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

Chapter 49: Any News Would be Good News

Ema is lost for words. So am I. 

What is he saying now?

Ema wavers. Natsume hasn't let go of her hand.

"Natsume-san?"

He must not realize how soft his eyes look. It's almost like he's trying to soothe her, as if Ema is the one whose brother ran away. If they weren't siblings I'd have other thoughts as to their relationship. 

I shake my head. Now's not the time to be thinking about that.

I brush past the two of them and step into the hallway. This reminds Natsume that I'm still here. He quickly draws back and clears his throat.

"I'll take you," Natsume says, to both of us this time. "I'll drive you to the station."

"Natsume-san?" Ema asks. 

"It'll be faster that way," he explains. "And if Shin is still there we might catch him before he decides to leave. Let me come with you." He turns to me. "Your family is your business, but I'd like to help if I can."

His words give me pause. What's going on behind those serious violet eyes? His face takes on a faint shadow, though that could be my imagination. I consider asking again why he's keen on helping me when we're not even close, but refrain. Now isn't the time for courtesies. I've got to find Shin as soon as I can so I can call my mother back.

"Thank you, Natsume-san," I say. "If you don't mind."

Natsume gives a brisk nod before releasing Ema's hand and letting us out the door. He locks his apartment behind us and leads us down to the parking lot.

—————

The atmosphere in the car feels strained. I don't know what I should say. Should I explain the whole situation? But is it okay to out the entirety of mine and Shin's life stories? Would that be appropriate in this situation? Or should I stick with the basic information?

Ema knows a little about Shin based on what I've told her in passing. I once mentioned that the two of us have a complicated family history, or something along those lines, and Ema had nodded in understanding. It seems she has a complicated family history, too. 

What I don't know is if Natsume knows about it. Would he be okay to hear about a story like ours? Most people don't know what to say when I tell them, and given that we already don't have much to say to each other, I'm reluctant to widen the gap of silence any further. 

Shin's and my family histories are no secret, per say, but I come to the conclusion that now is not the time to unload the heavy details. 

But still, I should let them know the essentials of what we're dealing with.

"About Shin," I begin. I stare down at my hands. To my left, Ema angles her head toward me. Natsume's eyes flicker up in the rearview mirror. 

"Hai?" Ema encourages. 

"Our family situation is complicated."

"Hai. I think you told me about it once."

Natsume returns his focus on the road.

"It sounds like he had a fight with my parents about his parents."

Silence. As expected. 

"I see." Ema presses her lips together. 

She's told me about her past once, too.

"I'm not optimistic enough to think that he's come to Tokyo to find me, but in the slim chance that he has, I want to find him first. Just in case, and so my parents won't need to worry."