'I'm so melting!' Aiyoku groaned in his mind as he put all the puzzle pieces together. "This sure was unexpected. I wonder how I can tell it to Ri." He sat down the podium they had built.
"Tell me what?" his older brother asked, sitting nearby and checking papers with small illustrations.
"What?" He collapsed on the side, almost rolling down the podium. If Aiyoku had his old hair, it would bristle. "You gave me almost a heart attack!" He grasped his drenched shirt, taking a few deep breaths.
"I didn't mean to. I thought you noticed me." The oldest brother pushed up his glasses, trying to mask the embarrassment.
"No worries." Aiyoku got up. "I was just lost in thoughts." He got up, convincing his muscles to work for him before taking back his place.
"So, what you wanted to tell me?"
Aiyoku needed a few minutes to think about how to phrase his request. "Do you remember how our dad told us to give a second chance?"
"Yes, and the answer is no."
Aiyoku's hand slipped down his knee. "How do you know what I want to ask for?"
"Simple." He pushed back his glasses. "Second chance is for somebody who did wrong towards you or messed something up. Taking into account your personality, my best bet is you are thinking of letting Ueno get closer to us once more." He shot his younger brother a strict look.
"I'm sure you didn't forget what she did or tried to," Rigaku reminded.
"Of course not, I'm just thinking... it would be unfair."
"Unfair?" Rigaku turned his way. "How so?"
"Because then we shouldn't deserve the second chance Freya-chan gave us."
Rigaku's eyes widened as his younger brother hit the head of the nail. "True, but you are comparing apples and oranges here."
"It's about the principle." Aiyoku pressed. "Wouldn't it make us hypocritical?"
His nose under the glasses wrinkled as Rigaku crunched the info. As much as he disliked Ueno, he almost despised for his brother to speak the truth. Denying the second chance to others, when they received it, would leave a sour taste in his mouth.
"I'll give it a—"
"Hey!" Kagetsu shouted from the top of his lungs, and a new wave of sweat grew on Aiyoku just from seeing his bouncing younger sibling.
How he could be full of energy in this blood-boiling weather was beyond him.
"Look what we got!" Kagetsu showed the box between them, with Freya a step behind him. "Those are from Cat Coffee! They are trying the Star-wich, as you suggested!"
Aiyoku almost grabbed one, but Kagetsu slashed his hands away. "Wash your hands first!"
"Just one! I'm starving!"
"No! You are all dirty!"
"Why you!" Aiyoku pounced at his sibling, but Kagetsu escaped him with ease.
"Don't touch me, yucky bro!"
"Don't call me yucky!"
The duo ran in the circles, bringing amusement wherever they ventured. The smile on Rigaku's face didn't last for long.
'Giving Ueno-san a second chance?' He bit his lips from inside. 'What could have inspired Ai to have such a thought?' His gaze shifted to Freya. 'Would she be alright with it? It's not us who were bullied.'
Her eyes locked with his, and for a moment, he was measuring her like a hungry eagle. Too late, he snapped his head away red like a tomato. 'Baka! Don't stare!'
Freya giggled, deepening the shade of red on his face.
'But it's just like Aiyoku is saying. It would make us hollow. Maybe I can question her tomorrow? No.' He shifted into deep brain mode, entwining his fingers and resting his chin. 'She would just pretend and present me lies. I need to watch her undetected.'
His brothers returned, drenched in sweat, and hungrier than ever before.
'Wouldn't that make me a pervert? It's not like I'm interested in her or anything. It's for a good cause and...' His mood sank low.
Later, that evening they all took a much-needed shower and munched on the sandwiches. The discussion about the shape and form of special tickets for visitors to earn filled most of the evening.
Kagetsu suggested having a box at the entrance with a bunch of them for people to pick at random. That would invite them to explore the Fest and thus starting their journey.
Only before they tucked into the sleeping bags, Rigaku had time to remember Aiyoku's words. 'How should I approach this?' His eyelids turned too heavy to continue thinking he had fallen asleep within seconds.
\\_(''>_<'')_//
The next day turned especially busy. They needed to make sure the roof would hold, shielding the animals and people from the sun. The weather forecast remained cruel, promising mostly clear sky.
By noon, everybody wished for shade, and the tools returned into the boxes as the heat was unbearable. This much-needed pause gave Rigaku a bit of time to think how he should approach Ueno, and how to ask Freya if she was alright with it.
The brief thought of Freya and Ueno already being friends pushed his mind into a wacky spiral of imagination. He couldn't see it working considering their past, but it made a perfect sense.
Freya was too kind to everybody. The entire school shooed her away, but she didn't turn her back to anybody who asked for help now. She replied with smiles and nods, listening to them and offering her insight.
Not to mention she didn't rant about others hurting her in the past. Wherever Rigaku opened this topic, she waved her hand and shrugged her shoulders.
Her inability to talk didn't constrict her ability to make bonds. It was her bubbly nature and kindness that opened the hearts of others.
'That's something I should know firsthand.' He shook his head, feeling nostalgic.
However, there was so much he needed to do as there were only a few days for him to find a designing company to make the tickets.
'Actually...' He grinned like a sly devil he turned into. Taking his phone, he dialed Nihil's number.
"Yo, what's app?" came from the other side, and Rigaku caught one of many puns Nihil made.
"Konnichiwa, I was wondering if you would have a bit of time. I remember you telling me you are good with graphics."
"Yeah, nothing too complicated, though."
"That's good enough. Say, would you be able to digitize sale tickets for our Summer Fest?"
Nihil scratched on his growing beard. "I can try it. When you need them?"
"Well..." Rigaku trailed a bit off. "As soon as possible. The Fest is this weekend, and we got this idea yesterday."
The silence on the other side couldn't mean anything good. "Did I ever tell you you can be a freaking slave-driver?" A chuckle came at the end.
"Sumimasen, it started small, but it grew as more people heard about it. It helps to promote other stalls and adds exploration for visitors."
"Send them to me, and I'll try to have them ready by the evening."
"Arigatou, you are a lifesaver."
"Uh... No prob," Nihil stuttered a bit as Rigaku used informal thank you, one he hadn't heard in years. "See you this evening."
Rigaku ended the call with a smile, took the needed photos, and sent them to Nihil. 'I wonder if there is anything I can send him as a thank you.'