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Eighteen
I woke up with my alarm. After switching it off, when I sat up, I felt the throbbing pain in my head.
I had had way too much to drink the previous night. Thankfully, it was a Sunday.
“Good morning.” A voice said from beside me on the bed.
I froze.
Hiro-san?
I turned to see him smiling at me from where he lay beside me. I had a headache to begin with. And now, to see him- bed-head and all – right beside me as soon as I woke up… “Why are you here? No. Wait. Here-” I looked around. I was in Aki-chan’s room. “I… Hah?" What on earth was going on?
“You don’t remember anything. Of course.” He exhaled heavily, stretched a bit and sat up. “You asked me to stay the night. I stayed with you till you sept and then came to Aki-chan’s room but you followed me here saying that you did not want to sleep alone.”
I DID WHAT?!
Hiro-san laughed on seeing my terror-stricken face. I felt the blood rush to my head.
I couldn’t possibly
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Kaori-nee’s mother had sent a few pictures to me to show that Aki-chan was getting along with her cousins. She had always been close to them and, hence, it was not a surprise. However, she also did admit that Aki-chan did not sleep too well and that there were occasions when she would cry. After having been abandoned and sent away by her own parents like that, it was definitely not going to be easy for her. And I felt responsible for it too. I had called Kaori-nee’s mother and asked to talk to Aki-chan. She came on call, said that she was doing fine and that she wanted to play and ran off again. She could spare me- her Kake-jii- less than a minute. It was clear that she was upset with me for not trying to keep her with us. Her response made me feel incredibly guilty. The most that I could do to make up for it was to pay her a visit. Given my work and that I did not want to leave Hikaru-nii, it was difficult to find the time needed to visit her three hou
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Hikaru-nii’s room’s door was open and we could see him lying on the bed, eyes closed. The alcohol must have already put him to sleep. There were empty bottles strewn all over the dining table and living room. Seeing that, I felt compelled to come home earlier than I did off-late. My brother was- no- IS not a drunkard. I will not allow him to be. For the sake of his daughter, at least, I will not allow him to do this to himself. The sight had given both me and Hiro-san pause but we spoke not a word about it. We just quietly went about clearing the bottles. Hiro-san addressed me only after we had finished clearing up. “Kakeru, have you eaten yet?” “I’m not really hungry. I ate at office in the evening.” I replied. That was a lie but I really had no appetite. “I’m hungry though.” “I’ll make you something.” I offered. “I’ll allow that only if you eat too.” He shook his head. Is that how you're going to do this? “I’m not hun
Home Twenty-One
“Kuronomiya, are you leaving?” Yamato-san stopped me just as I had reached the elevator. “Yes. I’m done for today.” I replied. “I see. Futaba-chan just completed a really big project today. She’s so proud of it that she has agreed to treat all of us. Come along.” He said enthusiastically and threw an arm over my shoulders. “I-Is that so? That’s great but… today isn’t possible.” I smiled wryly. I really did not want to be away from home any later than I needed to be. “Sorry.” “Hm? You’re really just going home?” “Yes.” “Heh… You…” He became a little serious. “Are you okay? You haven’t been hanging out with us and you aren’t as hyper about work as you used to be. You look tired too. I mean… I know about the accident and all that but… are things not okay at home?” People at work were starting to notice. “It’s okay. I just… want to be with my brother.” Yamato-san smiled and patted me on my back. “You’re a good little brothe
Home Twenty-Two
I had completely lost track of the time as I waited out there in the corridor. Eventually, I heard approaching footsteps and voices. I opened my eyes and looked down the hallway. One of the voices that I was hearing was most definitely Hiro-san’s. I could never mistake that. However, it was only when the two people rounded the corner and came into view that I became certain about the other voice. A woman. “Kakeru?” Hiro-san stopped in his tracks, the smile that he had had on his face till then disappearing. He had an arm around the rather elitely-dressed woman’s waist. She too had been coyly smiling up till then. It was so obvious what was happening that I sighed. So, this was why you weren’t at home. I should have known what to expect. I stood up and dusted myself off. “I should probably have called before coming. My bad. I’ll just come back later.” I began walking towards them to head out the way that they had come in. “No, Kakeru.”
Home Twenty-Three
Hiro-san had left a change of clothes along with an unopened pack of underwear on the bed by the time I had stepped out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around my waist. His clothes were indeed a little big on me but it would have to do. I could smell the instant ramen when I left the bedroom. I remembered what it was like to have Kaori-nee around. I remembered what home used to feel like. “Oh? You’re out?” He asked as he brought in the pot of instant ramen. … Home. “Mm.” “Are you feeling better?” Thanks to you. “Yes.” I took a seat at the table that had already been set. “Don’t you want to freshen up before eating?” “No. I’ll take a shower later.” He sat down in the chair opposite me. “I wish I had something more to give you. I have to go shopping to stock up on things.” You’re just presuming that I would come by again? “This is enough.” “It will have to do for now anyway.” He replied.
Home Twenty-Four
“Good morning.” Hiro-san smiled at me when I entered the living room. “I was just going to wake you up. Your coffee is ready.” I stared at him. Last night, thanks to this guy, I had not wanted to go to sleep. This morning, thanks to this same guy, I wished that I had not woken up. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. “Good morning...” I mumbled and went over to the coffee table where he had set down two mugs of coffee just then. He had proceeded to sit on the two-seater couch. He raised an eyebrow in what looked like amusement when I took my mug and went to sit on the single-seater adjacent to the one he was sitting on despite there being space beside him but made no comment on it. “You have work, don’t you?” “Yes. I’ll leave after coffee.” “Mm.” He picked up his mug. “Stay for breakfast.” “I’ll get late.” I shook my head. “We can have a really quick breakfast.” “I can’t. I have to go.” I can
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‘I will not be able to make it. I’m still hung up with work.’ I read the text, put my phone away and looked towards Hikaru-nii’s room. He had just finished his shower and stepped out. I texted Hiro-san back. I know that he hadn't quite asked about it but I reported it to him anyway. ‘He’s home and well.’ It took a minute for me to receive a reply. ‘Did he say anything?’ ‘No.’ ‘Did you talk to him?’ ‘No.’ ‘Shouldn’t you?’ I should, shouldn’t I? “Kakeru, have you eaten?” Hikaru-nii came out of his room and went over to the kitchen counter on which I had left the food. “No. Not yet.” I replied and got up from the couch. “Let’s eat together.” “Mm.” He grabbed a plate off the shelves and began serving himself. I sighed and followed him to the dining table after getting my own food. I really should talk to him about it. “What about Hiromitsu?” He asked as he began eating without e
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Hiro-san ended up borrowing the bike like he had said that he would. He came by my place at around 05:00 am. Without waking Hikaru-nii up and locking up behind myself with my key, I followed Hiro-san out to the bike. It was a rather cold morning and, while we were riding, especially, the only way that I could fight the chill was by hugging Hiro-san from behind. It was very comforting and I held on as tightly as I could have. In fact, just for those three hours of journey between Hikaru-nii and Aki-chan, with just the two of us, I felt at my most peaceful. I had nothing to worry about except for holding on tight. Do not let go. We arrived at the old house that Kaori-nii’s mother and sister’s family stayed in a little before 08:00 am. Since it was early in the morning, the roads were open for us. We had covered good distance in short time. I cannot say that I was entirely mentally prepared for what that meeting with Aki-chan would mean to me and
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