Chapter 17: Little Brat

A few of days later I wake feeling like I've been living in Sunrise Residence for a while, like I'd never lived at my flooded place. 

I've yet to hear back on the inquiry I've made to the landlord, and my search for a new place has yielded a couple of fruitless house tours. The apartments themselves are pretty alright, it's just that some of them aren't meant for students, but rather adults who have full-time jobs and can be expected to pay bigger bills.

With a sigh, I close my laptop, having fried my brain binge-writing my essay. I'll print it out on campus when I go for evening classes tonight, but until then I'm taking a break from electronics.

I plonk back on the bed... and then pull out my phone.

I'm surprised to see a text from Ema. Usually when something's up she just comes down to meet me. 

Like last night when she was up studying she asked if I wanted coffee. I'm not so much a coffee person as I am a coffee jelly person, but I was happy to have an excuse to take a break from doing work. We ended up having a nice tea and chat around midnight. I hope we weren't too loud, but considering the vastness of the house, I think we're good.

I open the text, which reads:

E: How is your essay coming along? I'm almost done! Louis-san asked if we'd be okay to meet up later today. I'll wait for your reply before responding to him.

This is followed by a (＾＾)b

How cute!

I text back: Sure. I'm done my essay and will be printing it out later. What time is he thinking?

E: Around 1pm if that's okay? I'll send you the address. It's at the park, so Juli's coming along as well. 

E: Ah, and don't forget to bring a hat. It's really sunny out today!

Do I even have a sunhat? I rummage through my clothes. 

Just as I thought, no hat. Eh. I can tough it out. I haven't spent all those years playing outside without sunscreen for nothing!

I change into a simple pair of grey calf-length leggings and blue shirt that comes down to my mid-thigh. It's a bit of a casual look, but I don't feel like dressing up super pretty right now. My brain is in cool-down mode. 

I shoulder my sling pack and leave the unit, figuring to meet Ema at her room.

As I lock up, I hear one of the doors close further down in the hallway. 

This is followed by a, "Who the hell are you? You're not one of Tsuba-nii's girlfriends, are you? Or, wait, don't tell me you're of of those crazy fangirls. You know breaking and entering is a crime, right?"

I turn to see the brown-pink haired boy who was duking it out with Yusuke when I first came. I don't like the condescending tone he's using, but I better not rile him up.

"I'm Ema's friend," I say evenly. "I don't know if you've heard, but they're letting me stay here until I can find a new place. You must be one of the Asahina brothers."

He places a hand on his hip and leans back casually. "Of course I am. Why else would I be in this house?" 

I feel my eye twitch in annoyance.

"What's. You're. Name?" I ask as evenly as I can.

He crosses his arms. "Isn't it rude to ask for my name when you haven't introduced yourself? Pft. Who knew my nee-chan's friends would be so brash."

I think it's that smirk that's really starting to piss me off. Now that I think about it, he's got the kind of face that most girls would fawn over. If he tried smiling genuinely he might actually be a heartthrob.

Narrowing my eyes, I retort, "Well, you're the host. Unless you haven't got a name?"

"Of course I have a name," he says hotly. "I'm Fuuto. You may have heard of me."

I tilt my head, completely ignorant. Am I supposed to know who he is?

Wait. That hair... 

"Hah! Are you that guy from the cat commercial?" I realize. 

I remember seeing a guy with his hair colour advertising for a new brand of premium cat food. He was holding this adorable calico wearing a black bowtie (ah, the cat was wearing the bow, not the boy).

He–Fuuto–narrows his eyes in irritation. "Well, I was in a Nyan-Nyan Foods commercial, but that's not what I meant. Do you live under a rock or something? Or are you just a total idiot?"

Baka?

Is he trying to pick a fight with me? That little...

Then I think back to Yusuke's brawl. 

Oh yeah. He's probably a little brat. 

He must also not like the idea of having to share the house with another person, much less a girl. That would explain why he's being so... assertive? 

No, aggressive. Definitely aggressive.

I sigh. "Sorry, I'm not good at following the trends. I'll look you up next time."

"Hmph, you do that." Fuuto turns up his nose. "It'll be good for you to know whose house you're freeloading at."

I grit my teeth under my tightly pressed lips. 

Don't get angry, Mai. Don't let it bother you. You've dealt with worse insults from your brother. Shin's once called you a stinking turd sundae.

And besides, Fuuto's not entirely wrong.

"Hai, hai, I'm looking for a place," I tell him. "Then I'll be out of your hair and all that." 

I pause, feeling a smirk coming on. 

Do I dare provoke him further?

"By the way, who won the fight?" I ask before I can stop myself.

Yes. Yes I do dare.

"Hah?" Fuuto says, puzzled.

"The one you and Yusuke-kun were having a few days ago? Something about a shirt, and messing up your hair? It looked pretty intense if you had to take it to another room. Must've been a hard fight if you were up against Yusuke-kun."

I say this, knowing that Yusuke is the athletic type.

Fuuto grits his teeth and scowls. "That's none of your business. What are you, my stalker?"

"Nah, you were being so loud it was hard not to hear."

"Huh. My nee-chan's guest is a eavesdropping stalker." Fuuto turns his nose in the other direction.

I could respond, but I'd rather not waste any more of my time talking to him. 

Brother 10 on my list turned out to be a little prick. You weren't wrong, Yusuke.

"Hai, hai, stalker, stocker.*" I turn and wave my hand in dismissal. 

Thankfully, Fuuto doesn't follow me, though I hear him mutter something unintelligible. Heh, he must want the last word. How funny. It shouldn't make me laugh, but I think it's a victory.

But seriously, if Fuuto was my younger brother then I would've fought him, too. 

Yusuke, you've had it rough. And you've got eleven more of them, too.