Hitsu: Hey guess what?
Weylin: What?
Hitsu: I'm NOT dead!!!
Weylin: …looser
Hitsu: Sorry about the long delay everyone, and hopefully this chapter won't make you all wish I was dead—
Weylin: Don't count on it.
Hitsu: Please enjoy!
"Maaannn, I hate school! It's not my fault if the teacher is so boring that I fall asleep in class!" Mio groaned. Kahoko chuckled at her friend, amused by her juvenile antics. Mao sprawled across her desk, whining about the lecture the teacher had just given her about paying attention in class. Nao just shook her head, such actions were typical of Mio.
"Ignoring Mio's stupidity," Nao interjected, "So, did you hear about…" Listening to her friends' conversations, Kahoko's mind began to drift off.
The incident with Yunoki senpai and Hihara senpai had only occurred the day before. Even though Akemi had assured her that nothing had happened, Kahoko still felt uneasy. She knew her brother could be a bit… overprotective, and it scared her at what he could have said. Hopefully it was nothing that would disrupt her relationship with those two. Hihara senpai was so energetic and made her laugh constantly. Even Yunoki senpai, who always teases her, makes her feel special. Kahoko would be so sad if they stopped talking to her because of Akemi.
Kahoko sighed. Her mind had been filled with these thoughts since the two senpais had left her home the night before. They had not even bothered to retrieve their uniforms. Kahoko felt horrible, she loved her brother, but she also treasured her friends. Kahoko needed a distraction before she got a migraine from thinking too much.
"…oko?" Nao's voice jerked Kahoko out of her thoughts. Blinking foolishly, she tried to recall the conversation that had just occurred. Nao sighed.
"I was just saying that we should go out to a café afterschool, if you are not too busy with practice and all…" Kahoko smiled, this was just the perfect distraction she needed.
"Sure! It's been a long time since we all went out together!" Mio cheered, Kahoko rarely hung out with them outside of school because of violin practice. Gathering their belongings, the three friends headed off to their favorite café.
Devouring her parfait, Kahoko was in bliss mode, as well as Nao and Mio. The café had been an excellent choice, it had been far too long since the friends had just relaxed together, enjoying desserts with high concentration of sugar and fat. Shoveling another spoon full of creamie goodness, Kahoko heard a voice calling her name. Turning around, she noticed Nami Amou waving her arms like an idiot. Kahoko gestured her over, as to save Nami-san from embarrassment.
"Hi guys! It has been a while hasn't it?" Nami exclaimed as she reached the booth where the three girls sat. "Do you mind if I sit with you guys?"
"Not at all, as long as you have some good gossip on you!" Mio exclaimed, inviting the journalist to take the open seat next to her.
"Oh, since the concours have been over, the juicy stuff has been at an all time low," Nami sighed, clearly distressed by her lack of gossip about the handsome concours participants. Smiling devilishly, she continued, "However, I have heard a little something about our dear Kahoko lately."
Blushing at this news, Kahoko nearly choked on her dessert. "Gossip? About me?" Mio and Nao leaned in closer to her the news.
"Oh, you know Kaho! That incredibly good-looking guy that took you home a couple days ago? Not to mention, I heard you two made quite a disruption in the staffroom." Calming down, Kahoko left.
"Sorry to disappoint you Nami-chan, but that was only my brother, Akemi-nii." Nami raised her eyes at this.
"Wow, I remember you mentioning that you had a brother once, but I never figured that he would be so HOT! Why didn't you introduce me before?" Nami exclaimed, disrupting the conversations of the people around them. Making an apologetic look to the other customers, Kahoko motioned for Nami to calm down.
"Onii-chan has been away for a long time, living with his grandfather at a shrine in Kyoto," Kahoko explained. This caught Nami's attention.
"His grandfather? What do you mean?" Nami whispered while leaning in towards their conversation. Kahoko laughed at the uncomfortable proximity.
"Well you see, Onii-chan was actually adopted by our family when he was really young. His parent had died, and his grandfather was too sick to take care of him. My dad had very close relations to Onii-chan's parents, so he volunteered to raise him. A couple of years ago, he decided to go help his grandfather with the shrine he is attending to. So, yeah, we are not actually related," Kahoko let out a brief laugh.
"Ooh, the plot thickens! So you are living with your gorgeous older brother, who is not actually your brother!" Clearly enjoying the twist, Nami took out a notepad from her bag and started scribbling down notes.
"Well, the thing is, Onii-san was taken in to our family when I was still pretty young, so he has always been like a brother to me," Kahoko tried to reason with Nami.
"Yeah, I always remember Akemi-san being there when me and Nao went to play at Kahoko's house," Mio said, nodding her head to Kahoko's explanation.
"Yes, but he was like a brother. Like, being the key word here," Nami said, grinning. Kahoko shook her head, there was no getting through to the gossip queen.
"Whatever you say Nami-chan."
Unknown to the girls, they had an audience from the booth next door. Shimizu had come to the café, but then quickly fell asleep as usual. Stretching from his relaxed position, Shimizu yawned. Amou-san's loud voice had woke him up, not that he was complaining, he had found out many interesting things from their loud conversation.
'So Hino-san and her brother are not really related…' Jealousy flickered in his usually dream-ridden eyes. Yawning again, he felt his head once again feel heavy. He would deal with the new situation after his nap.
Hitsu: So that's it everyone, sorry for the wait!
Weylin: You said that already.
Hitsu: That just means that I am extra sorry!! Anyways, I am going to have a poll for who do YOU think Kahoko should end up with! To include all you readers. To vote, just leave your submission in the reviews. NO VOTING FOR THE SAME PERSON MORE THAN ONCE!!!
Weylin: She's only doing this because she doesn't know what to do anymore.
Hitsu: SHUT UP YOU! Anyways, please review please!!