Chapter 40: Rough Luck and Setting Off

To avoid any more awkwardness, I busy myself with making the tea and checking on the side dishes. My stomach growls as if in agreement. Food is the most important thing here. 

But it really is weird hanging out with your best friend's brother... Ema-chan, where are youuuu???

The tea boils and I step away from the onions to begin steeping. I drop a few teabags into the pot and set it on the counter.

I feel more at ease now that we're doing our own separate jobs. Natsume and I get dinner all ready to go, and by the time the plates are steaming hot on the dining table Ema and Yusuke return from school.

"Welcome back," I call toward the elevator.

"We're home," Ema responds. She quickly moves to the kitchen. Her expression is apologetic, and her face is flushed as though she's been running.

"I'm so sorry we're late. The train was delayed, so we had to take a different one. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." She bows her head, her eyes screwed shut.

"It's fine," I say, trying to assuage her guilt. "Natsume-san arrived, so he offered to help make dinner for when you and Yusuke came back."

I gesture over to the dining room.

"Dinner's ready," Natsume says in a flat voice. He emerges holding a stack of empty bowls.

I stifle a laugh. The image of him wearing the kawaii cat apron and holding rice bowls completely reminds me of Ukyo, but unlike the elder Asahina, Natsume wears a deep frown. If I'd only just met him I'd have worried he hated me. As he's been like this ever since I first met him, I can't help but wonder if that is his normal resting face.

I wonder what he'd look like if he smiled while wearing the cat apron?

The term "Nyatsume" pops into my head, but it's so embarrassing that I force myself to forget it.

I clear my throat. "You and Yusuke-kun must be hungry, ne, Ema-chan? Let's eat first. Natsume-san says he needs to be back at the office in an hour, anyway."

"Ah!" Ema's eyes widen. "I'm so sorry, Natsume-san. I forgot that you were in the middle of your transfer. We'll eat quickly, ne, Yusuke-kun?"

"Yeah." Yusuke comes up from behind her, his hands dug into his pockets.

The two of them sit down at the table to eat, and Natsume and I take the liberty of serving them. Yusuke accepts it well enough, while Ema looks uncomfortable. She's used to standing up with us and helping her family, but I'm glad she's letting me help serve this time. It'll be my last night at the Asahina residence, so it's the least I can do to say thanks. 

Ema carries the conversation over dinner. She asks Natsume how he's doing and how work is going, and such. Natsume's eyes soften as he answers. He really is sweet on his sister. The same can't exactly be said for his brother, though. 

Yusuke adds his own questions about his new job to the mix, and Natsume replies with what can only be described as a business demeanour, like he's giving a report or something. Yusuke doesn't seem to mind. In fact, he leans in, clearly interested in his brother's career.

It occurs to me that Yusuke might be thinking about his future job as well. We're only in our first year of university, but time moves so fast that we'll be graduating before we know it. I don't even want to think about applying to full time jobs. Securing a part time position was stressful enough.

Once dinner is over everyone helps clean up. The process is quick, lasting only a few minutes long. Natsume sneaks a peek at his watch again.

"We should get going."

With the guys offering to help carry the boxes, all Ema and I need to do is take a plastic bag with hygiene products (Yusuke blushed and nearly passed out when he saw those boxes) and my backpack, which carries my school supplies.

The four of us lock up and head downstairs. Neither Ukyo nor Masaomi are back yet, as Ema keeps checking her phone for news. She does end up messaging to let them know that Natsume is helping us out, in case they come home and wonder what happened.

On our way out we pass Wataru, who rushes to the front doors upon seeing us.

"I'm not too late, am I?" He wheezes from running. Ema pats his shoulder gently as he catches his breath.

"Why don't you have dinner first?" she suggests. "We're heading out now, and you have homework to do, don't you, Wataru-chan?"

Wataru pouts. "I can do that stuff later. I wanted to help out, too."

"Would Masaomi-san be alright with you staying up late to do homework?" Ema wonders. "We don't know how long we'll be at Mai-chan's, you know."

"That's fine. I'm prepared to pull an all-nighter so I can help!" He pats his chest, looking every bit as inspired as he was earlier.

I refrain from commenting this time, since it's not my place to tell Wataru what to do. If he wants to come along, I'd say we should let him. He can learn for himself what his limits are, and the consequences, for that matter.

Ema remains unconvinced, no doubt her big sister instincts kicking in. Yusuke adds that Masaomi will be mad if Wataru gets home too late to do his homework. The younger Asahina glances between his older siblings, facing a question for the ages: go out and have fun, or stay in and do work.

Wataru pouts. "But I wanted to help you guys out. And this'll be the last time Mai-chan stays here, so I won't see her again."

Ema's firm expression twitches. She and I go to the same school, so we can see each other often. Yusuke, too. Meanwhile, Wataru and I only gamed while I happened to be here. I can't imagine that we'll initiate hanging out again. He is the younger brother of my friend, after all.

"I-I didn't know you liked hanging out with Mai-chan so much."

Noting her hesitation, Wataru presses on.

"Plus, you said that if I got back on time I could go with you, Onee-chan. Or is it that you don't think I'll be able to help?" 

He tucks his hands behind his back and stares at her pleadingly. His pouting face looks rather cute, but it completely contrasts with his earlier attempts to act all serious and grown up. 

I look away, leaving Ema as she struggles between wanting to grant her cute little brother's wish and wanting to be a responsible older sister for him. If only Shin put as much effort into asking me for favours; I might actually want to help him once and a while.

"Wataru. . ."

"There isn't much to carry, so we won't be long," Natsume says, speaking up for the first time in this conversation. He fixes Wataru with a hard stare. "Besides, I have to go back to the office after, so you'll be riding the train back late."

Wataru blinks as he processes this. That means he'll eat late, too. 

"Taking the train back is no problem at all. I know the way home," he replies. He meets Natsume's gaze without flinching, and the brothers seem to exchange some kind of understanding. 

"Wha . . . You're not giving us a ride back???" Yusuke's jaw drops. Apparently, he didn't realize. 

"Yeah. Natsume-san has work," I say. "We should probably head out soon so he can get back." I turn to Ema. "I don't mind if Wataru-kun comes with us, but it's not my place to say. I'm going to bring my stuff over to the car, so if you guys need another minute to decide..."

Ema bites her lip. "Well, I did promise he could come if he got back home in time..."

From behind, Natsume hums. "If you want to come along, you can, Wataru. I don't mind, but it's your responsibility to tell Masa-nii and Kyo-nii. Don't complain to us if you get in trouble for it later."

His bluntness startles Wataru for a split second, but it's not long before his serious expression is back. He clenches his fists and nods. "I'm okay with that."

"Alright, then." Natsume nods as well, and the deal is struck. Now Wataru won't be able to complain if he gets in trouble later. I can relate to Natsume's cutthroat attitude here; being an older sibling means you're supposed to look after your younger sibling, but sometimes there's only so much you can do... or want to do. At some point they have to start taking care of themselves. 

Wataru offers to take the bag Ema is holding, and after a few prompts she surrenders it with a kind smile. 

"Thank you, Wataru-chan."

The youngest Asahina pouts as Ema walks around to the back of the car with Yusuke. Once she's out of earshot I hear him mutter, "You still don't see me as a man, huh?"

I feel like I heard something I shouldn't have, so I resolve to forget it. Besides, Natsume is calling. 

"Is that all the stuff you have?" he asks.

I nod. "I'll pick up anything else I need after I move."

"Okay, then." Natsume climbs into the driver's seat and gestures for me to take the passenger seat. I hop in next to him as the Asahina siblings finish up in the back. 

"I want to sit in the middle this time," Wataru says. He squeezes past Yusuke and claims the middle seat seconds later. Yusuke lets him, though he seems a bit put out that he can't sit beside Ema. 

Rough luck, Yusuke-kun.

In my head I silently sympathize with him. At this point Ema will never hear Yusuke's feelings, much less start dating him if he doesn't tell her how he feels. 

While Yusuke isn't having any luck, Natsume locks the doors and wet set off. Once we hit the road I find myself feeling thankful that Wataru came along after all. Having another person to break the awkwardness proves a boon. Otherwise, the conversation might have immediately turned to how I basically asked Natsume if I could come over to his place. 

Take a page out of Wataru-kun's book, Yusuke-kun, but don't make the same mistake I did or Ema-chan might think you're the weird one!

It's a good thing that after tonight I'll probably never see any of the Asahina brothers aside from Yusuke again. And with any luck, Natsume will be too busy with work to remember a one-off comment I made by mistake!