Chapter 92:

Kai

I sighed as I walked home. That sure was embarrassing. Maybe it was best if I didn't have sleepovers. Hugging Yayoi felt kind of funny, though. Like something was poking me. Was... he hard?

I shook my head. It must've been the belt. But what if it wasn't? What if he had feelings for me?

Well, not like I could reciprocate. I liked Sayuri. And now that she was single, I finally had a chance with her!

"Kai!" a familiar voice yelled. I turned around and saw Sayuri. My cheeks reddened.

"S-Sayu!" I mumbled.

She smiled. "Say, what's with the oversized shirt?"

I blinked, and looked down. Yayoi's shirt was indeed huge on me.

"Yayoi lent it to me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? He did? How come?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, I got my shirt dirty working for his farm, so he leant it to me."

She hummed. "I see." She leaned in and pulled out an orange hair from the shirt. "That explains the hair."

"Odd. That wasn't there before Must've been from when we were sleeping."

Her eyes widened. "You guys slept together?!"

I nodded. "Yeah, I've always wanted to do a sleepover!"

She giggled. "Oh, that. A bit too old for those, aren't you?"

My cheeks heated. "I-I mean, we were studying all night."

She put a finger on her chin. "You really are a bookworm, huh? That said, it is odd that guy let you spend the night at his place."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

"He doesn't seem the type to get along with people. Well, except for your sister. So, you two getting along is kind of shocking. Or maybe not? You do look similar."

"You think so?" I asked, looking at her.

She smiled. "Yeah. You guys have a certain warmth about you."

I blushed. "T-thanks."

She poked my cheek. "And you're also super cute."

I looked away, my cheeks flaring up. "W-why are you saying that?"

She shrugged. "Just felt like teasing you."

I pouted. "Bully! You're being a bully, Sayu."

She giggled. "But you like it when I tease you, don't you?"

I sighed. "That doesn't mean it's not annoying. B-but yeah. I like it."

She leaned in and hugged me. "Aww, so adorable! I could just eat you up! In fact..." She kissed my cheek.

I froze, my entire face heating up. "W-what are you doing?"

She giggled. "Just kissing my cute, little Kai."

I turned away, my heart racing. "S-stop that!"

She sighed and released me. "Fine, fine. Sorry for making you uncomfortable. It's just that seeing you wear a shirt so large on you makes you look even cuter."

I grumbled, turning away from her. Was I only a little kid in her eyes? I knew I was short for my age...

"Hey," she said, tapping my shoulder. "Why the long face? Did I make you mad?"

I shook my head. "N-no, you didn't. It's just... never mind."

"What is it? Come on, you can tell me."

I sighed, lowering my head. "Am I really that cute?"

She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. The cutest boy I've ever met! Even more than Sou."

I blushed. Maybe being cute wasn't so bad after all.

"Thanks," I mumbled.

Her face reddened as well. "Hey, Kai. Wanna go do something this afternoon?"

I frowned. "Sorry, but I am busy. I have work. Maybe later?"

She sighed. "Okay."

I patted her hand and smiled. "That said, I look forward to it. Well, whenever we can get together."

Sayuri giggled and hugged me. "Aww, you're so cute!"

I felt like I was gonna drown from a mix of joy, embarrassment, and stuff.

"I-I really like you, Sayuri," I whispered.

She pulled away and blinked. "You said something?"

I wanted to dig a hole and jump into it. "N-no. Uh, I better get going!"

My feet carried me over to the house. I put a hand over my heart, panting. But it wasn't from the running. I had to be careful around Sayuri or she would give me a heart attack one day.

Why was I so lame around girls? Wish I could've been as cool as Sekin.

I opened the door and blinked. The place looked clean, except for the living room table which was a mess... It was littered with paper plates and empty pizza boxes.

Sighing, I began picking up stuff. My lips curled into a large smile as I spotted Rena, being snuggled by our siblings around her. Wished I had my camera on me.

"Y-Yayoi?" Rena said, opening one eye.

I tilted my head. Yayoi? I looked down at my shirt and laughed. She must've been seeing blurry still.

"I'm me, Kai."

"Kai?" Rena said, rubbing her eyes with one hand as she carried a sleeping Kite with the other. "Why are you wearing Yayoi's shirt?"

I laughed. "It's kind of amazing how you can recognize his shirts."

She blushed and looked away. "Well, I did pick some out for him." She sighed. "Can you believe that guy used to wear all flannel when we were kids? Flannel is fine, but doesn't one get bored of it?"

I scratched my head. She was asking the wrong person. My fashion was anything comfy. That said, this shirt was pretty nice. I almost wanted to ask Rena where she had got it so I could get my own.

Her eyes widened. "Wait, the friend you stayed with was Yayoi?"

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah! Think we've grown pretty close." Although, I might've ruined things with my sleep hugging...

"So, what job did you get? I mean, if you found any."

Grinning, I flashed her a V. "I'm working for Yayoi's father! Half of the day, I spend on the field, the other half I spend tutoring him."

She hummed and furrowed her brow. "But Yayoi doesn't need tutoring. He needs motivation."

I nodded. "He told me the same thing. I wanna motivate him by studying together. Just like how we read as kids."

Rena smiled. "That's nice."

"I know! Wanna go to the library when I have time off?"

Sis nodded.

"Kai?" Kyo said, rubbing his eyes.

"Kai, it's not sis's friend?" Kira said, rubbing her eyes.

I patted her head. "Nah, it's me, Kai. Slept well, sleepy head?"

Kira gave me a sleepy smile. "Yeah."

My eyes shifted back to the table and at the rest of the house. "Say, apart from around the table, this place looks spotless. Who cleaned."

"We did!" Kira said, jumping to her feet.

Kyo nodded and jumped off the sofa too. "The Super Cleaning Heroes!"

I glanced at a blushing Rena and snorted. She got them to clean with that game? Surprised it even worked on Kyo.

Rena grumbled. "W-why are you laughing? You used to love playing it the most when we were kids."

I laughed nervously. "True." I crossed my arms and turned toward the table. "Well then, this looks like a job for the leader of the Super Cleaning Heroes!"

Kyo snorted. "You make it sound lame, bro!"

My cheeks warmed up. I did?

Rena patted my back. "Don't worry, Kai. You're awesome."

Kira nodded and gave me a thumbs up.

"Aww, thanks you two."

Kyo's stomach grumbled. "Yeah. Especially your cooking."

I laughed and patted his head. "I'll go and whip something up for you. Let me go get changed!"

"In the meantime, the rest of us Super Cleaning Heroes will be cleaning up this mess. Isn't that right, Kyo, Kira?" Rena asked.

They nodded.

I turned around and held my arms out. "Let me take Kite back to Mom."

She nodded and handed him over.

"I'm surprised she didn't take him when she came back," Kira said.

"Maybe she was exhausted?" Kyo suggested.

I frowned. "Probably."

After changing clothes and making breakfast for my family, I headed back to my job. The quicker I raised money; the sooner Mom could catch a break!

When I arrived, Yayoi was nowhere to be seen. At least not where most of the workers were concentrated in.

"Where is Yayoi?" I asked his pops.

"His mom said he was studying," he said, scratching his head.

I smiled. "I see. I'll go get him then."

I headed towards the house and knocked on the door.

The door opened and a woman greeted me. She looked like a shorter, less muscular, more curvy version of Yayoi.

"Hey! Nice to see you again," she said, smiling. "You're my son's tutor, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm Kai. Thanks for helping me the other day to find the shower."

She giggled. "It's no biggie. Yayoi will be happy to see you. Seems he's taken a liking to you."

I smiled and went in, heading for Yayoi's room. When I got there, Yayoi was running on the treadmill, his shirt off as he exercised.

"Kai?" he asked, staring at me. "W-what are you doing here?"

I blinked, my eyes taking in the sight of his shirtless body. He had an athletic figure with defined muscles and a six-pack. His chest was broad and firm, rising and falling with each breath he took. His skin was tanned from spending time in the sun, and his red hair was damp with sweat.

I sighed. "I really envy your figure."

His face turned red. "Wh-what are you saying? Get out!"

I shook my head. "Come on, we have work to do."

He frowned and stopped the machine. "Fine. But let me bathe first."

"I meant outside."

He blinked. "Huh?"

I put my hands on my hips. "Fieldwork. I want to get stronger."

He chuckled. "Alright, I'll turn you from a twig into a branch."

I scoffed. "I hope that's a good thing."

Yayoi smirked as he put his shirt back on. "You will see, city boy."