Episode Twenty-Five: Oh — Was I Not Invited?
“Yui-san’s out having dinner with her father today… I think she’ll be back soon. If you’d like, would you care for some coffee inside while you wait?”
The words slipped out before I fully thought it through, and I’d already invited him in by the time I remembered — Yui-san had grumbled, pointedly, that she’d absolutely never let me meet her brother.
Winning back her ruined mood after that conversation had genuinely taken real effort.
Refusing to let go of me for the rest of the night, Yui-san had launched into an exhaustive rundown of exactly how popular Yukiya-san was with women, how much competition I’d be up against, how much trouble it’d cause if I ever fell for him, that I really shouldn’t bother — an endless stream of discouragement.
That’s basically just describing yourself, Yui-san — I’d nearly said it, but wanting her mood to improve as fast as possible, I’d let it slide and just listened quietly instead.
And now, that same notorious brother of hers was standing right in front of me.
*
Stepping into the living room, Yukiya-san took a seat at the dining table instead of the sofa. Apparently the sofa was “Yui’s throne, and she hates it when other people sit there.”
Huh, I hadn’t known that. I always sit in Yui-san’s favorite spot without a second thought, and she’s never once said anything about it.
“Yukiya-san. Is black okay?”
I called from the kitchen, and he nodded, smiling, yes, thank you.
I brewed Yui-san’s favorite blend. Glancing at the clock, it was getting close to nine.
It wouldn’t be strange at all if Yui-san walked in any minute now.
While making the coffee, I stole glances at Yukiya-san. His black hair, clearly unbothered by dye, was the exact same shade as Yui-san’s. His whole look radiated a kind of clean, refreshing wholesomeness.
Tall, too, on top of it. Since Yui-san’s tall herself, I’d figured her brother might be too.
No wonder Yui-san had gone on that much about him — Yukiya-san really was, unmistakably, the kind of person who’d be terrifyingly popular.
“Here you go.”
I set the coffee down in front of him.
“Thanks. Sorry for waiting on you like this — I should’ve actually checked Yui’s schedule ahead of time.”
“No, not at all — I’ve heard a lot about you from Yui-san, so I’m glad to finally meet you.”
“I’m glad too. Just like Yui said, you really are cute. So, how’s it going with her? Having fun?”
There it is. The Ichinose bloodline. That same flirtatious streak.
Called cute so suddenly, held under his direct gaze, I didn’t know how to respond and let my eyes wander, and Yukiya-san laughed, soft.
“Yes, thanks to her… Yui-san’s really been wonderful to me, always.”
I decided not to mention the one fight we’d had. At that, Yukiya-san took a sip of coffee and smiled, pleased.
“Good to hear you’re getting along well. Come to think of it… do Dad and Yui actually see each other that often?”
“They seem to have dinner together about once a month. Someone from the company joins too, she said.”
“Someone from the company…? Ah — Shinji, probably.”
—Shinji?
I’d completely forgotten about it, and yet the moment I heard that name, the memory came flooding back.
That phone call in the car, on the way home from the aquarium. The name displayed on the nav screen — I was almost certain it had been Kitagami Shinji.
Who was he, exactly? Yukiya-san must have noticed the anxious look on my face, because he laughed.
“Ah, you’ve heard about it from Yui, maybe? That Dad and I don’t get along?”
“Um… yes.”
Terrifyingly perceptive too, just like Yui-san. Siblings really are something, I thought. Yukiya-san really is remarkably similar to her.
“…Does it bother Yui, after all?”
What do I say. I hesitated, unsure whether it would be better to just plainly say yes, it bothers her or not, and my gaze wandered, uncertain.
Saying it doesn’t bother her would be a lie. She’d said, herself, how hard it was, having her father and brother at odds. It’d obviously be better for Yui-san if the two of them got along.
But the fact that Yui-san’s never once pushed either her brother or her father toward reconciliation must mean there’s some reason behind it.
“…I’m not sure, honestly. I’d have to ask Yui-san herself to really know…”
In the end, I gave a vague, noncommittal answer. Which basically amounts to saying yes, it does bother her.
Even by my own standards, I’m hopeless with words. I could hardly believe myself.
“Ha, I see. That’s fair. Sorry for putting you in an awkward spot.”
Yukiya-san said it, laughing. If he knew it would put me in an awkward spot, I wish he hadn’t asked in the first place. That, too, was exactly like something Yui-san would do.
Truly, every last detail about them matches.
But — even held under Yukiya-san’s gaze, even called cute by him, I felt none of that tight, clenching sensation in my chest the way I did with Yui-san.
Was that because he simply had no romantic interest in me?
“…Yui’s always been the understanding type, even as a kid. Never once acted spoiled or selfish. Doesn’t seem like that’s changed much, even now.”
I could sort of imagine that, I thought. Lately Yui-san’s started showing jealousy, sulking a little, being more honest about her feelings than before — but even now, there’s still so much more I don’t understand about what’s going on in her head than what I do.
“She never really complains, which honestly worries me all the time. I wish Yui could live a lot more freely.”
Freely. What did that mean, exactly. Free from being bound to their father? Or something else?
I stared steadily into his eyes. Those deep-colored eyes gave nothing away, no readable emotion at all — even in that, so identical to Yui-san.
Did Yukiya-san know? That Yui-san likes women?
Just because she doesn’t hide it at university doesn’t necessarily mean the same is true with her family.
In fact, her own father almost certainly doesn’t know.
What should I even say back to that. Just as I hesitated, unsure, a sudden sound from the entryway made me straighten up sharply.
“Kanata? Is someone here?”
Yui-san was home. Her voice, sounding faintly displeased, must have already spotted Yukiya-san’s shoes by the door.
I scrambled to my feet, heading for the door connecting the hallway to the living room. But before I could open it, it swung open hard from the other side.
“Yui, welcome home.”
Yui-san’s face went startled, glancing back and forth between me, frozen awkwardly mid-step, and Yukiya-san.
“W-welcome home, Yui-san…”
Apparently piecing the situation together, Yui-san paused for a beat, then let a faintly displeased expression settle over her face.
“…Why is Yuki-nii here?”
“Came to celebrate your birthday… oh, was I not invited?”
Yukiya-san stood and gently held out the bouquet he’d left on the table.
“Happy twenty-first birthday.”
“…Thanks. But next time, text me before you come over.”
“Sorry, sorry, wanted it to be a surprise.”
Yui-san let out a small sigh, and then smiled, visibly relieved. I’d worried, for a second, that things might turn into a real argument, seeing her displeased expression — but it seemed my concern had been unfounded.
“Oh, quite the nice thing you got there.”
Yukiya-san noticed the pale blue paper bag hanging from Yui-san’s hand and said it, teasing.
I recognized instantly, too, that it was a bag from a luxury jewelry brand.
“That from Dad… nah, probably not. Shinji?”
“Doesn’t matter who it’s from, none of your business, Yuki-nii.”
Shinji — that name again. Who on earth was he? Something unsettled churned deep in my chest. It’s her birthday today — why would someone from the company be involved at all?
“So cold. And here I brought you a present too.”
“Isn’t this it? The flowers?”
Yui-san glanced down at the bouquet in her hand, tilting her head. At that, Yukiya-san slipped a hand into his jacket’s inner pocket.
“No way. The real one’s this.”
What he pulled out was a thick, pure white envelope, tied with a ribbon.
“Ta-da. Travel vouchers. Go somewhere with Kanata-chan sometime, on me.”
Judging by its thickness, it looked like it held a considerable amount. Yui-san took it without hesitation, smiling.
“Really? I’m so happy. Thanks, Yuki-nii.”
“You’re welcome. College life feels long but it’s actually short, so enjoy it while it lasts. Alright, I should head out now. Kanata-chan, go ahead and give Yui a proper birthday celebration after this.”
He said it, smiling at me, and I nodded, small. Yukiya-san seemed to have somehow figured out I’d been preparing for Yui-san’s birthday.
“Oh, right, one more thing… Kanata-chan, mind giving me your contact info? Just in case something comes up down the line.”
Asked that, Yukiya-san pulled out his phone, and, following his lead, I pulled mine out of my pocket too.
Right as I pulled up my chat app’s QR code to show him, there was a soft thud, and at the same moment, Yui-san’s palm slapped down over my phone screen, stopping me cold.
“Eh…?”
Yukiya-san and I both looked down, toward where the sound had come from.
The pale blue paper bag lay tossed on the floor. That must have been the sound of it dropping.
Her hands full with the bouquet and the paper bag both, Yui-san had apparently let go of the bag to grab my phone instead.
Faced with a choice between dropping Yukiya-san’s flowers or the luxury brand accessory, choosing without a moment’s hesitation to fling the accessory aside — that’s so exactly like Yui-san.
Smiling, her palm still pressed flat over my phone screen, Yui-san said it.
“Don’t worry, Yuki-nii. If anything comes up, I’ll be the one to contact you.”
Something in that smile carried a pressure that left no room for argument, and I found myself catching my breath. Yukiya-san glanced between my face and Yui-san’s, then smiled, gentle.
“That so? Well… fair enough.”
Yukiya-san picked up the paper bag Yui-san had tossed aside and set it gently on the edge of the sofa.
“The present didn’t do anything wrong, you know. Take care of it. It probably cost a lot — treat it too coldly and Shinji’s going to cry.”
Noticing my restless, anxious expression, Yukiya-san turned to me.
“Ah, you haven’t met Shinji, have you, Kanata-chan? He’s…”
“Yuki-nii’s childhood friend. Son of the managing director at Dad’s company.”
Yui-san cut him off, sighing as she said it.
“That’s enough already… I don’t want to talk about Shinji, not even on my birthday.”
She spat it out, clearly displeased, and Yukiya-san laughed, yeah, fair, me neither. Apparently both siblings had a mutual dislike for this “Kitagami Shinji” character.
“Alright, I really will head out now. See you both — Yui, Kanata-chan.”
Having had only a single cup of coffee and staying only briefly, Yukiya-san left.
He’d probably carved this visit out of a busy schedule, and though Yui-san’s expression stayed faintly displeased, she also looked, unmistakably, a little happy underneath it.