Reflection in Your Eyes: chapter 3
Aiba walked home after school with a smile on his face. He couldn’t contain the happiness he still felt from earlier that day. He watched Akira talk with Noriko about something, but it wasn’t registering that Jun was watching Aiba as he did. Once the four of them returned to their houses they parted with goodbyes and waves as they walked up to their front doors.
Akira and Jun walked in, one after another, throwing their bags onto the kitchen table before heading upstairs to their rooms. Akira went to hers and threw herself on her bed like usual, lying down on her back. She stared up at the ceiling before she heard footsteps coming into her room. The next thing she felt was someone crawling onto her bed and then she saw Jun hovering above her.
“You know if our parents saw this they’d think you were going to rape me,” Akira said cheekily.
“Shut up,” Jun smiled down at her before lying down beside her.
Akira cuddled up next to him just like they had always done growing up. Even though they bickered outside of the house, once they were alone Akira became sweet towards her older brother. Jun wrapped his arms around her, a gesture of how he would always be there to protect her. Their parents never found it strange as this was one of the only times these two actually got along.
“Are you ok about Ohno-kun? I know you liked him and all…” Jun asked her as he stroked her head.
“Yeah, it really hurt, but I feel better now thanks to Masaki-kun,” Akira explained as she closed her eyes as he brother stroked her hair.
“You know ever since we moved here as kids, Masaki has looked out for you like you were his own little sister. It’s like you two clicked since the first day,” Jun recalled.
~Flashback~
“My name is Masaki Aiba and this is my little sis Noriko-chan, pleased to meet you!” Aiba extended his tiny five year old hand to the six year old Jun.
“I’m Jun, this is Akira-chan, she’s my little sister,” Jun introduced them both as Akira stood next to him, holding his hand tightly.
Akira stared intensely at Aiba, her face blank before she smiled and let go of Jun’s hand. Jun was surprised as Akira had always been slow to warm up around strangers.
“Cute!” Akira squealed as she pointed at Aiba.
Aiba blushed as his little sister giggled before going up and hugging Akira. Akira patted Noriko on her head as she looked over at Aiba.
“Me?!” Aiba stumbled over his words as he took a step back.
Jun chuckled seeing Aiba freak out over his sister. Akira smiled and nodded her head at Aiba. She then went over and tackled him to the ground, straddling his lap before leaning down. Jun rushed over to pick his sister up and apologize, but it was too late. Akira had placed a kiss on his cheek making Aiba get a stunned expression on his face.
“Masaki-nii I love you will you be my brother too?” Akira asked with a bright smile on her face.
Jun smacked his face before pulling Akira off Aiba. Then little Aiba touched his cheek where she had placed her tiny soft lips. How could he refuse her?
“Sure Akira-chan, I’ll be your Masaki-nii forever,” Aiba agreed before ruffling her hair.
“Did you hear that Jun-nii?!” Akira excitedly asked Jun.
Jun couldn’t help but smile at her and think that his little sister was just too adorable…
~End Flashback~
“I remember meeting them and wanting to be Masaki-kun’s little sister forever, but when we got older and I figured out that we weren’t really that far apart in age. He wasn’t like a big brother any more…” Akira trailed off as she thought about it.
“Yeah, didn’t you two get teased in middle school about how close you were?” Jun recalled.
“Yeah, I hated it to the point that I became distant with Masaki-kun, but it only backfired. They teased me more for breaking up with him…but I’m glad you stepped in and told them all off, they left me alone after that…” Akira’s voice reflected the painful memories she was recalling.
“But at least after that you two were able to be close again, but then you started being quite the flirt with all the boys. You really made me worry back then, but now I know you’re stable and you don’t mean any of it…” Jun told her.
Akira kept silent as she thought back to when she and Aiba had first started high school together. She didn’t want anyone to think that she was with Aiba so she constantly flirted with guys, not caring that Aiba didn’t like it. He had made it clear to her one night during their freshman year…
~Flashback~
Akira was lying in bed reading a book for class when she heard a knock at her window. She turned and saw Aiba smiling big as he motioned for her to open the window. Akira went over, unlocking the window before opening it up and letting him in. She was still wearing her school skirt, but with a black tank top instead of the white button up shirt. Aiba could tell she was too lazy today to change after getting home unlike him who had changed into a t-shirt and khaki shorts.
“What’s with locking your window? You don’t normally do that,” Aiba asked as he followed Akira over to her bed.
She laid back down, propping herself into a sitting position with her pillows, grabbing the book and placing it on her lap. Aiba stretched out on his stomach, staring at Akira.
“Sorry, but my parents told me to start locking it when no one’s home,” Akira explained with a smile on her face.
“Jun’s not home?” Aiba asked thinking that Jun was normally home.
“He came home to change but then he went out with some friends of his. I’m home by myself now, so I figured I’d get some reading done while I had time, but I guess I won’t since you’re here,” Akira smiled again as he wiggled her feet in his face.
Aiba pushed her feet away from his face as he chuckled, “You could study. I won’t bother you.”
“That’s a lie. You’re a bother without you doing anything, you just being here is a distraction. Especially when you’re at an angle where you could look up my skirt,” Akira teased him.
“Akira!” Aiba blushed before sitting up.
Akira got on her knees and went over to him, a new look in her eye Aiba had seen many times before, her voice low as she said, “What? It’s true isn’t it? All guys ever want to do is look up my skirt…”
“You’re wrong!” Aiba snapped, causing Akira to jump back, “I’m not like those other guys Akira! You need to stop being like this! I hate it when you’re not acting like yourself!”
~End Flashback~
It was the first time Aiba had become really upset with her and scolded her. Akira blushed thinking how she felt kind of happy knowing Aiba considered himself different from the other guys she flirted with. After that day she had calmed down and stopped flirting willy-nilly.
Akira smiled again finally before she pushed Jun away and chuckled, “Alright Jun-nii, get off my bed, I’ve got homework to do.”
“Ah, the tsundere sister is back. Fine I’ll go. Be sure to finish all your homework,” Jun teased in a brotherly tone as he got up and walked out of her room.
Akira sat up in bed looking out her bedroom window wishing that Aiba would come to see her again. She wanted to see his smiling face again so badly and she wanted him to hold her like he did on the rooftop. Akira bolted straight up when she realized what she was thinking.
“Wait a second…why do I…could I possibly…like Masaki?” Akira hesitantly let the words roll off her tongue.
Her face immediately flushed and she flung herself face first into her pillows. What’s wrong with me?! I have to be wrong! That’s right he comforted me that’s all! Akira thought as she tried to get a hold of herself. Just then she heard the window slide up and knew it was Aiba coming to visit her. She tried to play possum, but to no avail as she heard Aiba walk over to her side.
“Are you sleeping?” a familiar female voice asked.
Akira stayed silent as she tried to register the voice. She flipped over and saw Noriko standing over her. She looked troubled and so Akira sat up and patted her bed inviting Noriko to sit down. Noriko sat down before looking over at Akira.
“Akira-chan I don’t know what to do…” Noriko hesitantly admitted.
“About what?” Akira asked.
“About…Sho-kun…” Noriko let out a little more.
“What about Sho-kun? Is he in trouble? Are you in trouble?” Akira asked as she tried to get Noriko to talk.
“We might be in trouble…because we’re secretly dating and…and…I’m late…” Noriko finally admitted before breaking down in tears…
what did you think? hate me for the cliffy? XD