"Why the fuck were you making that kind of face?"
".....What kind of...face...?"
Keiko acted clueless in front of Yoichi. It only made him strengthen his grip around her wrist, causing more pain for her.
"-! It hurts...." Her muttering was soft and unbothered.
With one last glance at Yoichi's icy glare, she stopped him from doing anything more.
"You know, Onii-chan. That's not how you should act."
"..."
A sense of melancholy intruded her voice. Though it was only a little bit, Yoichi detected it but he did not mention it.
"In times like this, instead of squeezing my wrist, you should be gentle and confront me with an easygoing attitude. Additionally, you should not come straight to the point so quickly."
As she explained that to the apathetic Yoichi, he released his grasp around her wrist and responded indifferently.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I thought that I have told you about this kind of situation before. Did you forget?"
"...No. It is not like I forgot. It is just.....I got too hasty..."
"Hmm? Why?"
"Because I wanted to know."
"About what?"
Keiko then reminisced what Yoichi said minutes before. It concerned about that time when Ando and Asahi saw her in that unusual state.
Those two did not expect to see such a scary face of Keiko like that. As a result, they both thought that they hallucinated or misunderstood something.
At least that may be the case for Asahi because he did not dwell on this matter for too long.
But what about Ando?
She was the one that got to see Keiko directly like that since she was targeted by Keiko.
It was dangerous and if Ando started being wary of Keiko, Ando may affect Asahi's and Keiko's relationship.
Keiko exposed herself and that was a mistake by her end.
However, before she would reply to Yoichi about this topic, she wanted to adjust something about him.
"Hey Onii-chan, how about you try asking me again what's on your mind."
She hovered that same hand where she got grabbed and proceeded to head pat Yoichi.
"But this time, ask me as the Morita Yoichi I prefer."
She ruffled lightly through his medium-length black hair that got messy as she continued.
"Right, Onii-chan?"
Yoichi was a bit taller than Keiko so her sight rose to meet his emotionless eyes that looked down to her anticipated gaze.
Her thin smile got wider as she saw her brother close his eyes and sigh softly. She fixed his messy hair that she created in the first place and retracted her hand.
She was ready for her request to be fulfilled.
"Keiko! You were so careless back then!"
A totally different voice brimming with emotions met with Keiko as Yoichi equipped a worried gaze and a troubled expression.
Satisfied with the result, Keiko replied.
"What do you mean?"
"You really should learn how to control your emotions. For god's sake, I shudder at the thought of what would have happened if I hadn't intervened."
Keiko had her mouth agape as she was shocked.
"So you helped me? Ah, I am so sorry! I should have been more cautious."
"Seriously, you are so clumsy~"
Yoichi emphasized the 'clumsy' to incite a fight from her. And it worked.
"What do you mean clumsy!? It is just this one time that I was so out of it."
"Precisely. Why were you unable to restrain yourself at that moment?"
*Tsk!*
Keiko clicked her tongue at the thought of what she had in her mind.
"That bitch Ando needs to seriously learn a lesson!"
"What happened? What did she do?"
Yoichi wasn't there so he did not know the details of the situation. He only saw that Keiko was different than usual that's why he intervened.
"She had the audacity to share a shameless story like that in front of me! To boot, she even said that as a joke? What a slut!"
Her furiousness was overwhelming but that did not put a dent on the smiling Yoichi.
"Woah! Calm down. Gosh, come with me."
Yoichi grabbed Keiko's wrist, this time harmlessly and led her downstairs, towards the kitchen.
He prepared two glasses and picked a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator. He filled the two glasses and offered one to Keiko.
"That was what I was planning to do if you hadn't stopped me abruptly in my tracks."
"Hahaha. I am sorry~"
He clasped his hands together and prayed for forgiveness. Keiko though shrugged the matter off by saying, "Yes Yes."
They both gulped a considerable amount of water and felt refreshed. Since Keiko did not say anything at the moment, Yoichi took the initiative.
"So what are you going to do about that Ando girl."
".....*Sigh*....." She was indecisive. Her gaze wandered as she was contemplating this matter.
She stayed silent so the one who gave a proposition was Yoichi.
"Then, should I get rid of her?".
She darted her look towards Yoichi and he was ever so smiling carefreely. His expression was unbudging, only waiting for his sister's answer.
"....Not a bad one."
"......then-"
"But it is just plain stupidity. And this wouldn't be like us so drop that idea.
"...Okay."
"For now, let's just do nothing and go on with our daily lives as it is. Okay?"
"If that is what you want then this is fine by me."
*Click*
A door opened which took both of them by surprise. They darted their sight towards the source of the sound as if they were caught as thieves.
Well, they did not have to be so afraid because their uncle was the one responsible for that.
"Ah? Yoichi. Keiko. What are you doing here."
Their half-awakened uncle was walking slowly towards them. He was wearing a blue striped pyjama with a pink nightcap. It was long and pointy in which its end was covered with a round white fluff.
"Oji-san, we were both thirsty so we came to quench our thirst."
"Oh...Then the noise that I heard must have been you two."
Yoichi and Keiko looked at each other and simultaneously clasped their hands together and bowed slightly.
""We are sorry!""
"It's alright. It's alright. I came here for the same reason as you."
Hearing that, Yoichi quickly pick out one more glass and added in cold water.
"Thank you, Yoichi."
He finished the glass in one go and did not waste time staying there. He turned his back and went towards his room, whilst leaving a warning.
"Don't stay up too late."
""Yes.""
The door closed and only the siblings and silence remained in the kitchen. After a few seconds, Keiko opened her mouth.
"Hey, you still don't think Oji-san looks cute with that nightcap?"
"I mean....why did even you gift him a pink one?"
"As I said, it looks cute."
"It doesn't suit him."
"Then why does he wear it?"
Keiko was a little upset with Yoichi's response. However, Yoichi made her day by saying,
"Because he loves you. He loves me. He loves us as a parent. No matter what gift you bought for him, he will happily take it and use it for our sake."
".......That's right."
A lonely smile prevailed on her face. She held her hands herself and felt relieved about him. Keiko was glad.
"You really did your homework. That's maybe the....no, that is the best thing you could have said here."
"Thanks to you."
The roles were reversed and now Yoichi was the one patting her head.
"Don't worry, I will be who you want me to be."
Her long black silky seep through Yoichi's fingers and smoothly ran along with his hand.
"Hey, I have another request. Can you stop the 'teasing' part of you?"
"Even though you said to do it before."
She recalled that day, that very exact moment when she recommended Yoichi to be like this. She recalled the sensation that she felt while requesting that.
As if she got what she needed, she moved her head and took back what she said.
"Nevermind. Continue doing it."
.......
Asahi walked through the gate of the school. In the morning, he should have been greeted with 'good mornings' from the students.
But what he got instead were weird stares everywhere. Well, the causes of that were both clinging on each of his arms.
"You two..."
On one end was Keiko, which was obvious and understandable since she was his girlfriend.
But what was inapprehensible was that on the other hand, the other Morita was hanging on.
"Get off of him!" Keiko got angry naturally.
"No can do! He is mine!"
"No mine!"
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"Not this again..." The mutterings of Asahi went unheard.
As the seconds flew, Asahi became more and more indifferent to it. More importantly, he was more intrigued about the atmosphere around the school ground.
Since it was the official first day of school, freshmen alongside sophomores and seniors would attend school.
As a result, there was a cacophony of recruitment that filled the air.
The school became more energetic with Sakura leaves blossoming and flying around the school.
"We need players for the basketball team! It doesn't matter if you are bad! We are here to enjoy!!"
"Volleyball club! Anyone!? How about you first-years?"
"Anyone interested in the tennis club, please come here!"
"Please!! We desperately need members for the Drama Club!!"
Keiko and Yoichi stopped their little fight and admired this scenery.
So youthful and enjoyable.
The first years were bombarded with the overwhelming numbers of mostly sophomores trying to recruit some good find.
Those who already had a club in mind would go through these hectic surroundings. Unfortunately for those who are undecided, a harsh event awaits.
They would soon be consumed by various sophomores that either sweet talk to them or coerce them into joining a club.
Well, the latter does not sound as serious as that but they could be harassed like continuously getting approached until they get tired and submit to their demands.
Now that sounds more stressful than what it actually is.
"Have you guys decided on which one to join?"
"For me, it will be the same!"
Yoichi declared with certainty. He was in the baseball club in middle school and he played as the catcher there.
He was pretty good, in fact, he was their only catcher at the end of his third year. So he doesn't know if any freshmen had replaced him but it was all in the past.
Now, he was getting ready to adjust to this high school's team.
From rumours and facts, Yoichi heard and saw that Kurume high school indeed was a school that no one needs to joke with.
But recently, they seem to be out of it and derailed a bit from their main goal, which is to become the champion in the Koshien tournament.
Maybe, Yoichi thought that maybe he could change that team.
But since it is a well-known school, the number of members may be considered high, for which the battle for the positions is going to be hard.
He will see how this will unfold.
Will he warm the bench the rest of the year or make an impact?
"How about you Asahi-kyun? The same?"
"Yup. The tennis club is where I want to be."
Asahi is a champion in middle school tournaments and prefectural competitions. It is safe to say that he won't be having a hard time in his club.
He is handsome and athletic, just how perfect is this guy?
"Keiko-chan, you?"
Asahi turned to her and added more.
"If I recall, you weren't in any club, right."
"Yes. But I want to do something different and join one."
"Which one though?"
There was one club that Keiko was interested in. She was not that good athletically but she wanted to try it out at least.
"I have been thinking about the archery club."
"Oh? That's interesting. Why?"
Yoichi's sneer instantly broadened.
"I know why!"
He made a heart-shaped sign with his hands and explained in a serene voice.
"It is because you want to shoot an arrow of love into Asahi-kyuun's heart."
Asahi himself was struck speechless by Yoichi's attempt of being funny. However, it worked on Keiko.
"Oi, I didn't like how you phrased that?"
"Then why are you blushing."
"I-I'm not!"
"What a liar."
He took a stance like an archer and aimed it at Asahi.
"If you would join the archery club, then you would say something like this."
Yoichi released the imaginary arrow on his imaginary bow, which pierced Asahi.
"Please accept my arrow, my sign of love that keeps overflowing with the mist of passion."
"Stop it! You are being so cringe!"
"But I am trying to be you."
"That is 100%, not me."
"But.....you said to me that you would say something like this to Asahi-kyun."
That was a lie.
"Why the hell are you spouting lies! Asahi-kun, please don't listen to him."
With her embarrassed face and red ears, it was believable to Asahi that she could be trying to hide the truth.
"But the other day, you said-"
"Stop talking!"
"It hurts! It hurts!"
Repeated attacks from her, prevented Yoichi from further embarrassing her.
Seeing all of this play out, Asahi's corner of his mouth, raised and thought to himself.
'These siblings are so amusing.'