Unbearable:

Chapter Two: Akihiko likes; Haruhiko Takes

Disclaimer: Mentioned in first chapter

Haruhiko's POV

I glanced at salmon 5 as I scribbled on my clipboard. So far, not a lot of visible changes despite the difference in pH levels…

Glancing at the spreadsheet full of measurements, observations, and notes, I sighed with satisfaction as I turned away from the tank. Another "A" for sure; nobody else had gone to this extent for their biology project. Of course, being an Usami did help in regards to funding my research. I rolled my eyes as I thought of how the teachers always insisted I need not take my work so seriously. Though I was 13 years old, I knew I needed to start preparing for taking on full-scale projects, like the ones Father worked on.

I heard Akihiko slide down the banister and give a delighted laugh as he reached the bottom. Too bad I didn't hear him go past my door so I could remind him who was really our Father's son. I could always put him back in his place later.

I picked up a book from the table by the small couch. It was the one that I had taken from Akihiko the other day, the one from the neighborhood brat. Though I wasn't particularly interested in the genre, I had noticed Akihiko smiling as he read it at the dinner table, and that very much interested me. When I took the book from him after the adults had left the table (Akihiko had been taking a bite after reading a page, so half of his plate was untouched), I did so without uttering a word. The English brat, to his credit, said nothing and only narrowed his eyes at me. He had pushed away from the table and stalked towards the exit. The brat revolved on the spot, glared at me, and said "You can keep trying, but it'll never work." He waited for me to say something as I gazed steadily at him. "We'll see, English brat." The little freak simply shrugged and walked away.

I flipped the book open to the first page. It read: Property of Kamijou Hiroki. This made me sigh. Much as I would take things from Akihiko, it went against my principles to take something from him that wasn't actually his. I could never really explain this; it was a simply a matter of whatever could make a miserable brat like Akihiko happy, it could also make me happy. But, this book wasn't actually his, it was his friend's. And that too, though it was Akihiko's friend, I had to admit that stealing the neighborhood brat from him was something I was never likely to do; the kid threw more than just tantrums. I felt my face flush just a little when I thought of how many various things I'd seen littering the Kamijou lawn just outside the kid's window. It just wasn't right. Akihiko could keep that one for all I cared.

The front door opened downstairs, and I could hear the muffled voice of excitement that was Akihiko's, and the haughty retort that was Kamijou's. I sighed again, knowing that this probably had to do with whatever was in that crate Tanaka-san had wheeled past my door earlier. Clearly, Akihiko had some new toy or something that had him all excited. But, in accordance with my own principles, I couldn't take whatever it was from him until it had made him genuinely happy.

Tanaka-san poked his head in my room as he was closing his cell phone. "That was your father, Haruhiko-sama. On his way to a business meeting, he says he ran into Isaka-sama at the front gate. Isaka-sama will meet you at the side entrance, so as to avoid having you being forced into Akihiko's company at the front door."

As I heard our butler walk away, I felt a pang of gratefulness towards the perceptive servant. Even if he didn't approve of my demeanor towards Akihiko, he said nothing of it and went out of his way to ensure that I wasn't actually forced into my brother's company whenever possible.

I often wondered if I ever would have liked the brat if he had been raised along with me, but I refused to dwell on it. I knew it was shameful, but I was almost glad that I hated him; he was an outlet for my frustrations. He was a convenient target, and that was all that really mattered.

Before leaving the room, I noticed that I had left the lid to the salmon tank open. I shrugged before walking out the door. All it housed was a couple of fish; what could possibly happen? It was time to go greet my own friend. I half-smiled at the irony that my brother and I were both going to greet our friends. With any luck, we wouldn't be crossing paths for at least the rest of the afternoon.

A/N: Okay, so it's a bit of a filler chapter, but it needed to be put up to explain a few things that will develop further along in the story. No thanks to any helpful reviews besides the first and only two reviews thus far *glares at non-reviewing readers*, I have an idea in the tone I want to use for the next chapter.

Until then,

-MB Skirt