Chapter 5

Siblings Part 3

The following day, as arranged, I was at a café waiting for Natsume-san to arrive. I ordered myself a hot chocolate. Lately, it's been getting really cold and hot chocolate are great for warming the body.

Once the waitress served my hot chocolate to me, the door to the café ring, indicating a customer has arrived.

"Sorry to make you wait."

It was Natsume-san. Taking off his coat, he walked towards the table. Hanging the coat on the chair, he took a seat.

"It's okay, it wasn't that long."

"Urm… Would you like anything?"

The waitress who was serving me, asked him. She and the girls in the café were mesmerised by him for some reason.

"Coffee will do."

"Coming right up."

The waitress said in a rather delightful tone and left us. Meanwhile, there were still people staring at Natsume. I narrowed my eyes and decided ignore them.

"What would you like to ask me about Kugayama High?"

Natsume-san asked me as I sipped my hot chocolate.

"Right."

Placing down my mug, I reached out for my bag and took out some stack of papers. Placing them down on the table, I pointed at certain sections in the paper.

"Well, I am not quite sure about some of the clubs requirements. I want to try something different from what I am currently doing and I was hoping to narrow down some clubs."

Natsume-san looked through the papers before speaking again.

"Do you mind telling me what workout you do every day and during your club practice?"

"Sure!"

And I began telling him all he needed to know.

After discussing for an hour or so, we narrowed down to 3 sports clubs that I could join, or course first would be running which I am currently doing. Second is handball and third would be basketball.

"I think I will try handball."

"Why?"

Natsume-san asked me, curious at my sudden decision.

"Natsume-san used to be a runner right? And Subaru-san is in basketball. So Handball it is."

"You shouldn't put us into consideration."

"Well, I always run every morning and I can always ask Subaru to play a game with if he's free."

I grinned at him.

"Very well then."

Natsume-san sighed in defeat.

"Thank you for paying."

I bowed at Natsume-san once we left the store.

"It's not a problem. This is what an older brother should do."

"Are you heading back to work now?"

"Yeah."

Natsume-san ruffled my hair to my annoyance. I wonder why the older brothers in the Asahina family like to ruffle my hair, a lot.

"I'll see you again then."

Giving me a smile, he walked off with his hands in his pockets. For that moment, I wondered by he decided to live alone despite having a family to live with.

Deciding not to think about it anymore, I made my way back home but instead I spotted a very familiar person.

"Nee-chan!"

I tackle-hug her from behind.

"Chiaki-chan?!"

Nee-chan was surprised by my actions but it quickly faded away to a smile. Releasing her, I gave her my best smile that I had.

"What are you doing here?"

I asked her curious with the bags she was holding.

"I am getting groceries for Ukyo-san. We ran out of meat."

Taking a bag from her, I flash a smile once more.

"Let me help then."

Usually, doing things like this isn't my thing but today I felt like spending a bit of time with Nee-chan. We don't get to spend much time together lately.

"Nee-chan."

I called out to her while we were in the supermarket picking out the meat to buy.

"What is it?"

Nee-chan answered, while choosing.

"Do you like your new family?"

Nee-chan placed her attention on me now.

"Of course I do."

Nee-chan gave me the most radiant smile that I have never seen before turning her attention back to what she was doing again. However what she didn't know was that I specify the question with 'your' instead of 'our'.

But still, I am glad that Nee-chan finally found the thing she has been searching for. I suppose it's time I should find the thing most important to me.

"We are back!"

Nee-chan and I carried the groceries to the kitchen.

"Ah, welcome back."

Ukyo-san greeted us, a bit surprised that I was with Nee-chan.

"Chiaki, you met up with Natsume already?"

"Yup. I met Nee-chan on the way back and helped her with the grocery shopping."

I answered him as I helped Nee-chan place the groceries to the designated places. Just then, we heard a ringing sound. Nee-chan reached out to her pocket for her phone. It was a text message.

After she finished reading it, her phone rang again. This time it was a phone call. After that phone call, another call came in for her again.

Knowing the text message and phone calls were from which people, I look at her and sighed. Nee-chan really got her hands full with those brothers.

"I'm going back to my room. Be down for dinner later."

After informing them, I left them to prepare for dinner.

"Kari-chan."

My spine shivered upon hearing that. In front of my room stood Louis-san, holding a hair curler, smiling innocently at me.

Lately, Louis-san has been playing with my hair. He said that my hair was good raw material. With the horrible thought about it, I quickly turned my back towards him, close my eyes and chant words that were out of this world. I managed snapped out of it when another person called out to Louis.

"Lou-nii, there you are."

Turning to see who is was, I quickly went into a pissed state. It was Fuuto.

"Oh, it Baka-chan."

Fuuto stated when he noticed me.

"Aho-kun."

I answered back to him.

"Anyway, I got no time for you."

Fuuto turned to Louis-san almost immediately and ignored me like I didn't exist.

"Help me style my hair. I'm going for a commercial shoot later."

Oh, the difference of his tone to each person. This is going to be long.

"I was about to style Kari-chan's hair."

Fuuto glanced at me before smirking.

"Changing your appearance won't change your personality."

That's it! That was the final straw!

"What did you say?!"

"It's true after all."

"If that's the case, your personality must be rotten to the core."

"Why you!"

"Fuu-tan and Onee-chan are fighting again?"

Wataru-kun who heard the commotion came up to us as we argue once more. I have lost count of the number of times we fought.

"With the way things are going, I guess Wataru-kun's hair shall do."

Kouis-san gave a thoughtful look.

"Lou-nii is going to play with my hair? Okay!"

With consent from Wataru-kun, the both of them walked off, hand in hand.

"Hey! Lou-nii! Wait!"

Fuuto who noticed them leaving, ran after them.

"I'll deal with you later."

Fuuto turned his head back at me, giving me a revengeful look. In return, I stuck out my tongue at him, hatefully.

Earlier Ukyo-san asked me to call Iori-san down for dinner. Therefore I am now at the door to his room. I called out to Iori-san while knocking the door for quite some thing already but he didn't answer at all.

"Strange, is he not in?"

Just then, the door creaked slightly open.

"He didn't lock his door…?"

I peek through the gap of the door to find that the room was dark. Opening the door wider, I step in and call out to him.

"Iori-san?"

However there was still silence.

I walked further into the dark room, checking if he was in while taking note that Iori-san's room looks kind of creepy for some reason. I can feel a cold shiver running down my spine.

Just then, I saw something shine on the table. It was a cross necklace. Curious, I went even closer to take a look. Before I could pick it up, I heard a rustling sound.

Immediately I turned around to find nothing. I must be scaring myself.

As I turned back to focus on the cross once more, I heard even more sounds.

"Mmm…"

My pulse started racing as I stay rooted to the spot, debating whether to find out what it was or to flee.

"Mmmm…"

I think I should flee. I turned around and got ready to make a run for it. Later did I know, there was a white figure standing in front of me the moment I turned around. My eyes widen as I trembled in fear.

"Kyaa-!"

I crouched down on the floor and closed my eyes, with my hands covering my ears.

"Don't come near me!"

"Chiaki?"

I familiar voice called out to me. I opened my eyes and look up, it was Iori-san.

"Iori-san!"

I hid behind him, still shivering in fear while Iori-san gave me a puzzled look.

"There's… a ghost in here!"

"Ghost?"

"I saw a white figure…"

Iori-san thought for a moment before giving me a small laugh.

"You must be referring to this."

Iori-san held up a white cloth in front of me.

"Eh?"

"I was about to answer you when I tripped on the curtain. The curtain fell onto me, covering me. So I believe that the white figure must be referring to this."

"What about the sounds?"

"I had trouble getting the curtain off me."

"Then why is the room so dark?"

"It seems that my room's electricity cut off."

Finally, I sighed in relief as I placed my hand to my chest.

"Thank goodness. If there was really a ghost, I don't know what I will do."

"Sorry for scaring you."

Iori-san apologise to me.

"But if there were ghost in this world, I wonder if I'll see her again..."

"Huh?"

"Nothing."

Iori-san smiled at me. I swore I heard him muttered something.

"It's time for dinner right? Shall we go?"

Taking the cross necklace on his table, Iori-san flashed at smile at me again. Feeling a bit suspicious about him, I decided to ignore it.

"Right…"

"I thought I heard someone screaming earlier."

Yusuke-san noted to us while we were having dinner.

"Yeah, I heard it too!"

Wataru-kun raised his hand up high.

"…"

If everyone knew about it, they would laugh at me. Therefore, I was glancing at Iori-san, hoping he would get the hint and not say it out. Luckily, Iori-san saw my gesture and nodded at me.

"Then it's probably the squirrel."

Yusuke commented. After he said that, Juli started hissing again as Nee-chan held it back before it starts attacking.

Most of the brothers sweat dropped at the scene in front of them.

"Anyway, I saw a tv commercial of the new aquarium! I wanna go and see the fishes! Maa-kun, can I go?"

Wataru-kun excitedly begged. Come to think of it, I haven't been to an aquarium before.

"Now Wataru, everyone is busy you know."

"But…"

"Why don't I bring him then? I'm free tomorrow."

I suggested to Masaomi-san.

"Are you sure?"

"Yup. I haven't been to an aquarium before."

"Hurray! Onee-chan is going to bring me there!"

Wataru-kun wailed in excitement and started running around the table. Masaomi-san managed to grab the back of his collar to stop him from running.

"Why don't you ask the rest if they would like to go then? As much as I like to go, I have a shift tomorrow."

"I'll do it!"

Wataru-kun rushed to the house phone and started making phone calls.

"Sorry Chiaki-chan, but I have extra classes tomorrow."

"Same here."

Both Nee-chan and Yusuke-san informed me. I nodded my head in understanding.

"I have a case tomorrow as well but would you like me to pack some lunch for you guys?"

Ukyo-san asked me.

"Please do."

I then glanced at Iori-san who was quiet all these time.

"Are you going, Iori-san?"

Iori-san flashed the same smile that he did earlier to me.

"I'll see how it goes."

Next chapter will be an outing! To make things fun, do write your reviews in on who do you want to join Chiaki and Wataru on their outing or suggest what you would like to happen. However do be reasonable because everything needs to start small.

As for the poll results, the top 5 are Tsubaki with 22 votes, Fuuto with 21 votes, Louis with 17 votes, Natsume with 16 votes and Iori with 9 votes.

Well I am going to start another poll again. This is to give the people the chance to chose one of the top 5 from the previous poll. You can only pick one option this time round.

For those who don't know where is the poll. Go to my profile page. You should see this line "Poll: Who should Chiaki end up with? Vote Now!" in between my username and the chunk of info.