Those around looked at the scene with quizzical looks on their faces. Sunako huffed and puffed as her body was dragged across the ground almost gently. She voiced her annoyance as the events of this morning played out in her mind.
Kyouhei, out of frustration, had tied Sunako up and dragged her out of the house. It had only been a day since her bangs (or her protection against the world) had been cut off. She refused to go anywhere, even school. She didn't want anyone to see her ugly face.
Kyouhei decided that he'd had enough, rapped a rope around her upper torso, and began to pull her to school himself. But not before she took one of Yuki's hats and put it on.
Yuki, Ranmaru, Takenaga, and Kyouhei were walking along side one another, while Sunako was awkwardly being dragged behind them. Sunako sat almost patiently as the four of them stopped.
Suddenly, a young girl with red hair began to make her way towards them. She was easy to notice because everyone who had once surrounded the four boys parted like the Red Sea for the beautiful 15 year old. Because she was the prettiest girl in the school, no one "objected" to her interacting with them.
Takenaga cleared his throat nervously, "Well, I think that there's something for me to do somewhere," he mumbled before quickly scampering away.
Whoa! Such a radiant girl! Sunako thought. Her arm moving to dramatically cover her eyes.
"Has anyone seen Oda?" She shyly but confidently asked.
"Can you not find him on your own? Do you want me to look for him or something?" Kyouhei asked with a teasing and smug smirk. He knew something that Sunako didn't.
"He's so shy. He's probably hiding in a random closet somewhere," Yuki added while chuckling.
"What the heck, so he isn't around," Noi mumbled loud enough for mostly everyone around her to hear.
"Noi-Chan, we're guys too!" Some of her fans yelled at a distance. They also knew something that Sunako didn't.
Sunako's house-mates had already started their own conversations with kids hanging around the entrance. Noi walked up to Sunako, ready to ask a billion personal questions about the guy she secretly (though everyone knows) likes. After all, the only girl living with them would know a lot, right?
"Ahem," Noi called.
Blood shot out of Sunako's nose. Noi screamed while jumping backwards to avoid it.
"Are you alright?" Noi sweetly asked.
"Yes, that's just what happens when I get too close to a beautiful being," Sunako answered strangely.
Such a nice person, she called me beautiful! Noi thought. A happy smile adorned her face, not afraid of the weirdo in front of her at all.
"I envy you Sunako; you live in the same house as Oda, right?" She asked.
"I live with three other guys, too."
"That's not important," Noi stated, "What's it like…to see Oda at home? What does he do?" She eagerly asked.
Sunako shrugged, "I don't really know, he's too radiant to look at. So, I don't…look at him," Sunako answered.
"Ah! How nice it must be! To be able to see his face every day! I'm really envious now," Noi dreamily stated. Her eyes in a faraway place.
"I don't look…at him," Sunako said again, a blank expression adorning her face.
Wait! Sunako thought as realization struck her like lightning. This girl obviously wants to live with the smart one.
"Do you want to trade places with me? You'll definitely fit in at that house!" Sunako desperately said.
"Eh? Really?" Noi asked. She smiled at the thought.
"No way," Kyouhei said after popping up out of nowhere, a glare etched onto his "beautiful" facial features, "Do you know what would happen if someone like her lived with us? It would be a total nightmare!" He yelled while pointing an accusing finger at the pretty red-head.
"Why? I just want to peek when Oda's bathing, snuggle with him at night, and do 'this' and 'that' with him! So what?" She yelled back, "We'll be quiet so you'll be perfectly happy even with me there!"
I didn't know that pretty girls said things like that, too. Sunako thought as she watched the two radiant creatures continue on with their argument.
"What? I won't be happy you idiot! My room's right next to his!"
"Don't worry! I'll be incredibly quiet, that way, you can sleep peacefully!" Noi yelled while crossing her arms.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Sunako stared at the two beautiful teenagers as they fought. Imaginary lights began to appear around them. Sunako turned her head in the opposite direction, desperate to successfully avert her eyes. Lor-Lord! They're a perfect match! Sunako thought.
"You know, I saw a gangster waving at you the other day!" Noi loudly stated.
She really is beautiful! Such a natural! Speaking to that radiant creature comes so easily! Sunako thought, continuing to stare in awe. Wait, how did they get to talking about gangs?
"I'm the leader! The leader!" Kyouhei yelled in the background.
"Oh no! I'm so scared!" Noi taunted.
Kyouhei suddenly pulled on the rope Sunako had momentarily forgotten about, and started to drag her along with him. "Come on Sunako," he said.
"Good luck Sunako! See you around!" Noi yelled, forced tears streaming down her cheeks as she waved a random hanky for dramatic effect.
….
"That's how I met Noi. It wasn't anything special, and all we talked about was her crush. But we managed to become great friends as our adventures became more and more hectic."
"Our. Mom. Was. A. Fangirl," Keiko and Seiji chanted darkly. Their embarrassment shown on their identical faces.
Etsu crossed her arms, "Don't be so embarrassed by your mom, Seiji, Keiko. It's obvious that Sunako was much weirder in those days."
Keiko was shaken out of her stupor, "Wait, what you mean exactly when you said, 'they're a perfect match'?" She asked. Her imagination running wild as she theorized that her mother, father, and Kyouhei had been involved in a love triangle during high school. That doesn't add up, how could Kyouhei of all people lose to anyone? Especially a cold fish like dad?
"Obviously, you were wrong. I've never seen a couple more obsessed with each other than my own parents," Uhei said.
"I didn't really mean that they were 'meant for each other' only that their looks matched. Noi, in my mind, has always been Kyouhei's physical equivalent," Sunako explained, "Noi never saw Kyouhei in that way, either. Kyouhei and Noi are like long lost siblings."
Kyouhei agreed, but frowned a little. You're my equivalent in every way, Sunako. Is what he wanted to say, but couldn't because of present company. Keiko was an amplified version of Noi. If Keiko had a reason to be jealous of Sunako, then she would become a very scary little animal. He had seen it once when he was at the beach with the Odas last summer. His usual fans and their overzealous behavior gave them the courage to grab both of his arms. Keiko lashed out and had to be pried away from the two girls who had "committed such a crime." They left with bruises and a few broken ribs. Or "battle scars" as the two victims had called them. He had always wondered what she had done to girls behind his back.
After that, Kyouhei and Takenaga made sure that the two of them were never alone together. And Kyouhei vowed to never spend time with their family without Sunako or his other friends ever again. Keiko had it in her head that he came only for her even though he'd never had those intentions.
What do I do about this?
"So, how did you meet my mom?" Uhei asked with red cheeks. He was curious about the relationship between his own mother and Sunako.
Sunako smiled.
….
The red haired man whore sighed loudly, "I can't believe that Otou-san picked a wife for me! And what kind of father waits until the day of the marriage meeting to tell his son about it?" Ranmaru exclaimed.
"Why does it matter that he waited to say something until today?" Yuki innocently asked.
"She picked me to be her fiancé four weeks ago! Do you know how many of my kittens I've 'done' in that time span?" He rhetorically asked as he paced the living room anxiously.
"It doesn't really matter. You don't exactly know how her family, let alone your family, would react to you skipping out on it," Kyouhei stated. The others rolled their eyes at his words. If he was in Ranmaru's shoes he would be acting much worse.
Ranmaru sighed, "Well, what do I do? I can't have my cake and eat it, too."
"Well, if I was smart I would hate you right away," Takenaga answered.
"Well, who wouldn't hate this cold-blooded book reading boy?" Ranmaru harshly asked.
Takenaga smirked: "Noi."
"I wouldn't like any of you. You're all too annoying," Kyouhei mumbled.
The other three housemates turned to Kyouhei at the same time: "Says the biggest prick of us all!"
Takenaga's eyes flashed and the boys stopped their bickering, knowing that look: "When I think about it, any sensible and confident woman wouldn't want any of us. We're too selfish and childish in our own ways," he started.
"So…"
"If you act like us, Yuki, myself, or Kyouhei, I'm sure that she'll immediately reject you. Just wait until after talking to her a bit to find out what she likes or dislikes," he added.
"That's perfect, if I was her, I would immediately hate any one of you," Sunako said while smirking.
The boys glared at her before depressingly falling over and sighing. Ranmaru voiced his goodbye and left.
"I hope that Ranmaru doesn't hurt her feelings," Yuki worriedly stated.
"From what his father told me, she was forced to look through a photo album of rich and high status bachelors. It was her job to choose one to be her fiancé or else her parents would choose one for her. She laid her eyes on the handsome Ranmaru and picked him. If I was forced to pick my future spouse from a pile of pictures, I would choose someone who wasn't ugly, too," Takenaga explained.
Yuki and Kyouhei agreed while Sunako continued to eat her chips and watch television.
Ranmaru came back about four hours later. A tired and upset look on his face.
"What's wrong, Ranmaru?" Yuki asked.
Takenaga looked up from his book and Kyouhei turned away from the TV, "How did it go?"
"That girl isn't even human, not womanly at all! I like my women a little perverted and experienced. She doesn't have any! She hasn't dated a single person her entire life! Heck, she seemed void of emotions themselves! It's like talking to a brick wall! I can't tell what she's thinking, and her body language is even harder to read. She's so stiff and elegant and traditional. No matter who I impersonated, she decided that the poker face was attractive. Even when I acted like Sunako…" Ranmaru said while shuddering from the chills going up his spine.
"Doesn't that mean she's meant for you? A girl that you don't know how to seduce; you being a playboy and all, that should tell you something," Takenaga stated.
Ranmaru quizzically looked at Takenaga.
"What I mean is; opposites attract. You go out with someone almost every single day. She goes out rarely and her only company is her chauffer. You prefer to have sex all of the time. She's saving her virginity for the man that she's going to marry. It makes sense to me," Takenaga smartly explained to the ignorant ladies' man before him.
Yuki and Kyouhei nodded in agreement while Sunako scoffed, "What a weird conversation," she mumbled while walking to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
The doorbell suddenly rang. Sunako mumbled incoherent words, probably curses, while stalking towards the door.
"Um, hello, my names Tamao. Ranmaru-san left his scarf at the restaurant we dined at earlier," a pretty blond girl said sweetly and nervously.
Sunako decided to freak out about her radiance later and invited the nervous girl into the mansion.
"Just follow me, I'll lead you to the living room," Sunako said.
The girl nodded, sure that Ranmaru himself must've been in the living room.
Noi sighed while letting herself in. She stalked towards the living room, knowing that everyone spent most of their time in there. Noi figured that Ranmaru was probably off doing one of his "kittens" because he was the only housemate missing.
She saw Takenaga and blushed. Until her eyes laid on a blond "ojou-sama" type who was sitting on the love seat.
"Oh hello! What's your name?" Noi asked.
"I-I'm Tamao, Ranmaru-sans fiancé," she answered.
Noi's eyes became wide. She burst into fits of laughter before sitting next to Takenaga.
"T-that playboy's fiancé? That's a funny joke!" She said in between laughs. But, her chortles were cut short by a firm hand clasping her shoulder.
"It's true, Noi. She was forced to pick out a fiancé, and Ranmaru just so happened to be the person she chose. Now hush," he whispered harshly.
Noi mentally cursed; disappointed in her own rash behavior. But she was more annoyed with herself for upsetting Takenaga. She quieted down quickly.
"Where's Sunako?" Noi asked.
"She's in the kitchen making dinner," Yuki answered.
Sunako came out with two extra plates and sat on the floor while handing everyone their food.
Tamao looked at Sunako and realized that she never properly introduced herself, "What's your name, miss?" She sweetly asked, noting that she was an amazing cook.
"…Sunako."
….
"So, my mom was forced to pick my dad?" Uhei asked.
"Not really. She really liked Ranmaru even if he was a player. Your father was the one who felt 'forced.' But he soon came to love Tamao more than anyone else because with her it was different. With her, it wasn't a game of 'hide from the angry rich husbands.' With your mom, it was real love," Kyouhei explained.
Uhei sighed, "I've always known that I get it from him. I blame it on the inherited pheromones."
Keiko quirked an eyebrow at the young blond-haired blue-eyed boy sitting next to her. Get what from him? What pheromones?
"You mean, you're like the old Ranmaru?" Sunako asked, trying to keep from laughing.
Instead of answering her question, Uhei simply pulled out his cell phone and handed it to her: "Contacts."
Sunako pressed the button: "800?" She exclaimed.
Kyouhei snatched it away from Sunako, removing his arm from her hip: "Whoa, that's even more than Ranmaru used to have," he said absentmindedly as he scrolled through the young boy's phone. Name's like: The girl from the beach, that girl from class 3-A, and that girl from the supermarket displaying themselves on the screen. Kyouhei laughed, at least Ranmaru remembered their names.
Uhei couldn't help but smirk at that, "But, I'm not cougarbait* like dad used to be."
Keiko's eyes widened, that was more than the boys she had in her own phone. Whatever, he probably made them up. Who would want a little boy like-?
Keiko's thoughts trailed off as she looked at Uhei closely for the first time. Blond hair, blue eyes, a mature face, white teeth, long legs, a chest toned enough to make his shirts look tight-Keiko smirked. If he was older his looks could rival Kyouhei's.
Props to puberty.
Etsu rolled her eyes: "What is this? The family business?" She asked rudely when the phone had been passed to her.
Sunako made a face, "A little judgmental are we?" She mumbled with crossed arms; defensive of her red-headed friend.
"Nope. I just know from stories that Ranmaru-san was a whore. He was far more experienced than girls his age, so he went after older women. From what I've heard, he even hit on Aunty once. But to no avail, the women he dated were the players and he was the one being played no matter how you look at it," Etsu eyed her finger nails as her words continued to stray further and further down B****iness Boulevard.
No one talks about dad like that.
Uhei snatched his phone from her, "What about your dad? He was a girly animal lover who cried easier than his own girlfriend." He snarled. He didn't hate Yuki-san at all, but he had nothing else to throw at Etsu.
Etsu shrugged, "At least he only went after one girl his entire life. If your dad had continued his destructive behavior, he could've contracted a disease of some sort. And where would you be, Uhei?"
Uhei stood up. He was this close to smacking his childhood friend. "We never hit women no matter how much they deserve it. We are men so we must act like it." His father's words rang in his ears before he sighed and sat down. He crossed his arms and legs before smirking:
"But he didn't, did he?" His tone was suggestive as he spoke. This outraged Etsu.
Why isn't he angry?
Sunako shook her head: "So, that's your deal," she stated while looking at Etsu.
Etsu turned on Sunako: "What are you talking about?" She asked rather harshly.
Sunako winced, "You like to get a rise out of people," she stated simply. Kyouhei shot her a warning look. She ignored it.
"All I did was state the simple truth," Etsu blankly defended.
Sunako shook her head with a smirk: "You don't give a crap about Ranmaru's past sexual tendencies. You do; however, enjoy making people angry. It distracts you from what? Your own inner turmoil? Your own rage? Your own inefficiency? Your dissatisfaction with life?"
I know what I'm talking about, kid. I know people with the same problem. Sunako thought, images of Seiji and a 15 year old Takenaga flashing in her mind like a movie.
Etsu's eyes began to hurt from the pressure she was putting on them; glaring with all that she had. At least that's what it feels like.
"Leave Etsu alone, would you? Everyone in this room has their own problems to deal with," Seiji countered.
Keiko nodded, "What's that saying again? 'Adults are meant to be seen, not heard'?" She asked with a smirk, purposely quoting it incorrectly.
Uhei eyed Sunako nervously, Kyouhei had an expression similar to his. Stop while you're ahead.
Sunako quirked an eyebrow at Keiko, "Pretending to care about Etsu's integrity, are we? You just wanted a chance to throw some of your bitter words at me."
"Sunako…" They're just kids.
"Kyouhei…" That's what I'm trying to make them understand.
"I'm sick of hearing your stupid voice!" Keiko yelled, hearing Sunako call his name with no honorific* set her off. Etsu jumped. Once Keiko got started for real she was worse than anyone she had ever seen angry. Even Kyouhei who joined a biker gang because he was so pissed.
"All you do is say useless things that no one cares about! Who cares about how our parents met? Who cares about your relationships from the past? Who cares about the fact that you used to be a creepy little freak?" Keiko screeched.
Seiji stood as well. He grabbed his sister's wrist, "Keiko, calm down."
She snatched her hand away, "No! I have to spend an entire summer with this weirdo that I don't even know! None of the guys I like know because mom and dad deleted all of my contacts! No one knows that I'll be in Hokkaido of all places! Will mom and dad even miss us? Who knows? Mom is a slut and dad is a freaking snake with how venomous and unfeeling he is most of the time. Reading his stupid books and making comments that mean nothing." She huffed.
She turned to look at her twin brother, her eyes intense whirlpools of emotions that were spinning out of control. "And you're just like him! Mean, calculating, rude, and just plain zombie-like. I wonder who ate your brains."
Seiji moved forward, but Sunako stopped him. A hard look adorned her face as Keiko continued her rant.
This has probably been boiling deep within her for weeks, months even.
Seiji understood, staying put, hands in his pockets.
"I'm just so pissed!" She finally screamed. She huffed and puffed, her arms at her sides. Her knuckles were flushed because of her anger, her eyes were slits. She took a deep breath before standing up straight and wiping some sweat from her brow.
Sunako cleared her throat with a genuine smile, "Feel better?"
Kyouhei shook his head as it all clicked. A person who used to hold grudges can see that someone is holding a grudge from a mile away.
Keiko blushed. Yes: "If you excuse me, I need to use the restroom."
Sunako showed Keiko and Etsu-who decided to tag along-where the bathroom was and walked back to the kitchen/dining room. She sighed happily as she stretched her legs and cracked her arms.
"You're very sly, Nakahara-san," Uhei commented. Seiji nodded in agreement.
"Well, I meant for Etsu to open up. But, Keiko is fine, too," she stated simply. "Of course, I didn't expect you to defend Etsu, either," she added slyly, giving Seiji a look.
Seiji blushed, "She reminds me of myself."
Kyouhei chuckled, "Dude, you two are nothing alike."
Seiji turned away with crossed arms and a pouty face. I've been found out.
"What is the deal with you four anyway?" Sunako asked. She had long ago noticed the tense feelings that seemed to emit from the two boys while the girls seemed oblivious to it all.
Uhei sighed and Seiji's eyes suddenly seemed distant: "Unrequited love," they both breathed quietly.
Sunako's eyes widened as Kyouhei smirked: "I've known for a while now. You both make the same faces that Takenaga and Ranmaru used to make when they pined for Noi and Tamao."
"And who do Seiji and Uhei 'pine' for?" Etsu asked with a smirk from behind. The two boys who were now sitting next to one another on the left side of the table.
"Uh…"
….
Cougarbait: women who like younger men are referred to as "Cougars." In turn, boys who like older women can be defined as "Cougarbait" or "Cubs." (Ahahahahahaha).
Honorifics: In Japan, if a person doesn't use an honorific when addressing someone (such as chan, kun, sama, or san), it means that the two people are extremely close (first names are considered very personal and private in Japan).