Staying Gold (Bothers Conflict x OC)

CH.1: A Family's Fragmented Unity

"Delphine-nee, are you going to eat with us tonight?" The youngest Asahina sibling looked up at his sister, Delphine, standing at the door and preparing to leave. Curiosity and hope filled his eyes, despite the months that had passed since their last family dinner.

"Hmm, why do you ask, Wataru dear? You know your nee-san doesn't like family dinners or dinner parties," Delphine knelt down to his eye level. Her beautiful blue eyes, which seemed to see straight through him, held a hint of something unspoken. "How about this, I'll bring you your favorite fruit tart if you let me slip away quietly."

"But, nee-san... Ema -nee is coming later in the afternoon today! Don't you want to meet her? Plus Ukyo-nii is making takoyaki for the party, and you love takoyaki, right?"

Dinner parties? Ha, not like I care, I will have my own party today, I am not wanted anyways, also takoyaki's not my favorite food anyways.

"ahhhh... " Delphine let out a long sigh. "Sweetheart, big nee has work to do, and I really don't like dinner parties, you know that too. Besides, Ema-nee will be tired after meeting everyone, so I'm going to say hi tomorrow morning before I leave. Okay?"

"But you never eat with me anymore.... and I thought you might want to eat with everyone. I just really miss eating with you, so do Louis and Yusuki-nii..." Tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

"Ah... ah... how about... me picking you up on Friday and bringing you to the Café? Sounds good?" She glanced down at her watch, realizing she had to leave soon. "Well, I really have to leave now. See you later!" Delphine rushed out of the door after giving him a quick hug and a pat on the head.

Wataru's POV

"what did nee-chan say," Fuuto-nii popped out as soon as Delphine-nee left, he told me that he really liked her even thought he is mean to her because he doesn't want Delphine-nee to know. 

"No good, she kept telling me the same thing. Say, Fuuto-nii, why does Delphine-nee hate dinner parties and family dinners?"

"Ahhh... Big sis doesn't like to hang out with people, I guess... Why do you ask?"

"I just want to know. She doesn't like to hang out with people? But she has a lot of friends. I met them at the café. They're nice, well, some of them!"

"Ahhh... She only hangs out with people who... umm... like... who... she... umm... gosh... I really don't know..."

"It's fine, Fuuto-nii. Why don't we go to her café? You don't have work today, right? I can't wait until Friday! Have you ever tried her fruit tarts? They're super good! Let's go!" I grabbed Fuuto-nii's hand; they were smooth and soft like Delphine-nee's.

"Yeah, sure sounds good to me. Let me tell Mama Ukyo first. Put on your shoes." Fuuto-nii loved the tarts; he always ate some.

Arrival at "Silver Dreams" Café

The car came to a full stop, and the two brothers stepped out into the bright sunlight, walking together into the café named "Silver Dreams," after Ashlynn Beatrice da Silvia, a famous artist, designer, and CEO.

Inside, the café exuded a heartwarming, friendly atmosphere. People laughed, and occasional shouts of joy filled the air. It was always like this on weekends and sometimes after school, probably because her friends were with her. She didn't have a lot of friends—just about 17. Wataru never really liked them, but she didn't seem to care anymore.

Fuuto explored the café with a curious Wataru by his side. It hadn't changed much since their last visit. As he looked around, memories flooded back of how much he missed his sister—real conversations with her, and even her smile.

When was the last time he saw her genuinely smile in Sunshine Resident or around him?

Lost in his thoughts, he heard a certain gray-eyed, black-haired beauty singing. He had never heard her sing before, at least not that he remembered. His gaze shifted to Delphine, seated with a group, strumming a white Dean Thoroughbred guitar—an instrument he had always wanted.

He turned away, intending to explore further, but collided with a black-haired young man with tousled hair. "She stopped taking her guitar home a long time ago... You're her younger brother, right? She used to talk about her brothers a lot, but she stopped that too... a while back. Anyway, I'm Kuroo Tetsurō, captain of the volleyball team at Nekoma High. Nice to meet you, Fuuto."

"Whatever... Nice to meet you. If you're a good friend of hers, can you tell me why she came so early today? Do you even know what happened to her? You don't even know what instrument she plays."

"I don't know much, but she plays the guitar, bass, and drums. Anyway, if I were you, I'd leave. Del doesn't want to see you today—better leave before she spots you two. Actually, she doesn't want to see any of the brothers today." Kuroo turned, preparing to walk away. "By the way, she doesn't want to see you guys this whole week, so please leave."

Shocked, Fuuto couldn't believe it. He didn't know she could dislike him that much. And he hadn't realized just how talented she was. But what bothered him most was that she didn't even want to see Wataru. She loved him, right?