Chapter 20: What Are Friends For?

"N-Nani?" I can't help but sputter—very rude on my part, but I haven't been expecting another one after all this time. And without warning, too!

"Oh, Kaname." Ukyo pokes his head around the corner, a towel draped over his arm. "You're back early."

"Aah. There the temple was quiet today, so the boss let me off early. Good thing he did if it means I get to dine with a beautiful lady like yourself." This guy—Kaname—leans down toward me, a sugary smile plastered across his face. It's frightening.

"How many more are there?" I blurt out.

It takes Kaname by surprise, but it quickly gives way to laughter. "I take it you've met the others, then, Miss Beautiful Young Lady? I do hope no one's been rude to you. All women must be treated with respect like the queens they are."

From "lady" to "queen", huh? I wonder what line of work he's in. He may be dressed like a monk, but he reminds me more of a host. Are there Buddhist-themed host clubs, by chance?

"I'm only staying here until I can find a place," I say bluntly. "Until then, please ignore me."

Kaname frowns. "How could I ever ignore such a beautiful lady staying under my roof? I take it that you're the lovely Mai-chan who is my imouto-chan's beloved friend?"

"That's right," Ema says. I hope she meant the "friend" part.

"I'm Tsukiyo Mai. You call call me Tsukiyo."

"Ehh? So I'm getting the Tsun-chan* treatment." Kaname strokes his chin in thought. "I suppose I'll have to up my game. No matter. All men love a worthy challenge in love."

The disgust must have leaked into my face, but Kaname seems to find it amusing.

To avoid any further harassment I retreat back into the kitchen, wishing I could hide behind Ukyo for the rest of the night. I'm starting to wonder how he deals with all these brothers all the time.

"Sorry about him, Mai-san." Ukyo pinches the bridge of his nose and grimaces. "Believe it or not, he's supposed to be a monk."

A sketchy monk, I gather.

"Kyo-nii, you know that some monks are allowed to get married."

"Really? I never would have guessed."

I sigh. "I should really move out soon."

"Oh? Passing judgement on a first impression?" Kaname shakes his head wistfully. "You wound me, Fair Mai-chan."

"Don't say my name like that."

Ema, who's been watching this exchange worriedly, cuts in and announces that dinner is ready. With a wink in our direction Kaname heads upstairs to change. He passes the other brothers as they gather for dinner, and thankfully he doesn't sit next to me. Ema and Ukyo spare me from the honour.

After helping to wash up I retreat back to the room. I'm sure that Ema's brothers are much nicer to guests outside the house whom they hardly know. One of the Asahina brothers must have mentioned me to Kaname, since he didn't treat me like a stranger. I kind of wish they'd said nothing now.

I check my phone again, and to my delight the real estate guy has emailed me back. The viewing is in two days, so with any luck I'll be out of here before any more brothers show up. I can hold my own against one Tsubaki and Fuuto, but Kaname might be the boss level. Sucks that I've also never been good around the flirty types.

I let Ema know that I'm going out for the viewing, and she expresses interest in coming along.

"Are you sure? It'll be after my shift at work." I end later that day, too.

Ema nods. "It's really no trouble at all. I'd like to go with you."

It would be more fun with two, and since it's later in the day I might feel safer on my way back, so I agree.

With the date settled, I collapse into bed, anticipating nightmares of flirty men in monks' clothes.

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The tour starts off well enough. The real estate guy is very nice and he answers all of my questions. Ema is impressed by what you can find on the housing market in terms of rentals. Noting this, the agent asks Ema if she'd like to look for a place herself. She politely declines, saying she'd like to stay with her family.

"What did you think?" Ema asks me. After the tour we've hit a coffee shop and stopped for drinks. We have classes early tomorrow, so we're enjoying the free time while it lasts.

"It was a nice place," I say.

Ema tilts her head. "But?"

She knows me too well. "I looked at the format of the rental contract and it's not up to standard."

"What do you mean?"

"The formatting wasn't right," I explain. There are certain standards and guidelines for rental contracts depending on where you live. While not all contracts are created equally, the most trustworthy will be up to code. I learned that the hard way.

Ema nods in understanding. "I see. Will you try to find a different place?"

"I'll have to. No way am I making the same mistake again." I slurp down some of my drink. "I don't have much on me right now, but there were some other student rentals available a bit further from campus."

"Will the transportation be alright?"

"It should be fine. I might have to get up a little earlier, but it's no big deal. If it's a problem I can just camp out on campus for late or early classes." I've seen other students do it where they can find an unsuspicious place to sleep. Some people even learn to sleep sitting up.

Ema tries to hide her worry with a smile. "Well, please let me know the next time you have a tour. I'd love to see what other rental places are like."

"Are you really not thinking of moving out?"

Her mouth hangs open, momentarily stunned by the question. "I-It's not that. It's just..."

"Ema?" I ask gently. "I know we haven't been friends for a long time, but I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. You've always helped me when I needed it, no matter how silly the situations were."

I recall the time I tripped on my shoelace in the lecture hall and knocked a professor. I'd spent a good five minutes bowing in apology. Ema was kind to stay behind and help me gather up the fallen papers, since the prof's back wasn't feeling up to it that day. We all ended up late to our next classes, but Ema smiled throughout it all, repeatedly telling me that it was alright. 

What are friends for?

"So if there's something on your mind, I'm here." I set my drink down and meet her gaze.

Ema's the one who invited me to stay when I didn't have a place. She went shopping with me while she could have been studying for herself. She went on a house tour with me even though it's not close to her place. And she helped me feel at home at hers, never having even hinted about a deadline for me moving out. All without asking anything in return.

Asahina Ema is kind to everyone, but I worry that in doing so she neglects herself.

And sadly, I've been so caught up in my own issues lately that I haven't been paying Ema much attention.

So even if she doesn't want to talk about her troubles right now, I want her to know that I'm here for her.

"On another note, my parents are thinking of coming to the city this summer to visit. They want me to take them on a tour, though I'm still coming up with ideas." I change the subject, hoping to lighten the suddenly heavy atmosphere.

Ema stares down at her drink and doesn't say anything for a long time. She bites her lip, as though wanting to say something but deciding against it.

It seems she doesn't want to talk at all, but the fact that she's thinking about it must mean that she would like to someday.

I smile. "I'm glad we're friends, Ema-chan."

Apparently, that was the "okay" that she needed.

"Actually, Mai-chan—"