Cherry Blossom Abyss

Chapter Two

"I'm home."

I call out,closing the door behind me and kicking off my shoes by the door,stepping onto the raised hallway.

Naoki,my older step brother,looks at me from the kitchen,phone to his ear and points to the bentou he made for my lunch,sitting on the counter and ready to go.

He used to make one for me when I was in high school every morning,I guess that won't stop him now that I'm in college.

I nod in response,heading up the stairs to change but halt midway at the curiosity of who he's talking to.

I decided to eavesdrop.

I watch as he sighs,seemingly frustrated at the phone.

"I can't,meiori..."

Oh. Meiori was his ex-girlfriend.

His face furrows in irritation.

"Because I'm busy." He replies coldly.

He closes his eyes and squeezes the bridge of his nose as he listens to the nonsense of her.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. It's whatever."

Naoki clicks it off and tosses it on the counter carelessly,running a hand through his hair.

I noticed a vein popping out of his neck from the silent anger,he mumbles something under his breath,but it was unintelligible.

Meiori met naoki's mom a while back before she had passed,and gave her a false impression of good intentions for Naoki.

So his mom, naturally, excitedly attempted to set her up with her son,and Naoki agreed.

When naoki's mom finally passed,her true colors really started to show.

Meiori would always seem to show off in front of other guys and smile at them. She never let Naoki go through her phone.

She'd also always ask for sex or money from Naoki,then be a complete bitch again after getting what she wanted.

Why he still talks to her...I have no idea.

"Naoki?"

I take a few steps down the stairs and lean over the railing to look at him.

"Are...you guys dating again? You know that's not allowed..."

Naoki snaps his attention towards me and sighs,running a hand through his hair again.

"Look...it's...it's complicated,okay?"

He looks at his watch.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready? It's your first day. You don't want to be late."

I look down. My mind went blank. I wanted to tell him exactly what I thought of meiori.

But instead,I turn away.

"Yeah,nevermind. Sorry."

His expression softens and I climb back up the stairs and into my room,getting dressed.

My phone dings and I glance over at it where I had tossed it on the bed.

A text from Jun.

"Junya: I'm not waiting out here forever. I'm bout to leave if you don't hurry."

I smile slightly and head downstairs,grabbing my bentou before going to head out.

Naoki grabs my wrist,halting me in my tracks.

I look back at him.

His expression seemed vacant.

"Have...a good day,vi. Be home before dinner."