(A/N): Still looking for beta readers, PM if you're interested
Hayasaka stepped forward and caught Komachi's hand. "You should really listen to your brother's advice and watch your step." She said as she stepped back and dusted off her apron.
Komachi blushed, "I'm sorry it's just I'm surprised that my brother is friends with such a pretty girl."
Hayasaka laughed at that, her voice sounding like the tinkling of bells, this was the rehearsed laugh. "You are quite charming, Komachi. I'm very excited to meet you, your brother never stopped singing your praises."
I strode forward after disembarking from the train and lay a hand on Komachi's shoulder. "None of what I said was an exaggeration either." I outstretched a hand to Hayasaka, who bypassed it and hugged me instead.
"No need to be so formal, Hachiman." She whispered in my ear. She snickered when despite my best efforts my cheeks went pink. She pulled back and gestured for the Chauffeur to grab our bags. I waved goodbye to our attendants. We exchanged nods and then I left.
Komachi skipped ahead chattering to the burly driver, giving me and Ai privacy in a move that I doubt was accidental.
Hayasaka leaned in closer until our shoulders were brushing. "Hachiman, Mr 'there's no point paying for first class tickets'" She smelled like cinnamon, an ocean breeze, and hot chocolate.
I glanced sideways and met her crystal blue eyes. "Oi, what the hell's the point of having money if you aren't going to be generous with it. Besides, I have my little sister with me and she deserves the best. It's my obligation as the cool big brother." I puffed my chest.
Her eyes widened before she laughed with real mirth behind them. They weren't as pretty with little snorts and hiccups but they were the most beautiful sound she'd ever made in my eyes. "Hachiman, never change." I smiled back and we both looked away suddenly. She slid a half foot away from me and I resisted the foolish impulse to follow.
We reached the car and jumped in the back, both of us utilizing Komachi as a barrier. The ride to the Shinomiya compound was filled with the sounds of Hayasaka acting as Komachi's tour guide.
I zoned out looking through the window as Hayasaka spoke about the Kyoto Imperial Palace. How could I have been so stupid again? The more that things change the more that they stay the same. When we finally reached the family compound, I even had to crack a smile at the theatrical way the wrought iron gate opened.
Komachi' stews were like saucers, and she pressed her hands against the window trying to see as much as she could. While Hayasaka and I watched with bemused eyes.
Now with no little sister between us I leaned over and whispered in Ai's ear. "Would you mind showing Komachi around the estate? I know I need to speak with Shinomiya alone." She shuddered, I get that she's not into me, but this seems excessive.
Her response was a small nod, and I thanked her with a grateful smile. The car came to a gentle stop and I hopped out, the modern Japanese architecture of the house was partially hidden by the groves of trees and gardens. The entire estate was protected from prying eyes by a massive barrier of trees. Around the house in any given direction was about three-quarters of a mile of forest.
The entire place looked like something out of a fairytale. Deer ran freely, bounding across a small stream. Birds chirped and rabbits stared at us. There was an entire thriving ecosystem around this house. I glanced at the entrance and saw her.
Ruby eyes, pale skin, and raven hair. She wore a white dress down to her calves and clutched a lace parasol in her left hand.
Kaguya Shinomiya stood before me, a flat expression on her face. "Hello, Hachiman. Would you care to join me for a walk?" She strode last me before I could respond and despite my annoyance at her demeanor, I followed along.
"You know, don't ask a question unless you are actually going to consider the other person's response," I complained as we crossed a small footbridge over a babbling brook.
"I knew that you were going to say yes, so I didn't need to wait. We both hate wasting time." Her ruby eyes danced in the light.
"Oh my Kaguya, what a bold assertion that you know me so well. If I didn't know any better I would think you were trying to put the moves on me." I teased not expecting much of a response.
When her face went beet red, I stopped, then led her into a grove of oak trees. "Oh my god, there's a story here. What happened?" I prodded her. She began to pace the grass, as I plopped down on it. Savoring the cool sensation.
"W-w-well I learned that there's more to creating a child than kissing." She leaned down and whispered in my ear like she was sharing classified state secrets. "First the man's thing goes in the woman's area. Then, they move, and then there's fluid. And some people even film themselves doing it." She finished face red.
"Bwahahahahah" I roared out. "You thought that people kissed and then a child popped out. That's hilarious."
She pouted, "It's not that funny, I just was never taught."
I had laughed so hard my face was as red as hers. She gracefully settled in the grass a few feet away from me. Kaguya looked at me and when she saw that my eyes were on her, she began, her tone grave. "Hachiman, my father is ill and not long for this world." She continued, not asking for condolences nor did I offer any. We both knew her father had never been good to her.
"The beginning of a civil war is brewing in the family. The power struggles have already started for our more fringe ventures because he can barely focus on the main business." I nodded to her.
"What do you need from me?" I asked, knowing that this war was going to be brutal.
She didn't deny it but she didn't respond either. We lay there a few feet apart for the better of five minutes before she came up with an answer. "I need your support. My power base is currently small. Adding someone like you to the mix would be huge for me. Well, it would be huge for any faction but even bigger for me." She chewed her lip as she gazed at me.
"Kaguya, of course, you have my support. I think that you're the only one of your siblings who could run the company. I'm on your side." I toyed with a blade of grass between my fingers. "Have you told any of the other members of the student council? They would all help you in a heartbeat."
Her eyes steeled, "Don't be dense, we both know that they aren't ready for this." When she said 'this' she gestured around the estate.
"Maybe not, but they could still support you emotionally. Are you okay with my standard fee for big business dealings?" I asked, suddenly tired. This is why business and friendship don't mix.
She ignored my statement about support and zeroed on the fee discussion. That was my fault for giving her an out. "Twenty five percent of the winnings?" She asked.
"Yeah. These cases are going to be long and difficult. And knowing you, you want to take it all." I teased.
"Okay, for your help that's a good deal. After these cases, you'll be higher up on the list of richest people in the world." She laughed. "When we win all one hundred and twenty trillion yen shares in the company my father held you'll get thirty trillion." She spoke confidently, no doubt that every available share that was up for grabs would be hers.
Combine that remaining forty-five percent she'd get with the eight percent she already held and there would be no one who could stand against her. One of the world's largest corporate entities would be under her thumb before she could legally drink champagne to celebrate.
"Okay, tell me what you need me to do." I stood up and offered my hand. She took it and I pulled her upwards.
We returned to the house, talking in hushed tones. When we arrived and were about to part ways. She stopped me and hesitated.
"For what it's worth I'm glad that you're back, I was concerned when you left Shuuchin and dropped off the face of the earth."
~/~
While Hachiman left with Shinomiya to scheme, plot, manipulate, and catch up. I strolled with his little sister as a glorified babysitter.
"Hayasaka, can I pet a deer?" Komachi stares at me, eyes sparkling. Alright Hachiman, I can see your point about her being cute. I patted her on the head, ignoring her protests.
"Just try not to startle them. But yes you can pet them. They aren't afraid of humans." I watched as she tried to approach the deer nonchalantly. She began to pet one and it just lay down at her feet. Komachi was occupied at the moment, giving me a little respite.
Things were never just simple with Hachiman around. His gifts always brought feelings and conflicts to the surface. It had been this way since middle school. Back when we were just kids.
I smiled, despite the difficulty, it was still nice to have him back. The boy who never stood for the strong victimizing the weak. Who distracted Shinomiya for an evening so I could go see a movie with my friends.
I watched over his little sister with a smile.
Eventually, after playing with the various animals that wandered the estate and being chased away by a particularly territorial peacock, Komachi had worn herself out. I told her to go wash before dinner. While she took a quick shower, I visited Shinomiya's room.
After a cursory knock, and a muffled come-in. I found Kaguya writing something in a notebook. She set it down and stood up. "Is it already time for dinner?" I nodded.
"Yes, would you like to have dinner with Komachi and me?" I nodded respectfully.
"Yes, that'll be fine. What was your impression of his little sister?" She said while slipping into her house slippers.
"She seems fine, but doesn't necessarily know a lot about her brother. It's easy to see that she cares about him but doesn't understand his life experience." Shinomiya nodded at my response.
I had already shown Komachi the way to the less formal dining room from her room and took a quick detour to the kitchen. In it I had a green smoothie prepared along with a few fresh rice balls. I put them on a tray and walked them out to the guest house.
I slipped in through the unlocked front door and followed the only light source down the hall. As I got closer I heard the soft scratching of graphite on paper.
I found him hunched over the desk in a posture that made my neck ache just watching him. "Hachiman." I said. Knocking on the door.
He flinched and tried to cover up the papers before looking back and seeing me.
"You scared the hell out of me. They need to put a bell on you." He grumbled as I drew closer. Hachiman looked at the items on the tray and smiled. "Thanks Hayasaka. I really appreciate it."
I frowned back while I set it down, "Since when were you so formal. You act like these things are unexpected. I'm your friend dummy, I want to make sure that you're okay." My face was back in a placid expression but my hands toyed nervously behind my back.
"All the same, thank you. As a friend." He said without snark or sarcasm. I felt uncomfortable at his authenticity, with all that I hid I couldn't bear this from him. He had evolved while he was gone, he trusted his little sister more and hid less. I had stayed the same, the same spy that I had been since I was seven.
Suffice to say, this new version of him wasn't bad but he wasn't what I remembered.
The room felt too hot, too small. I whirled around. "Goodbye, please enjoy the meal." I left before he could respond. Powering down the wooden corridor. My footsteps echoed.
When I reached the dining room the sounds of chatter greeted me. Komachi was laughing and relaying a story to Kaguya with her hands. She saw me and grinned, offering me a wave. Kaguya watched with a relaxed smile
"Oh, Ai. I'm so glad to see you." She cheered.
Kaguya had bemused flint behind her eyes.
"Komachi, I saw you only a moment ago," I questioned, with hidden suspicion.
"Kaguya said that you were taking food to my brother. I really appreciate that. He can be so forgetful when it comes to himself, with me he's always like, 'Komachi, eat this bento that I made you.' Or 'The nutrient balance of the food is suboptimal to maintaining your health.' But when it comes to himself he can barely remember to eat something." She concluded, gazing at me like I hung the moon.
Kaguya piped in, "Yes, well, it is very heartwarming to see that he has two people that care about him. But, we can tell you more stories about him later, for now, let us eat." She dinged her glass with a spoon and moments later a cart laden with three covered plates was rolled in. Another followed with drinks, and yet another with sides.
They were frantically distributed by the staff, and Komachi watched silently. The first time getting blitz served by the staff could be extremely overwhelming.
We said our thanks for the meal and began to eat. About a third of the way through Komachi began another round of conversation. "How did you guys and my brother meet? I can't imagine him walking up to a pretty girl and starting a conversation."
Kaguya and I shared a look before chuckling. Komachi glanced between us, "What's so funny? Is it something that I said? I feel like a third wheel."
I sat back and Kaguya provided an explanation. "Well at Shuuchin, your brother always talked highly of you. He said that you were better than him in all the ways that couldn't be taught. That you were great at putting others at ease and making them feel better when they were feeling down. After meeting you, I have to agree with his prognosis."
Komachi stammered, mouth agape. "He really said that? About me?" Her tone was slow and delicate like she might break if she went any faster.
"Indeed he did," I confirmed. Finishing a bite of my stew. The meal was an old Irish recipe brought here by my mother. It was a nostalgic taste and delicious regardless of emotional attachment.
"I never knew," Komachi whispered, staring down at her bowl. She smiled. "You guys are okay in my books. I used to resent his classmates at Shuuchin. He seemed happy there but they had taken away my big brother." She seemed ashamed. I reached a hand across the table and laid it upon hers.
"Komachi, it's okay. Jealousy is a natural human emotion as long as you don't let it dictate your behavior it's not a big deal." I reassured her. Then gave her hand a squeeze.
She laughed, "You really are like my brother Hayasaka. You're very kind and look after the ones that you care about." Damn the Hikigaya siblings. How did they always hit me where it hurt without even trying to. I stood up, no longer hungry.
"I'll be back, I should check on Hikigaya and make sure that he ate the food that I delivered." I walked off, not waiting for dismissal from Kaguya. As a long-time servant and friend of hers, I was given more autonomy than other attendants.
~/~
I stayed hunched over the desk scribbling furiously. My current legal plan along with the web of contracts that I had drafted was a rather simple array of extremely complex documents. As a bonus, I had also added some documents on how to legally avoid taxes. I was making good progress and probably would've been closer to done if I could've used a laptop, but I was limited by the speed that I could legibly write.
My cramp-inducing activity was interrupted by the incessant buzzing of my phone. I glanced at the screen and saw the caller ID, Yui Yuigahama. I sighed, ten to one odds are she's going to blow my eardrums out the second I pick up.
I held the phone as far away from my ear as I could before hitting the accept call button. The second that she began speaking, showed my actions to be prudent. "HIKKI, WHERE ARE YOU?"
I waited to confirm that she was done yelling for the time being before bringing the phone close to my cheek. "Yui, what are you even talking about?"
"Hiratsuka sensei is taking us all on a field trip. I went to your house to get you but no one answered the door." She whined, in an annoyingly cute way.
Honestly these days I didn't really care if Hiratsuka let everyone know that I was from Shuuchin. But perhaps spending time with friends could be interesting. "If the field trip is still going on tomorrow afternoon then text me the address and I'll come."
That seemed to mollify her. "Well okay, I'll text you the address," she said. "Hikki, since we're on the phone we could like chat or something."
An awkward phone call with Yuigahama where she couldn't think of topics sounded funny but I really did have to get back to work. "Maybe another time, sorry. I'm in the middle of work." I said. Reminded of my parents when I was young. How their lack of interest in me drove me further down the road of law.
"Oh, that's okay Hikki. See you soon, mwah." She hung up, her behavior was an odd mix of charming and irritating. I shook my head with a smirk, and then returned my focus to the documents that I was writing out on paper.
"What a charming girl. Are you two together?" Hayasaka melted out of the hallway. I jumped in my chair starting to fall backward. My hands shot upwards to brace my head. When I fell past the tipping apex I braced for impact. There was no need however because Ai shot forward and grabbed the back of the chair, breaking the momentum of the fall and then pushing me back safely.
"Hachiman, you need to be more careful." She scolded, without any real fire behind the statement.
"Thanks, Ai." I nodded. "And no, Yui and I aren't together."
Hayasaka mock gasped in an extremely theatrical manner. "Oh, Hachiman you scoundrel. Calling her by her first name yet not together. Have you moved on from me so fast, I'm heartbroken."
I laughed, "You rejected me, Ai. Give it a rest."
Ai smiled back, "Okay, let me grab your stuff." She took the empty plate and glass in her hands. "I'm glad that you're looking after yourself Hachiman."
I nodded back as she left. When I was sure that she was gone I slumped my head into my hands. I was such a liar, I wasn't over her. Not at all. Whenever we laughed together or chatted, I kept finding myself thinking that maybe if I asked again things would be different.