My Imperfect Brother

JOURNAL………….

I…don't know what to write…I'm still in shock…Aniki……my Aniki- Yagyuu Hiroshi…is without a doubt…malfunctioning.

It is not comprehensible. Kaa-san and Tou-san are simply mystified as how to fix it. Their perfect son- the son who excels in everything, breathes perfect manners, embodies the epitome of the future business man and does whatever they wish- has learned how to do things without their command. Oh wait! I haven't told you yet journal, have I?

For the last two weeks we've been on school break, until the next school year starts. I managed to ace all my classes so the prison sentence has been lifted. I spent fourteen hours for twenty-three days studying. Aghhh! The moment that last bell rang, I was gone. My soccer addiction had to be satisfied. So to sum it up I haven't been home much trying to avoid my prison, and when I have been home it was way past dinner. I had a reputation to clear…dirty…. I was becoming known as a notable study worm. I don't have to worry about that now. Tonight was the first time in two weeks that I had gotten back early enough to eat dinner with everyone. I haven't had much of a chance to see Kaede, or Aniki, but really I needed a break from him after that torture. Like me, I assumed Kaede was hanging out with her friends, while Aniki stayed in his room studying. Boring. Anyways, at dinner when we sat down I noticed that Aniki wasn't there.

"Kaede, Where's Aniki?"

She looked up at me, her eyes wide and blinked.

"I'm not sure, I think he's at practice. He told Kaa-san he likely wouldn't make it to dinner."

I was shocked. Aniki rarely stayed out this late, unless it involved a study group.

"Oh, so did golf practice start again? I wonder why it wasn't going in the first place…"

I wondered, starting to eat my rice. Normally, our family doesn't speak at the dinner table, save for when Tou-san had big news to share with us. The conversation between Kaede and I was unusually long for dinner. What happened next was unheard of.

"Ikeda, What do you mean golf practice is starting up again?"

Her question through me for a loop, so I just sort of stared at her with my chopsticks in my mouth, having just taken a bite of rice. Luckily Kaede answered.

"While Aniki was helping Ikeda with his homework, he always came home earlier than normal, so when we asked him why, he said they weren't having practice at the time and he wasn't sure when they would begin again."

Tou-san frowned at this, asking,

"How long did this go on?"

This time I answered.

"Aniki was home early every day until break started, so about three weeks. We thought you asked him to come home early…"

He looked contemplative, while Kaa-san nodded firmly, saying,

"Well, I wonder what was going on, but I suppose that is why Hiroshi has been gone every day, so the team could make up for all the cancelled practices."

This really surprised me, and apparently Tou-san too. I glanced over at Kaede where she was nodding.

"Aniki's been gone everyday?"

"Yep! I guess you wouldn't know. Aniki's been getting home late for most of the break. Whenever you were home, he had just barely come in before you."

Wow. Aniki got out? Unthinkable, right journal? Guess what…that's still not the most surprising thing that happened tonight.

It went back to being silent for the rest of dinner. Afterwards, Kaa-san cleaned up in the kitchen while Tou-san started to read the newspaper. Kaede and I watched a comedy sitcom that Kaa-san liked so she could listen to it while she cleaned. Around nine-thirty Kaede was sleepy so she excused herself to go to bed. As she got to the staircase the door opened and Aniki walked in. He had a bag slung over his shoulder and his normally tidy clothes actually looked ruffled. Kaa-san glanced at the clock.

"Hiroshi, did they hold you at practice this late? That does not seem right."

Aniki looked over at her, I think he was surprised.

"Yes, they did. I apologize I should have called and told you I would be later than expected."

Kaa-san nodded, ready to let it go when Kaede spoke up.

"Aniki…Where are your golf clubs? Did you leave them at school? Why are you carrying that bag over your shoulder? It looks like a racket case."

She peered at him a frown alighting her face while the rest of us turned at him. Aniki finished taking off his shoes, setting them together neatly at the door before heading to the stairs to go to his room. Not one single peek towards the rest of us.

"No, my golf clubs are in the garage. It is called a tennis racket case, Kaede-chan."

Silence. I did not here a single breath being drawn in the room. Tousan and Kaa-san were trading looks with each other. Ending the loud silence, Kaede asked confused,

"Then how was Aniki playing golf?"

My parents stared at her wrinkled frown before Tou-san got up from his chair and put down the newspaper.

"Hiroshi, come down here immediately. I want to talk to you."

Aniki came around the corner steadily descending the stairs, his bags gone.

"Yes Otou-san?" Aniki asked in his monotone voice, betraying no evidence that he knew he had done the unthinkable and made Tou-san angry with him.

"Hiroshi where have you been all day? I thought you said you were at practice? So why did you leave your golf clubs here? And why do you have a tennis case?"

Tou-san and Kaa-san truly looked upset. Aniki was unperturbed, unreadable as ever.

"I was at practice….tennis practice."

Tou-san and Kaa-san threw confused looks at him before asking,

"Why were you at tennis practice?"

Aniki went into the kitchen where I could hear him pouring a cup of hot tea.

"I am in the tennis club, and tryouts for regulars begin in a month."

My Aniki, Yagyuu Hiroshi, officially made our parents speechless. Complete utter silence filled the room. I could hear the crickets chirping. For the second time, it was Kaede who broke the silence.

"Aniki is on the tennis team? Since when?"

Aniki entered into the living room and sat down. He looked over to Kaede.

"Yes, I joined the team three weeks ago, and started practice as soon as break begin, so I could catch up with the other members."

I thought about it for a moment, that means he joined the club while he was tutoring me. Kaa-san and Tou-san obviously reached the same conclusion as I had.

"What about the golf club, Hiroshi? Being on both teams might disturb your studies. Have you considered that?"

Tou-san looked forebearing, while Aniki nodded.

"Yes, Okaa-san. I handed in my resignation to the golf club before I joined the tennis club."

He turned back to looking at his tea, taking a sip. Tou-san finally spoke up,

"Hiroshi. You were the fukubuchou of the golf club, are you sure you want to do that? Think of what that would mean on your transcripts. Do you even know how to play tennis? You can't expect to do as well on a team with more experienced players."

Aniki didn't even look up from his tea.

"I am proficient at tennis, and I am quite aware that my fellow members have more talent than myself, but I don't mind considering I have no intention to be fukubuchou or buchou."

Tou-san was angry, a flush creeping onto his face.

"y-you know this, and you joined anyway? What were you thinking Hiroshi?! I want you to go hand in your resignation to the tennis club, then go right over to the golf club and ask to be re-admitted. Tomorrow Hiroshi!"

At this, Aniki let out a deep sigh. His eyes never wavering from the tea.

"I can not do that." He took a sip of his tea ignoring Tou-san's angry intake of air. "It's not possible. The school board disbarred the golf club."

Tou-san paused at this. Kaa-san blinked, finally speaking up letting her confusion be known.

"Hiroshi, when did that happen? Why?"

Aniki was silent, his lips tightly pressed together. After two heartbeats he responded,

"it officially was withdrawn from student activities five weeks ago because the school board members were dissatisfied with the membership and the tournament records. Rikkidai is a highly competitive school : it does not accept failure. "

"That still does not explain why you didn't inform us of this when it happened."

Tou-san stated steely.

"The school council notified the team four weeks ago. In the meantime, members of the tennis club had come to express their interest in having me join the club. I was not sure that I would join, given the regime the tennis members have to follow. I observed a few tennis practices after school to get a better idea of the team." Aniki paused, took a sip of tea and put it down.

"That still does not explain why you did not ask for permission from either Okaa-san of myself."

Aniki didn't bother to look at Tou-san.

"The practices were very fascinating. The Rikki Dai tennis club is really one of the most prestigious clubs at the school and in the nation. The team has to Nationals every year; as it happens, they won last year. I find the leaders impressive: their potential in the next few years looks good. The principal was there, and he explained that the tennis club at Rikki Dai Senior High was just as prestigious. The Review Board for applicants is told to pay special attention to the tennis members who apply there for the high school. The coach also said that with my academic record it was likely I could keep up with being in the club. He wouldn't require me to take the physicals again either. I assumed it would be fine for me to join the club then. It ordinarily will not last this long, I have been attempting to catch up before school commences."

Aniki finally turned his head around and looked up at Tou-san. Kaa-san and Tou-san appeared startled, as if they weren't sure how to react to their perfect, obedient son's first step of independence from them. I looked at Kaede. She seemed just as stunned as I felt, staring at me with her wide confused eyes. This was not how our Aniki behaved. After a couple of minutes Kaa-san and Tou-san finally nodded.

"I suppose it is fine, as long as, it does not get in the way of your studies. In the future we expect you to tell us these things when they occur, Hiroshi. Not After."

Kaa-san firmly told Aniki.

"Yes Okaa-san. I apologize for not doing so. I did not think you would mind"

The house was filled with silent accusations after that. It was interrupted by Kaede saying good night. Kaa-san went back to cleaning a spotless kitchen, while Tou-san, Aniki and I stayed in the tense living room.

Tonight was definitely the longest night in the entirety of my elevens years. This goes way beyond my suspicions of Aniki having a glitch. Tonight was not the fault of a glitch. This journal is the work of a highly skilled hacker. No simple error or mediocre hacker could penetrate the Gentleman firewall of Yagyuu Hiroshi, possibly the most complicated firewall to date. My next question is who is the hacker?, and do I really want to know? This hacker managed to get my Aniki to act independently of his programmers iron tight control, without a meaningful apology. They must have laid a virus. I wonder how deep it runs. I will keep watch to see what else happens. Right now, I must sleep; tonight's events exhausted my mind. There is a chance that this was all a hallucination, but I don't think my imaginations that great.

Brain Jacked,

Ikeda

Whew. This is the longest chapter yet, and my favorite. Finally the plot really begins to unfold.

Who knew Yagyuu could be so rebellious?

Thanks for reading! Please Review.

False Sourires