Chapter Nine: Fathers, Daughters, and Sons
~Nino~
Nino and Miku struggled to keep up with Futaro as he dashed and shoved his way through crowds of people at Tokyo train station. The atmosphere was tense as droves of people pushed their way through the turnstiles and past the mezzanine, anxious to make their way to their homes to brace for the storm. Conditions had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Above, a muffled lady over the intercom warned that all Kanto area train services would be suspended due to the storm. The noise made Nino dizzy. She was not used to being surrounded by so many strangers, let alone panicked strangers. Nino grabbed Mikus' hand and pulled her along, fearing that they might get separated from each other in the chaos. She could hear Futaro's shouts before she saw him. He was by the kiosk, barking at one of the workers.
"I don't care! Get me on the next bullet train out of Tokyo now," he spat.
"I–I'm afraid that won't be possible, sir," the mousy-looking train station worker stammered. "All bullet train services have been suspended until we can fully assess the weather conditions, sir. The situation is unpredictab–"
"Get me on a train now!" Futaro shouted with an intensity that made Nino wince.
Miku touched his shoulder, "Futaro, this is no good. We should go back to your apartment and wait it out."
Futaro gave Miku a piercing stare that made Miku shrink about three sizes. Nino pushed Futaro out of the way and rested her arm on the kiosk. "Excuse me, miss. I realize that the situation is uncertain, but this is an emergency," Nino said politely. "My family is a Black Card holder through my dad's connections at Nagoya Hospital. We're being called over immediately for a family emergency. Here," Nino handed the card to the ticket attendant. "Please double check to see if there are no other options for us," The attendant stared at the card, seemingly unsure of what a Black Card even was. It was only natural for her to be confused. It was rumored that only celebrities and politicians have access to it. She likely would have never even seen one before. The attendant excused herself and carried away Nino's card as if it were a precious gem.
Nino turned around and shot a dirty look at Futaro. "Apologize to Miku."
"I—damn it, Miku. I'm sorry," Futaro grimaced. "It's just—my dad. I lost my temper."
Miku rubbed his back. "It's fine. We know you're worried, Futaro. We all are."
"Are you sure Itsuki didn't say anything else, Nino?" Futaro asked.
"No, just what Raiha-chan said. I guess she doesn't know anything about the situation either. Maybe the storm is pretty bad down in Aichi."
"It's already pretty bad over here," Miku said, staring at the overhead tv monitor, which relayed real-time updates of rainfall and storm trajectory. Nino couldn't make much sense of the information displayed on the monitor, but the dark red splotches dotted the close-up map where all areas experiencing heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslide warnings. Nearly all of Aichi was covered in deep crimson.
"We'll make it back home, Fuu-kun," she tried to reassure him. "We'll get you home no matter what," Nino exhaled sharply. She wanted so badly to reach out and hold him. To comfort and remind him that she was still by his. But she knew better. She couldn't afford any more awkward glances from Miku, and she probably wouldn't be able to stomach herself either. Nino resigned herself to simply standing beside him, quietly watching his anguish over the uncertainty of the situation.
"Excuse me, Lady Nakano?" The ticket attendant returned. "I spoke with my supervisor, and it has come to our attention that there will be one more train out of Tokyo bound for Osaka. I must warn you that this is an emergency service, so there will be no first-class option."
"That'll be fine," Nino said hurriedly. "We don't need first class. We just need seats. Any will do."
"Understood, Lady Nakano. The fee will be 42,000 per," the ticket attendant said.
"Excuse me?" The color drained from Futaro's face. "That's nearly double."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir, but this emergency service is only available for certain individuals. The risk to our engineers is considerable, and so double rates must be applied," she said with a polite bow. "Please understand."
Futaro locked eyes with Nino as if he were looking for an explanation. She shrugged. It was a little too late to tell Futaro that she had never used her dad's privileges like this before. And this was an emergency. "I'm sorry Fuu-kun. I didn't know the tickets would be at a higher rate,"
Futaro cursed and pulled out his wallet from his day bag. The three quickly paid for their tickets and rushed to wait in line to get through the turnstiles. Nino walked slightly behind Futaro. He was likely furious that he had to pay extra for a one-way ticket.
"So, Lady Nakano?" Futaro finally broke the silence, catching Nino off guard.
Nino put her hand on his forearm. "Oh, will you shut up! Don't make a big deal out of it. And please don't tell anyone I used the card. I don't even think he knows I have it."
"This is the most expensive ticket I ever paid for," Futaro complained.
"I know, Fuu-kun. I'm sorry. I didn't know."
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter—Thank you, Nino," A police officer eventually escorted them to their platform. Futaro, Miku, and Nino wasted no time boarding and finding their seats. Nino took the seat nearest the window, and Futaro sat between her and Miku.
"Nino, can I borrow your phone? I'd like to call Raiha," he asked. She quickly passed over her phone, and he dialed. Nino turned away, facing the window, choosing to at least give him the illusion of privacy. Outside, the wind was howling, and the rain appeared to be hitting flying sideways. It was such a freak turn of events, especially after the forecast mentioned that the typhoon wasn't expecting landfall. It was as if some god had specifically blown a rogue wind along the typhoon's path to ruin their. She was equal parts frustrated, guilty and worried.
"She isn't picking up. I decided to leave a text. If she answers, please let me know," Futaro tapped on her shoulder and handed back her phone. "Thanks."
Beside him, Miku was tapping furiously on her phone. Her expression was stiff and slightly angry.
"Miku? Is everything okay?" Nino tilted her head. Miku looked up from her phone, almost surprised that Nino had called her.
"Oh—oh! Nothing sorry. I'm just texting Yo—I mean, I'm texting Itsuki and making sure she's okay."
"Where is she?" Futaro asked impatiently. "Is she with Raiha?"
"I don't know. She hasn't replied," Miku's lip quivered. Nino noticed she was more fidgety than usual. "We're here for you, Futaro. Everything will be okay," Miku tried, a weak smile.
"Yeah, Fuu-kun," Nino added. She reached out and grabbed his hand. "We're just as worried as you are."
"We're partners, remember. Don't be afraid to lean on us too."
Nino glanced outside the narrow train window. Even with her limited view, she could see the storm raging. Her sister's senses tingled like goosebumps down her spine. Miku was hiding something. Why would Miku need to lie in a situation like this? Nino's mind raced. She wanted to make eye contact with Miku to check if her hunch was correct. She considered texting her for more information but decided against it as Fuu-kun was already anxious, and likely it would have looked too obvious.
Overhead the engineer announced that they would be departing soon. Miku reached out and took Futaro's other hand. Heavy water droplets rumbled like a constant thunder over the aluminum cover over the departing platform. Nino gripped Futaro's hand even tighter.
Everything will be okay, Fuu-kun. I promise.
The train departed shortly after. At first, gingerly testing the speed, then quickly accelerating as the engineer gained confidence. Buildings zoomed past like gray blurs, soon giving way to verdant forests. Nino felt a strange sensation as if seeing more green meant that she was officially back in Japan. To her, Tokyo existed as a parallel world that looked like Japanese and spoke Japanese but was distinctively not Japanese. Tokyo was Tokyo, and Tokyo is a whole different world than the one she knows. It was like a bad joke. Her heart did somersaults in her stomach, and she was acutely aware of how sweaty her hand felt in his.
He gets to attend one of the nation's most prestigious schools, and he gets to date one of the most amazing up-and-coming athletes in the country. Nino sulked.
I just make food. Not even a real chef yet. Yotsuba is so far ahead of me now. I'm just wasting my time. All of this… was just a waste of time.
She rested her head against the cold glass and watched the stormy coastline pass. There were pins and needles in her heart.
Nino was startled awake by the train screeching to a halt. She looked around at her surroundings. The sky had darkened so much that they needed to turn on the inside lights of the cabin. The typhoon must be right on top of them now. Nino wiped the drool from her cheek and tried to adjust her body upright on the seat, but she felt a weight on her shoulder that kept her pinned down against the window. Futaro had fallen asleep and had leaned into her, and Miku had fallen asleep as well, leaning on to him. She was trapped! Overhead the engineer mumbled in a loud, muffled voice: "We extend our sincerest apologies as we must stop the bullet train service from Tokyo bound for Osaka due to severe weather warnings, including gale force winds, flooding, and landslide warnings. For your convenience and safety, we have chosen to make an emergency stop at Toyohashi station. We will resume travel to Nagoya station shortly. Thank you for your cooperation. We apologize for the inconvenience this stop has caused, and thank you for your patience. We will resume transportation as soon as conditions improve.
Nino gently rocked Futaro. "Hey Fuu-kun, wake up," she brushed his long hair off his face. "The train stopped." Futaro bolted upright, nearly sending Miku flailing off her seat. "I— where are we? Are we home?" Futaro's eyes were wide and panicked.
"No, no," Nino waved her hands. "We didn't get very far. We made an emergency stop at Toyohashi. We're just a bit over halfway there."
Miku sat up, her hair stood on ends, and her expression made her look like a startled parakeet. "Toyohashi? Aren't we a bit too close to the coast?"
"We're fine. The city is elevated. The water won't rise that far up," Futaro opined. "At least we're back in Aichi. Do you think your driver could come to pick us up the rest of the way?"
"I wouldn't ask Ebata-san or anyone else to drive in this. Just look!" Nino gestured toward the window to the ripping winds outside.
"I need to get home!" Futaro said through gritted teeth.
"There's nothing we can do about it now, Fuu-kun. Please just relax."
Futaro pushed himself off the seat. "You wouldn't be saying that if it were your dad, Nino," He squeezed passed Miku's seat.
"Fu—Fuu-kun! Wait, where are you going?" Nino reached out.
"I'm just going to the bathroom," Futaro looked like he was holding back tears. Miku touched Nino's shoulder. "It's okay, Futaro. We'll just wait here. We'll try and contact Raiha-chan again," Miku said calmly.
Futaro nodded and walked off. Miku's shoulders slumped like a lost puppy. A strange thought entered Nino's mind. She wondered what it would have been like to lose her mom when she was a little older. Would she be like Itsuki? Would she be angry like Futaro? How could she have possibly forgotten?
"Miku, I think Futaro is thinking about his mom."
~Futaro~
After being delayed nearly two hours, the train resumed service to Nagoya. Futaro sprinted through the shopping center using the overhead awnings as feeble cover from the rain, with Nino and Miku struggling to keep pace. The receptionist rushed over when they entered the hospital's main lobby, holding her hands up towards them.
"What do you think you're doing?! You're soaking wet! I'm going to have to ask you to lea-Oh, you're Nakano-sensei's girls, aren't you? I remember that one screaming murder every time she got her vaccinations," the receptionist squinted her eyes and adjusted her winged thick-rimmed glasses. Nino huffed.
Miku apologized and bowed as the receptionist handed them towels to dry off with, all while fussing with a very offended Nino.
Futaro went ahead down the long sterile hallway after checking with the receptionist. The air was pungent with the scent of disinfectant. Futaro scrunched his nose, sensing a familiar dread he felt as a child. While walking the hallways, his curiosity got the better of him. He'd peek into the passing rooms, occasionally making eye contact with the people inside. He felt guilty. As if he was peaking at their most private moments. But he truly couldn't help but peak every time he passed a room with an open door.
He wondered what his sister was thinking now. Raiha was too young when their mother passed away. His dad, Raiha, and Futaro spent many nights with his mom in a small room with tiny windows. What were they doing? Just waiting. Sometimes he'd ask his dad if they could go home. Isanari would softly say no and clasp Futaro's nape, pulling him closer to his chest. Futaro remembered thinking it was nice that his dad hugged him so much at the time, but the atmosphere still felt all wrong. It wasn't until years later that Futaro realized they were waiting patiently for her illness to claim her. Dad's tired and bloodshot eyes made much more sense after realizing that. His mom was too sickly towards the end and slept often. Futaro would cradle a fussy Raiha in his arms when she would get anxious. Sometimes he'd leave dad and mom alone and pace the hallway with Raiha trying to rock her back to sleep. Now that Futaro thought about it, the hospital had not renovated the hallway since those days.
Dad loved mom so much. I wonder how he feels being in the same hospital where she…
Futaro shook his head furiously and quickened his pace. Turning a corner, he came across a familiar-looking hallway. More familiar than the rest.
"Wait is this?" he said to himself, stopping just outside the door of the familiar VIP room. Futaro knocked softly and entered the room. "Dad?" he said cautiously.
"… I understand what you're saying, but you're putting me in an awkward position, Uesugi–"
"Son? What are you doing here?" His father sounded genuinely surprised. As if Futaro was the last person in the world he'd see in this hospital. Futaro had clearly walked in on Maruo and Isanari having a hushed conversation. They were the last two people in the world Futaro could imagine seeing together. His father's long wild bleached hair and sharp expression clashed with Maruo's perfectly cut side-swept hair that oozed a professional snobbery that annoyed Futaro on sight. They both looked surprised to see Futaro, even a little uncomfortable. Maruo fiddled with his tie beneath his white lab coat. His dad sat upright as best he could. Futaro's jaw dropped at the sight of his dad wrapped in tight bandages across his chest, and a brace carefully positioned to straighten his leg. It reminded Futaro of one of those old cartoons with the cat and the mouse. "Dad," he managed to whimper. "Umm, Nakano-sensei?" he said, failing to sound natural.
Maruo glanced at his Futaro. "It looks like right now is a bad time, Uesugi-san. I'll come back later," he said to Isanari stiffly. He scribbled something quickly into his clipboard, ripping the paper and giving it to Isanari. Futaro's dad read the note quietly, locking eyes with Maruo before he excused himself, passing by Futaro without a word.
"What was that, dad?" Futaro chuckled awkwardly as Maruo passed.
"Oh, nothing you need to worry yourself over, son," Isanari casually waved his hand, sticking the piece of paper under his pillow. "How have you been? You haven't called in a while."
Futaro frowned. "Seriously? You're in the hospital, and you're asking how I'm doing?"
"You're my son. It's only natural to want to know how one's son is doing after moving to the big city."
"You're the one who's injured! Where's Raiha?"
Isanari exhaled deeply. "She's just like your mother; strong. She went out to fetch my nurse. Something about new blankets or whatever. She does whatever she likes, you know. She's reaching the stage of teenage rebellion. Still, I worry about her much less than I do about you, despite her age."
"Thanks, dad," Futaro rolled his eyes. He took a seat at the corner of his dad's gurney. "But let's get back on topic. What happened?"
"Son, it's fine. It just looks worse than it is. I was working a job out by the harbor on a roof. I was going to finish on time, but the typhoon took a freak turn. It hit our side of Honshu a lot quicker than it hit Tokyo. I got careless, and I slipped."
Futaro stared at his dad incredulously. "You slipped?"
"I slipped."
"Dad, how can you be so stupid!" Futaro shouted. "You should have gotten off the roof the second you saw the sky get dark," he resisted a strong urge shake his dad. "What were you doing at the harbor anyways?"
Isanari tried to adjust his back, wincing in the process. "That's where the job sent me, son. You know how it is. I don't have a good education, so I have to do whatever I can. That's nothing new, and it's no different than how it was when you were living with us. So, take that sour look off your face. I'll be out of here in no time. You shouldn't have wasted your money coming here, son. You'll probably need it."
"There was no way I wasn't going to be here, dad."
"I see. It's just as well, anyway. Your sister missed you a lot, you know. You should call her more often. She wanders the living room listlessly without someone to argue with."
"So I'm just entertainment for her?"
"Not at all. You two are like, each other's best friends. I don't think she realized how much she enjoyed having you around until you left. For the first month she'd make enough food for three, even though it was just the two of us."
Futaro clenched his fists tightly. His dad was being much too casual about the situation. Just then, Isanari gestured to Futaro to get closer. Inching himself up on the gurney, Isanari stretched out and hooked the back of Futaro's neck, pulling his head to his chest the same way he used to when he was younger.
"I love you, son," he said quietly, barely louder than a whisper. "Thank you for being here."
Futaro was stunned by Isanari's sudden display of affection. He embraced his dad tightly. For a family of non-huggers, this felt equal parts awkward and welcome to him.
"Ouch, son. My neck."
"Oh, sorry, dad," Futaro said, releasing his grip just a little. Futaro quickly slid his hand behind his dad's pillow and gripped the paper Maruo had given Isanari. He balled it tightly in his his fist. He released his dad and coughed, suddenly finding it quite hard to look at his dad in the eye. "Well, anyways, I'll go get you some ice. I'll go get Raiha and the others too. I'm sure that Miku and the others will want to see you."
Isanari nodded, turning his face towards the window. "Sounds good, son. For some reason, all this fancy VIP service in this hospital doesn't include ice anyway. We should leave a bad review."
Futaro offered a weak smile, trying to placate his dad's lame joke. He excused himself from the room, securely closing the door behind him. He stepped to the side to ensure his dad wouldn't notice him standing outside the door. He carefully uncrumpled the paper in his hands.
¥ 12,000,000.
"Twelve mill—What?" Futaro furrowed his eyebrow. Twelve million yen? For what? What did dad buy? What is he— Futaro's eyes widened. No way.
Futaro stomped across the VIP hall and turned sharply to the administrative wing, passing by startled nurses and her staff of clinicians.
"Hey, you can't go there—" the secretary started, but Futaro swiftly avoided her desk and pushed open a set of heavy oak doors with "Chief Administrative Office" on a plaque embossed with gold.
"Twelve million yen?" Futaro shouted, bursting into the office. Maruo was by the window, perched over his desk surveying his documents like a hawk. "You're charging my dad twelve million yen for the medical help?!"
"Uesugi-kun?" He said sharply.
Just then, a pair of large men wearing scrubs entered the office, grabbing Futaro from under his arm and dragging him back to the hallway.
"I am so terribly sorry, Nakano-sensei. We will remove him immediately," The secretary pushed passed Futaro, bowing deeply at Maruo.
He crossed the office and calmly bowed back to the secretary. "There's been a misunderstanding, Matsuo-san. I have a meeting with this young man. I apologize for not communicating that with you. I apologize for his spirited entrance. Please unhand the boy before he has grounds to sue the hospital."
The two large men immediately released Futaro where he tumbled down to the carpet. Futaro leered at Maruo, cursing him in his head His overly professional and polite tone filled Futaro with bile. This guy is so full of himself.
"Please bring this young man some tea, he's had a long commute. I'm sure he's famished."
His secretary, Matsuo-san, bowed deeply and shooed out the two security guards. She bowed once more near the entrance before closing the double doors behind her.
Maruo offered a hand to Futaro. "Would you like to get off my carpet, Uesugi-kun?"
Futaro pushed away Maruo's hand and stood on his own, standing face to face with Maruo.
"You've grown taller," he said, matter of factly.
"I don't care about that. Twelve million yen?!" Futaro snarled. "What kind of joke are you pulling here? And what are those security goons dressed about? That must be some kind of violation."
Maruo's eyes narrowed like a snake. "The guards are to prevent anyone from getting injured at my hospital. A hospital is not a prison, Uesugi-kun, but we must still practice caution," he sat at a nearby modular office sofa flanking a maple-colored table. He gestured to Futaro to take a seat across from him. "Sit."
Futaro sensed that it was more of a command rather than a request. He considered storming out, but this would be his only chance to give him a piece of his mind. He sat on the couch across from Maruo. Just as he did, the secretary entered the room with two tall glasses of iced barley tea. She set cups in front of them and a small plate of individually wrapped butter cookies and quickly excused herself from the room. Maruo took a deep swig of his tea, exhaling deeply. Realizing just now how little time Futaro had spoken with Yotsuba's dad before now, he suddenly felt nervous. Every conversation with him seemed like a curt exchange of pleasantries until now. Futaro noticed Maruo's slick hair parted down the middle, and his sharp eyes were heavy with shadows. It reminded him of an anime villain from a cartoon Futaro watched as a kid.
"Care to explain to me where you got the impression I was charging your dad twelve million yen for his treatment?"
Futaro gulped. "I found the paper you gave, dad."
Maruo's eyes narrowed, realizing what Futaro was implying. "Uesugi-kun, why on earth would I write a bill on a scrap piece of paper? That paper was an offer."
"No. I mean—I," Futaro felt his anger quickly deflating into confusion. "An offer?"
"Yes, an offer," Maruo replied simply. He reached for a cookie, carefully unwrapping it and taking a small bite. "In light of recent events, your father has asked me to buy the deed to his property."
"Deed to what property? We don't own any property. We rent."
"Not your home, your father's old shop. Or rather, your mothers."
Futaro's heart sank through the hospital floor. "Dad's selling mom's cafe?"
Maruo nodded. "We've been discussing it since spring, but your dad's condition changed the need for urgency."
"What do you mean? I just spoke with him. He's fine."
"Your father must have explained things poorly then," he leaned back on the sofa. "Your father fell nearly ten meters from a factory roof. Luckily a stack of shipping pallets broke his fall, but he still sustained serious injuries to his spine and lower back. He'll likely have a long recovery period to regain his full range of motion. Moreover, he will unlikely be able to take on laborious day jobs for the foreseeable future. I might even recommend physical therapy. He'll likely get a substantial injury settlement from the company that hired him, but he's certain that won't be enough. So he offered his deed to the cafe. I trust that he explained all of this in complete detail. Did he not?"
Maruo's words washed Futaro away. If he were standing, his legs would probably buckle from the shock. Why did no one tell me? Does Raiha know? There's no way she could hide something like that with a straight face. "I don't think he explained all that," Futaro said, trying to hide his shock. "Will dad be able to walk again?"
"Of course, he will. The injury is serious but not permanent," Maruo explained. "I've arranged for an emergency consultation from a specialist. She'll arrive tomorrow afternoon. They will be able to give your family a more accurate assessment of Uesugi-san's injuries," Maruo picked up Futaro's tea and offered it to him. Futaro took it without a word and drank its contents in one gulp.
"There is also the matter of the property itself," Maruo continued. "If your father takes my deal—which seems likely—It'll need to be drained, cleaned, and repaired. The typhoon from last night flooded the property."
Another blow to Futaro's chest. "So everything inside is ruined?"
"Presumably so, Uesugi-kun." Maruo's face softened." I know this must all sound very difficult for you to hear."
Something deep bubbled within Futaro. Maruo always hated his dad, so there's no way he isn't relishing in their misfortune. Futaro clenched his fists and bolted upright. Even his fake sympathetic smile curdled Futaro's blood. "I can't let you buy mom's cafe."
"It's not up to you, Uesugi-kun."
"But–" Futaro started.
"It is Uesugi-san's job to care for you and your sister," Maruo interrupted. "I, however, will treat you like an adult, Uesugi-kun—you are one, after all. I am only telling you the situation as it is, not how you would like it to be," Maruo's phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked it and glanced up at Futaro. His expression seemed almost sad somehow. He moved swiftly, removing his white lab coat, and exchanged it for a sharp black blazer. Futaro quietly seethed as Maruo checked his tie in a nearby mirror.
"Got somewhere else you've gotta be?" Futaro grit his teeth.
"I've got something that needs attending to, Uesugi-kun. I recommend you check with your dad. I'm sure the two of you have more urgent matters to discuss. Feel free to see yourself out whenever you're ready," he said as he pulled open the wooden doors. "Oh, one last thing, Uesugi-kun. Some advice from one professional to another; please get a haircut." Maruo shut the door behind him, leaving Futaro alone in the highly decorated office.
Futaro scoffed, only now noticing the degrees and certifications hung neatly on the wall. Maruo's Doctor of Medicine degree stood out in a large picture frame at the center. Below was a large wooden bookcase full of thick medical dictionaries and other textbooks, along with various other specialties that he undoubtedly picked up during his studies. Futaro wandered to Maruo's desk, which was filled with neatly stacked piles of diagnostics and other medical memos. Futaro's attention was drawn to an ornate wide double picture frame perched near the center of his desk that contained two pictures. The first picture was a faded photograph of a much younger-looking Maruo. His eyes were less sharp, and his cheeks still had a bit of a youthful roundness. He had his arms around the waist of a stern, yet kind-looking woman with long hair and intelligent features. There was no mistaking it: her eyes, her smile. The softness of Maruo's smile told Futaro everything he needed to know. She was Yotsuba's mother. Funnily enough, Itsuki was the one who was spitting image of her. They were surrounded by a gaggle of girls, who were undoubtedly Itsuki, Yotsuba, and the others. Futaro mused for a moment, trying to figure out which sister was which. Two of the girls were arguing in the back… that was probably Nino and Miku. Another girl tugged at the hem of Rena's dress, clutching the fabric tightly in her hand. Maybe that was Itsuki. Another sister was trying to balance herself on Maruo's leg, seemingly losing her balance just as the photo was taken. That has got to be Yotsuba. And lastly, in front of everyone was Ichika grinning ear to ear.
"Wait a minute," he said, instantly recognizing the second picture. It was the picture Futaro had taken for the sisters at the end of their Kyoto trip. They had all passed out from exhaustion early on the bus ride home, and Futaro had taken the opportunity to take a photo of them. Futaro smiled, wondering if Yotsuba still drooled like that in her sleep? Futaro found it curious how this photo came to be on Maruo's desk.
He pulled out his phone. "Oh," sighed, remembering its usable state. It has been more than a day since he's spoken to Yotsuba. He realized he had not told her anything about what was happening. He'd have to call her using Raiha's phone.
"I'm wasting time," He rushed out of Maruo's office and returned to Isanari's room with a small pail of ice the secretary outside had given him. Raiha had returned and was exchanging the old blankets for new ones, and Miku and Nino served Isanari lunch.
"Big brother!" Raiha said, equal parts relieved and surprised. "Dad told me you were here! I was wondering where you went."
"Did you get lost on your way to the ice, or did you just decide to freeze it yourself, son?" Isanari teased. Perhaps it was parental instinct, or Futaro had a lousy poker face. Whatever it was, his dad had taken one look at him and immediately knew something was up.
Nino giggled at Isanari's bad joke. "That's Fuu-kun for you. He's got no bedside manners."
"Big Brother! Nino-san calls you 'Fuu-kun'!" Raiha's eyes twinkled. "That name is so cute!"
Nino grinned from ear to ear. "Isn't it? Miku came up with it."
"Oh yeah, huh?" Miku said while pouring some water for Isanari to drink. "Nino made it her own, though. I just call him 'Futaro.'"
"So intimate," Raiha jabbed Futaro in his side.
"Stop that," Futaro muttered.
Isanari laughed so hard that he craned his head, wincing with pain.
"You shouldn't move so much," Miku warned. She and Nino crowded Isanari, checking that his brace was okay and that his cot was adjusted correctly.
Futaro joined them at his bedside as the two fussed with his sheets.
"Son, you have such kind women in your lif–" Isanari froze as Futaro handed him the crumbled piece of paper he'd taken earlier.
"Hey, dad, I think you dropped this," Futaro said. Isanari's eyebrow twitched. He would not break eye contact with his son. Miku and Nino noticed the charged air between the two. The tension was only cut by Raiha yawning on the nearby couch at the far side of the room.
Isanari cleared his throat. "Son, do you mind taking Raiha home? She's been here all day, and I bet she's tired."
"I'm fine, dad," she yawned again.
"No, no, Raiha. That won't work. A girl needs her rest. Can you also get her something to eat? I think my wallet is still by the entrance. You can take out whatever you need and get food for you and Raiha."
"Dad, I think that–"
"No buts, Futaro. I've got your lovely friends to keep me company. I'd like to get to know them a little more anyway. We can talk later, okay?" Isanari said it in a way that almost made it impossible for Futaro to say no.
"Fine," he grumbled, knowing he had to give into his dad's sudden pushiness. "Miku, Nino, don't let my dad give you a hard time. I'll be in touch in a few hours," he said to the sisters. They exchanged worried glances but otherwise agreed.
Raiha gathered her blanket, backpack, and umbrella, which she'd brought along with her, to the hospital. After another short round of goodbyes, they exited the hospital. Futaro noticed Raiha readjust her backpack repeatedly as if the straps were digging into her shoulder.
"Is that heavy? I'll carry it for you," he offered.
"Nah, it's okay. Thank you, Big Brother," she said, jumping slightly and readjusting the backpack again. Futaro could hear the several items jumble inside. He rolled his eyes and yanked the backpack from her.
"H-hey!"
"Don't be stubborn. What the hell do you have in here anyway? Why is it so heavy?"
Raiha turned her nose at him. "You're one to talk, you're so annoying," she held her hand for Futaro to take. "But thank you anyway. It's our usual typhoon ready-bag, but I added some extra stuff for a long stay at the hospital."
"How long were you thinking of staying at the hospital with dad?"
Raiha just shrugged. That was very like Raiha, Futaro thought. She didn't complain about anything; she just accepted the circumstances. Has she gotten taller? He mused.
Futaro popped open the umbrella and took his little sister's hand. They walked down the footpath, avoiding large puddles and other debris left by the storm. The air was unusually still and quiet despite it being nearly sundown, and the rain was soft and gentle. As if it were apologizing for the vicious gale from last night. The setting sun below the tree line lit the sky with yellows, oranges, and purple. They didn't speak much; instead, the pitter-patter of the rain bouncing against the umbrella filled the silence. Now that they were alone together, Futaro could see Raiha's drowsy eyes and messy hair. He realized she had just thrown her overalls over her pajamas and was wearing her worn crocs instead of shoes. A pang of guilt bit into his chest. Poor thing must have been so worried.
Futaro suggested they stop by a convenience store to pick up dinner. Seemingly satisfied with his suggestion, he led her into one a Seven Eleven at the corner of the street. They walked out fifteen minutes later with a bag full of rice balls, fried chicken, a pair of teas, and instant soups in hand, Futaro and Raiha eventually returned to their apartment. Entering through the door, he was surprised to see how roomier it seemed without his desk in the corner. Raiha turned on the air conditioner at full blast, took the bag of goodies from Futaro, and began extracting the contents in the kitchen.
"Hey hey hey wait," Futaro urged. "Just rest for a bit. Get the rice balls and the chicken."
Together they sat at the kotatsu and enjoyed their patchworked convenience store meal of rice balls stuffed with tuna mayo and fried chicken. Their mood improved with each bite, recharging their batteries. Raiha ate with gusto and sighed with relief after inhaling her second rice ball.
"Thank you, Big brother. The chicken was a good idea. Did you discover that in Tokyo?"
Futaro shook his head. "No, Itsuki taught me that one, actually."
"Oh! That reminds me! I should probably update her!" Raiha scampered to her feet and grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter, quickly tapping away a message. "I'll tell her you said hi," she added.
"Thanks," Futaro said, with a mouth full of rice ball.
Raiha slammed her hands on the kitchen counter, spooking Futaro. "That's it! I can't stand it! She groaned, tossing her hands in the air. "Big Brother! Go to the bathroom right now! I'm going for my scissors!"
"You're what? What for!"
"My scissors! I can't stand your hair! Why'd you let it get so long anyways!"
"Raiha, it's fine! Leave me alone!"
"It's so ugly! What did Yotsuba-san say?"
"She said she liked it!"
"You liar!" Raiha cocked her hips. "Either I do it while you're awake or while you're asleep. You choose," she approached him threateningly.
"Fine! If it'll get you to leave me alone," Futaro threw his hand in the air in resignation. He begrudgingly stood up as Raiha dragged an old wooden chair into the bathroom.
"Sit," she commanded.
Futaro sat, fussing with his bangs. He never intended to let it grow out, but haircuts were always an expense that he always felt he couldn't afford.
"Geez, Big Brother. You have to find yourself a barber in Tokyo. I'm not always going to be around, you know?"
Futaro frowned. "Where do you think you're going? I thought I could just have you be my personal barber forever. You know just how I like it."
Raiha bonked the top of his head gently. "I'm going to start charging you. Besides, I only know how to do it one way."
"That's good enough for me," Futaro closed his eyes. The strands of hair that fell on his face made his nose itch. "Maybe you can teach Yotsuba how to do it."
"I… don't know about that," Raiha shrugged.
"What do you mean? I thought you liked Yotsuba," he said, slightly surprised at his sister's reaction.
Raiha paused to measure Futaro's sides for length and symmetry. "I do like her, Big Brother. I have a lot of fun when she comes over. She always plays anything I want. But I guess I don't know her that well. Not like I know Itsuki-san," He could tell that she was trying to be gentle with her phrasing.
"Oh, okay, I see," Futaro said, masking his hurt.
"Itsuki-san takes me shopping and eating, and we spend a lot of time talking. She's like, the best older sister. I want her to go with me to get my school uniform next year." Raiha's eyes sparkled. She resumed clipping his hair without another word.
Futaro had failed to realize just how badly Raiha needed a girl in her life. Someone that she could treat like a sister. He always secretly hoped that it would have been Yotsuba that she'd get closer to, and they had. Yotsuba knows all of Raiha's favorite games, but it paled compared to what Raiha thought of Itsuki. Raiha spent a while longer detailing Futaro's hair, trying to make sure that all sides were even and that she had not damaged his hair too badly. She would occasionally complain slightly about how long hair is annoying to cut. Have I been gone for that long? Futaro thought. She had changed so much in such a short time.
"Raiha? How's dad doing with money?" He blurted out without a thought.
"Hmm?" She tapped her finger to her chin. "I guess things have been the same as ever. He asks me to clip more coupons, and dad works longer hours, but other than that, things are pretty okay."
Futaro gulped. "You said school uniform a bit ago. Are you starting junior high school next year?"
"Um, duh. That's what happens when you finish 6th year."
"You're a 6th year now?!"
"Big brother, you forgot all about me!" Raiha shouted in his ear. "Dad told me not to bother you too much because you'd be a busy city boy now."
"School uniforms are pretty expensive, Raiha. And it's not just the uniforms. It's going to be transportation— you'll need a bike to get to school. We'll see if my dad has my old one stored away somewhere. And then there's school supplies, class trips, you need to join a club, and you'll likely have to pay for the uniform too or instrument if you join something like that—"
Raiha's eyes widened. "Big brother, I don't play any instruments… Is everything okay? You're muttering like a weirdo."
"Raiha, dad won't be able to make ends meet," he blurted. "I spoke with Yotsuba's dad. He's not going to be able to work for a while."
Raiha bit her lip. "But then, how will we make money?"
He shook his head. "Here," Futaro stood up and pulled his wallet from his day backpack. He extracted its contents and put them in Raiha's hand. "Take this, for now. Tomorrow I'll go to the bank and take out the rest."
"I can't take this— what about you?"
"What about me?"
Raiha winced, nearly instantly tearing up. He instantly regretted it. "Sorry, I didn't mean to shout," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm just worried about dad. Look, at least keep that for when you need the uniform and stuff, okay?"
Raiha tugged at the corners of the 10,000-yen notes Futaro had given her. She shuffled them like playing cards. "I wish we were rich," she finally said with misty eyes.
Ding Dong.
They froze at the sound of their apartment doorbell. Raiha wiped her tears. "I'll get it."
Futaro's expression relaxed. His sister was always a smart girl, and he was ashamed of how he took that for granted. Futaro checked his hair in the mirror. It was back to a familiar length, his bangs no longer obstructing his face. Somehow, he felt like he'd gone back in time or that he'd been de-aged.
"Hi, Itsuki-chan! Big Brother! Itsuki-chan is here!" He heard his sister shout from the living room. He poked his head out and saw Itsuki waiting by the doorway.
"Please excuse my rudeness. May I come in?" She said as Raiha moved out the way to let her enter. She seemed to have come directly from work as she was still in her white blouse and simple black pencil skirt. "My cram school I work at isn't too far away. I also brought treats."
"Woah! You're wearing glasses!" Raiha gawked, taking Itsuki's umbrella and tucking it behind the door. "You look so grown up!"
"Is that so?" Itsuki laughed. "I just put them on because my eyes are always super sore," Just then, her stomach growled so viciously that Futaro could hear from across their living room.
Raiha's jaw dropped. "Oh no! You're hungry! Let me make you something! We don't have much, but I can dress up a soup with what we got! Here give me that," she took the small box of sweets from Itsuki's hand and rushed off.
"Oh, that's really not necessary," Itsuki tried to call her back, but Raiha had already rushed to the kitchen and filled a pot full of water to prepare an instant soup for her. Itsuki and Futaro locked eyes, and she shrugged her shoulders in defeat. "Would you mind if I had dinner here?"
Futaro crossed the living room, picking up his last rice ball on the kotatsu to offer it to her. "I don't think you have a choice."
She took the rice ball in her hands, carefully cradling it as if it were an egg. "Thank you. Long time no see Uesugi-kun."
"Yeah," Futaro realized it had been months since he'd seen Itsuki. Her hair had gotten longer and a bit curlier. She looked slightly taller too. "You have no shame."
"Excuse me?" Itsuki replied incredulously.
"Did you only come because you were hoping Raiha made curry!?"
"No! I come and check in on Raiha-chan all the time! For your information, your dad usually asks me to," Itsuki glared. "Also! You couldn't be more wrong! I can make my own curry! Remember!?"
Futaro huffed. "Well, you didn't have to come today. You should have just gone straight home. Raiha, how come you didn't tell her," he shouted in the direction of the kitchen.
"Don't blame her! I came over because I hadn't heard from Raiha-chan in a few hours," she said, failing to dull the sharpness of her tone. "I assumed you might want to see a friendly face, but you're just as insufferable as always!"
"You-you did?" Futaro asked, feeling a little stunned. Futaro tried to get Raiha's attention, but she turned her back on them, pretending to be getting something from the refrigerator. Futaro turned back to Itsuki. She scowled at Futaro, hardly containing her furious pout.
"I— I guess," Futaro said lamely. "I'm sorry."
Itsuki's expression softened. "It's okay. I would have mentioned something, but you haven't been answering your phone, so I just thought it would be more helpful to come over," she struggled to make eye contact with him.
A few moments later, Raiha returned with a large bowl of instant noodles accented with fish cake, spinach, boiled carrots, bean sprouts, and even a few chopped-up little sausages. It was the typical meal Futaro remembered their dad would make for them when they were especially tight on money. The quintessential struggle meal.
"Ooo! This looks delicious, Raiha-chan! Thank you for the meal," she smiled, dunking in her chopsticks and quickly slurping up some of the noodles. "Yum!" She said as the steam fogged her glasses. "All the vegetables make this broth quite complex!"
Raiha blushed slightly. "It's just some dressed-up noodles the way dad taught us. It's no big deal."
Itsuki raised the bowl and sipped some of the broth, humming with delight. "I haven't had a soup like this in years! It's pretty nostalgic for me. It reminds me of mom."
"Mom?" Raiha tilted her head. "I thought she passed away."
"Raiha!" Futaro scolded.
"No, no, Uesugi-kun, it's okay," she said. "Yeah, before mom passed away, my sisters and I often experimented with soups like this to make them more tasty. It was one of the first things Nino experimented with. She was especially good at it. Luckily, we don't have to worry about having empty bellies anymore. But this is still nice sometimes," she pointed at her bowl of noodles with her chopsticks. "Thank you, Raiha-chan."
Raiha smiled, seemingly satisfied that Itsuki liked the food. "Okay then! I'm going to get into the bath first, okay, big brother? You keep our guest company."
"Yeah, that's okay, go ahead," Futaro said. Raiha entered the bathroom and quickly shut the door behind her.
"It was nice what you said to her," Futaro thanked Itsuki.
"I meant it," she paused. For some reason, the air felt thick between the two of them. It was another instance where Futaro felt acutely aware of just how much time had passed since he last saw Itsuki, and Futaro felt much too tired for small talk.
"So, umm, sorry about your dad," Itsuki said, finally breaking the awkward air around them.
"No, it's fine. The stupid old man just doesn't know when to slow down," Futaro laughed forcefully. "I think he's enjoying being the center of attention for a change."
"That… reminds me of someone," Itsuki stifled a giggle.
"What is that supposed to mean?!"
"Nothing–well, it's just that that's just like you, right Uesugi-kun? You're always the type to burn the candle on both ends. Remember when you would stay up all night making us study guides?"
"But that was because you were all in danger of failing!"
"And then you worked so hard trying to get us to pass that you got the lowest score of your high school career. Oh! Oh! And then remember when you spent the entire school festival trying to put out fires for everyone? 'Uesugi-san, come here. What do we do with the extra cream!' 'Uesugi-san, we're out of propane for the grill!' over and over again, 'Uesugi-san!' this 'Uesugi-san!' that. I'm surprised you didn't collapse halfway through," Itsuki laughed. "I'm sure you're doing more of the same in Tokyo."
Futaro tugged at his hair, very much not enjoying being the topic of conversation. "There's only so much I can do," he mumbled. "All I'm doing is trying to keep my head above water."
"Me too. School is hard, and working is even harder," Itsuki grimaced. "Sometimes, I think that I'm not cut out for it. But, it's what I want."
Futaro nodded. "I know the feeling. It's like, trying to convince yourself that the pain is worth it in the end, but then–"
"But at the end of the day, you come home late from work to a quiet, dark apartment, cold food, and then something creeps in, right? Then you sit in front of your desk and can't even work up the nerve to study. It's then when quitting doesn't sound so bad."
"Yeah," Futaro paused. "Exactly. I guess that's what it means to be an adult, I guess," silence filled the air between them. Futaro fidgeted on the rigid tatami mat. "Hey, I'll take these," he reached for Itsuki's empty noodle bowl.
"Oh no, it's fine. I'll do it myself." Itsuki shot upright before Futaro could protest. She carried the dishes away and washed them at his sink. She returned a moment later with her box of sweets, two small plates, and glasses of milk. "I figure we should have these while they're warm."
"Yeah, go right ahead, make yourself at home," Futaro teased.
Itsuki shrugged. "I guess Why shouldn't I? As I said, I'm here pretty often these days."
She opened the plain white cardboard box and pulled out a lovely pastry bun that looked like it had been baked just within the hour. The scent of chestnut and sweet bean paste filled the living room. Itsuki put pastry buns on small plates and pushed one closer to Futaro. She took the space next to him and held the bun to her nose. "Don't these smell great! I was surprised since they're still out of season," she sparkled. "A new bakery nearby opened, and I was curious. I got the last ones before they closed. Go on, eat!" She bit into the bun, not waiting for Futaro. "Mmmmm! So good!" she wiggled gleefully.
He took a small bite too. The sweetness of the bean paste and the chestnut warmed his body like a cozy fire inside his chest. Surprised by how the sweet bun took the edge off, he took another bite. Before he realized it, Futaro had finished his pastry, licking his lips with gusto. "Wow, you weren't kidding. That was amazing!"
"Right!" Itsuki grinned like a proud puppy. "I got enough for you and Raiha to get two each."
Futaro exhaled deeply. "It'll be hard to resist having the second."
Itsuki nodded with a mouth full of pastry as she had already started her second bun. "Don't go thinking you have to pay me back either. Your apartment is along the way home, so I just took the chance."
"Thank you for doing that," Futaro said, feeling warm and full. "Honestly, I was always worried that Raiha would feel lonely."
"I think your dad thought so, too," Itsuki nodded. "So I was happy when he asked me to stop by and check on her. I wanted to do something to help you and your family."
The thought of Itsuki spending large amounts of time in his family apartment made him uneasy in a way that Futaro could not really explain. "Do you talk with dad often?"
"Only sometimes. When he comes home from work and when he asks me to look after Raiha."
Itsuki and Futaro locked eyes. Strangely, Futaro noticed his chest-thumping loudly in his ear.
Itsuki's gaze shifted to his hair.
"I think it's crooked."
"What?"
"Your hair. I think that Raiha-chan missed a spot."
She scooted closer to Futaro on her knees, inching slightly taller than Futaro. "Yeah, we can't leave it like this. It looks bad. I'll have to fix that. I hope you don't mind."
Before Futaro could protest, she reached for the scissors Raiha had left on the tatami floor. She carefully snipped his hair at the side of his head. He felt her carefully measure out the right amount for her to cut. He closed his eyes, focusing on the sound of rain suddenly picking up. Perhaps it was the tail end of the typhoon finally crossing their path.
Futaro couldn't understand why his hands felt so clammy. She inched closer to get a better angle at the back of his head. He could faintly pick up the scent of spiced coffee.
"Say, have you done this before?" He laughed nervously.
"Nope. You're just going to have to trust me on this."
"Just let Raiha do it herself. She can fix it if you tell her which side is uneven."
Itsuki gave Futaro a wry grin. "Do you enjoy being the grown college boy still getting haircuts from their baby sister? Now don't move. I'm almost done," she snipped a little more around the back of his head. "There. Now it should be okay."
"Good, are we done?" Futaro gulped, realizing how dry his mouth was.
"Wait!" She held his face straight, measuring the length of his sides with her hand, slowly running it through his hair. Her touch gave Futaro goosebumps. "I… have to make sure… your hair is...even," she said. But her eyes weren't on his hair. They were watching his. Futaro held his breath, briefly glancing at the shape of Itsuki's lips. Futaro's brain felt fuzzy.
Was it… her?
Is this the Rena from Hawaii? Futaro's mind skipped. Her eyes were the same as Yotsuba's. He could easily fool himself into thinking she was her. But her expression was all wrong. There was hesitation in her eyes, doubt. Maybe even a little bit of a shame. Yotsuba glowed when she and Futaro locked eyes. When she embraces him, he can smell the scent of the sun on her. Without a doubt, Itsuki was not Yotsuba. And this is wrong. He found himself unable to look in her eyes. The heat bubbled up to his head, sensing his ears grow unbearably hot. He was terrified of the message that his body was sending. Futaro's heart drummed loudly in his ear.
He wondered if he should ask her. He thought about all the terrible outcomes that would unravel if he was wrong. He couldn't just ask her. Was he crazy? He'd be called a cheater, and it'd cause unnecessary drama.
"Uesugi-kun? You look pale. Did the pastry bun make your stomach hurt?" Itsuki asked, pulling back slightly, her eyebrows tense with worry. "Woah, you're trembling. Are you cold!?"
"I think I'm just not used to having someone other than Raiha cut my hair," Futaro lied, feeling sluggish, still imagining the scent of spiced coffee. Hawaii felt like a fuzzy, hazy memory from another lifetime ago: too clouded to remember correctly. He couldn't trust his instincts right now. He watched her gather the small clumps of his hair in her hand, throw them in the trash, and wash her hands in the kitchen sink. Futaro's stomach sank. After months of living in an emotionally monotone world in Tokyo, his heart was now painting portraits in vivid reds, greens, and yellows. It was overwhelming.
"Hey, Itsuki?" He tried asking. A strange tightness in his chest restricted his vocal cords. He cleared his throat.
"Itsuki," he said a bit more forcefully.
She tilted her head. "What is it Uesugi-kun?"
"Do you," he hesitated. "Do you remember about Rena?"
Itsuki paused for a moment. Drying her hands for an uncomfortably long time, Futaro had begun to wonder if she had not heard him. "Yeah, I remember. The girl that you met in Kyoto all those years ago," she finally said after turning off the faucet, still not looking in his direction. "What about her?"
"Lately, I've been thinking of her," Futaro admitted. "About what she meant to me back then. I may have been too careless in dismissing her."
Itsuki dragged her feet to the living room as if she were stalling for time. "I don't know if that's actually a good thing, Uesugi-kun," Itsuki hesitated. "Thinking about her, I mean."
He clenched his jaw, determined to set the record straight. "I think I need to promise myself something, and I need you to be my witness to ensure I keep it."
She sat across from Futaro, resting her hands on her lap. "Whatever it is, I'll listen."
He furrowed his brow, unsure what the following words out of his mouth should be. Itsuki would probably think he's being ridiculous. "I love Yotsuba. I know that I do. But right now, I feel scared. As if I'm doing everything wrong in my relationship. Some part of me almost regrets going to Tokyo. I even thought about what a transfer to Osaka would look like—to be closer to your sister. You know? Honestly, it's probably just the stress of my dad's injury that's getting to me. What am I saying—Holding on to these feelings about Rena will only make things more difficult for us in the future," now that Futaro had begun, the words seem to flow effortlessly. Whether they made sense or not, they were pouring out like a broken faucet. "I need you Itsuki. I need a friend to help me overcome this ghost—this girl that I've long since outgrown. I need your help to make sure I keep looking forward."
Itsuki's face was expressionless for a moment. The air between them was still, and the only sound came from the shower inside the bathroom and the rain outside. She exhaled deeply, her shoulder slumping slightly in the process. Futaro worried that she'd be upset for Yotsuba's sake. "You need a friend?" She cleared her throat. "Okay, I promise to always be by your side, as your friend. Whatever you go through, I'll be your friend. I'll keep your promise under one condition."
"And what would that be?" Futaro said, holding his breath.
She leaned forward. "Friends are supposed to know things about each other, right? Well, I'll keep your promise if you can tell me three things I like."
"That's so stupid!" Futaro huffed. "Why do I have to do that?"
"That's my condition. If you don't like it, you can find someone else," Itsuki crossed her arms.
"Ugh, fine. I guess you like talk shows, and you like imitating your sisters. Oh! And you like Raiha's curry," he quickly blurted out.
"Yes, yes, and yes. But those are too easy."
"Oh, come on!"
"Try again! Do you truly know me, Uesugi-kun? After all these years."
Futaro racked his brain, searching for Itsuki-specific memories. "Well, you mentioned your mom earlier," he said awkwardly. "You like visiting your mom's grave every month. You like the alone time."
Itsuki nodded. "Okay, that's one."
"You like reading how-to guides even if you have no interest in actually doing the thing it's trying to teach."
"What can I say? They're fun," Itsuki confirmed. "Okay, that's two," Futaro could tell that she was getting some twisted sense of enjoyment out of watching Futaro struggle to find the right answers.
"And, you like sweaters that show off my shoulders because… you think that's an attractive feature of yours? I don't know. Does that count?"
Itsuki smiled faintly, reaching out and grabbing his hands. "I suppose so. Here's a bonus. I enjoy being thought of."
"I don't think I get what you mean," Futaro's lips were dry.
"I'm the youngest five, and I spend more time with your sister than my sisters these days," Itsuki shrugged. "I trust that you can figure it out."
Ding Dong… Ding Dong…. Ding Dong.
Ding Dong.
Ding Dong.
Ding Dong.
Itsuki jumped, releasing Futaro immediately and rushing to the kitchen. The guest knocked on the door rapidly, stressing the urgency. The guest knocked again and rang the doorbell once more. Futaro was sure that it was probably one of his dad's friends coming to check on Raiha, but he couldn't understand why there were in such a hurry. Futaro guessed they had no umbrella and were likely getting drenched outside. He cleared his throat.
"Yeah Yeah, I'm coming," he shouted as he crossed the living room to open the door.
"What did you forget your umbrella or someth—!"
"Futaro!"
All the air was suddenly knocked out of him as he was pulled into a back-crushing embrace. Her clothes and hair were already drenched. Outside Futaro caught a glimpse of a familiar black town car parked near the side of the street, with a familiar-looking assistant in the driver's seat. How very like her… to not bother with an umbrella so she could sprint up to his apartment as quickly as possible. He forgot nearly everything except the scent of the sun in her hair. She grabbed his face and pressed her lips against his. He held his breath, instinctually holding her by the small of her back. After a few seconds, she pulled away to look at him.
"Hi," she said, somewhat breathlessly.
"Hi, Yotsuba."
Authors Note: Oof, this one was difficult to write.
I apologize that this chapter came so late. Some wonderful life stuff happened in the past month that required a lot of attention. But specifically, to the fic, I was really excited to write out what I am essentially calling the beginning of the climax. At the very last second, I got cold feet… or rather, I felt like there was a different way that I wanted to tell this entire section, so I ended up deleting practically an entire rough draft chapter and starting over. Usually, I'm pretty confident with the story beats that I wanted to hit, but this time, I think I was reviewing my overall timeline for my whole fic, and gasp! I didn't like it! So I had a crisis of whether I wanted to push with my original idea or add something new. I think I'm happy with my direction so far, but sometimes I worry about the tone of the fic in general. Is it too serious? Is it too dramatic? But I think I'm relying on that I am using this fic to discover what type of writer I am and what kind of things I like writing about. Maybe it's just that I am a broody bitch, and I like writing about broody stuff? We'll see in the upcoming months!
As always, I am grateful for the people who have left reviews and commentary on my fic. You are a constant source of inspiration and drive, and each I feel like I have been writing my fic for you. Thank you Bobalon, Segft, Bazzo, Chloetuco, The Mist33 and SuperKamehameha.
On Reddit I want to thank JOA20, thejman6, Ubberr, CaptainBalster, and JGrimshaw 123
Anyway, this author's note is already longer than I ever want authors' notes to be, so as always, thank you for your continued support, and I am looking forward to getting the next chapter out as soon as possible.