It was only until Saturday that Yuzu noticed Kari was broodier than usual.
Throughout the next few weeks, there were no news about Ichigo's stalker. Ichigo eventually forgot about the stalking incident, and their lives began falling into a peaceful routine. Every morning, Kari would make breakfast and pack their lunches. Kari would tease Ichigo until Yuzu stepped in to bump k on the head. Then they would walk Ichigo to school and make their way to Lo High.
The bruises on Yuzu's neck and Kari's face had already healed, and they had put it behind them. Yet, a complicated feeling was growing within Yuzu. Ever since k had made him that soup, he didn't know how to treat k. Should he treat k like family? If he did, he would come to trust k. And if he began trusting k, eventually Ichigo would too. Yet, what if Kari was playing around with them? What if something similar to ten years ago happened? He would never forgive Kari if k made Ichigo cry like that day again.
All these questions and scenarios played in his head until he finally talked to Bob. Bob had kindly listened to his feelings. In the end, Bob simply told him, "Ask Kari if k sees you all as family."
"What if k lies?"
Bob sighed. "I don't want to vouch for that cold jerk, but from what I've seen, Kari's consistent. By that I mean k doesn't do things half-assed. For example, if k dislikes someone—someone like me—k will dislike me all the way to the ends of the earth and won't bother to hide it."
"You've got it wrong—" Yuzu started, but Bob slapped him on the back a few times playfully with a laugh.
"It's fine, Yuzu, I already gave up. But, really, if a person like me can trust k to be consistent, I'm sure k will give you a truthful answer...probably."
Yuzu thanked Bob, now determined to have a genuine conversation with k. That said, he avoided k for the next few weeks while steeling his resolve. Since Ichigo would be hanging out with her friends and he would be alone with Kari on Saturday, he decided to approach k on that day.
That morning, after jogging and showering, he went downstairs only to find Kari was nowhere to be seen. Driven by gut feeling, he checked outside to see their front gates slightly open. He could see the top of Kari's head above their six feet tall wall.
Assuming k was getting their mail, he was going to leave k be when he noticed k hadn't budged from the spot. He waited for k to move, but k didn't.
Feeling something was off, he hesitantly called out, "Kari?"
Kari didn't give any indication k had heard him. He ran a hand through his damp hair, wondering if k was purposefully ignoring him.
Just go over there, a part of him urged. He waited longer, hesitant, looking at Kari, before sighing and walking over to the gates. "Why are you taking so long to get the mail?" he asked, coming into full view of Kari. Kari made no signs that k had heard him. Instead, k was staring intently at a letter clutched in k's hands.
The moment Yuzu saw how tense Kari was reading that letter, the hairs at the back of his neck rose. He immediately became alert, knowing full well something had to be wrong if Kari was making a scary face like that. His attention shifted to the letter, drums pounding in his ears, fearing the worst.
As he caught a glimpse of blocky print, a familiar voice asked, "Brother, Kari? What are you both doing out here?"
He nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned towards Ichigo. At the same time, Kari made an inaudible gasping noise and looked at them both. Ichigo stood by the gates, looking at them confusedly.
"We were getting the mail," Kari said, beaming down at Ichigo. It was such a contrast to the face k had been making a few seconds ago that Yuzu could do nothing but stare at k.
"Is that the only one?" Ichigo asked suspiciously as Kari hid the letter behind k's back.
"Yep! You don't need to worry about it. Come on, let's get inside the house before you catch a cold," k said before Ichigo could inquire further. She shot k a scowl as k guided her into the house but didn't complain. Yuzu subconsciously closed the gates behind them, mind still trying to comprehend the situation.
"Get in the house, Big B," Kari said in the same cheerful tone k used with Ichigo, indicating for him to hurry. He looked at k, narrowing his brows in thought. As he walked closer, k suddenly leaned in close, mouth close to his ear.
"How long were you there beside me?" k asked in a low tone, stripped of all cheer. "Did you see?"
The blood roared in his ears, and his pulse jumped erratically. He hadn't had time to read a single word on that letter, yet he knew its contents were the reason why Kari was being so threatening.
Instead of answering k's question, he turned his head slightly to gaze back at k and hissed, "You tell me what the fuck's going on."
They stared at each other, both not giving in, before Ichigo suddenly appeared once again. "What are you both doing?" she asked, startling them. She scowled. "Are you both hiding something from me?" she asked, shooting Yuzu a hurt look as if he had betrayed her.
Instead of reassuring her like usual, Kari did something surprising. K turned towards Ichigo and clocked k's head against Yuzu's. "What if we are?" k asked, not giving any ground.
Ichigo stilled in surprise, not expecting Kari to give such a merciless response. Yuzu was also surprised at how k's demeanor, but he stiffened for another reason. Kari's bangs shifted, and he caught a scent of ocean shampoo at the same time he felt its silkiness slide across his forehead. He automatically shoved Kari's face away without thinking twice. "Quit teasing, Ichigo," he growled to save face.
This time he was the one to reassure Ichigo that they weren't hiding anything. This was the truth since he didn't know Kari's situation yet. She accepted his answer but frowned at him. "Stay away from Kari!" she ordered, giving k a suspicious glare. "I don't want k to influence you," she said, dragging him away, sticking out her tongue at k.
As Ichigo dragged him along, he glanced back at Kari. Kari was staring back at him with a dark and solemn expression. "Find me later," he saw k mouth.