Ch.4【Asterism】to be close, yet never complete
«I'm home.» Sae called when he stepped into their family home.
He hadn't even finished changing his shoes yet when someone came down the stairs that led to the upper floors.
«Ah, Nii-san. Welcome back.» Sae's younger brother, Itoshi Rin greeted him. One of Rin's hand was on the towel which he was using to dry his hair. In the other hand, he was holding a rolled up magazine.
Sae's eyes automatically went towards that thing, a slight hint of distaste on his face.
«What's that?» Sae asked hinting at the magazine with his eyes while he bent down to change into his loafers.
As if Rin had been waiting for that question the younger teen smirked.
«It's your interview again, Nii-san. Everyone's super excited for you to become the World's Best Striker.»
Rin encouraged as he opened up a double page that showed Sae on the field with a big title written underneath: "Japan's Pride, Itoshi Sae scouted by the Royale Youth Team!"
'Ah, it's that.' Sae thought as he remembered the unpleasant memories of being swarmed and bombarded by the press for interviews and pictures and more.
«I hate to admit it but you're really amazing.» The younger teen admitted. Rin tried to sound gruff but a hint of admiration and joy laced his voice.
Sae replied with a smirk of his own.
«You brat. You better get better soon so you can become the second best after me.» Sae said cheekily as he referred to the promise they made back when they started playing together. He then ruffled his younger brother's hair.
The black-haired teen grunted in annoyance but he didn't seem to hate it.
While the two brothers were having a bonding moment, a middle aged women appeared from the kitchen. Her hair was tied into a low ponytail and she was dressed in an apron.
«Rin, I told you to hurry up and dry your hair. Sae, welcome home.» She wiped her hands onto a towel and went up to hug her eldest.
«Mom...» Sae wanted to protest out of embarrassment but something about knowing that he will leave soon made him hesitate.
«Oh, shush it.» His mother said. Though the words may be hard, her voice was kind.
Sae called a truce by heaving a sigh.
«Rin, go and dry up. Dinner is ready.» Their mother spoke to her youngest and Rin obeyed with an unmotivated yes before slowly trudging up the stairs in search of the bathroom.
«Sae, you too, go and get changed and then come have dinner.»
Nodding silently, Sae went upstairs where the bedrooms were located.
As she looked at her two children's casual and lackluster responses she couldn't help but wonder where the two of them got them from.
At the top of the stairs what Sae saw first was the familiar door of the bathroom right in front of him. On the left side was the master's bedroom that belonged to his parents. Turning right Sae passed by Rin's room and entered his own one at the far end of the hallway.
Sae's room was fairly simply decorated. It had the basics necessities like a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and a nightstand along with a bookshelf that was filled with the awards and trophies he had won throughout his football career.
His room was kept in a simple blue color simply because that's how it's always been and Sae didn't see a reason or need to change that now.
Throwing his bag into a corner and switching out of his clothes, Sae slipped into a comfortable white T-shirt and black pants. Before heading downstairs the teen decided to check his phone for a moment.
Upon opening it he saw that he had a few LINE messages. He opened the App with a tap.
XXX-XXXX-XXX added 4 people to Undercover
Big Brain (Yuusuke): 'Sup? How did the mission go?
Agent X (Takao): Dude, what?
What's this?
Or rather... What's up with these names!
Big Brain: We're undercover, you fool
No one's supposed to know our identity, names or faces
Agent X: ...
What are you? 5?
Big Brain: I'm the brain here. The sexy one
Agent X has left the group.
DarkPhantom has added Agent X.
Agent X: ?
Shuu, is that you?
DarkPhantom (Shuu): Yes
Big Brain: ...
DarkPhantom: I mean no
Agent X: lol *screenshot*
Big Brain: F
Dude, no screenshots
Ghost (Sae):
What the fck is this?
Big Brain: Look who's here.
Did you enjoy your time?
Ghost: -.-
Agent X: Bro used an emote
You're dead *skull emote*
DarkPhantom: *skull emote*
Agent X: lmao Shuu ?
Guys, it's a business relationship
Big Brain: *dead eyes emote* *watergun emote*
Agent X: The gun's pointing at yourself lmaoo
Big Brain: Fck you
Not an ounce of respect in this hell hole
Ghost:I hate how I can tell who you are even with this shit
Big Brain changed the group name to
HellHole
Big Brain changed XXX-XXX-XXXX's name to Taka
Taka(o): wtf
Big Brain changed XXX-XXX-XXXX's name to Shushu
Taka: Shushu... ?
Shushu(u): ...
Big Brain changed XXX-XXX-XXXX's name to Saro
Shushu: Who?
Big Brain changed his name to Usuke
(Yu)Usuke: Done now
Taka: lol there's just a letter missing ?
Give me that damn "o"
Sa(e)ro: Yuusuke's naming sense is a goddamn abomination
Disgusting
Usuke: lmao
Taka: *fire emote*
The burn fr
Shushu: Saro I agree
Usuke: Taka only if you behave~
Taka: BUZZ OFF Usuke
*screenshot*
Saro: The blackmail collection grows
Usuke: I said no screenshots you retard!
Blackmail?
Taka: Sae knows :))
Shushu: Taka send me
Usuke: Bro what?
Taka: Shushu On it!
«Sae, dinner is ready.» His mother's voice called him from downstairs. Sae didn't need to be told twice. Locking his phone and discarding it to the side, the young teen descended the stairs.
The bright living room filled Sae with warmth the moment he saw it. Compared to the dark hallways it was a stark contrast.
Rin had already taken a seat at the table while he waited for his mother and brother to come join him. It seems like their dad was still at work seeing how there were only bowls for three people placed on the table.
His mother soon appeared and the two of them joined Rin at the table. Clasping their hands together as one should, the three of them prayed: «Itadakimasu» They then devoured their meal heartily.
Finishing their heartfelt meal Sae and Rin both offered to help do the dishes. Thanking her two sons happily their mother watched them clean the table.
In her eyes both of her sons were her treasure.
True, they may seem a bit cold and rude at first but as a mother and especially as their mother, she couldn't feel any happier with how they have matured till now.
She watched them in the kitchen. The two were standing side by side with their backs to her. Sae was in front of the sink washing the dishes, while Rin stood next to him with a rag in hand ready to dry them.
Memories of their childhood resurfaced at the familiar sight. This time she saw a much younger Sae and a tiny Rin. Just like now Sae was also doing the dishes. The only difference was that the young red-head had to occasionally turn around and command little Rin on what to do. She still remembered all too vividly the worried look on Sae's face when he watched his baby brother try to do the dishes for the first time. That memory got the women to smile softly.
'How big they have grown now' She thought with a fond smile.
Unbeknownst to their mother's nostalgia, the two brothers were having a conversation of their own in the kitchen.
«Say, Nii-san...» Rin asked.
«What?» Sae replied curtly while he was rinsing the dishes with warm water.
Rin hesitated to answer for a moment
«You are coming home later than usual.» Rin mentioned hesitantly.
He glanced at his brother who continued to do the dishes without minding him. Rin couldn't tell exactly what it is but something about his brother felt different today. Maybe not only today but in the recent week as well.
At least that's what Rin's hunch has been telling him lately.
Their silence continued for a bit until Sae sighed slightly. «What about it?» He responded now looking back at his brother. The plate he had been cleaning glistered slightly on the dryer rack; the water droplets on its surface reflecting the light of the kitchen.
Rin avoided Sae's questioning gaze, quietly watching as a single drop rolled down the cleaned plate and splashed onto the surface.
He then took the plate and wrapped it in the rag to wipe it dry.
«Nothing. I was just thinking if something's bothering you.» Rin confessed with slight unease in his voice.
The keen older sibling did not miss his younger brother's uneasiness. Rin loved him. And Sae knew that. Yet something about that thought unnerved Sae. He decided to push it to the back of his mind for now.
For a moment, just a brief moment Sae hesitated on whether to be honest or to feign ignorance. Not out of malice but simply because Sae was a private person. Even towards family, there was not much he talked about.
Sae's inclination to keeping shut was something Rin also knew. He had been watching his brother from afar for a very long time. How could he missed out on something so typically Sae?
Just how many times has he been surprised by a sudden revelation from Sae.
Without giving the people around him time to think and realize, by the time they knew it, Sae had already walked ahead.
Never hesitating, never waiting for him. In a sense Rin had gotten used to being left behind.
'You're always walking ahead of me.' Rin once again realized when he figured that his brother once again would not answer him. He found no words to describe the nauseous feeling that went with it.
He admired his brother but at the same time, he wanted to walk along side him. He wanted to become someone worthy of his trust and of support to him.
As Sae hesitated with an answer, he opened his mouth to change the topic but he suddenly stopped.
He heard it again. A random melody played in his mind - Yui's version of Un Sospiro - Forgetting all his prior answers, the memory and melody filled his mind.
In a flash Sae remembered the soft and clear pristine piano sound he had heard just a few hours prior.
Even with no musical training Sae still vividly remembers his impression of it. 'A clear, pure, untainted, straightforward and honest sound.' Would lying and denying it in front of his brother defile that sound?
If that was the case, then...
«I met... a new friend today.» Sae decided to talk. He had a slight dazed look on his face as he confessed this uncharacteristically.
«Nii-san...» Rin mumbled in surprise. His eyes lightened up with a bright light in them.
«What? You think I don't have any friends?» Sae responded with a light scoff. Thinking that Rin was surprised at his mention of making friends.
«That's not it- I mean... It is... unexpected. But, I guess... congrats bro? Let's hang out sometime.» Rin replied in slight confusion.
'A friend? Wait- but more importantly, Nii-san talked!' A wide smile appeared on Rin's face.
Suddenly all his unease didn't matter and he felt like he was one step closer to his brother, his dream.
Meanwhile Sae had a lot to think of about.
'Congrats, huh?' He glanced at Rin who was smiling to himself. Whatever it was that made Rin laughed, he figured it was a good thing.
'Still, this brat seriously thinks I don't have any friends.' Something about that thought ticked the older Itoshi off and he did something he hadn't done in awhile.
Sae raised his left leg slowly without Rin noticing. And he kicked the younger ones leg once.
«! Nii-san!» Rin replied with a blush as he repositioned himself and took a step backwards with caution.
Seeing his brother's flustered expression Sae smirked. «You need more practice, Rin. You're getting sloppy.»
«Shut it.» Rin replied quietly with a slight embarrassed tone to his voice but his eyes shone with happiness and excitement. Rin chuckled to himself slightly.
Something about this childish, cheerful banter with Rin made Sae ponder deeply.
Seeing the content smile on his little brother's face, Sae thought: 'This might not be too bad.'
Finishing the dishes, they each retreated with their own thoughts back into the safety of their own four walls.
Ignoring homework and instead focusing on watching some clips on soccer, Sae tried to memorize the foundation for a new move.
Once done he slipped into the shower and called it a day.
Uncannily tired, Sae was soon lulled into deep sleep. He did not notice his father returning home, nor Rin who had curiously peeked in wanting to watch some matches with him. Neither did Sae notice the gentle opening of the door as his father and mother stood there with a soft smile on their face. Hushing to each other as they wished him a goodnight.
This marked the end of a day.
And the start of a new chapter in the life of Itoshi Sae.