Sibling Love (Sequel to I Just Want To Be Loved)

Underneath The Surface

Two days later, Kirika woke up feeling excited. It was her birthday! She got out of bed and ran to the bathroom mirror.

Kirika was a little disappointed to find out that nothing had changed. She thought that turning one year older would have some change.

Just then, she heard a noise from outside her room. She ran back to her bed and pretended to still be asleep.

Shu entered her room with a tray in his hands. Every year on Kirika's birthday, he made her breakfast in bed. This year, Kirika had woken up first.

Still, Kirika managed to be convincing in her surprise when she saw the tray with pancakes with honey and butter, orange juice and fresh strawberries.

"Thanks Shu," she said. "This is the best birthday ever!"

"Actually, I have another surprise for you," said Shu. "It's waiting for you after school."

"Can I open my presents now?" asked Kirika.

"Sorry, but you have to be patient," said Shu. Kirika was disappointed, but she didn't argue any further. Anyway, she had a fun birthday party to look forward to.

Kirika had given out her invitations the previous day. Her friends were all looking forward to the party. She had even given one to Daphne, since almost all of her classmates had been given one. Kirika didn't believe in discriminating anyone.

Daphne had been suspicious when Kirika had given her an invitation. "Why would you invite me?" she asked. "You know that I don't like you."

"I know," said Kirika. "It's just the right thing to do. I know how upset you get when people don't invite you."

"And why would I care?" asked Daphne.

"I think that you're just sad," said Kirika. "Your mother doesn't spend time with you, and I don't want you to be bitter. Shu told me that once when he was in preschool, one of his classmates had a birthday party and he didn't get invited. He said that it really hurt his feelings."

"Don't make me laugh," said Daphne. "The famous Shu Kurenai not getting invited to a party?"

"My brother is more than a famous face," said Kirika.

Daphne went quiet. "I... I never thought about that before."

Daphne had been unusually quiet that day, and Kirika wondered if she had done something to upset her.

That day, she noticed Daphne sitting in the cafeteria all alone. "Daphne?" she asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh, of course everything's okay," said Daphne airily. "Uh... Happy birthday."

"Thanks," said Kirika, surprised that Daphne had wished her happy birthday. "You seem lonely."

"Of course I'm not lonely. Why would I be?"

"Let me see. You seem to spend all your time alone. You're the last person picked for group projects. You glare at me a lot, but it's usually when I'm with my friends."

Daphne looked down. Kirika sighed.

"Daphne, I don't like seeing you like this. It may be my birthday, but you matter too."

Just then, Daphne said something really surprising. "I have no friends. And my Mom doesn't care about me.

"All my life, I was told that I shouldn't make friends because they waste my time. Mom always said, 'Friends won't make you famous.'

"That was all that mattered to her. Her fame. I would be allowed to go out with her in some glamorous dress and way too much makeup. It was always to maintain her image. Everyone loved the fact that she had a beautiful daughter. But that's not me at all.

"My Mom never celebrated my birthday, and my Dad passed away when I was a baby. I am expected to follow her footsteps, but I want to be a singer. But she says that I won't make a living that way."

"I'm so sorry," said Kirika.

"I have always envied you," said Daphne. "You have everything I have and more. You have money, fame and a pretty face. But you also have friends, a supportive older brother, and freedom to do whatever you want. I never had those things."

Kirika thought about it. She realized that not everything is as they seemed. She thought of all the times Shu would stare off into the distance, like he had something to hide or was feeling guilty about something. Was that connected to her parents?

"Well, you will have a great time at my party," said Kirika. "There's a bouncy castle and everything."

Daphne's eyes widened. "Whoa there," she said, a genuine smile on her face for the first time. "You would have saved yourself an entire conversation if you had started with bouncy castle."

Kirika giggled a little. "Well, everyone's going to have a good time. You'll see."