The Meddlesome Miyu [1]

What happens when the unexpected happens? When something you didn't expect just suddenly starts unfolding right before your very eyes. Like the ending of a story—especially those that have open endings or unsatisfactory endings. Now, those are very annoying.

There's nothing more painful than following a story until the very end, only for that ending to be as crappy as hell. I've gone through that so many times that I've lost count. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who's gone through this.

I'm getting sidetracked again. Now, back to the unexpected. Something I never thought would happen, happened. It involves Miyu and Chiyoko. It all started 10 hours ago when I was eating breakfast in the sanctuary known as... the kitchen.

I sat at the kitchen table, leaning back in my chair as I looked at the ceiling with an introspective expression. In my mind's eye, I was seeing a replay of every single day I've spent here in Kiyomizuzawa.

Then I stopped leaning and started eating the delicious breakfast that my dear mother had prepared. It was kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), and the way she makes it is really awesome. I definitely prefer her cooking to that of restaurants and other five-star establishments.

She truly was an exceptionally talented person; she was able to go to work every day and still make breakfast in the morning before she left. If it weren't for us, she'd probably make dinner, too. We handle making it instead since she always arrives home looking exhausted. Sometimes, she doesn't come back, but that only happens when she's working on some major episodes.

I continued eating while she walked in, grabbing her toast from the toaster and holding it in her mouth. Then she gestured goodbye to me by waving. I waved back as she held the toast with her hand.

“I'll see you kids later. Be good.”

“Okay, we will… hopefully, anyway…”

“I heard that.”

“Uh-haha… I'm sorry.”

She closed the door behind her, and for a moment, the house was quiet; but only for a moment, as a very hungry, slightly sleepy gremlin approached the kitchen, tapping its little feet on the wooden floor.

It entered the kitchen, wiping its eyes while yawning. Then it spoke, its voice cracking a bit. Or rather, it was a little hoarse since it had just woken up.

“Ohayo… yawn… gozaimasu, big bro.”

“Ohayo. You look awful. Did you stay up late or something?”

“No. I stayed up late the day before yesterday. I was playing this MMORPG called Swords and Sorcery. You can basically create a character and choose if you want them to be human or not. Of course, I chose to be an elf.”

“Sounds fun,” I said flatly while taking another bite. “Why choose an elf, though?”

“Alas, I have forgotten; I have a simpleton of a brother. You see, elves are the only species that can capture my radiant beauty in all the right ways.”

She chattered while spinning around as if showcasing herself to a grand audience. In this situation, I was that audience.

“Uh… huh… what exactly do you mean by ‘all the right ways’?”

“You really are a simple-minded fellow, aren't you?”

“I'm so gonna kill you,” I muttered with a smile that betrayed my expression as my right eye twitched a bit while veins pulsed on my forehead.

“Whoa, chill, don't threaten the weak damsel, please.”

“Weak… damsel? Are you kidding me right now? You hit me with a freaking splash last week! In what way are you weak?!”

“No way, that actually rhymed,” she snickered. “I guess you have a point. The reason I chose an elf is because the majority of them have some insane curves, you know. And we all know I'm the queen of curves.”

Of course, it was for a stupid reason. She's so hopeless, I thought as I sighed comically.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is narcissism at its finest.”

“Oh, be quiet. What are you eating anyway?”

“Kaisendon.”

“Oooh, may I have some too?”

“No, you may not. I'm just kidding. It's in the microwave.”

“You suck.”

“Jeez, control that sharp little tongue, will ya,” I said as I took the last bite. Then I walked over to the sink, washed the dish, went to the bathroom to brush my teeth… for the third time, and headed toward the front door.

“See you later, Miyu.”

Miyu stood up from her seat in the kitchen and ran toward the door.

“Hold up, where are you going? Come to think of it, where have you been going for the past week?”

“That is none of your business, now go eat,” I muttered as I closed the door, but before it could click shut, the strength of the gremlin returned as she held the door and tried to open it. We were in a stalemate. I didn't want to let go, and neither did she.

“What is it now?”

“Tell me where you're going,” her voice lowered to a terrifying whisper. “NOW.”

“No.”

“Tell me.” Her voice still remained a chilling whisper.

“I said no.”

“I don't take no for an answer. So… Tell—Me—where—you're—going.”

I sighed for the hundredth time. “Fine. I'm going to Tokiwa Forest. Are you happy now?”

“Not quite. That was vague as hell, and you know it. Now I suggest you get talking before I tell Mom to make you-know-what.”

‘What is she talking about—?’

“You wouldn't.”

“I would. I'll tell her to make… dumpling soup for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Why, you rotten little…”

“Don't try me, bro. I'm an easy switch to flip. So, what's it gonna be?”

I looked at her from the small space between the door frame and the door itself. She had her devilish smile—actually, it's not famous. Just devilish.

“I've been meeting with someone there, and they just happen to be a friend of mine. We've been hanging out for the past week. Satisfied?”

“Not yet… first answer this.” We both let go of the door as she opened it. Then she stood in front of the door, standing tall, her posture straight and confident. “Are you meeting with a girl?”

My face turned red a bit as I questioned, “Why does it matter?”

“And that answers my question. Is she hot, at least?”

I have a freaky sister, don't I?

“I'll say this again. There's something wrong with you.”

“What? I'm just curious, is all.” She placed both her arms on her waist. “Can I meet her?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on. I won't embarrass you in front of her, I promise.”

I looked at her as she tried her best to look like a little puppy. I wasn't buying it at all. But if there's anything I know about her, it's that she’s persistent. She won't stop until she gets what she wants, even if it means manipulating her poor older brother.

“Fine. Go get ready. I'm leaving in thirty minutes.”

“Yay! I'll be done in no time.”

[To be continued...]