Nyanko da! (ft Natsume): A Brothers Conflict Fanfic

Chapter 39: The Start of Moving Day

Midway through class I suddenly feel a chill run down my spine. My grandma would get the feeling, which she calls "buruburu". 

"It sneaks up on you when you least expect it, Macchan," she would say. 

"What'll sneak up on me?" I asked back.

Grandma shook her head, wisps of greying hairs falling into her face. 

"You'll be livin' out your every day just fine, and then it'll find you. Buruburu!"

I had squealed as she launched a surprise attack, tickling me from the sides. Laughing, I tried to wiggle free, but if Grandma was an expert in anything it was tickling. 

When we had both tired ourselves out, she explained to me that it's your body reacting to what's to come, usually when you're scared or anxious. As you'll be on edge, tense, waiting for something to happen, it's only a matter of time until something does. What kind of "something" will depend on your luck.

That is the kind of feeling I get while writing notes from the lecture. Of course, it could've been the AC blasting down from the ceiling, but given that today was moving day, I couldn't help but wonder if Grandma had been talking sense after all. 

After class I double checked everything: my details, the contact info, the address, Ema's availability, Yuusuke's availability, and Natsume's. 

In a spur of the moment decision Ema had asked her older brother Natsume, the orange-haired cat-person who is somehow the youngest of triplets, if he was free to help me move. I feel guilty that she was doing all of this for me, and partially guilty that other people were being brought into it as well. 

Getting the people whom I'd lived with the past few weeks involved is one thing. Wataru was more than happy to lend a hand piling the boxes outside my room this morning. He'd done so unprompted, saying that he wished he could help me move right after class, but he had club and wouldn't be home until later. 

"I'll come by after if I can. Onee-chan will be helping out late, right? I'll walk her home. It's dangerous for girls to go out at night on their own."

He'd said so while puffing out his chest in pride, his eyes practically shining.

Meanwhile, Shin won't even walk with me to the conbini down the road.

The train ride home is silent as I scroll through my phone. I check for any messages from Masaomi or Ukyo. The latter always messages his family's group chat if work takes an unexpected turn and makes him late. From what I gather it doesn't happen too, too often, but with Ema and the other brothers around I can't imagine the Asahina household skidding to a halt if one pseudo-parent isn't home in time for dinner.

Ema and Yusuke are still on board by the look of things.

Phew.

As for Asahina Natsume... I hover my finger over his icon in my chat list, unsure of whether or not I should message him again. 

We haven't exchanged any messages since my previous impromptu request to come over. To meet his cats, no less!

That night I debated deleting the chat, but by then it had already been read, so deleting it would make me seem even more pathetic. So would floundering to try and excuse myself. In the end I'd left the chat and never looked back. 

That is why I am grateful that Ema bridged the gap for me, but why Natsume of all people?

True, I am not interested in having Tsubaki and Azusa invite themselves over to my place under the guise of helping me move out. I can't get a read on their deal. Tsubaki seems to like messing with people, and Azusa maybe comes along for the ride (or to reel back Tsubaki's reins before he goes too far). But as for personal motives, I can't think of any reason why they'd want to come over. No good reasons, anyway.