Chapter 1

"And you are...?" She looks to be in her early twenties, maybe around Subaru's age. How did she get offered a job here when she's still in college?

"Emalyne Hinata." The slender brunette answers me quickly, giving my hand a firm shake. Despite the warmth of color her forest green irises appear to have, I feel some steel behind them as she locks eyes with me.

"Miss. Hinata-" I say, but she quickly corrects me.

"No, no, please, call me by my first name, we'll be close acquaintances in no time... Right?" Her voice hums through the air as she arches a thin eyebrow smiling. Perhaps… She's not so cold… Not with a smile like that. "So really, no need for formality," she says, quickly shaking her head. A few strands of silky brown hair fall from her braid.

"Evalyne... then?" I attempt to recall the name plate I saw on her desk.

"Ah, no, it's… Emalyne." She looks uneasy, her rosy lips pulling taut.

Close… "Emalyne…" It's a pretty name… "What a unique name...Emalyne."

She rocks on her heels anxiously, her eyes meeting mine for only a second. That steel from earlier- just what could that have been?

Her irises catch the sunlight coming in through the window, highlighting a golden hue that accents her otherwise lush, forest green eyes.

EMA

Strangely… I'm fond of Dr. Asahina. I look up at him as a warm smile radiates off his unblemished complexion. He's not exactly what I thought he'd look like… Not the stuffy doctor he sounded like on paper, that's for sure...

I fiddle with the barrette in my hair, my nervous tick on display beneath his somewhat intimidating gaze. Not that he's actually intimidating… Just incredibly… poised…?

I guess, who wouldn't be if they looked like that? A black tie with gray stripes lies over a neatly pressed white dress shirt. His white coat is also without stain or wrinkle. A handsome, well dressed man... I quickly meet his eyes, keeping my wandering eyes in check.

His cheeks pull up a charming grin as I meet his level gaze.

Perhaps I can smile like that too…? I attempt to return the grin that brightens his face, but he makes it look easier than it actually is. I feel my upper lip press against my teeth. That wasn't it… I instinctively bring my fingers to my lips.

Dr. Asahina holds a hand to his own mouth, surely to catch a soft chuckle. "It was nice meeting you Emalyne." He says politely. That same, at ease smile pulls at his lips again. It's not forced. Not insincere.

I've seen enough of those to know the difference.

His hand warms my shoulder only for an instance as we part ways. "See you around then."

"Nice meeting you too." I hurriedly push the words out, his touch, nothing more than a quickly fading warmth. The low heels of his shoes click down the tile floor towards his office.

How embarrassing… I couldn't even make a good introduction… I rub my forehead, what a shame...

I raise my fingers to my mouth, running a finger across my bottom lip. I tried to smile… For him?...

-later-

I wait around all day, answering phone calls and seeing patients to their assigned offices. It's actually quite boring. Tedious. And extremely mundane.

People joke about telling kids to stay in school. But that phrase only means something once you've experienced being a pencil pusher.

I sigh, leaning my elbow on the wooden reception desk. Only until graduation. Only. Until... Graduation.

I guess it's nice. The clinic's full of children and parents. All of them seem to love him very much… I tap a pen mindlessly against the plastic of the computer keyboard. I'm sure if there were patients in the waiting room, they'd complain about the noise. Luckily enough the plain room continues to remain vacant. Aside from a rainbow triceratops cartoon painting hanging above a small table with two sunflowers sprouting from a vase that is much too tall, the room is quite dull. No one here to tell me what I can and can't do.

It's just the way I like it.

The triceratops has cartoonish eyes that are much too big for its small head. I decide to call it Fred. It just looks like a Fred.

The door down the hall clicks open and shut. There are voices. I hear his voice. The mother's voice is chipper. The child's even more so.

I don't think they see me before they exit. The desk raises up somewhat with shelving and with my head laying flat against the surface where the keyboard rests, the desk has the appearance of being empty. For some reason or another, it seems to be a good thing.

The mother and son continue something of an energetic conversation even outside the glass door. The boy sings praises about Masaomi.

I hope as a doctor I can help people and make people happy too…

I frown, turning my attention towards a small chip in the desk, begging to be picked.

… And here I am stuck at this desk until an internship opens up.

I lean over the shelving of the desk to glance at the clock hanging on the wall opposite Fred, just above the small settee waiting chairs.

Almost lunch timeee.

Just ten minutes and I can eat.

I'm practically drooling already.

And my stomach sounds like a wild beast. I pass the time listening to its howling and count down every second… My nails find the chip and I flick it between my fingers.

The squeak of the hinges of the glass door snaps me back to attention. Terrible timing. My lunch is supposed to start now!

I apologize to my displeased stomach as I glare over the ledge of the secretary's desk. The sight of him nearly blinds me.

Beautiful golden hair.

Stunning eyes.

A mouth that begs for trouble.

Handsome…

I shake my head. Demon! Postponing my lunch! Stay back!

My stomach rumbles in agreement.

"How can help you?" I ask, trying my best to filter out the irritation that edges my voice.

"Wow, so Masaomi has a hot secretary working for him now, huh?" The man says all too casually.

H-he's … ! I think it was the sound of my jaw unhinging from my face and clattering on the ground!

"W-what?" I rise to my feet, half startled and half offended. Demon...! You dare talk to woman as if all she's good for are her looks!

He quickly closes the distance between us. I catch the scent of his cologne. "Hey…" He leans on my desk. Tilting his head to the side, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I frown. What's that to mean… My ears hinge on that melodic voice waiting for it to continue.

His eyebrows arch as he closes his eyes and tsks me shamelessly. "Guys with pretty faces- and that's all women see."

"You're saying I'm like that?" I raise an eyebrow of my own. Upon closer inspection… For a monk… Those are monk robes, aren't they? He's really… a work of art. I try my best to remain composed but my eye twitches irritatedly. "You shouldn't go around making such demeaning comments. Or perhaps monks these days have lost their morals. The world sure is in trouble if that's the case though, don't you agree Mr. Monk?" A harsh thing to say to a man that I don't know but the look on his face is well worth it.

The surprise at least was worth it, but then... he seems hurt… Ugh… Am I actually feeling sorry for him?

His golden eyes soften like a puppy's. I swear... if he starts crying...

Before I can get out a "sorry," he grins slyly. "Hah! You're sharp," He laughs heartily. "Yeah, I AM a monk, but don't go around grouping me with your idea of how monks are." He waves a hand. "I'm not anything like that."

Obviously not, I roll my eyes. "So, what can I do for you?" I ask a second time. And this time the irritation peeks through in my voice.

He looks at me attentively with those metallic orbs of his, "Would a kiss be too much to ask for?"

Who says crazy things like that?!

"Juuuust kidding," he smiles, winking a golden eye at me. "You sinful little girl〜 Did you really think I was serious?"

I feel my mouth pull taut. Annoying.

"I'm just here to drop off Masaomi's lunch," he pauses, "... and I would definitely be more than happy to deliver it to him myself, but if I were him, I'd much rather you bring it to me." He winks again.

What the hell is with this guy?

"Here you go," he drops the lunch sack onto my desk letting it land with a dull thunk. "Let Masaomi know his favorite brother was here."

The golden-haired monk turns to leave, but the doorbell jingles again, inviting another visitor in.

Am I ever going to get to eat my lunch…?

KANAME

Her face lights up- she's aglow. That stare she was giving me just seconds ago could kill. And now…?

I trace her line of sight to a tall, raven haired man who stands in the doorway. I feel my forehead crinkle as my eyebrows raise for a second.

Well, must be her boyfriend.

I meet his platinum irises, but he ignores me, only glancing sideways in my direction to shoot me a momentary glare. It had been subtle and quick. She didn't even seem to notice.

Agh, what do I even care? With a face like that, he'd surely have many ladies at the shrine… but I doubt she would let him work there...

Dark washed jeans and a sweatshirt with some sort of light university jacket over it. "School of Integrative Medicine" the jacket sleeve reads.

Graduate school, huh, so he must be at least a couple years older than her.

I shake my head, … what does any of that matter to me?

"Makoto?! What are you doing here?" the girl, asks in surprise at his seemingly unplanned appearance.

It's not like I want to watch this. It's just… my feet feel like they're glued to the floor...

"Thought, I'd wish you a good first day at work." He flashes a grin.

A real heartthrob with the ladies, I'm sure.

"Here, it's nothing much… Just a little dessert… Strawberry cake." He places a small, pastel pink box in her outstretched hands. "Your favorite."

Oh, this guy knows how to melt a lady's heart… Surely if not her boyfriend, then he's just some doting host trying to keep his clientele.

The host glances toward the entry doors in a way that's neither hurried nor concerned. His voice, gentle, he turns back to her."Look Em, I've got to get back to the university- lunch is going to end soon for me… So I've got to get to lecture…"

The girl behind the desk returns his smile, revealing pearly teeth that peek between her mauve lips."You're the best Makoto!" She lets out a little giggle, a peachy blush tinting her cheeks. "Thanks for the cake, it's sweet of you to remember this sort of thing..."

He smiles warmly- genuinely almost- like the kind that reaches the eyes- shyly rubbing the back of his neck. "It was really nothing, 'kay? But, hey, you have a good day." He lays a hand on the top of her shoulder, "I'll see ya at school tomorrow."

He's definitely a host… All of his movements were impressively smooth. Too smooth for an ordinary- real- college student.

"Your boyfriend?" I can't help but ask. "Masaomi's going to be disappointed," I add, jokingly.

"Oh, you're still here?"

"Ouch, sis." It comes out faster than I can stop. The way she looks at me makes me eager to hurry the conversation towards a new topic. "Yeah so must've been your boyfriend huh." Not quite the topic I want to talk about either… I curse myself for bringing that up again.

She sighs a breathy laugh, "No, him?"

I give a curt nod. "Host club then…"

"Definitely not, Makoto isn't anything like that." Her blush deepens as she talks about him. I doubt she can tell. "He's a graduate student from my university… Just a friend taking extra courses at the school while he waits for an internship to open up- like me…" Her brief pause gives her away. "Except I've taken up this job."

"You say that like it's a bad thing…! You already hate working here, huh." I laugh a bit sourly for my taste.

Her eyes widen, surprised. "Well... no! I quite like it…!" She says that even though it's evident there's sarcasm seeping her words. Suddenly she seems to remember she's talking with me and not him, as she bites her bottom lip. "And if you don't mind, I think I should get back to… work."

That was cold.

When my feet don't carry me out the door, she throws some more stabby words…

Which only makes it more fascinating to stick around…

"Aren't you suppose to be so busy that you can't deliver Masaomi's lunch yourself?" She can't help but let a little scoff escape as she folds her arms across her chest. "Thought you had somewhere to be-"

"Well excuse me." I turn back to face her, a smile tugging at my lips. It's been a while since I've had this much fun... "You still have fifteen minutes left until your lunch ends," I say flicking my eyes toward the clock. "What's with this work you have to be doing, eh?"

Her green eyes widen by a fraction- a priceless look on her beautiful face, if only for an instant.

I pull my lips into a frown, "So you're just trying to get rid of me~ how mean!~"

She's taken aback by that.

"Yeah, I would know 'cause I drop off Masaomi's lunch practically every day." I roll my eyes.

"It's not as if you make it," a calm voice breaks in. My second favorite older brother.

"Ah! Masaomi! Perfect timing, here's your lunch. Catch!- " I say, swiping the sack off her desk and tossing it towards him. "I was gonna have your lovely assistant bring it to you, but she's such a tease~ I kinda got distracted."

"Go get distracted somewhere else Kaname." His eyes have a glint to them as he glares. The kind that makes you afraid but also makes you want to laugh.

"Yeah, yeah, I was on my way out anyway," I say, heading towards the door. "See ya around Em~"

MASAOMI

"Sorry about him. Kaname's a womanizer, but he's harmless," I say, with a smile that hopes to ward off the irritation. "He can just be a handful sometimes."

My mind can't help but circle his words... Em? Does Kaname know her? Why would he call her so familiarly? I can't imagine… A shiver runs down my spine. Is she one of his clients?

"Hey, Miss Hinata, I mean… Emalyne... would you like to go for coffee after work today?" The invitation spills from my mouth before I think twice. "You know, as a welcome- a congratulations for joining the hospital." I want nothing more than to know she's not like that with Kaname.

For a moment she considers, her eyes giving away some level of nervousness that I can't quite place.

"It's alright, it's nothing formal," I reassure her. It's just that… I can't help but wonder a little about what she is.

"Sure, that sounds nice." She quickly chirps. "That'd be… I'd like that." She stumbles on her words as she winds a lock of hair around the curve of her ear.

EMA

- Later-

"So Kaname's your..."

"My brother. I'm the eldest…" he hesitates a moment. Of thirteen."

"Thirteen, huh?" I lean my elbows on the round tabletop. That's a lot of brothers.

He crosses his leg beneath the table and leans back casually. "Yeah. Working at the clinic, you'll probably run into more than a few of them. Most of them though, aren't as much trouble as Kaname if that'll put you any more at ease." He calmly sips his Earl Grey, regarding it with the same care as one would of fine china.

If that boar Kaname and the well-postured, well-mannered, poised man sitting opposite me shares the same blood, then you'd have to admit genetics are surely something amazing.

"With that many siblings, you must be used to working with and around all the children."I feel the tightness in my cheeks, something tugging at my lips, upon recalling all of the children who doted upon Masaomi as they exited his clinic. "You must realize… They're all quite fond of you, really… Your patients I mean..." I raise my teacup to my mouth admiring the fine flowers engraved around the rim. "Makes me wish I had siblings of my own…"

"Ah… I suppose." He says, "I try my best."

"No need to be so modest! Truly, I've never seen someone so adept with children, it's impressive... Inspiring too." I let the hibiscus scent of the tea waft beneath my nose. "Do you have kids yourself?"

I didn't mean to be nosey… It just would seem like… Well if he is a father, then those kids would be lucky.

I catch the corners of his mouth flicker before he shakes his head. His creamy beige hair sways. "Ah… no. No kids." He says with a slight smile. "Yourself?"

"Oh no no!" I say waving my hands quickly. "Definitely not!" I feel the heat quickly rising to my cheeks. As if I could keep up with a child. "I-I'm not ready for that..." I hurriedly say. "I mean, only 20! I can't keep up with kids!... There's so much I haven't even figured out for myself.

He smiles in a way that calms me instantly. A soft melancholy, "Yeah."

A few seconds pass in comfortable silence. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," I say.

"How do you know Kaname?"

"Your brother? The blonde man from before?"

He nods.

"I don't. Well, I didn't before today. Why do you ask?"

"No reason, I was just curious." Something of a smirk tugs at his lips. A small laugh escapes him, "It's a good thing by the way."

"A good thing?" I ask.

"A good thing you didn't know him before today."