Chapter 7

Ryouta’s POV

I burst into laughter so unexpectedly and loudly that the kids were surprised. And I couldn't stop myself, so they quickly reflected and started to act.

“I get the camera, you bring Ayame or aunt. He is possessed,” Shima announced with a serious but evil tone, like a mad scientist happy to observe the result of his experiment.

I heard Sakura leaving and screaming, while banging on the door.

“My brother got possessed, help!”

The kids were having fun, an old lady was used to their actions like this, but not Ayame. The poor girl ran quickly, scared and confused with my sister pretending to hide behind her back. Shima was filming me with a scientific comment. I looked again at a message, I started laughing uncontrollably one more time.

“My dear sister and assistant. It's time.”

Sakura looked at her twin and started to go around me humming something like: “Leave him alone,” pretending to be in a trance. I let her make a few circles and then I grabbed my throat and became dead. I was a pro at playing corpse.

“We need to change our method, experiment forty three failed. Object one hasn't survived.”

It felt weird to see someone else my goofy side I had only for my siblings. Everywhere I tried to be seen as composed, young man, but I had to make them smile again after our grandparents passed away. It just stayed with us. Somehow it also felt cathartic to let someone see how I could be. Ayame got on her knees and turned to Shima, she had a good feeling he is the brain of this operation.

“I want to be part of it. Let me,” she begged the ten years old.

“You boasted about being some captain. Did it sink, so you are looking for a new job?” My little brother was unphased, the only girl who could influence him was Sakura.

“We could have a secretary,” the sister proposed, and squeezed her twin’s arm so tightly that his face was full of pain.

“Okay,” Shima agreed and pointed his finger on Ayame. “Since now you are the secretary and your first task is to write a report based on material gathered today.”

“As you wish, boss!”

“Detailed.”

“Shima, Sakura, time for bed. Say goodbye to Ayame.”

They were not happy about my ask, but I was afraid how the scene could escalate and I would rather not deal with it. However I asked the young neighbour to stay for tea and she agreed. For a moment we didn't know how to start a conversation, but the silence wasn't actually uncomfortable. For the first time I thought that it must be how friendship works.

“You were so cool. I would never say you can have a silly side.”

“I agree, I am pretty two-faced.” I smiled apologetically.

“Don’t worry I will keep it a secret, until you deliberately show it to someone else.”

“Meaning?” I took a sip while observing her. Her cheeks started to burn.

“Oh you know, but you don't want to talk about it, but I try to understand why you think of your relationship with Shimada as fake. He seemed sincere to me,” she threw it out in one breath.

“I don't know what his deal is, but he didn't want to leave me alone. I tried to run away from him, ignore him but he kept coming back, so now I am giving him some attention, hoping he will get bored with me and whatever his plan is soon.”

I shrugged my shoulders, while my kind of friend’s face went from sad to angry and disappointed, until she took a deep breath and asked me one more question with a calm voice, like she already made peace with whatever bothered her.

“Do you like Shimada even the slightest?”

No, it should be my answer but this word couldn't come out of my mouth. I was surprised with myself, but not scared. I was thinking I stopped myself not to hurt her as I felt it was not what she expected to hear.

“I can't give you an answer, but just in case, if it happened that I would need to go out in the evening, would you take care of Sakura and Shima?”

“Of course, anytime.” Ayame smiled genuinely brightly, like she knew why I was asking her.

Shimada did some of his magic again. I read a message from him one more time, but couldn't laugh about it anymore. Three is a charm, so if we happen to go on three dates, on the third one you will kiss me. And these words along with Ayame's question made me stay up all night. I just didn't expect him to go this far with it, did he really intend to go anywhere with me. For the first time the thought that he approached me without any specific goal went fast through my mind. Could he be simply interested in me? My face started to burn, I ran to the bathroom and started to cool it down with icy water. The matter wasn't that he could at all, but remorse that I misunderstood him. I was the bad one here, playing with his heart, if it was the truth. And I didn't know what to do, maybe there was another reason for me not being able to deny earlier, what if the Shimada charm worked?

No, it can't be.

I convinced myself enough to fall asleep for a few hours just to meet that bastard in my dreams. Nice and calm ones, full of holding hands, hugging and kissing. I woke up having a thought that I haven't slept so soundly for a while. When I realized who was the reason behind that, I started to curse loudly, and seconds later to my room crashed Shima with a rolling pin ready to attack, Sakura with a wooden spoon and hair half done, Ayame was holding chopsticks with a warlike face. All in the battle formation. It must be because I was thinking about all this situation with him before going to sleep, I managed to calm down quickly, and I had to admit that I have the best rescue team I could ever imagine.

“What happened?” Sakura was worried, while Shima was observing me, trying to catch the lie, if I was gonna to tell one.

“Just thought that I overslept, so don’t worry. Are you already here?” I switched my siblings’ attention to Ayame.

“Your sister is quite demanding, so I need more time to meet her expectations. And my first impression of her was what a pure hearted, innocent little angel.”

“You see it runs in the family,” I smiled, actually being grateful for accepting us so easily.

“I am also a part of the team,” the student reminded us, proudly raising hand in a gesture of victory.

“I am hungry, what about you sis?” Shima ignored her completely, and got back to the kitchen.

“Yeah me too.” Sakura followed him, waving the spoon.