Chapter 3

"Ah, good morning Sayuri-san!" Nakai greeted as he returned from a jog. "Went to the market?" he then asked, noticing the bag of groceries.

"Good morning, Nakai-kun!" Sayuri greeted back. "Yea I just went to the market." Sayuri answered. "As in, super market, of course!" she quickly added. "My pay is going to be cut this month, seeing as how they are going to inspect the mall the whole day!"

"At least there's a rest." Nakai said, trying to cheer things up a little. "Hey why don't you come over so you get introduced to my brothers?"

"Oh, okay." Sayuri answered. "I'll just go put down my groceries first..."

"Here, I'll help you with that." Nakai offered, taking the groceries bag from Sayuri's arms.

"Thanks."

"No problem. In the kitchen?"

"Yes."

When Nakai emerged from the apartment, Sayuri locked the door, then followed Nakai. When the apartment door was opened, the loud chatter ceased. Then Shingo started it again. "Welcome home, Nakai!" he exclaimed loudly, as though he had not seen his brother for a year. He then noticed Sayuri, and said in the same cheerful tone, "Welcome to our home, er.."

"I'm Sayuri." Sayuri replied, bowing.

"Morning, Sayuri! It's a first time getting to know you. As in, we never get any neighbour visits." Goro greeted.

"Who would dare to visit the five noisy brothers?" Tsuyoshi asked.

Nakai directed Sayuri towards the sofa, where the four otehr boys were sitting, and then settled down beside Sayuri. "Sayuri would dare. She'd already done it!" Nakai answered.

After all the introductions were made, the four brothers proceeded to do their own things, leaving Nakai and Sayuri alone, since Nakai wanted to speak to her. Sayuri had gathered that Takuya, the second-eldest in the family, worked as a chef in a small restaurant, while Shingo, the youngest, worked as a performer for kids. The other two brothers were furthering their studies, and so held part-time jobs.

Silence again. In the background, Takuya was frying eggs and doing stunts at the same time, a single ear stud flashing from a distance. Goro was bent over study notes, scribbling away while stirring his coffee. Tsuyoshi walked about the apartment, humming a tune and cleaning up the mess. And there was Shingo left, doing nothing but sitting on the floor, stretching out his legs and complaining of his hunger. "Shingo, I'm studying!" Goro complained.

"Why don't you ask Tsuyoshi to stop his humming first?" Shiungo argued back."Shingo is really adorable." Sayuri commented suddenly, deciding to break the silence.

"He's 25 and he still acts like a child!" Nakai replied.

Shingo, on catching the faint comment, retorted, "Oni-chan too!" The rest agreed in unision, and Sayuri stifled a laugh.

"No eavesdropping!" Nakai scolded, though he was nearly laughing himself too as well.

"You had something to say, didn't you? So why all of a sudden, you aren't saying anything?" Sayuri asked, serous now, and much softer, to avoid unnecessary attention from the other brothers.

"I just want to...thank you for the other day." Nakai replied, feeling rather awkward, thinking that Sayuri must've thought badly of him crying.

"You haven't told your brothers?" Sayuri questioned."No. I don't know how to break the news to them." Nakai sighed, slouching into his seat.

As though an answer came through, a photo gently floated to the floor, near Shingo. Shingo picked up the photo, then announced, "Hey, a photo of Hatoko!" Everyone started gathering round, then Shingo posed the exact question. "What happened to her?"

"I'd best be going. I don't want to disturb your family discussion." Sayuri said from the sofa and slowly got up. Nakai led her to the door. "Goodbye."

"As Nakai closed the door behind him, he turned round to find four expectant faces staring at him intently. "What?"

"Well?" Takuya demanded.

"Oh, Hatoko..." Nakai hesitated, then he sat down at the dining table, his head on the cold glass surface. "Nothing. Takuya, if you're not serving the breakfast, I'm going out to buy. You're starving us all..." Nakai quickly said, changing the subject, and trying to make his voice sound firm enough.

Takuya folded his arms. "If you're not telling, I'm going to Sayuri! I have a feeling she actually knows about this. Look at how she decided to go home when we mentioned Hatoko. She obviously knows it!" Takuya said, in a rather impatient tone.

"Wait! Don't disturb her. I'll tell." Nakai hurriedly exclaimed. "Haotoko passed away." They all stared at him.

"What really did happen?" Goro asked."Oni-chan, you don't have to be ashamed of crying. Shingo does that all the time." Tsuyoshi comforted."Do not!" Shingo argued.

Nakai actually laughed a little. He slowly lifted his head, and placed his gaze on each of his brothers. Then he started telling the story. When he was done, they were all by then sitting round at the dining table, pondering on the event.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Takuya asked.

"You were all so busy, I didn't want to add on to your stress. Plus, Tsuyoshi and Goro are still having a hectic time juggling work and studies." Nakai replied.

"You don't have to worry about me. Go on, do your work. And Takuya I was serious about you starving us all." Nakai assured.When breakfast was served, Nakai got the most food among them -- An extra serving of ham from Takuya.