Letting out a sigh I wondered down a street, trying to find Meiji University. My eyes darted towards every sign I saw but there was still no sign of the school anywhere. "Why did you have to forget your things, Subaru?" I moaned while adjusting the sports bag on my shoulder trying to prevent my arms and back from aching. I don't understand what he could even be carrying in it to make it this heavy but it seemed like Subaru thoroughly enjoyed carrying bricks around.
I carried on walking around a corner as I glanced down at the map I had up on my phone, even though this whole event was rather annoying I guess it had it's benefits since I would know where Meiji was if I ever came to it next year.
I glanced around some more, looking confused before I saw some Meiji University students. There was a possibility that if I went up to them and asked them to show me the way they would, but just from looking at them I began to feel uneasy. It was easy to tell that they already towered above me and they looked to be already enjoying their conversation so I didn't exactly want to interrupt. It would be okay though right? I was just asking directions... I'm sure it's fine.
After cursing mentally at myself I straightened my back and made my way towards them. If I didn't ask them where the hell their school was then there was no way I would be able to give Subaru his belongings. I coughed to gain their attention and when they turned to me I instantly shrunk into myself. It was only at that moment that I realised that they were wearing basketball jerseys.
"Umm, Hiya. was wondering how I get to Meiji?" I asked them shyly with an awkward smile on my face. Truth be told I don't know why I was so nervous, I think when I'm surrounded by a group of older guys who I didn't know and could easily crush me with their pinkies I don't feel that comfortable. Not surprising really. "I'm looking to give this to someone in the basketball team." I added lifting up the heavy bag with both hands and quickly regretting the decision as my muscles yelled in refusal.
A guy sporting brown hair smiled at me, his blue eyes gleamed under the sunlight. "We're about to go there, wanna join us?" He offered, to which I nodded my head vigorously and smiled back at him.
I continued walking with them. Which may I say walking with 4 guys who are really tall and also attractive, brings quite a bit of attention. Just imagine a girl who is around 5'4 walking with four guys who are over 6'0. It is very noticeable and I mean VERY noticeable. Letting out a sigh I gazed up at the sky as I thought about the situation I had gotten myself into, and since I'm the biggest klutz I had to go and trip over Subaru's sports bag. I was quickly caught by a guy with red hair and blue eyes, with the quick impact I let out a small embarrassing squeak.
"Aha, good catch," I said awkwardly giving him a sheepish smile. He only smiled at my comment and lifted me up.
"I just realised, you never got our names," The redhead said: "Im Kotaro, he's Itsuki." Kotaro introduced himself and a guy with brown eyes and black hair tied into a small ponytail; I nodded to say hello and Kotaro continued by pointing at the guy with brown hair who invited me to walk with them.
"That's Kyo and last but, not least Shiro." He added firstly pointing at a handsome blonde and then throwing an arm over a guy with brown hair. As I looked at them both I realised that he shared Kotaro's and I eye colour, bright blue eyes.
Shiro and Kotaro's appearances were of striking similarity, well besides the fact that Kotaro had red hair and Shiro had brown. But I guessed that they were brothers. After coming back to reality I realised that I had been staring for a bit too long without saying a word. "Oh, Im Aiko." I replied with a warm grin. They smiled back and we continued walking, well they all smiled apart from Itsuki but, he doesn't seem to like me very much.
Either way I didn't particularly care, I was just thankful that they were actually helping me, I didn't need them to like me. We made our way to Meiji University and went to the sports hall. The school halls were littered with a few students that had yet to go home and were using the time the school was open to study.
"Who are you looking for shorty?" Kyo asked placing a hand on my head. My eyes shot towards him as soon as he made contact. I couldn't deny that it was a weird gesture to do to someone you had just met, but I was fine with it.
"Subaru Asahina" I told him looking into his green eyes, his eyebrow immediately perked upwards at the name.
"Why is he your boyfriend?" He teased with a childish smirk to which I swatted his hand off my head. He immediately had to come to that assumption, of course.
"No it's nothing like that!" I exclaimed with a whine. Why did people have to look at it that way? Even if we weren't siblings it made complete sense for us to be friends even if the team were aware of Subaru's nervousness around girls. "I've never even had a boyfriend" I pouted.
"Psh. I would have thought that you've had loads." Shiro said walking next to me. "Like honestly you're very cute."
At his compliment I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment, never had expected someone that looks like him to call someone like me attractive. "Coach, Where's Subaru?" Shiro shouted to a man who had just come out of what I figured was the equipment closet.
"He went to get his kit, he forgot it!" He shouted back. I let out a small laugh when I sensed the old mans frustration.
"God that idiot, now he has to run back here." My amusement got cut short when I heard the sports hall door slam open, I whipped around and saw a panting Subaru. "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear," I muttered, a smirk gracing my face at the sight of my brother.
"Forget something Subaru?" I asked the black haired male while lifting up his sports bag. He looked at me and sighed, quickly walking forward and bumping me on the head with a fist gently before taking said bag.
"Get ready for practice!" Their coach yelled causing the guys to rush off and leave me standing awkwardly in the hall. I sighed and stretched my arms up to the ceiling before waving a goodbye to the coach and offering him a quick bow for my intrusion before quickly exiting the hall.
I wandered down the hallway looking at sports trophy's and pictures when I spotted an old basketball team photo in which I saw a tall young male with bright orange hair. It was Natsume. My attention instantly spiked as I stared at the younger version of my redheaded friend.
"He played basketball?" I questioned myself. Of course, after the conversation he had with Subaru I should have figured as much. He was probably really good, or at least I hoped he was after being able to talk to Subaru about his performance in that way.
My thoughts were interrupted by the gentle ringing of my phone.
"Heya Ukyo"
"Hello Aiko, I'm not sure if Masaomi told you but, we were going to go on holiday at some point this year and you need to get some papers in order to leave," Ukyo told me.
"Okay, I'll go grab them, I'll be home soon, maybe I can help with dinner?" I asked.
"Of course, see you soon" Ukyo replied, ending the call.
Sighing I glanced at the picture of Natsume once more, before walking off to get the papers Ukyo had told me to gather. Masaomi had told me nothing about going on holiday so I was rather surprised and a little irritated that I was being forced to go through all this trouble for a trip I never agreed to.
I walked down the street now relieved that I no longer had the weight of Subaru's heavy bag on my shoulders.
It was around 5 pm by the time I made it to the place Ukyo had told me to go and after waiting for half an hour in line to receive an envelop I was thankfully back on the road. As I walked down the street my eyes kept drifting towards the light brown corner of the envelop that poked out from the top of my handbag. It couldn't hurt to just have a peak could it? After all there probably isn't any very surprising news in there.
After giving into the curious urge that had been gnawing at my bones I finally grabbed the envelope out of my bag and held it firmly in my grasp. My hands went into auto-pilot as my thumb slid under the seal and I pulled out the piece of paper.
My name was clearly printed at the top in small black lettering and as my gaze slipped over the parchment I felt my eyes widen in shock.
Adopted daughter.
With a shaky hand I cupped my mouth as my blue eye welled with tears. I was adopted, and Rintarou never even told me after eighteen years. Salty tears dripped down my pale face as my eyes read over those words again and again.
The man I had considered my father all these years wasn't even related to me, he wasn't even my dad. That was probably why he didn't visit me or Ema, why I hadn't even heard from him since the wedding. If my own biological parents didn't want me why would he want me?
As my breath caught in my throat I turned around and headed in the opposite direction of the place I considered home. I shoved the damned piece of paper in my bag carelessly as tears blurred my vision. There was no way in hell I was going back there, it wasn't my home, those people weren't even my family. And Ema, oh god Ema. She wasn't even my sister... I didn't have anyone.
If my mother and father gave me up so easily, if they didn't want the hassle of looking after me- obviously I wasn't worth it to anyone.
By the time I had stopped walking around town it was raining and I soon realised that I was lost. I wandered into an empty park that was dimly illuminated my a lamppost and kicked a tree in frustration. "I can't do anything right!"
I walked backwards until my back collided with a wall and slowly slid down it, collapsing on the cold floor. The rain pattered down around me, intensifying the cold misery I was feeling. Small droplets blended with the bitter stream running down my cheeks.
Sniffing, I looked at the crinkled papers again, not caring that they were quickly getting wet from the rain. I couldn't believe he never told me, he just wanted me to live in a lie my entire life but now that illusion had all crashed down. There was no more playing house.
I shoved the papers back into my bag and buried my head in my knees, whimpering silently as more tears streamed.
The dark grey sky rumbled as the rain continued pouring down, the harsh droplets pierced my skin and clothes causing violent shivers to rush over my hunched body. Like bullets from above they bombarded me and no cover was offered by the trees that waved in the wind. If I could just stay here forever, escape from the life of lies I had been so comfortable in, I could quit being a burden to everyone I knew.
I shut my eyes as I let sleep and the cold encompass me but in the back of my mind I felt a warmness, like I was being held close to someone.
Gentle laughter was all around me and a warm body I was leaning on heaved up and down. If I glanced upwards I would catch the sight of soft orange tinted locks and warm violet eyes that stared down at me with a kindness shining in them. I was conflicted even in my dreams, I longed for my imagination to be real but I also wished for it to completely disappear. I couldn't have what I wanted anymore, love or family... Can you please just leave my head?
-Natsume Pov-
I exited my work building and sighed "They are sometimes way too much" I said to myself before letting out a small chuckle, I started walking and looked up at the sky 'clear nights like this don't happen often'.
I walked to my apartment and at that moment my phone started going off non stop "What the hell" I muttered reaching into my pocket to dig it out; I stared at the screen before I got a call from Tsubaki.
"Yes, you irritating excuse for a brother" I sighed waiting for an answer
"Aiko hasn't been home, she hasn't answered any of our calls. Have you heard from her?" he asked in a worried tone, completely ignoring what I had said.
"No, how long has she been gone?" I asked
"Well, it's 11 now so 6 hours," Tsubaki replied. "She was supposed to be home by 5."
My eyes widened "I'll look for her" I said before hanging up on him and turning around to go look for her.
'What could have caused her to stay out till this hour, it doesn't seem to be in her personality to do so' I thought, looking around, I quickly took out my phone and called Aiko, I lifted it up to my ear when I heard a cellphone ring. Looking to my left I saw her look at her phone and ignore it.
"You know you should answer calls when you get them," I said aloud.