My P-…Not so Perfect Brother?

Day: 8 Hour: 9 Minute: 20

Journal…

Aniki…is malfunctioning…a glitch is in his otherwise orderly programming.

In my parent's ongoing brainwashing…hem, hem…'tutoring' torture, Aniki and I have been reviewing covalent bonding, conjugation, proper verb placement of English, and the political consequences of General Perry's naval blockade affect on Japan during the 19th century. Oh the joy, oh the joy! I was contemplating how effective a sharpened pencil might be in committing suicide when Aniki grabbed it and said a pen was much more useful to write with.

List of Annoying Things My Aniki Does Side Note:

Number 23- He interferes in attempts to end my agony

Anyways, this torture has been occurring daily upon entering my prison after my one hour of allotted soccer practice. Soon after I arrive, Aniki bustles in and puts away his bags before sitting down to teach me. Argh. At first, I didn't see anything unusual about that. Aniki was still being Aniki with his impeccable formal attire and manners, even inside his own home. He even studies as a hobby! Ugh, he makes me need to read Jump manga. Sweet junk food for the mind.

Kaa-san gets home from her errands at 4:45, sees us and continues with her chores. It's been the routine for the last week. At least until Kaede noticed something earlier tonight. Today Kaede came home early; normally Kaa-san picks up Kaede while she is running her errands. During times when mandatory study is not being unfairly forced down upon a person, Kaede is here before Aniki or me, but because we missed extra sports practice she comes in after us. This afternoon, she came and sat down observing us. She did this for some time before she started to fidget about, peering at Aniki before glimpsing at the clock. She did this several times, before I finally asked her,

"Kaede, you're distracting me. Stop staring! What are you looking at anyway?"

Aniki rudely interrupted me,"Ikeda-kun that is impolite." He glared at me…I think…, before turning to Kaede.

"Kaede-chan, Ikeda-kun does have a point. Is something the matter? "

Kaede scrutinized him much like a toddler examines a stranger, before asking him,

"Did golf practice get out early? Or did Tou-san ask you to come home early, so you can help Ikeda? You have been home awfully early this week."

Aniki stared at her, glasses unreadable, finally he smiled. At least I think that's what his lips inclining just a bit at the sides meant. Maybe it was a spasm.

"No. Otou-san did not ask me to come home early to help Ikeda-kun study. Golf practice has not been keeping me long, so I have been able to arrive home earlier than expected."

Oh joy, my dearest dreams answered. I just had to find out how much longer this dream was going to last.

"Does that mean next week you'll be home later because of practice?"

I gave the best shojo manga eyes impression in hopes that he would say 'yes'. He glanced over at me- in surprise? Hard to tell when he never let more or less than a polite expression on his face.

"Perhaps. I have not yet been informed. Now, let's get back to the subjunctive rule."

He straightened his posture, like it could be anymore straight, and adjusted his glasses. It was a long night. Six hours of homework…Torture tactics winning. NO. Think rock music. Ecchi. American action movies.

I don't know why what Kaede said bothers me- she's right though. Aniki has always been a model student, and of course, a model student does well in both academics and extracurricular activities. In elementary school, Aniki tried several clubs –sports and academic, before he settled on golf, much to Tou-san's delight. What a great hobby for his future middle management lifestyle. Aniki is good at golf. Being an android and all it figures. Seriously it's sad, Aniki is actually really good at sports. It's a shame he has no real interest in sports because he could excel at them; at least, that's what all his coaches have told Tou-san when they were recruiting Aniki to join them.

Tou-san and Kaa-san are always against him participating in other clubs- they don't want him 'distracted' from their absolute control. I think Aniki knows that, which is why I'm mad at him. He does nothing to distance himself from their expectations. It's like he doesn't have any dreams of his own. I suppose androids don't dream though. That still doesn't explain why he submits to their control. Kaede's right: it is weird for Aniki to not keep to a strict schedule. The schedule dictates that he attends golf for 2-3 hours after school. Oh well.

Just a few more weeks, then this torture had better be over. I'll have vacation to catch up with my friends, effectively ruining my parent's attempts at brainwashing. I feel sorry for Aniki though. He never made friends to undo Kaa-san and Tou-san's brainwashing.

Caged Bird Dreaming,

Ikeda

Revised: 1-26-12

Another chapter done. More to come.

Hmmm… if it wasn't clear Yagyuu's glitch was that he had been off schedule. It might not seem that important, but it plays a bigger part in the next chapter.

Thanks for reading!

False Sourires