Unrequited

Ch. 4 - The Contract

You could barely sleep that night, tossing and turning as your heart fluttered repeatedly. You felt so stupid to have become so suddenly smitten, thinking that there was no way he felt the same. He was so stoic, serious, and intelligent. You probably weren't his type.

The next morning, you and your brother woke up late - as to be expected from a late night party. Satoru looked terribly hungover but proud of himself while he toasted up a bagel in the kitchen, you sleepily joining him. 

"You enjoy your night with Nanamin?" Satoru teased, watching you attempt to pour a full carton of orange juice into a glass - spilling some on the counter, feeling completely unfocused from your lack of sleep. 

"None of your business!" You sassed your sibling, as always. He was always super nosy about your business in that regard, constantly teasing and sharing details of his own nights that you didn't need to hear. But something about his tone was a little different here.

"Well I'm telling," he mumbled like a child as you wiped the counter with a paper towel.

"Why would you tell? You didn't tell any other times," you put your hands on your hips as he removed his bagel from the toaster oven. The heat burned his fingertips so he dropped it back on the little metal rack that came out of the appliance, putting those fingers in his mouth to cool them with a pouty expression.

"I don't know Nanami," he tried to give some sort of excuse.
The excuses he thought of weren't good enough, he knew that, but he saw the way you looked at Kento. He didn't want you to get hurt either by Kento or by Naoya if he were to find out. There was also the possibility of your heart being broken when you were forced to be with someone you didn't truly love. Satoru was truly out for your best interests emotionally even if he didn't do it properly.

"Yeah, well it's still none of your business," you repeated, also unsure of what to say. It was as if there was this ball of tension from the unsaid things clouding your thoughts. 

"It is if it interferes with the contract," Satoru hesitated, knowing how much you hated the stupid contract between your parents and the Zenin's. You swore that something like that was illegal, but you knew that the families didn't care.

"Naoya's a piece of shit," you sighed, sipping from your glass of orange juice. Satoru had started smothering his bagel in butter and jam. "He's never attempted to actually date me. You'd think that you'd try to do that with someone you're supposed to marry. It's clear we're not going to have a real marriage. We'll probably have, like, an open relationship as long as I pop out some kids." Satoru winced at the thought, also not liking the contract between the family elders.

"I'd be careful with him," Satoru guided, "I've heard he's much more of an asshole than that from what I hear."

"I'll believe it when I see it," you rolled your eyes and took another sip, your brother finally able to take a bite out of his bagel.

"Do you...know anything about Nanami?" You inquired, lifting an eyebrow to scan your brother's face.

"Not really. He's quiet and reserved 100% of the time," Satoru giggled, taking another bite, "really all about rules and stuff I guess. We don't really click so I never really get to interact with the guy. I mean, I certainly try, but he doesn't usually take the bait."

"Thanks," you sighed, disappointed in the lack of information. "You wouldn't have his...number, would you?"

"Y/N..." Satoru used a scolding tone.

"What?!" You whined, "sure I'm technically engaged, but I'm young...I want to experience stuff. You of all people should know that." Satoru had a slightly saddened look on his face. You seemed so defeated.