"Um, where will I sleep?" I timidly asked from where I sat on the couch. "There is another bedroom besides Ota's. You will sleep there." Eisuke replied. 'Sleeping in the same area as them... This should be interesting.' "Alright." I nodded and moved to stand up. "Soryu will show to your room." Eisuke said and glanced at Soryu whom nodded his head. "Follow me." Soryu came up to me and gestured for me to follow with his eyes. "What are you going to do?" I asked Eisuke, I couldn't help but feel curious. "Nothing important. Now do as your told and go with Soryu." Eisuke waved his hand foward, trying to move me along.
I followed behind Soryu and he led me down one of the hallways where several bedrooms resided, "You will stay here." Soryu reached for the door handled and slowly turned it until it opened up. I carefully stepped into the room and took in its surroundings, "Heh, this room alone looks bigger than my apartment." I pressed my lips together in a small smile. I then heard a snicker coming from the doorway, I looked to see Soryu staring at me with a wry smile before walking away. 'What was that about?' I shrugged and glanced towards the bed. "It looks sooo soft." I strided right over to the bed and threw myself down on it. My body immediately sunk down into the nice cozy bed, "Ohhh, this feels heavenly." I closed my eyes in delight. I felt like I was in a whole other world. It was far better than any bed I've ever slept on. 'Now this is what I call pure bliss. It's a shame I can't take this bed for myself. I guess It is too big to take without being noticed.' I giggled to myself at the thought.
"Are you in one of your fantasies again?"
"Huh?" My eyes sprung opened and I quickly sat up on the bed, "Eisuke?" There at the doorway stood Eisuke with a tray in hand, he was staring straight at me with his usual confident smirk. "N-No." I shook my head vigoursly as I denied his claim. "If you say so." He replied in a sarcastic tone and sauntered up to me. "Here." He offered me the tray he held in his hands. "Is this for me?" I asked. On the tray was a bowl of chicken soup with riceballs and some vegetables on the side. "Do you see anyone else in the room?" He teased. "But why?" I asked in confusion and he breathed a sigh, "Does there have to be a reason? You must be hungry. You should eat." Eisuke said, gesturing for me to hurry up and start eating.
'He's being so kind to me all of a sudden... Usually he is so cocky and full of himself but right now he is being so sweet and gentle to me.' It made me feel oddly happy to be treated with kindness from him. I brought a spoonful of the soup to my mouth, "It's delicious." I smiled in delight and Eisuke made a sudden grunt, "You really do look happiest when you are eating." He smiled devilishly at from from above. 'Wha!' I could feel my cheeks grow warm from his hot gaze, "Don't watch me eat! That's rude!" I cried out in embarrassment and he simply laughed. "When you act like that it just makes me want to tease you more." He chuckled and I averted my gaze to the bowl of soup, too embarrassed to even look at him. I continued to eat my meal in silence all the while Eisuke remained in the room.
"Why did you push yourself to this point?"
"Hmm?" I was shocked to hear Eisuke address me so suddenly sounding so serious. I glanced towards him and was even more surprised to see the grave expression on his face far different to his usual cocky one, "I have my reasons." I replied, not wanting to look him in the eyes I faced away. "It better be one hell of a good reason. You nearly worked yourself to death!" I jumped at the sound of his voice, I hadn't heard him get this angry since that time I told him how Kat treated me. "You wouldn't understand!" I snapped in retaliation without even thinking. 'Oh no. I didn't mean to yell.' I instantly felt bad for how I acted but Eisuke didn't seem the least bit fazed, "You don't know that. You can't tell me what I would and wouldn't understand without even giving me a chance!" His voice bellowed, I could feel myself starting to cower under his intense gaze but I couldn't give in to him. "It's something I have to deal with. I can't let Kat win. She persists on threatening to throw me out of the band and I just can't let that happen!" I exclaimed. "I've watched you. Those many nights when you are all alone playing the piano. I noticed your health gradually diminish. And then finally tonight you collapsed. You can't toss your health to the side just because of the band! Your health is more important!" Eisuke's voice echoed throughout the room, he really was angry.
"It doesn't matter! I won't stop now. If I did it would mean giving up everything I have worked so hard for. I will see this to the end no matter the cost." My voice brimming with determination, I wasn't going to let anything get in my way. Eisuke looked troubled, he was now at a loss, "You really are stubborn." He brought and hand to his head and sighed as he shook it, "I guess It is one of the things I like about her though..." Eisuke's voice trailed off so I couldn't make out what he said. 'Huh? What did he say?' I was left completely in the dark. "All I ask is you take better care of yourself." Eisuke, now looking completely deflated, asked. "I will do my best." I replied. "You should take tomorrow off school. You need to recover." Eisuke suddenly mentioned and I froze in response, "I can't do that. Joelle will get worried." I said in a panic but Eisuke didn't care, he took the tray from hands and looked at me bitterly,"Just worry about yourself for once! You will remain here. Now get some sleep. Goodnight." And with those last words, Eisuke disappeared from the room.
'Sigh... He is just as stubborn as I am. ...He does have a point. I will work myself to death at this rate but...I can't stop now. I have to keep pushing myself.' My mind spiraled over the conversation that just took place as I slowly drifted off.
...
The next morning I was greeted by a most delicious scent, 'Mmmm... something smells soo good. I want to keep sleeping but my stomach is telling me to follow that scent.' My eyes slowly fluttered open, my unfamiliar surroundings quickly came into view. With them brought back the memories of last nights conversation, 'Hah. That really was tiring. ...Hmm, Eisuke said he's been watching over me lately...does that mean when he said he was taking a walk through the villa when he found me was just an excuse?' Thinking that my eyes grew wide and I shook my head in surprise, "Eisuke..." I breathed out, he never fails to surprise me. I still couldn't understand why he was being so protective over me. Did he really see me as someone important to him? I didn't know what to think, this was the first time a guy had ever gotten so close to me.
I made my way out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. There I found Baba slaving away over the cook top, "Baba? Do you do all the cooking?" I asked as I approached him. Baba, noticing my presence, turned around with a cheerful smile, "Yep." He replied. "Then...were you the one who prepared my meal last night?" I asked and Baba shook his head, carefully watching over the meal he was preparing. "Huh, then who?" I was utterly confused. Baba's face lit up and he flashed me a smile, "Do I need to say?" Baba replied with a cheeky grin. 'I knew it...' "He insisted on cooking for you. Eisuke wouldn't let any one else do it. I offered but he wouldn't allow it." Baba said and oddly it made me feel happy. I smiled at the thought of Eisuke preparing my meal lastnight. "You can go take a shower, breakfast should be ready shortly." Baba said, his gaze on the stove below. "Oh, okay." 'A shower does sound nice. I do feel a bit dirty.' As I was thinking that Ota came up to me from behind, "The shower is down the hallway on the left. Opposite the hallway of the bedrooms." Ota said with a smile. "You can use one of the spare towels. You should know what ones they are once inside." Baba added and I thanked the both of them and headed to the bathroom. 'This must be it.' I turned the handle and stepped inside.
'Hmm, why is it steamy in- huh?' I was petrified to see a half naked Eisuke standing in front of me. "W-W-W-What are you doing in here?! I cried out in a panic. "Huh?" Eisuke seemed to only have just noticed my presence. He was just in the middle of brushing his teeth. Eisuke rinsed out his mouth and spat the water in the sink before turning to me, "What are you doing in here?" He questioned me. He didn't seem the least bit worried I invaded his private time in the bathroom. 'What do I say? Ahh, I can't stop staring at his body. I need to look away!' I tried my best to keep my eyes focused on his, though my cheeks were growing hotter by the second, "Baba and Ota told me to go shower. I-I didn't think someone was in here... Why wasn't the door locked?!" I exclaimed in my embarrassment. Then I noticed laughter coming from outside, "Huh?" I was feeling more overwhelmed than ever. "Haha, they sure got you." Eisuke chuckled, a wicked grin playing on his lips. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Baba and Ota knew I was in here. We don't lock the door because it's only usually us guys who live here." Eisuke calmly explained the situation. "You mean... Arggh! Those two... I can't believe they did this to me!" I sighed. "You didn't seem to mind. I mean you oogled at my body for a good minute." Eisuke teased and my head snapped up, "H-Hey, I did no such thing!" I wildly shook my hands in front of me. "You must be enjoying it. Otherwise you would have left by now." He mentioned and I then realized I was still in the bathroom. "Eeep!" I shrieked and madly dashed from the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.
...
"I can't believe the two of you." I said, stabbing my fork into my meal, completely miffed. "Cheer up. No harm was done." Baba spoke cheerfully. "You only live once. Let loose a little." Ota added, chuckling. I shot both of them a glare. "Oooh, she really is mad!" Baba spoke playfully, as if it was all a game. "Hah. You two..." I shook my head in resignation. 'Life sure never gets boring here. But being the only girl surrounded by the five of them... It can get exhausting.' Though I couldn't help but smile to myself. I haven't felt this happy in a long time, it was like all my worries melted away when I was with them. "Such kids." Soryu mumbled as he ate. "I agree." Mamoru nodded. Eisuke didn't speak a word. He seemed to be carefully studying me. 'I wish he'd wipe that smirk from his face. It's not like I meant to walk in on him.' I puffed up my cheeks and continued to eat in my frustration.
...
"I need to head home. It won't be long before band practice and I definitely can't afford to miss it." It was now late in the afternoon. Though I would need to be returning shortly for practice, it would look strange if I were to arrive coming from the right wing of the villa where Tres Spades currently lived. "Take care of yourself." Eisuke said. "I will. I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you so much for your hospitality." I smiled and bowed my head. "It was nothing. We were happy to help." Baba grinned. "See you again soon." Ota said. "Don't go collapsing again." Soryu said, his face expressionless. "Ahah, yeah. I'll try not to." I smiled and waved at them as I headed off.
'Hehe, what an interesting day.' I found myself smiling happily all the way home after my time spent with them. It really helped lift my spirits after I worked myself to exhaustion. Of course, the bathroom scene was...unexpected. Though I can't help but think that the time I spent with Eisuke these few short hours helped me get closer to him.