A Little Twist

Seventy-Eight

Well, that was easy. Reiji puts the phone down. Vacation for a week with the option of extending it by another week. I guess I need to use my build-up free days. I think a week is enough to get Risa back on her feet. He goes to her room and finds Shu there with Daiki in his arms on the bottle. 'Take a shower after it and get dressed for school.' 

'I don't wanna.' Shu prefers to stay home. I want to be here when she wakes up. 

'You gave her your word you would graduate this year. Or do you want to break your promise?' He sees his brother avoiding his eyes by looking at Daiki. 

Shu shakes his head. 'I had no idea he would take the bottle.' 

'He has to because we can't just put him on top of her. It might cause health issues for both of them.' Reiji disagrees. 'Just go to school as promised and get your diploma. I'm done with school and have a job when you should have graduated before me. You are a year older than me and you have a family. Learn to take care of both of them and balance it with a job. That's what we're supposed to do over time. Unless you prefer to live here forever and under his roof.' 

No! Damn it, he's right. A man should provide for his family. 'I'll go to school.' Shu doesn't like it,  but he knows he has to. 

'Good, take Daiki with you for the moment. I don't think she would like it if you or I would help her clean up. I'll get Haruna out of bed.' Reiji hears a shower in the direction of the girl's bedroom. Absolutely not. Risa would wanna hurt me if I cleaned her. I can clean her bed even with her still in it. That's no problem. He teleports to Haruna's room and knocks on the bathroom door. 

'Who is it?' She just turned the shower off and wrapped a towel around her body. 

'Reiji.' He can hear her hesitate. 

Sighing, she opens the door ajar. 'I'm not dressed yet.' 

'Can you help clean up Risa? I don't want to do that, and I'm sure she doesn't want me to see her like that either.' He explains with a few words. 

She nods. 'I'll get dressed and then I'm coming.' 

'Thank you.' He nods and goes back to Risa's room. 'Haruna is coming.' 

'I heard.' Shu knows it's the best for her. I don't like it but you wouldn't want me to see you like that. Haruna will help you because you can't do it yourself. I'm so sorry. 

*** 

At school, Haruna pulls Shu with her to the broadcasting room. 'I have to talk to you in private, Shu.' 

'Just keep it short.' He closes the door behind him. 

She nods and turns to him. 'I can help to clean her up but she breastfed Daiki. She should extract milk soon but it's not like she can do it herself. She could leak unless one of us would help her. I could help...' 

'No,' he shakes his head. 'I'll do it. It's not like she covers herself up anymore in front of me.' Daiki is from her and me, and I've seen it before. 

'Alright, I just didn't want to say it in the car.' She smiles faintly. 'I'm sure Reiji does what needs to be done. One of these days, she could open her eyes again.' 

He understands while leaving the room and goes to his homeroom. Where he hangs his head. She might be unconscious but Daiki needs her somehow. Even if that means I have to help her extract. He takes his books and waits for the others. She always did it in the morning before going to bed. I think we might have enough for almost a week, but she can't do anything right now. He leans with his head in the palm of his hand and closes his eyes for a moment.