Chapter 9: Lots of Brothers

"Yeah," Yusuke adds. He's been quiet until now. "You were being all gushy and gross when Ema-san first came." 

Yusuke sounds particularly annoyed by this. I can't blame him. Imagine having your older brother get overly friendly with your classmate. That must've been super weird.

"Oh, he was probably just excited about gaining a new family member," Ema defends, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Eh, he deserved it." Yusuke shoots a glare across the table to Tsubaki.

"What's with the judgy stare?" 

"You tried to do the same with Mai-san, didn't you?" Yusuke accuses. "Hmph. You haven't changed, Tsuba-nii."

"Ehh? I totally have! I didn't hug Tsukiyo Mai-chan this time!"

"Why are you even calling her by her full name?"

"Ah, dear Tsukiyo Mai-chan says I can't use her given name." I can't tell if he's genuinely sad about it or not.

"Aren't you still using her given name?" Azusa mutters.

Yusuke rolls his eyes. "You probably said something weird again."

Azusa coughs. "He did."

"Well, maybe calm down a little and I'll let you call me Mai," I say flatly.

Tsubaki smacks his hands on the table. "Really? Well, since you're staying here a while there's plenty of time to get to know each other, ne, Ema-chan?" He looks to his sister.

Ema simply smiles. "We'll be doing schoolwork, but we'll come downstairs in the evenings."

"Ah, that's right, I heard that you're staying on the third floor," says Iori. "Tsubaki-niisan and Azusa-niisan were cleaning it out earlier."

"There was a lot of stuff in there," notes Azusa. "Since when did you have a giant stuffed avocado, anyway?"

Tsubaki leans back in his chair. "You remember that cute dessert cafe we did a shoot at?"

"Ah," Azusa remembers. "Well, keep it in your room now. Mai-san needs the space."

"Arigatou," I say. "Sorry to intrude on your place."

"Don't worry about it," Azusa shakes his head. "Tsubaki was in bad need of cleaning his room, anyway. It was a good chance to get rid of some of the things he doesn't need. He also has the extra room on our floor to store things."

Let me just get this straight. The room I'm currently living in was used as a storage room? I get that guests should be thankful to their hosts, but I feel like I just learned something I didn't need to know.

"I'm sorry to hear about your house," says Iori. He speaks so calmly compared to Tsubaki. He might even give Azusa a run for his money.

"Iie, iie, it's fine," I say. "Thank you, though. Ema and you all have been very kind to let me stay."

"Ehh? I heard that your whole apartment got flooded!" Tsubaki jumps back into the conversation. "Were you up to your neck in water?"

"I wasn't there at all when it happened."

"That's a relief," says Iori. "Hopefully they're able to fix everything so you can return. Ah, I don't mean to sound like I'm kicking you out. You're welcome to stay as long as you want."

"I understand," I say. "Thank you."

The meal goes on. The Asahina brothers seem to have a lot to talk about. Most of it is Ukyo asking everyone how their day has been. The rest is Wataru asking Ema, Yusuke, and I about school (and hair dyeing, though Yusuke never actually admits his hair is dyed). The twins discuss their work, and Iori silently observes everyone.

When dinner is done Azusa sets his spoon down. "Thank you for the meal. Tsubaki, we should go over the lines again."

"Hai, let's go. Thanks for the food."

The twins go back upstairs, Azusa coming back only briefly to take his and Tsubaki's plates to the counter. Ukyo seems grateful at this.

Iori finishes next, silently pushing his chair back in and adding his plate to the pile. "Thanks for the food." And he's gone.

"Well," I say in the silence. "I guess we clean up now."

"Un," says Ema.

"I-I'll help too," Yusuke adds quietly.

Ema and I help Ukyo clear away the rest of the plates. Wataru hangs around to help. He's put on dishes duty with me while Ema and Yusuke help Ukyo put the leftovers in containers. Curry always tastes better after a day or two.

Once that's done, Ukyo ushers Wataru back upstairs. "Time for homework," says Ukyo.

"Aww, but I wanted to stay and talk to Onee-chan and Mai-chan!" Wataru complains.

"After you finish your homework," Ukyo orders. "Besides, those two are going out shopping now."

"But I can go too and help them carry things!"

"Yusuke will go if he has the time."

Yusuke shoves his hands into his pockets. "Y-Yeah. I can help." He avoids looking at Ema as he says this.

Is it obvious he has a crush on her? 

Yes. Yes, it is.

Is that weird? Well, also yes. It could be argued that since they're step-siblings and that Ema's adopted it's less weird, but who am I to judge them? They did know each other before becoming family, after all.

Poor Yusuke probably agonizes over it every day.

"If you're out late, feel free to call and I'll come pick you up," Ukyo reminds us. He and Wataru disappear up the stairs.

"Hai," Ema says. Turning to Yusuke. "Thanks for saying you'll come with us. I think Mai-chan has a lot of things she has to replace, so it's a big help."

Yusuke blushes. "U-Un."

I'm pretty sure that Ema knows he likes her as well.

"I was hoping the others might be available to help, too, just in case we needed a ride, but the three of us should be fine. Masaomi-san says he might be free later, so I'll text him when we're done."

On second thought, Ema is as dense as they come.

"Well." I clap my hands together. "Let's get going."

Before we leave Ema lends me a change of clothes so I don't have to go in my fur-covered shirt and pants. I wish I had grabbed my spare clothes from my locker at the cat café, but it's too late to go back now.

I would have worn my own clothes, since Masaomi brought them up to my new room. However, he left a note saying that since they were damp he's put them in the washer and dryer overnight. 

How thoughtful of him! I'll have to thank him later.

The clothes Ema lends me are a pair of dark leggings and a cute spaghetti-sleeve green romper and white shirt. 

"Ah, my other sweater is in the wash," Ema realizes. She only has one other covering, and she's probably thinking of giving it to me. 

It will probably be cool out tonight, and there's no way I'm letting her go out with bare arms.

Yusuke seems to think the same. "Wait here," he says. He disappears into his room down the hall from mine. Moments later he returns with a blue sweatshirt with white stripes. It looks like a track sweater.

"Here," he says, shoving the sweater over to me. "You can borrow it for tonight. Ema-san, you wear yours. It'll be cold out."

Did I mention his face now matches his hair?

It's kind of cute.

"Thanks." I put on Yusuke's sweater and zip it up. It reminds me of my own favourite sweater, a royal blue covering to match my hair.

"Let's go." And we head downstairs.