the air.

How is it possible that after 12 chapters I'm only four sixth through their reveals?! I feel like the author of one piece now. Taking 10 years to reach the halfway mark of the All Blue hahaha. Time to speed things up for the next chapter ^^

Also, to refresh your memories, Ryoutaro's parents were killed in a car crash (as mentioned in Chapter 1). So only the past of Azuma and Shouko are still shrouded in mystery.