A Gift Long Due

‘It’s done!’ Izumi yelled, sprinting out of her room to her brother’s. She knocked on the door loudly.

‘Coming!’ Ryusuke shouted from inside. The door swung open, and he blinked in surprise.

‘What happened? Is something wrong?’ he asked, looking genuinely alarmed.

Izumi frowned. ‘Why would anything be wrong?’ Without waiting for an answer. She barged into his room and plopped onto the floor.

Ryusuke shut the door, still looking wary, ‘Okay, what do you want?’

She waved her hand, gesturing for him to sit down.

‘Why?’

‘Just sit, come on!’ she huffed. Though skeptical, he obeyed.

‘Give me your arm.’

‘Why?’

Izumi shot him a look. With a sigh, Ryusuke hesitantly held out his arm.

She pulled out a bracelet from her pocket and tied it around his right wrist.

Ryusuke stared at in surprise. ‘Y-You made this?’

‘Any doubt?’ Izumi smirked proudly.

His eyes scanned the plastic beads spelling his name— R Y U S U K E— framed by glass beads in hues of purple, green, and yellow, all woven together with iridescent thread.

After a beat of silence, he murmured, ‘Thanks, I’ll take care of it.’

Izumi had spent her last two hours, weaving that bracelet for him. She had always wanted to do that. So, as soon as she noticed this box in her room after having lunch with her mother, her rest of the time was spent in making it.

‘You better!’ Izumi said with a smile.

‘Are you……’ his voice trailed off. ‘Izumi, are you okay?’

She stiffened. ‘Am I o-okay? W-Why do you ask?’

He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Its just……’ he said, he seemed to be struggling to find his words. ‘Its just you used to be cooped up in your room, studying all day, and you always have a frown on your face and you always snap whenever anyone tries to talk to you, not including Dad obviously- he deserves it. I mean I get all the pressure on you and all...... it's just sudden.’ He glanced at his wrist, ‘You are smiling a lot today. Its nice seeing you so happy.’

Izumi's heart broke at his last words.

She had never realized her little brother was worrying so much about her. The weight of the words crushed her composure, and before she knew it, she had burst into tears.

And what was the point of hiding these emotions when she was going to be dead by the day anyhow?

Ryusuke panicked. ‘You are crying?! I didn’t say something that emotional—’

She threw her arms around him, sobbing. ‘I am s-sorry, I am s-so s-sorry for not t-talking to you p-properly when you c-cared, you c-cared that much-!’

Her words trembled as she sobbed.

Flustered, Ryusuke awkwardly patted her back. ‘It’s okay. I-Its not your fault exactly….’

They sat there until her breathing steadied. Sniffing, Izumi pulled away and took the glass of water he handed her.

‘S-Sorry……’ she hiccoughed, sitting straight back.

‘Are you okay, now?’ he asked. Izumi gave a brief nodded and drank some water.

‘So, why the sudden change?’ he asked, seating on the floor in front of her.

‘Nothing really……’ Izumi murmured, fidgeting with her hands. ‘I mean- it’s not sudden. I have always wanted to do things for you all, and spend time with you. It’s just……. I only realized it yesterday…’

‘What did you realize?’ Ryu asked, blinking.

She inhaled deeply.

‘I realized one shouldn’t bother that much about stuff like future and all. One thing I learned was though career is important- you should do whatever you want in your life with a balance. One step at a time is enough.

At the end of the day, it's the people who lift you up when you need it, who put a smile on your face when you are sad, who you have a lot of fun with, people like you, Mom. Well, Dad also ....

Even though it will never be enough, memories with your loved ones are the most crucial. Memories are what you take with you when you die, not money, not work. It's memories and blessings.’

Though it's too late for me.

Ryusuke frowned. ‘Why are talking like you are going to die?’

It was clear from his expression that he was concerned. ‘Loosen up a bit!’

‘………haha,’ Izumi gave an awkward chuckle. ‘Right…… too philosophical. Sorry-’

‘You don’t have to be sorry!’ Ryusuke cried.

Awkward silence fell between them before Izumi smirked. ‘You haven’t changed, you know. Still always looking out for others. But you used to be cuter.’

Ryusuke scowled, flushing red. ‘I was small.’

‘Small and adorable!’ Izumi teased. Her face lit up as a whimsical idea popped up in her head. ‘Oh, let me do that!’ she shot to her feet with a wide smile.

Her brother sensing danger back, scooted back. ‘What are planning?’

Izumi pulled out a small rubber band from her pocket. Realization dawned on him. He crossed his arms, ‘No! Absolutely not! You always do it- not this time!’

Her pleading, teary-eyed look defeated his protests. With a long-suffering sigh, he let her tie his hair up into a ridiculous little sprout.

And with a frown, his brother sat there, his hair tied upwards with the rubber band, forming a tree on his head.

Izumi burst into laughter.

‘Stop laughing or I am taking it off-!’ he growled.

‘Smile!’ she exclaimed, pulling him into a selfie. She flashed a peace sign while Ryusuke scowled at the camera. Click.

‘What a cute picture! You look so grumpy!’ she cackled.

Face red, he yanked out the rubber band. ‘Enough of this torture;’

His curls bounced back to normal.

Izumi grinned. ‘Let’s go outside. Let’s play badminton.’

‘Huh? Why all of sudden?!’

‘Do you have anything better to do?’

‘Well, not really-’

‘Then, let’s go!’ she seized his wrists and dragged him outside.

Their whole evening was spent in playing together. Izumi had forgotten how much she missed playing with him. Her brother was always her comfort space.

After playing, they went to get ice cream. Izumi insisted to buy for him. ‘You are younger than me, I am supposed to treat you!’

They got one for Balsos as well, who was too happy to have been offered it. Ryusuke was confused why she was buying three, but didn’t question it.

‘Did you hit your head when you woke up today?’ Ryusuke asked as they opened the front door. Each having a popsicle in their hands.

‘Maybe’, Izumi giggled.