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

Chapter 52: Rudeness

Slurrrrp... slrrp...

For a kid who insisted he wasn't hungry he sure is wolfing his food down.

I sit in the booth across from Shin. Both of us are soaking wet, but the steam from the bowls in front of us makes those few seconds of rain worth it.

No one said anything in the car, except for Natsume. He asked us where we wanted to go and if he had the right place. Long live the maturity of older brothers.

He and Ema brought us to one of the noodle places near the station. I had in mind to go to another place before the rain started, but that one's a bit further away, and I don't want to impose on Natsume any more today.

He and Ema sit in another booth a ways away. They're trying hard not to eavesdrop, but we're practically the only ones in the shop. The only other people are an older couple near the back. They're busy chatting it up with the server and the chef, though, also pretending like they can't hear us.

I slurp back some noodles, sneaking glances at Shin in between chews. He hasn't looked at me since we sat in the back seat of Natsume's car. He didn't even look at me when we ordered. He just said it'll be on my bill and muttered that he'd pay me back later.

When I said you 'owe' me I wasn't actually going to make you pay for the meal... I'm not that mean, you know!

I didn't correct him, but I didn't say otherwise, either. Part of me wants to make sure that Shin has a reason to stay here.

"So..." I say. My chopsticks rest at the side of the bowl. The golden broth reflects the pale light over our heads. The blobs of gleaming oil reflect my nervous face. With my blue and black hair dripping down my neck, I look like I'm the one who ran away and fell in the river, and that statement wouldn't be entirely incorrect. I'm fighting the urge to stand up and leave right now. The food is good, but I want to go home.

"So what?" Shin grunts. He lifts his bowl and takes another loud slurp. "You gonna yell at me again?"

Well, I want to, but I'm not going to. You're welcome.

"Look. It was wrong of me to yell at you back there," I admit, the half-hearted apology grating against my tongue. "I was worried and it came out wrong. It's been a stressful morning."

Shin snorts. "I bet."

"It's been even worse for our parents."

"You tryin' to guilt trip me? No wonder you get along with them so well."

My chopsticks clink against the bowl. I can't let him get the better of me. In the past Shin would bait me and I would bait him, we'd fall for each other's baits and get continue our never ending argument. Normally it would be our parents who get us to stop.

But they're not here to do that now. That responsibility falls on me now. I have to be the bigger person.

Just... perfect...

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I try to see Shin through the eyes of my parents. How would they view him now? How would any other adult see him now?

In this hypothetical scenario, Shin is a cold, wet, hungry high school kid, far from home and without his family to rely on. The only person with him is his older sister, who's fuming at him, and some total strangers who found themselves involved in this drama. None of them are going to leave him alone if he runs again, so he's begrudgingly staying put for now.

I bet he's waiting for an excuse to leave, but not before he stuffs his stomach. He doesn't seem to have a plan for what comes after, so he might as well accept their goodwill while it lasts.