Chapter 10

Ayame’s POV

“So you know where our brother is?” Shima asked, exchanging glances with his twin sisters.

They knew I knew, but I shouldn’t get distracted by someone else, who suddenly showed up in my life a few days earlier. Sometimes I forget that there are two of them, and when one asks the other listens, catching all the nonverbal nuances to draw me out. And I fell into the trap, so easily. For sure I was not the challenge for the twins.

“Yes, I know.” After their weird, synchronised smiles I knew that there is no way I will escape from the torture they will use on me until I tell them everything. I hate being tickled and I started sweating when these two started approaching me from both sides. “Please no!”, I screamed and then let everything out in one breath. “Your brother asked me not to tell you, but he has a boyfriend, but he thinks about this relationship as a fake one. In my opinion they look so good together, they are meant to be and I ship them so … They are on their first date today. Please don’t turn me in, your brother can be scary!”

“You are no fun,” Shima sighed and went back to his place. “However this matter should be discussed.”

“Our brother grew up so fast,” Sakura pretended to wipe away tears, while I was confused by their calm reaction.

“So that’s the ship you were talking about.”

“Wanna join the crew?” I asked enthusiastically, seeing that they don’t seem to have a problem with their brother being in a relationship, and what’s more with a man.

“Are you insane? Without seeing if he is good enough and if he makes our brother really happy, considering Ryouta thinks about it as a fake one.” The boy spluttered, not hiding a disappointment.

“That was only in the beginning, they are together for a while, so I think he could change his opinion,” I suggested carefully, but Shima didn’t look convinced.

“A while you are saying. Do you know Ryouta’s boyfriend?” Sakura joined the conversation again.

“ Well…” Admitting that I actually don’t was not an option. “But I can show you him.”

Finally some admiration was barely seen in their eyes and I proudly found Shamada’s photo and presented to them his best profile. The kids were quite skeptical, and after a moment of silent communication, they made a final judgment.

“Don’t make jokes about things like that. You set our hopes high,” Sakura said sadly and looked devastated, while her brother seemed more angry.

I felt bad, I didn’t lie, but couldn’t explain myself, because I suddenly remembered something and had to step out for a moment. However their faces were telling me I might as well not be coming back at all.

Sakura’s POV

Ayame accidentally left her phone with us. We both were disappointed, because it seemed that she made up the story about our brother dating. Ryouta did so much for us, but he would never listen if we say he should start thinking about himself, so this news was giving us hope that he finally did.

“I don’t think it is right to go through her phone, Shima.” I said it only to feel that I tried to stop him.

“Consider this as a revenge for that lie.” He smiled maliciously.

“Okay, just hurry.”

I really like Ayame, so I would rather not take part in my brother's doing, however the bitterness and anger was growing in me. She couldn't understand what that meant for us, seeing him just living his life, as he should. Ryouta became our everything and the only family we have after our grandparents death. No, I am actually really mad. I will never ask her to do my hair! She is not our friend or part of our team anymore! You better find something good, Shima!

“That's interesting. Going on the dark side or not, Sakura?” He didn't have to say no more, I was ready to follow him there.

Shima played a video of a young man recorded on her phone. He for sure was drunk and kind of funny, but it seemed that Ayame had a tendency to leave her phone behind.

“I, Okamoto Daichi, am recording this in case I don't remember tomorrow. Nishikawa Ayame helped me and lent me some money by buying me treats and blisters for my wound here.” He pointed to his forehead. “If I wonder tomorrow what happened, I tripped in front of the most beautiful, cutest woman in the world.” Then he started to whisper. “What if she is the one? I want her to be the one!” The giggle. I looked at Shima. That was way more embarrassing content we could handle, even though that Okamoto guy got serious again. “Anyway give her money back and don't forget to ask her for the coffee. Oh, she's coming back! Ayame, send me this so I can remember!”

“Give me a moment,” Shima quickly checked something and commented. “Is she stupid or something? It’s good material for blackmailing. Does she not want to get the money back?” He looked at me asking if I knew the answers, but all I could give him was shrugging my arms. “Well, if he wanted to remember this so badly, let’s remind him and add some deadline. A week, what do you say sis?”

“Three days.” I corrected him.

I just observed my twin’s fast movement of hands, when he sent the video and a message with a deadline to give the money back. Then deleting traces, that this conversation ever happened, and put the phone away. Nothing happened, whatever the result will be, we didn’t care. It could even be a happy ending, we just wanted to do something mean to her as a punishment. Well the revenge didn’t feel very satisfying, so we just decided to watch a movie and simply ignore our team secretary for the rest of the evening.