Noticing my unnoticed joy by me

A week has passed since my date with Himeno-san. I was heating up some water to make me a tea in the morning when my brother approaches me.

—Hey, Yukki, early again.

—Um? Yeah.

—Something good happened to you? You are waking up early and you seem more motivated.

—Do i? I feel the same, being honest.

—Sure, bro, sure. Well, whatever you’re doing a hope you succeed

My brother grabs a bento box from the fridge and he says goodbye to me. I make me a tea and sit down at the table to drink it along with some rice cookies. My father was about to leave when he saw me.

—Son, can you clean my office before you go to work?

—Sure dad, I will go once I finish.

—Thanks, see you later, good luck, son.

—Good luck to you too, dad.

As my father leaves my sister behind he approaches me and moves behind me. She grabs my neck, hanging her arms on my neck.

—HANA!... I CAN’T BREATHE!

Hana stopped, letting me breathe again but she was seeing me with a serious glance.

—What? What do you want?

—You… You’re in love, right?

—Huh?!

I was about to choke with my tea as she looked at me like she received the notice that his son did something terrible.

—What are you talking about, Hina?

—Don’t play dumb with me, you wake up early, you don’t complain when they say to do chores that don't correspond to you, and your face is always smiling.

—Hey, I can wake up early sometimes, and they ask me a favor…

—Huh…

Hina grabs my phone from the table and starts scrolling the messages.

—Hey! Give it back!

—Himeno, so this is the girl that has my brother on her knees.

—Don’t say that, hey, give it back to me.

—No, this girl is getting my big bro away from me, I’m not letting you grab your phone.

—Stop with that, Hana, I’m serious, give me my phone back.

—No

She sticks out her tongue and clicks on the phone call, she starts to panic and I grab my phone quickly, I try to hang up but Himeno-san accepts the call.

—Ryoma-kun?

—H-Himeno-san, hi, I’m so so sorry, my sister took my phone and she pressed the call button…

—STOP TAKING MY BIG BRO YOU HOMEWRECKER WOMAN.

—Hana! Do you even know what you are saying?

I yelled to Hana and looked her directly in the eyes but she was terrified, and started to tear up.

—H-Hey, don't cry…

—Ryoma-kun.

—Ah, sorry you hear all that.

—No, I don’t mind, but can you pass me your sister, let me talk to her alone.

—Eh?

—Please.

—Alright.

I sigh and give my phone to Hana.

—I’ll be in my room, give me my phone when you’re done.

—Ok…

I was on my computer, about ten minutes passed when my sister finally came, she knocked on the door and I asked her to come in.

—I’m sorry, Yukki…

—Don’t do that kind of stuff again, ok?

—Yes, I feel ashamed with Himeno-san too,

—That’s ok, I know that you don’t want me to spend time outside, but when I get older, I will need to leave the house too, and I’m not your lover to be around with you forever.

—I know that, but I don’t want anyone to go, and everyone will forget about me.

—Oh, don’t be silly, Hana.

I hug my sister and smile.

—We’re family, and you’re my sister, we have a bond like no other.

I grab her arms and look at her eyes smiling.

—Family bonds are stronger than any other.

—Yukki…

—By the way, what did Himeno-san tell you?

Hana smiled and ran out of my room.

—That's a secret.

—Uh… I have a bad feeling about this…

Later that day I was at work, this time working as a waiter, I was taking notes on the client’s order. We were having quite a rough day during the day but once we started to get late, things were calmer. It was during that time that I saw Himeno-san enter, but I didn’t attend her, it was another guy doing it since it was my break from lunch.

Once I finished; I came back as the cashier when she approached to pay the order.

—That’ll be ¥2500.

Himeno-san took her wallet out and paid me.

—Himeno-san, I’m sorry for what happened today’s morning.

—I already said that you didn’t need to worry about Ryoma-kun.

—I know, I just want to say it in front of you. Here’s your receipt.

Himeno-san leaves and we continue working until the end of the shift.

—Payday, everyone, here’s your part. Thanks to everybody for working this hard for another month, I will not force you to stay, but we are going to have a little party here, so feel free to go home or stay for a little bit.

We’re having a party for all the new employees and for another month of hardwork. Osuke-san hired a chef for tonight so we’re having quite a feast. For drinks someone was getting beer or some Caribbean coffee, I was drinking that and having some fried shrimps.

—You've been working extra hard this last week, Ryoma, is it for the pretty lady that comes to see you?

—Another one with the same things, I work hard because is my work, Osuke-san

—Don’t tell me that stuff.

—We have noticed, Ryoma-kun.

—Yes, everytime that woman comes to the store, your eyes sprinkle like crazy, and after that you seem to be more enthusiastic to work.

—Do I really look that bad?

—Well, you’re in love so there’s nothing to blame you for.

—Stop, please, I’m not in love with her.

—So, you say I can talk to her, maybe she can give me a chance.

—No in a million years!

—See

—Ugh…

—Don’t be embarrassed to embrace your feelings, Ryoma, we all support you.

—Man sure has it difficult when it comes to showing her feelings.

—I don’t have a hard time showing my feelings… I just don’t want that love to interfere between the two of us. I find her attractive, and I want to be something more, but I want to know her better, I want her to know me better too…

All the store went silent until a girl screamed holding her checks.

—That’s so romantic!

—Jeez, dude, you’re going to make me embarrassed.

—Who would say that Ryoma had that much heart

—And I thought that you were only a kid, I saw you in a completely different way now.

—Jeez, leave me alone.

Osuke-san was laughing a lot during the conversation. At the end of the party, we cleaned up the place and made our way home. The wife of Osuke-san was taking him out. I feel a little light, maybe consequences of the alcohol, but I arrive at my house before I notice.

—Say cheese!

—Agh, ey!

Hana took a picture of me entering the house and she ran away.

—Welcome, Yukki, dinner is almost ready, sweety.

—I already ate mom, thank you.

—Oh, are you going to reject your mom's food?

—I'm a serious mom, I had a party with Osuke-san at work. I'm going to my room, I think I drank a little bit too much.

—You’re feeling ok.

—Yeah, just a bit lightheaded.

—Take a cold bath, son, that helps you out.

—I’m not drunk, dad.

—Everybody says that when they’re drunk. How many fingers do I have on my hand?

—You have two up.

—How many times are five multiplied by seven?

—Thirty-five.

—Yeah, you’re fine.

—I told you, I know how to control myself, I just went A little up.

—Sure, good night.

—Night.

After getting my pajamas ready, I was talking with my friends on call before going to sleep.

—And that’s been all day, jeez, give me a break.

—Well, you seem more optimistic, Yukki, for real.

—Yeah, I mean, you were fine back a couple weeks ago, but you seem more joyful.

—Take it this way, positive plus positive only causes more positive.

—That’s… that’s not how it works, Tatsuya

—Yeah, positive plus positive is negative.

—Well… You know what I mean!

—Yeah, yeah, but you two seem to have a good energy together, why don't you ask her out once?

—I don’t think it is a good idea right now, we know more about each other, but… look, firstly, I don’t know when to say that, and second, I think it is a little rushed to say that.

—Maybe you need a set-up.

—Yeah, when you feel like that is the moment, say it, Yukki.

—Don’t make it awkward and don’t try to create a moment, say it when you don’t think about it, it will come naturally, if you two are really a good pair, she will respond as you wish, and if not, you have a good time with her and still can be friends.

—Tatsuya…

—So you can say good things after all.

—Hey! Don’t treat me like I’m a dumb dumb

I laugh alongside the others.

—Thank you, guys, well, I’m going to sleep.

—Yeah, me too.

—You’re up for some matches, Tatsuya

—I am not going to lose against you, Megumi.

—See ya guys.

—Bye!

We and Haruto leave the call, I turn off the lights and went to sleep, with my thoughts a little more clear, I was having a good sleep