The sound of quick footsteps is what breaks the thick silence the room had fallen into.
"Eh, Kyo-tan! Are my big sisters there yet?!" a too-familiar little boy lands right in front of the staircase, and Hanako slowly unlinks her hand from her sister's as they descend the last few steps that lead to the loft the fifth floor has to offer, "You're the Onee-chan from earlier!"
Wataru looks positively ecstatic by this turn of events, Rintarou's oldest daughter less so.
The young woman blushes, mortified that she had, as it becomes quite clear, almost got mauled by her new step-brother's bike - unless she's the one who almost mauled the bike? Which is probably worse, she could sink in the ground and never come out, "Hi again," she says weakly, switching her gaze from Wataru to the man previously known as Maa-kun.
He greets them warmly, unbothered by the embarrassing situation. If anything, he's pleased their two new sisters are the perfectly polite young women from earlier, and of course that Wataru is so happy about it.
"Coincidences really do happen, huh?" Ukyo sighs when his older brother stands up to meet their two new sisters, as if having already guessed what had happened earlier, yet not wanting to have actually been right, "I'm Masaomi, the eldest."
"You really do need to be more careful Wataru," the lawyer scolds, the Asahina brother the girls had yet to meet raises a brow at Ukyo's words, looking at the scene curiously from a white couch set that must cost a fortune, "I can't believe you managed to ram into our new sisters before they had a chance to get here."
"It was also my fault," Hanako feels the need to add, earning herself a blinding smile from the little boy, and a quiet, disaproving sigh from Ukyo, "Anyway, it's nice to meet you both, formally this time. I'm Hanako."
Ema echoes the feeling, mumbling her name as she shakes Masaomi's hand. It's just as he grasps the second sister's hand, that the man who had been waiting patiently on the couch, stands up, the prayer beads that decorate his traditional robes rattling at the movement, "Don't keep them all to yourselves now, hurry up and introduce me to our new little sisters too Kyo-nii."
His hair is a shade or two darker than Ukyo's, something like a rich golden blond, rather long so parts of it reach a bit past his nape while other pieces frame his handsome face - he must catch Hanako looking, because he smirks her way when he says, "Welcome to the Asahina household, it's a pleasure to meet you both."
Ema's hands are held together over her chest, happiness rolling off her in waves. Seeing her sister off in her own world, Hanako's hand reaches out to grasp the man's, but before she can shake it as she had done with his brothers, he twists their joined palms so her hand rests above his.
Lost, she lets him slowly and gently bring it to his lips, kissing the back of it gently.
The action shocks both her and Ema speechless, "That..." Juli has to be held back by the younger Hinata sister who tries petting his head to calm him down, "That damn flirt is dead! Let me at him!"
Finally regaining some form of a coherent trail of thoughts, Hanako slips her hand out of his hold with a slightly awkward giggle, "Hi? It's a pleasure to meet you too, uh..."
The man's hazel gaze then turns to Ema, whose wide-eyed gaze catches her sister's with something like panic, thankfully, before he can most likely kiss the back of the teenage girl's hand as well, Ukyo steps closer to his brother, between him and their new sisters, like a knight in shining armor.
"Kaname," the name is uttered as a warning, and Ukyo's hand swats the back of his brother's head sharply, "I'm sorry about him, he's my detestable younger brother, the one born after me, Kaname."
"Kyo-nii, that hurts~!"
Ukyo is left unmoved, "Then stop behaving like our mother didn't at least try to instill some manners into you," he looks at the two girls, apologetic, "He may not act the part, but Kaname's a monk."
Despite the beautiful purple and gold kimono he has on, it is somewhat surprising that this shameless man is actually a priest. Coyly, Kaname smirks down at the two sisters, as if reading their thoughts, "That's right, feel free to come to me any time if you want to hear a Buddhist sermon."
If neither of Rintarou's daughters has ever been particularly religious or spiritual, the kind, if a bit suspicious, offer is much appreciated.
"Kana-nii's always fooling around like that, don't let him bother you, 'kay?" the voice coming from right behind her has Hanako jumping slightly and Ema moves out of the way to let the two men who had just arrived pass, mumbling a shy sorry that has the owner of the teasing voice from before looking at her with eager eyes.
The one who had spoken up has eye-catching silver hair, parted to the right to hide one of his eyes, while the one who accompanies him has tamer, sleek black hair parted to the left - besides this, they are a reflection of each other, their features identical.
The one with the dark hair seems much more reserved, with a honeyed voice that is almost soothing, even when his words are not as pleasant, "That's rich coming from you Tsubaki."
Well not as pleasant for his twin anyway, the rest of them only find this amusing.
The twin with the pale hair ignores his brother, sending Rintarou's daughters a bright grin, "It's nice to meet you, I'm Tsubaki!" he seems so genuinely happy to meet them, that it has Hanako's lips twitching. His identical brother nods slightly, shaking the sisters' hands with a grip so light, it's like he's afraid to break them, "I'm Azusa, let's get along."
"Hai!" Ema's answering smile is shyer than Tsubaki's, but just as excited. Tension slowly seeps out of Hanako's shoulders, eyeing her sister who is all awe-struck eyes and rosy cheeks. All things considered,
Wataru somehow slips in between the two girls, earning himself a light giggle from Ema and a surprised look from Hanako, "Guess what, Tsukkun and Akkun are in anime and video games!"
Ema's curiosity is immediately piqued while Rintarou's oldest's brows furrow, wondering what he means. Hesitantly, she asks, "You two work in an animation company?"
"Something like that," Azusa says, the deep violet color of his eyes set on her. Tsubaki nods excitedly, "We're both voice actors!" before Ema can ask what games they had worked on, Tsubaki tugs the both of them by their wrist so each of his arms can wrap around the two sisters.
"Ah!" Hanako yelps, fingers clutching at the fabric of his vest which smells faintly like fabric softener and cologne, the second smell is familiar somehow, but she can't quite put the finger on it - something spicy, almost like cinnamon, but not quite, "What are you-"
Ema is equally shaken, turning her head to meet her sister's eyes as Tsubaki goes on, "We've voiced in a variety of works, from kids' anime to RPGs and otome games! You've got to hear us sometime~!"
"Su-sure," she says, even when the breath that brushes against her ear is far too distracting, Hanako shivers, "Could you let go? Your grip's a bit tight..."
"Mou~! Why does Kana-nii get all the fun?" Ema, bless her soul, is too kind to try and push him away, only softly asking him to let go. Her sister has no such consideration, trying to peel herself away from the embrace with a fervor that is just short of being rude. You would think that with only one arm holding her it would be easy, but Tsubaki has managed to wrap almost the entirety of his long limb around the girl's lithe form, almost like a snake.
"Enough, Tsubaki," as soon as the words are spoken, Tsubaki tears himself off the two girls, holding onto his head - or well, he's torn away by someone would be more accurate. Azusa, who is now behind his twin, has a closed fist held out threateningly with the widest smile she has seen from him.
"Ouch! Azusaaa, that hurt," secretly glad that that is the case, Hanako muffles a laugh with her hand, "I wasn't doing anything worse than Kana-nii!"
That is a pitiful excuse, she cannot help but think, mutinously - Azusa seems to agree because he lets out a sigh, turning to them, "I'm sorry about him, don't let him bother you, okay? And feel free to come to me if he gets too much," he's deceptively calm but has undoubtedly enough of a spine to keep his twin in line.
"Hah? Don't be like that, I'm just trying to be a good big brother!" Tsubaki whines over the sound of the girls' shared thank you.
Juli, who had been screeching his small lungs out as the whole endeavor, finally quiets down at Azusa's intervention, "At least a few of them have heads over their shoulders, next time that nuisance tries something like that, you go for his throat."
Hanako almost tells him that it is maybe a bit too extreme for a solution, then she remembers they are surrounded by people who do not understand the squirrel - she'd rather not be categorized as crazy by her new step-brothers so soon.
"I'm terribly sorry about that, although that should be the last of the more troublesome brothers, so you can rest easy," Ukyo says, a sympathetic expression dancing on his handsome features.
"Still," Ema says, just a bit gleefully as she turns back to the twins, "It's amazing to meet voice actors, I love video games so I'm sure I heard your voices somewhere!" if Hanako is happy that her sister has found a common interest with some of their new brothers, she can't help but wish that it had been something others than those games of hers.
If Tsubaki is surprised that the baby-faced, adorable high schooler one is a fan of video games, he doesn't let it show, "Seriously, my new little sister is a gamer? This is too cool, she's too cute!"
Hanako's brow gives a brief twitch that does not go unnoticed by some of the brothers, Ukyo clears his throat briefly, "Take it down a notch, Tsubaki," the corners of his mouth curl downwards as he thinks, gaze drifting up the staircase to the main area where two boys had just wandered into without coming down to introduce themselves, maybe to go get a snack, or not, "Next we have...Subaru, Iori get down here you two."
They almost reluctantly make their way down to the living room.
"Chii, Nana, isn't that pretty one the one we saw on our way here?" indeed, the boy dressed in a Bright Centrair uniform is the same one from earlier, the one who was surrounded by girls, just a few blocks away. He's even more attractive up close, with hair the color of steel and deep hazel eyes that are too narrow, too piercing for his soft features.
"This one is Subaru," Ukyo motions to the first boy down the stairs, the one who is taller than most of his brothers, with large shoulders that should by any means make him intimidating - yet, the boy's face is scrunched up awkwardly, his cheeks red as he mumbles out a small greeting.
Poor guy, she cannot help but feel for the boy who has been forced into the spotlight, knowing just how annoying her own blush could be, that jersey though...
Lost in thoughts, Hanako forgets to answer, Ema pinches her sister's wrist as she answers the boy, "Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Ema," the older girl almost curses aloud giving out her own name with a polite hello.
"Subaru's not good with women, so don't be too harsh on our resident pure boy if he doesn't speak much," Tsubaki teases when his younger brother does not answer the two girls. Subaru's face flushes, even more, glaring at his brother, "Tsuba-nii."
"What?" Tsubaki's expression is the picture of perfect innocence, it does not fool anyone, "I'm only telling the truth."
Ukyo shakes his head with the exasperation of somewhat who's had to deal with this for a long time, "Next we have Iori, he's the tenth son and a senior in high school," a year above Ema then, Hanako's glad to at least have one brother almost the same age as her sister.
"It's a pleasure, let's get along," his answer is a bit curt but charmingly polite. She nods with a small curl to the edges of her mouth, letting him grab her hand in a careful handshake, "Likewise, I'm Hanako," Ema also gives out her name for what seems like the hundredth time today, casually mentioning the boy's uniform.
"Oh, I go to Bright Centrair Academy," Hanako hums, having heard of the private school's impeccable reputation. Juli mumbles something about the boy being attractive and smart, as if not believing such a thing was possible, "Your own uniform comes from Hinode High, right?"
Ema blinks at the question, shocked he had recognized the rather modest uniform, "Yeah, it's a bit surprising you know it though."
"Ah, well..." Iori trails off, deciding not to pursue what he was about to say and Hanako cannot help but notice how reserved he truly is, a well-mannered and seemingly perfect boy, but... distant, a bit detached, she thinks with something like clinical curiosity.
Well, it's not like it's her business anyway.
"That's everyone who's home," Ukyo declares, adjusting his glasses and they slowly drift towards the couch where some of the brothers have already taken a seat, "The rest are either at work or busy with some other things, I'll introduce you later."
Just as Ukyo says this, a voice calls out, "Sorry I'm late!" the boy who has just reached the top part of the floor is clearly out of breath, as if he'd run on his way home. Most of the brothers sigh at the display, and Kaname tsks, "Yuu-chan, were you wasting all that time at the arcade again?"
"What?" from this distance, she can faintly make out unruly, deep red strands and nothing else, "No! I was studying at school!" Ukyo grumbles something about supplementary lessons under his breath.
"Whatever, I said I was sorry," you can practically hear the eye-roll in the words.
Ema's face scrunches up as the unknown voice speaks again and Hanako leans closer to ask if something is the matter, the girl grins sheepishly, "No, I'm fine, I just thought I recognized that voice from somewhere."
"Huh, really? Where from?" when the boy from upstairs makes his way down with a huff, eyes narrowed on his constantly smirking monk of an older brother, Ema's lips part in a gasp and her caramel eyes widen, "Asahina Yuusuke-kun?"
"Hinata?!" a moment of complete silence accompanies the screech, all background noise coming to a halt.
The boy's face she can now clearly see is set in a comical expression of pure disbelief, taking a step back as if he had just been slapped, "Wha-what on earth are you doing here?!"
"Hinata?" Kaname muses, probably as a way to diffuse the tension, "That must be our little sisters' maiden name."
Ema is halfway out of the couch now, doe-like eyes so wide they take about half of her face, Hanako reaches out to tug the girl back into her seat with a soft, "Hey, settle down, will you?" her eyes then turn to the boy whose name she is sure she has heard Maho-chan, Ema's best friend, mention once or twice, "So you two know each other...from school? That's nice."
Yuusuke does not seem to be of the older girl's opinion, at all, "Not really...we're in the same class," he mutters, burgundy eyes not leaving Ema.
Tsubaki perks up at the boy's obvious discomfort and drawls out, "Whaat? That's amazing Yuusuke, you're so lucky to share a class with our cute new sister!" the mischief that simmers into those purple eyes of his promises nothing good for poor Yuusuke.
The high schooler looks about ready to faint, looking at Tsubaki with something like anger, and panic, lots of panic, "Sister? What are you saying?! I never heard about that!"
"Heh, really? Sorry, I guess we forgot to tell you~!" Tsubaki is anything but apologetic and Hanako feels a surge of sympathy for her sister's classmate and tentative step-brother, that's so mean, and by the exasperation written all over Azusa's face, this sort of antics is nothing new from his twin.
"Tsubaki," there's underlying danger in Ukyo's voice, "I specifically told you to inform Yuusuke about the new arrangements, you idiot."
Yuusuke growls at the new information, turning to his older, irresponsible brother with a frown, "Tsuba-nii! I can't believe you didn't tell me on purpose!" any pity Hanako might have had for him is washed away when Yuusuke turns to Ema, nose scrunched up, "I won't ever approve of this, you're my classmate, not my sister - got that?"
There's an apology on Ema's lips, she just knows it, something like frustration makes itself known in Hanako's chest cavity, and she cuts in before her sister can go on and apologize - of all things!
"Excuse me? I don't think I hear that right," Yuusuke whips around to look at her before he can storm off, as if for the first time realizing her presence, how the curve of her nose matches Ema's, and how the lines of her face are strikingly similar to his classmate's, "Because that sounded like you assuming my sister needs your approval to be here, like she's troubling you with her presence here even though your mother invited us to live here."
Despite the newfound similarities between the two sisters, there's nothing that reminds Yuusuke of Ema in the flamboyant, hot pink in color with hints of lilac around the pupils, eyes that glare at him with something like quiet, but profound disapproval.
Yuusuke swallows very slowly, the Asahina brothers watching the unfolding events with something like silent shock.
"Hana-nee," Ema hisses, horrified at her sister's attitude towards their new stepbrother, so soon after meeting him. Juli is much more supportive, squeaking out his encouragements, "You tell 'em, Nana!"
"Now's the part where you tell me I'm wrong and you explain to Ema over here why she can't be both your classmate and your sister," the girl's tone is unforgiving, and the contrast to her earlier easy-going composure is something like comparing summer's mild temperature to a harsh winter.
"Th-that's not...you're not causing me trouble at all! I didn't mean it like that," Subaru coughs, perhaps to hide a laugh, when Yuusuke does as Rintarou's oldest asks, looking at Ema with such eager eyes, "Argh! Just don't tell anyone at school, I don't want them to know we live together!"
Pleased, Hanako nods, as if rewarding an unruly pet's good behavior.
Ema is much less happy with the situation, embarrassed somewhat by it, "I can do that!" Yuusuke flushes when his classmate - now future stepsister, urgh the horror, grins at him hopefully.
"Let's get along Yuusuke-san," Tsubaki breaks into cackles for some reason when Hanako says this, right before the boy can turn on his heel and leave the living room and fifth floor altogether. The older twin throws his head back, having to wipe away a tear of laughter before he speaks, "Maa Imouto-chan, that's quite the protective streak you've got there."
Oh, you have no idea, blankly, Hanako side-eyes the jovial twin, tilting her head, "Was that too much?"
"Not at all!" Kaname shakes his head at his brother's eagerness to mock Yuusuke, mentioning how cold she had been when speaking to their younger brother and, of course, asking if he could warm her up.
"Settle down now you two," Masaomi, who had mostly kept quiet these past few minutes, says, eyeing both Tsubaki and Kaname with mild disapproval, "I'm sorry about Yuusuke, he's a bit shy, but we're all glad you're here, don't think otherwise."
"Yes!" Wataru, who is on Hanako's left and to Masaomi's right on the couch, exclaims, "We're happy you're here! I never had sisters before, it's the best!" Hanako practically melts at the kind words of the little boy, surprised when he leans over her, cheek smudged against her arm.
"Leave her space to breathe Wataru," Masaomi scolds lightly, trying not to smile when the girl hesitantly wraps an arm around Wataru's shoulders, the boy beaming and settling even closer to her. The eldest Asahina's eyes glimmer when he looks at the boy, "Careful now, you'll have trouble getting rid of him if you spoil him too much."
"Coming from you, Masa-nii," Ukyo sighs, amused, "That's the pot calling the kettle black."
"If anything," Ema chooses to go down the path of unquestionable betrayal, watching her sister sink a bit further into the back of the couch as to accommodate Wataru who is almost laying over her now, "It's Hana-nee who's getting spoiled, she's a sucker for snuggles."
"There was a time," Hanako's voice is purposely deep and raspy, like an old man telling a story of his childhood, "Where I had a sweet, adorable little sister-" the laughter that erupts in the living room is something both sisters could admittedly get used to.
As one of the Asahina boys puts on the tv, she lets the sound of the concert playing on the screen as well as the voices of those around her, talking about their day and whatnot, pull her into a drowsy feeling of comfort, her eyes even dropping at some point.
"You seem tired," Ukyo says when noticing how she's leaning quite heavily on the too-soft cushion of the couch, Wataru curled to her side like a kitten, "I can show you both to your rooms if you'd like, you've both had a pretty busy day-"
That's when a loud, clattering sound cuts through the air.