Lets Open Up

Ryouhei surprises to see Aria look like she’s ready for some cleaning when he comes out from his house. He wonder is that girl has her shift on that day but decide just to brush it off when think that girl has been taking leave for few times before. He asks, “Where are you going?”

“I’m thinking to clean Rin-chan’s house. At least, she doesn’t have too many dusts when she’s return.” Aria says while she swings her mask. She asks, “You have work today?”

“Yeah and it may end a bit late today. Will it be too much to ask something from you?” Ryouhei lock the door before say that to her as walk towards her.

Aria make an educated guess what he want and casually says, “I know what you want ask me to do; help your laundry. I will do it after I finish with Rin-chan’s house.”

“If it too tiring for you, you can take rest. You don’t really have to rush in doing it. I will treat you something later.” Ryouhei already plan to ask some help from her before he leave for work but hope that girl won’t tired herself.

“I will just relax at your house after I finish everything. I may borrow some of your movies to kill the time.” Aria says that because she knows he has movie collection that she really likes to watch.

Ryouhei smiles while say, “Just do whatever you want at my home as I will come home late today.”

“Good luck for work and don’t bully Keitarou-kun too much.” Aria sends him off with that gentle warning.

“I know and it surprising to get warning not to bully Keitarou from you.” Ryouhei manage to reply despite surprises as that girl never says anything like that before.

Aria shutter a bit when tries to explain, “I j-just saying that since y-you seem bully him too harsh lately.” She also wonders why she says something like that.

Ryouhei playfully ruffles her hair while says, “I will try not to do that and you also need not to overwork. I will send mail to you after work.” He bid her bye before walk away from her.

Aria spend few hours to clean up Rin’s house because she think she want to make sure everything is clean and tidy when her best friend come back home. She smiles when see pictures of her, Rin and Ryouhei as kids, get put on the wall at one corner. She gently touches one of that and mumbles, “It is selfish if I wish things will be same like before…”

********************

Rin manage to limit her communication with both John and Jun only during the practice since she’s not in mood to handle with the drama. She leaves out huge sigh when her mind remembers on how both guys keep try to impress her when she clearly show that she’s not interested. Her only aim at the moment is to focus on what she’s doing.

A voice startled her while taking break from practice, “You’re not looking good right now. Have you been eating well these past few days?”

She turns to see the screenwriter of the play that she will be act as main lead. She remembers her name as Yana and she asks, “What make you think like that?”

“I can clearly see your pale face right now plus you have that ‘run-away’ drama from those two persistent creatures called man. If only I have power to change the roles…” Yana leans against the chair while she makes sure already save notes that she make on her laptop. She can see that since she watches everyone in case she needs to make changes for the play.

“I know it is not you make the final choice but you don’t have to worry of anything. I will do my task professionally until the end. My aim to go here is to improve myself.” Rin mostly say that to remind her intention to be there despite it comes out a bit cold.

Yana suddenly come out with an idea, “You want to join me and my little bros for dinner tonight?”

“Little bros?” Rin feels curious to hear about that term and accept the offer to get the answer she sense that girl won’t take no as answer.

After they finish their practice, Rin follow Yana without ask where they will go. They ride Yana’s car and hear that girl says, “I hope you can deal with the mess. The boys never want to keep everything tidy.”

“I can deal…” Rin doesn’t know what kind of response she can give. She could see toys inside the car and a little mess inside it.

Both of them arrive in front of kids’ center and Yana gets off for few minutes before return with two little boys. She introduces them to Rin, “These two are my little bros; Kent and Mark. This beautiful nunna will act as my heroin for my story.”

“Nice to meet you~!” both of them manage to give polite greeting and bow to Rin.

They go to supermarket to grab things that they need for the dinner and the boys really active but mostly helping Yana to grab things that she needs. Rin says, “They are surprisingly obedient for their age.”

“It’s all thanks to their dad… I mean my brother. He did really well in disciplines them.” Yana say that and Rin could sense happiness behind that voice. Even those two are not her children, it clear that girl proud of them.

“I thought both of them are you sons!” Say Rin, surprise to know they are not that girl’s sons.

Yana pushes the trolley and says, “Maybe in some sense, they are like my own sons but it is actually my brother’s sons. My brother really busy with his works around the world that make him rarely at home and I have been taking care of them.”

“It must be hard for you since you have to take care of them while write scripts and attend lesson.” Rin give comment without think too much about that. She always heard is not easy to balance two things especially it involve kids.

Yana happily says, “It’s hard but it is really fun to do because I can see their smile at the end of the day. Let me told you something; the main hero in the story that you will act is based on both of them and the heroine is a girl that they like.”

Rin surprise to hear it and says, “No wonder the ending….” Yana only smile to response with that.

They continue their walk to search for everything they need since those kids already bored and try to play some games between them but that only last for few minutes when both kids return to them and say, “We’re tired…”

Yana gently smiles before says, “Let’s finish out shopping ASAP and we will go straight to home.”

*******************

Rin wonder to herself when the last time she feels the interaction that gives her warmth of the family. She sits on the couch while enjoying warm cup of tea as Yana put both little boys to their bed. She asks when that girl return to living room, “How you can deal with this?”

“I work really hard for that since I have never experience it before. For most of my life, it always revolves between my brother and me. I hope I can see the bright future when my brother decides to begin his own family but things not always go in their own way.” Yana explains that after she makes herself comfortable on the couch.

Rin says, “It seems both of us have quite same life. I’m also alone in my life but my best friends always make sure that I won’t feel alone.”

“To be honest, I’m really jealous with you as I don’t have that kind of friends in my life. You should treasure them.” Yana says that since that is something that she yearns but it’s not easy to get.

Rin notice how late she is and says, “I should take my leave by now since it already late.”

“You can stay here overnight and I will send you back tomorrow. Do you have anything at morning?” say Yana. When the reply is no, she happily says, “I promise you to send you back tomorrow.”

Rin can’t say anything as she knows she can’t catch any trains that and Yana can’t leave the kids at home alone. She stays at guest room and her mind suddenly replay the day she lost her parent and she stay overnight at Aria’s house.

Flashback~

She still in shock on what happen and could only watch the scene in front of her; people that admit themselves as her relatives fight to look after her but she can’t recognize any of them. Suddenly, Aria shouts to grab attention, “Rin-chan will stay with me from now on!”

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a brat!” one of the adults asks in loud voice that enough to make normal kid tremble in fear but that not enough to waver that kid’s confidence.

“I’m her best friend. We already promise that we will be together, along with Ryo-chan.” Aria stand firm with her words. She stands up in front of Rin to cover her from those adults.

The argument change from between the adults to Aria and them and it became worse when one of the adults wants to hit her. Aria’s dad quickly interfere them, “We will look after Rin from today now on. She doesn’t have to move anywhere since she already busy with her school and training.”

“Who are you?” another adult ask with annoy voice.

“I already make promise that I will look after her if anything happen to her parent.” Aria’s dad begin explains things that none of the kids understand but at the end, Rin can stay with Aria.

They bring Rin back to their house and Aria is the most excited. She even prepare pajama for that girl and tell her both of them will sleep together.

Aria happily says after both of them finish their bath, “Yatta, we can go to school together after this!”

“You forget the fact we go to different school again.” Say Rin as she wipes her hair. She doesn’t receive any response from that girl and sweat-dropped to see that girl already fall asleep. Tiny giggle escape from her mouth as she knows her day won’t have big changes because her friend is there for her.

End of flashback~~

************

Ryouhei reach home late and lazily open the door but surprise to see someone in the kitchen. He says, “I thought you already return home.”

“Oh! I just finish things here and prepare some relaxing drink, in case you want it.” Aria says as she’s preparing tea.

“You already take your dinner?” Ryouhei ask that as he places his things on a couch.

Aria surprise to hear that and says, “Yabai, I forget about that but I think I already eat before I go to Rin-chan’s house.”

“That’s your breakfast! Are you on diet?” Ryouhei couldn’t believe that girl actually forget about eating when that is one of her focus in her day.

Aria denies that, “No, it was you who told me that I shouldn’t diet as that will ruin my health.”

“If like that, I will cook something for you. What are you doing just now?” Ryouhei walk to kitchen and wash his hands.

“I’m just watching some old concert of your group. Hiro-kun’s songs really nice!” Aria happily says that while watch him cooking. She knows even if she offers to help, that guy will decline it despite just return from works.

“You always say that but why you never say anything straight to him when you met him.” Ryouhei say that as his hands skillfully cut ingredient as he prepare something light since it quite late in night.

“There is no way I can say that with straight face to him!” Aria whines before puff her cheeks.

Ryouhei only ruffles her hair before resume his cooking and says, “I know you will say like that because you still have wall around you.”

“That’s for my own safety…” Aria mumbles that in low voice but that guy can catch everything.

After few minutes, Ryouhei finish prepares meal and both of them enjoy it at living room. Aria asks, “Will you go to watch Rin’s graduation play?”

“I don’t know yet since we’re in the middle of tour right now.” Ryouhei give that reply without look at that girl but quickly adds when notices that girl looks a bit sad, “But I will try to take the time. You must be planning to go there alone if I don’t get time.”

“If Keitarou-kun gets time, we should invite him too as Rin-chan is his friend. I’m sure she wants him to watch it too.” Aria casually says that since she knows that guy still friend with Rin even they already break up.

“That guy won’t have trouble since he always has off-day. I will tell him when we met.” Ryouhei make note to ask that guy later on. He suddenly remembers how that girl not uses to travel anywhere alone and make memo to check the schedule with his manager when he meet him.

************

“Just get into the house since our houses is not that far!” Aria says that when notice Ryouhei still at the door when she leaves the house.

Ryouhei casually says, “Just let me make sure you get to your house safely.”

Aria arrives in front her house that just few doors away and mouth to him, “Hag!”

That guy want to smack her but that girl stuck out her tongue before dash into her house. She only giggles when remember that guy’s reaction and go to bathroom to clean herself.