Level Thirteen: Family
Tokyo Hospital: December 18th, 2024 – 6pm
The hospital served dinner, and surprisingly the food wasn't all that bad. Kazuto just stayed with Akemi and Makoto as they ate, talking about new VMMORPG games that they might play once they came out and stuff like that. "I was thinking about Rise of the Autumn Moon." Akemi stated as she finished her pudding cup. "I've heard it's gotten rave reviews… not to mention that its graphics are really nice…" she smiled. Makoto paused, quirking an eyebrow at his sister.
"Isn't that the game where you can have s-" a pillow flew into his face, stopping him mid-sentence and almost making him drop his coffee. "GAH! Hey!" he pulled the pillow off of his face and gave half a glare to his sister, who had turned her head as though she was innocent. "I'm just saying…"
"Well I don't need you saying that." She scolded him. "Bad manners, for dinner conversation." She added. Kazuto tilted his head, wondering what Makoto was going to say, but not wanting to bring it up. "Anyway…" she glanced at Kazuto. "Have you heard about it?"
"I remember reading about it… I was thinking that might be a good way to get back in the VMMORPG scene after Ryuuko. And I hear that the class restrictions are fairly lax, so you can pick up skills from other classes on the lower range, at least." He said. Akemi smiled and nodded. He paused, looking at her, then down at his food tray. He stood up from his chair and placed his pudding cup on her tray, blushing a little as she looked up at him. "Th-that's for you."
"Aww, thank you Kazuto." She said, hugging onto his arm, making him blush even more. "You should try one bite at least." She said, letting go just long enough to move her hands so she could pull him to sit next to her. Before he could protest, she had the little cup open and had a spoonful of the sweet dessert in his mouth… her spoon. He blushed bright red, but he swallowed without protest.
"N-not bad…"
"Yay, you ate some." She chuckled, kissing his cheek before she ate the rest of the pudding cup. Makoto just sighed, rolling his eyes at his sister and her boyfriend. But… he could let them be lovey dovey like that, it wasn't a big deal. He just didn't want to be around when she tried to make out with him.
After dinner, Akemi and Kazuto went for a walk, part of Akemi's recommended daily exercise. The pair wandered the hospital together, Kazuto seeing Akemi greeting a few of the people in the hospital he'd never seen before. He looked up at her a little. "How do you know all these people?" he asked her.
"I told you right? On level Twenty Seven." She said as they kept walking. "Makoto's been in the hospital for a long time… since about 1 year before Ryuuko started up." She stopped at a vending machine and took out some money to get something for herself and Kazuto. "I know every doctor or nurse that's ever had to help him or tend to him… and over that time, I think that was just about everyone at the hospital." She stated. She grabbed the cans of juice as they came out of the slot, handing one to Kazuto. "Though, I never expected to end up here myself." She said with a smile as she opened her can of juice.
"I don't think any of us did…" he said, watching her as she drank her beverage. "Did the doctors say how much longer you'd be in here?"
"Not really." She smiled at him. "They're not too sure about my condition's stability, but I'll make you the first on the call list when I know." She said, wrapping her arm around his waist. "And I promise that you'll be the first person I spend my free time with once I'm better." He nodded, blushing a little at her sudden show of affection, as small as it was. And right now, that was all he wanted…
Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture: January 4th, 2025 - 11am
Akemi sighed to herself as she returned to her apartment, Makoto accompanying her since his condition had become stable again. With his illness not as bad as it had been 2 years prior, things were a little easier on them both. Akemi opened the door, glancing around inside before walking towards her room. Everything was surprisingly clean and well kept… the rubbish had been emptied and the bed was clean. "Did aunty come and clean up while I was in the hospital…?"
"She said she would." Makoto replied, opening the window in the kitchen. "They know you worked hard to get this place. They paid your rent for you, too."
"They did…?" she sighed, smiling. "That's just like them, isn't it? Always taking care of me…" she opened the window in her bedroom. "Ahh, I miss the air…" she mumbled softly. Akemi had a corner apartment with a decent rent and good facilities. It was still cold, but the air needed to clear out the stuffy apartment. She'd close it if she decided to do any cooking or something. She went to her computer desk, checking everything over before turning on the now outdated system. Everything seemed in order…
"Does it work?" Makoto asked, looking into her room. She nodded at him, checking out everything… being away for 2 years meant a LOT of messages to look through, delete, and reply to… not to mention she had to update her securities too. "Do that later, we should get some food for you."
"For me? Are you going back to aunty's house?"
"No, I'm staying here." He stated adamantly. "But I eat the same stuff as you."
"Good point…" she sighed, getting up and closing her bedroom window. Makoto closed the kitchen window after they wrote up a list of what they needed, heading out to shop for groceries and maybe do a walk through town to see if anything had changed. They paused at the entrance of a café, both tilting their heads. "Do you remember ever coming here?"
"Not at all." Makoto replied.
"Well let's go have a look, then." She said, heading inside, her brother following her quietly. It seemed deserted, until… "Ah… Agil-san…" the man looked up to see the pair, smiling.
"Welcome." He stated. "Judging by that face… Black Fox?" he asked, causing her to nod and move to take a seat, her brother doing the same. "Who is this?"
"My little brother, Makoto."she replied, Makoto giving a short greeting before looking at the menu. Akemi just smiled at him before turning to Agil. "Oh so… I suppose we should introduce our real names…? I'm Akemi." She said, extending her hand to him. He smiled.
"I'm Andrew Gilbert Mills. Andrew is fine."
"Andrew-san then." She smiled. "Have you been in contact with the others since the game ended?" she asked him, earning a small grin from the older man.
"Yes. In fact, one of them is on his way here." He stated, hearing the door open. "Speak of the devil." He smiled, Akemi turning to see Kazuto standing at the door.
"K-kazuto?"
"A-akemi?" they both blushed, having not expected to see one another for a few more days. He went over and she hugged him around the waist before pulling him to sit in the seat next to her. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
"I live in an apartment nearby." She said to him with a smile. "And you?"
"I-I came to ask about something about getting back into the VMMORPG scene…" he mumbled. Makoto rolled his eyes and Andrew smiled.
"Hey, no lovey-dovey in front of the kid." He joked, Makoto mumbling that he wasn't a kid before ordering some coffee for himself and Akemi. "Coming right up." He said, beginning to work on the drinks.
"So… how have you been?" he asked, taking her hand discreetly. She just smiled.
"I've been good. Just went back to my apartment today." She said cheerfully. "And I'm going grocery shopping for dinner after this." She added. Kazuto looked at the ground, seeing a bag of instant foods and non-perishable items. "Those are for when I get back into school. I don't have a lot of cooking time during exams and whatnot, so I figure I'd stock up."
"You eat all that…?"
"No, half is for Makoto." She said, her brother just leaning on the counter a little. "Since I'm his tutor and all, I use those for study session midnight-snacks." Kazuto nodded, wondering how the two of them remained so skinny, eating all that instant food. "Anyway, how have you been doing, Kazuto?"
"I-I've been researching about some of the new games…" he mumbled. "And preparing for school…" he mumbled. "I don't know if I can handle going back after 2 whole years…"
"If you need a tutor, hire Akemi-nee." Makoto stated suddenly. "She's better than most and she charges next to nothing." Kazuto looked up at Makoto, then at Akemi.
"I-I don't want to bother you…"
"It's no bother. And I already know how you can pay me too." She chuckled; kissing his cheek and making his face turn bright red, seeing as he knew the implications of those words. Andrew returned with their coffee, Kazuto not wanting any so he just ordered some hot chocolate.
"I-I guess… that's fine…" he mumbled. She smiled.
"Good. I guess that means I can buy more food." She said cheerfully. "Now what can I cook?" she asked, pondering about it. Makoto just sipped his drink, ignoring his sister and her boyfriend as they began discussing the sorts of things Kazuto liked to eat.
After leaving the café, Kazuto offered to go with them to shop around for things when Makoto got a call. "Hello?... oh, Aunty…" he mumbled. "Yeah, she's here… your house…? You just want to meet her boyfriend, Aunty." He stated. "Yeah yeah, I'll let her know…" he mumbled a goodbye before hanging up. "Aunty wants us to have dinner at her place… the twins want to see you." He said to Akemi. "And Aunty wants to meet this boyfriend of yours."
"Eeeh…" Akemi smiled, turning to Kazuto. "Is that okay?" she asked, tilting her head a little at him. He just blushed, nodding a little before getting hugged by the girl. "Thank you, Kazuto."
"L-l-let me call home first…" he mumbled, getting his phone out and trying to calm down so he could explain things to his family. He held his conversation with his aunt/stepmother before hanging up, cheeks bright red. "Sh-she said it was fine…" he mumbled.
"Good." Akemi said as she headed towards the market. "Now let's go finish that shopping, then we can go to aunty's place." She said, Makoto walking with Kazuto as his sister walked ahead of them, now seeming much more cheery.
Upon arriving at the house, Kazuto realized that they were maybe 3 or 4 blocks from his home. He walked up to the house with Makoto, Akemi already at the door. The woman who opened the door was around his mother's age and looked very cheerful. "Akemi, Makoto." She smiled, hugging them both. "You're finally home… I'm so happy."
"Aunty… you're going to suffocate Makoto…" Akemi said, noticing that he was grabbed more around the neck than she was. The woman let go and apologized to her nephew, earning a mumbled response before the boy headed inside. "Aunty. This is Kazuto."
"Kazuto Kirigaya-kun, it's a pleasure to meet anyone who can make Akemi happy."
"A-aunty…"
"It's true." She said, ushering the two inside. "Make yourselves comfortable. Akemi, you can leave your groceries in the fridge until you head home." She said, rushing into the kitchen again. Akemi sighed, giving Kazuto a hug before going to help her aunt, putting on an apron and helping the woman with the cooking. Kazuto took a seat across from Makoto, who was sitting in a one-seater and checking his phone.
"Kaa-san!"
"Kaa-sama!" two voices came from down the hall, Kazuto glancing up to see two little kids, around 6 or 7 running down the hall. The one with a bear plush squeaked happily and ran over to Akemi, clinging to her leg. "Akemi-nee!"
"Ake-nee!" the one with the cat plush clung to her other leg. Akemi just kept cooking, not wanting to let the food burn, a small chuckle coming from her at the sudden clinging children.
"Now, now you two…" their mother scolded. "Go get your big brother. Knowing him he'll want to see Akemi too." She said, the two pouting before letting go and rushing back down the hall they came from. Kazuto looked to Makoto, who'd just closed his phone.
"Those two are Kiku and Riku…" he stated. "Kiku's the one with the bear. Riku's the one with the cat." He explained, Kazuto nodding. He heard a complaining voice and a door open, seeing the twins jump on the couch and hide from the older boy who walked down the hall, older than Akemi be a couple of years, or so he assumed. The boy's messy black hair and brown eyes were accompanied by thick-rimmed glasses and an all-black wardrobe. He looked over to the kitchen and saw Akemi, his eyes widening.
"Akemi-nee…" he mumbled, heading over to her and immediately hugging her. "You're here…" he whispered, the girl smiling cheerfully.
"Sorry about that, Aya…" she said, hugging him back. "How've you been?" Kazuto looked up at Makoto again.
"That's Ayaori… Riku and Kiku's older brother. He's 2 years younger than Akemi-nee." He replied, the comment making the boy turn to the living room, then back to Akemi.
"You got a boyfriend? Where did you meet him?"
"Aya, no interrogating." She scolded. "Where I met him and how will be explained at dinner. There's a long story to be told."
"Story time! Story time!" the twins exclaimed, earning half a glare from their brother. They hid again as Ayaori went to Kazuto and stared at him for a minute.
"He's too young for you."
"Aya. Don't make me get involved in this conversation." His mother stated, making the boy stop and turn to her. "Age is just a number."
"…" he scoffed and went to sit down at the table, the twins following his lead as Akemi finished cooking. Makoto went to help his sister move food as Kazuto just sat and watched, feeling out of place in this cohesive household. But Akemi walked over to him after putting away her apron, helping him up and hugging him.
"It's okay. It's a little crazy here, but no one will be upset." She said cheerfully. "They all have a good sense of what to and not to say." Kazuto just nodded, blushing a little and letting her escort him to the table. He sat next to Akemi, Makoto on his other side. Ayaori sat next to Akemi as well, the twins between their brother and mother. "Is uncle working late again?" Akemi asked as she poured the tea.
"He's workin' hard!" Riku said, bouncing in his seat, Kiku nodding his head.
"That's good to hear." Akemi said, watching Ayaori serve the rice. The door opened and Makoto glanced over to the hall that lead to the main entrance, waving at the man who walked in. Akemi looked up and smiled. "Ah, there he is."
"Oh, Akemi. Makoto. I didn't know you were coming over." He said, looking glad to see them both. He glanced at Kazuto, smiling. "You must be the young man that's captured my niece's heart, then?" Kazuto nodded, cheeks a little red, moving to stand and greet the man, but Akemi stopped him. He laughed a little, greeting his children before taking his seat next to his wife. "Don't worry, I'm not big on formalities. My sister, Akemi's mother, was much the same." He said.
"Because formalities are meant for the office, not the home." Akemi stated. "At least… so Mama said." Kazuto just nodded, feeling a little strange that the formalities weren't necessary right now.
Dinner went smoothly and soon it was time to go, the twins clinging to Akemi almost the whole time they were saying goodbye, Ayaori tousling her hair and telling her not to behave indecently, earning a scolding from his older cousin. They left the house, heading towards Kazuto's home first. "Oh, you live down this street?" she asked, looking a little nostalgic. "I used to come around here a lot…" she said cheerfully as they arrived at his house. "Well, we'll see you soon." She said, letting him shake hands with Makoto before hugging him and pecking his cheek, making him blush. "Goodnight, Kazuto."
"G-goodnight…" he said, watching the two walk off, blushing still as he put his hand on the cheek she kissed. He wandered back inside and went to sit down on his bed. Her family seemed to approve of him… but would his family approve of her?
((Thanks for reading this far, guys ; u ;
There's still more coming, don't worry. I've just slowed down is all.
Reviews are still much loved, and the next chapter, you have 2 big things to look forward too! o u o
1. Rise of the Autumn Moon VMMORPG Debut
2. The introduction of a new villain.
Hope you're all looking forward to it.
-Winter Cheshire))