Chapter 6 – Breakthrough and Compliments

Ema and Reiko walked to school in silence. Ema was curious as to why Reiko would ask her to come with her after so many cold shoulders. "U-umm, rei-chan what did you want me to come with you?" ema asked quietly. She didn't want to upset Reiko after she finally got a little closer.

"…"

At first ema thought maybe reiko hadn't heard her, "reiko?"

"I wanted to talk to you" the girl said not turning to look at her. Ema looked surprised, why would she want to talk to me? Now that it think about it whenever someone tells me that its usually a confession nowadays. Ema sweat dropped as she recalled all her brothers. "Umm, reiko I can't accept."

Reiko gave her a confused look, "uh, what? I didn't even ask anything yet." Reiko stopped walking and looked at a fidgeting ema. What's with her? "I-I have no interest in a relationship right now! Im sorry!" the flustered girl said with a bow, this is the first time I've been confessed to by a girl! I don't know how else to react. And she's my sister! Reiko gave her sister a confused expression and slightly disturbed, "Relationship? I was just going to ask why you're so intent on becoming closer to me."

"…eh?"

Ema turned red and covered her cheeks with her palms, "Oh!" how embarrassing! She got the wrong impression! "Ah, I'm so sorry! I didn't..uh, never mind!" ema said rushed and turned around so reiko wouldn't see her embarrassed face.

I have a very strange sister. Reiko thought staring at her flustered sister. She shook her head, she's a bit airheaded too. "So? Answer my question. Why do you keep coming back even though I'm always rude to you" Reiko demanded crossing her arms. Ema turned around again and looked at the ground in thought, "well, it's just…your my sister. As family no matter how mean or rude you are I can never hate you. That behavior comes from somewhere right? So I wanna know where so that I can help you. Everyone is a little uneasy but they're all warming up to you. I want my family to all get along so we can all be happy. Everyone deserves happiness, even you." Ema said confidently. Reiko's eyes had widened ever so slightly at the confession,

"That kind of devotion doesn't make sense. I'm adopted, you'll never truly be my sister." Reiko said with a shrug. Ema shook her head, "Family isn't the blood running through your veins. Family is the people who will care for you no matter how horrible you become. Even if you hate them and push them to the side like trash they will always welcome you back at the blink of an eye. They know when to be good and when they need to punish you so you will be better. You will always be my sister reiko" ema said bringing the girl into a hug.

Reiko blushed at the contact how long has it been since I hugged someone? Since I've been lectured due to bad behavior like a little kid? How long since I wanted a person to love me? Reiko let a tiny smile spread on her face, one person. I'll let this one person in. Reiko hugged ema back making her smile happily.

Okay, he was really confused. When yusuke arrived this morning he noticed reiko was a lot nicer to ema. Ema was seated beside her and was chatting away while reiko listened and occasionally said something herself. Yusuke had been so surprised he had stepped out of the room and back to see if it was really happening. Did something happen?

Yusuke was glad though that the two had finally clicked. Now he just wished he would click with her. Ever since that night at the park, every time he saw her all he would see was that happy look on her face. Yusuke blushed at the thought again. He held up his textbook to shield his face. Damn, that face is always invading my thoughts! Yusuke suddenly slammed his head on the table making everyone turn to look at him.

Weirdo. Reiko thought starring at the sulking yusuke.

Lunch time had finally arrived and the three were now getting ready to go to their eating place. That is until reiko a questionable note fell out of her bag. Ema bent down to pick it up, "oh, what's this?". Yusuke grabbed it and read over it not that reiko cared.

"L-Love letter!?" he exclaimed. Already!? She hasn't even spoken to anybody other than us! How could she already have admirers? Yusuke looked at the blank faced brunette next to him. Now that I actually look at her. She is pretty attractive. Long brown hair with a reddish tint to it. Big copper colored eyes with thick lashes. Pout lips and cute nose.

Yusuke's eyes started traveling down the girl's body and he felt his face get even hotter, a nice…chest. Slim body with long fit legs. Gah! Of course she's attracted attention! Even ema has but guys are too intimidated, since I'm always around, to make a move.

"You're not gonna answer it are you?" yusuke muttered glaring at the paper. Reiko looked up at him and tilted her head, "answering it would be better than leading a person on." She said wisely and took the paper from his hands. "yeah but you don't even know this person!" yusuke growled. Ema and reiko gave each other confused looks and turned back to him, "Yusuke-san its not like I'm going to accept it you know?" she said bluntly. He froze and looked at her, "Your not?" she shook her head, "No, like you said. I don't know them. I'm not the kind of person that is easily swayed by looks" she said handing her bento to ema. "Can you hold this? I'm just gonna answer this. I'll be right back." Ema nodded and watched as her sister walked away a calm look on her. She doesn't seem phased at all by the letter.

"answering it would be better than leading a person on."

She's right. Leading people on gives them hope that you'll like them with time. With everyone saying they love me. I never answered any of them. So they all think that I will eventually like them. But I can't. I only want them as my brothers.

"You are..?"

"ah, that's right you wouldn't know me. I'm a first year and…I…I really like you!" the male said bowing. Reiko didn't react at first until he looked back up with a flushed face. "Why?"

"what?"

"why do you like me? We've never spoken and I don't even know your name. You claim to like me but know nothing about me."

"y-your really cute! And your smart!"

"cute? A person in public is different at home or in private. For all you know I could have strange habits that you don't like. Will cuteness suffice? Smart? Your not even in my class to know that. And I've barely been here. The first month of school is the time in which they do best since there are few assignments"

The boy frowned his confidence falling, "I realize you may be infatuated with me. However, I will advise you to find someone who is more caring of others. As you can see my cuteness does not equate my personality." The boy sighed and nodded,

"I understand. I'll see you later Asahina-senpai!" the boy said and ran off.

"how'd it go?" asked ema as reiko took a seat beside her. Reiko sighed, "as expected. Thank you" she replied when ema returned her bento. Yusuke pouted still unhappy that there were other gaining interest in her. I can't believe this. I like ema but now I'm starting to like reiko too! ema never seemed to have much interest though not that reiko is any better.

He looked at reiko eating her food. He really wanted to talk to her. He wanted sometime alone though so he could "click" with her like ema did. "Do you have something to say to me?" reiko said still eating. Yusuke jumped, "ah, yeah. Did you finally join that club?" he asked scratching his cheek lightly. She paused and looked up at him, "no, the people involved don't take it seriously so I want no part of it. Why?" she asked.

"just wondering. Um, what's your favorite color?" he blurted out making the two girls look at him curiously. He shut his mouth, "Uh, sorry." He said and returned to eating.

"Red."

Yusuke's eyes widened and looked up at her surprised she had answered. "What?" she smiled slightly as his confusion. She could understand since she hadn't been particularly nice. "My favorite color is red." She said again. Ema smiled, "so you must like yusuke's hair right?" ema asked jokingly. Reiko nodded and reached over to yusuke running her fingers through his hair, "yes, I do actually. I tried dying my hair red but it's too dark to get to this shade" she said thoughtfully.

Yusuke was frozen in shock. Her fingers are playing with my hair! Ah, it feels nice. He felt himself lean into her touch. Ema was surprised by how docile reiko was behaving. It was a nice change though.

"you like my hair.." yusuke said a smile spreading on his face. "Yes. Ah sorry! Your hair is surprisingly soft. I thought it would be rougher because of the spikes" she said pulling her hand away making him miss the contact. No one has ever complimented my features like that. Girls always gushing over my brothers since people think I'm a delinquent with the way I dress and my spiky hair. Yusuke felt his heart thumping as he recalled her soft fingers in his hair.

The bell then rung signaling class was about to begin.

The rest of the day Yusuke walked around in a daze. When the three of them arrived home his brothers were awfully confused by how close the three had become over the course of a day.

"did something happen yusuke?" asked ukyo watching as the boy plopped himself on the couch. Kaname looked away from the TV to look at his brother. He smirked, "Oh~ Did one of our baby sisters do something to you?" he teased. The red on yusuke's face spread, "No!" he growled at his older brother. "Hmm, sure doesn't seem like it."

"leave him be. He's been weird since lunch time" a voice ordered from above. Kaname looked at reiko in surprise. Why was his stoic baby sister defending yusuke? Even ukyo looked surprised. "Oh, did you seduce him~ Naughty imouto. Yusuke isn't ready for those things" kaname said poking yusuke's cheek.

"Shut up! Idiot!" yusuke yelled again. "I have no idea what your talking about. Ukyo-nii I'll be studying in my room. Could you send my dinner to my room later?" she asked him. The boys seemed even more weirded out now. She called ukyo big brother!"

"Uhhh, yes. Of course." He said with a smile. She nodded and went up to her room.

"…."

"Seriously though. What happened today?" kaname said voicing ukyo's thoughts as well.