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Eleven

Sleep evaded me. The new project was also in full swing and in order to get out of office early enough to pick Aki-chan up from daycare, I was forced to bring some work home. Moreover, I had to cook for us. Not to complain, but I ended up taking over all of those chores that Kaori-nee used to take care of before. It was physically and emotionally taxing on me to try and keep the household together, especially since her earlier indulgent father had suddenly become cold to Aki-chan. Even to me. But there was nothing that I could say or do to ease his pain. Whenever Hiro-san came over, he brought food for us all. Otherwise, he would help me around the house. The visits, however, were nothing like before. He would come, try and fail to talk properly to Hikaru-nii, spend time with Aki-chan, help me out a bit, eat and just leave. From coming here because he was always warmly received, it felt like he was coming over only to check in on us. Save for those random occasions w

Twelve

I was standing at the window in my room and looking out at the clear night sky that was barely visible through between the surrounding buildings when Hiro-san entered the room. I had been fully aware of the entire hour that had passed us by. Especially after Aki-chan slept off, it had gotten so silent that it as as though I was counting the seconds that mocked how small I had become in the face of loss. I was starting to feel a little too overwhelmed by it all. Hiro-san's voice made me turn to him slowly. “Hikaru is in his room. He didn't really talk to me but... We should probably give him some space. Kakeru, why didn’t you close the front door? Oh. Is she asleep?” He lowered his voice on realising it, looked closer at the girl I was still holding onto closely and sighed. “Looks like she cried a lot.” His grey eyes narrowed in a sort of pained affection when he stepped closer and and ran a thumb tenderly over her tear-stained cheek. Then, he looked at me. “You shoul

Thirteen

Aki-chan and Hikaru-nii both seemed to have been actively avoiding each other after the Ohagi incident. The girl was still upset and her father had retreated into a shell from where he probably felt that he wouldn't be able to hurt her. Aki-chan herself had become a lot quieter. She no longer ran and threw herself at me when I went to pick her up from the daycare. The most she would do is walk over and climb into my arms, hugging me around my neck and staying there for a while, as though collecting herself before she lifted her face and started answering whatever I asked about her day. Whenever I was around though, she ould stick by me. She had even completely stopped using her own room. And yet, she would follow her father with her eyes whenever he was around, probably hoping that he would come and talk to her. The following weekend, I had settled in the living room after lunch with Aki-chan to watch one of her cartoons with her. Hikaru-nii had gone right into his r

Fourteen

Kaori-nee’s mother came over two hours later. Aki-chan was excited to see her grandmother but knowing that the joy was going to be short-lived, I couldn’t watch her. It was almost like we were betraying her. I prepared tea and after about an hour’s chat, which Hikaru-nii also took part in, she was finally informed that she would have to go with her grandmother. And that was all it took. “Are Otou-san and Kake-jii also coming?” “No. For now, only you are going.” Hikaru-nii said, looking at the child properly after a long time. “Your grandmother will take care of you. It’s only for a few days.” I… averted my eyes. “N-No. I don’t want to go…” She stated from where she sat on the couch next to her grandmother. “I want to stay with Otou-san and Kake-jii.” “That cannot happen, Aki.” I did not want to lend my voice to convince either side of anything. “Otou-san has work, Aki-chan.” Kaori-nee’s mother tried to reason wi

Fifteen

I ventured into the kitchen area. On noticing my presence, Hiro-san spoke up. “Will coffee do? I don’t really have anything else here thanks to my caffeine addiction.” He chuckled. “That’s fine.” I replied and stood to one side, quietly watching him after that. I wanted to tell him what had happened but I did not want to mope around about it either. Knowing him and with how well he knew me, my turning up unannounced at his place like this without any reason was already enough cause of worry for him. “It’s been a while since you came over, huh?” He spoke again. “Mm. I’ve never really had any reason to.” “True. I’m over at yours all the time anyway.” Would you come over even now that Aki-chan isn’t there anymore? “Are you staying for dinner? Ah. But you have to go back for dinner, right? Maybe I’ll tag alo-” “Aki-chan’s not there anymore.” “What?” He turned away from the stove to look at me in shock. “What do you mean she

Sixteen

I was exhausted by the time I got to our apartment complex after work on Saturday. It had been a long week and the ongoing project had compelled me to spend my entire Saturday at office too. Now that it was just Hikaru-nii and I at home, we had both let work keep us late, if needed. I did ensure that I was home in time to make dinner but I did not need to leave early like I needed to when I had to pick Aki-chan up from the daycare. Hiro-san’s visits had gotten less frequent because of how our timings had changed but every time that he did come over, it felt as though he was keeping a close eye on me. I had not had the need to show him any more of my vulnerable sides though. It wasn’t that things had gotten better. It was just that both Hikaru-nii and I were actively trying to avoid it all. I had let it be that way for over a week but considering that I had decided to step up and be her for my brother and support him in any way that I could, I felt that I had to try a li

Seventeen

“How is your project coming along?” Hiro-san asked after we had been doing our own bits for dinner for more than ten minues without really conversing. “It’s in the final stages.” I replied. “Probably just a couple more working days.” “Your company must love a diligent worker like you.” “So much that they don’t want me to be away even on a Sunday.” I rolled my eyes. “You’re working tomorrow?” “I would have had to had I not pulled the previous few late-nighters. I don’t have to go tomorrow.” “That’s good. Man, I have forgotten what it’s like to live like that!” “Fancy being a freelance consultant and designer, huh?” “Well, yes.” He smirked. He was clearly proud of it too. “I don’t think I am enterprising enough to get to-” I began saying but stopped when I heard the front door open. Simmering the flame, I left the kitchen immediately. Surely enough, Hikaru-nii had come in. And along with him came the smell o

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

Nineteen

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

Twenty

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

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