Chihiro Hanagaki

Chapter 25

Much to Hibiki's annoyance, Chihiro wanted to go outside instead of staying cooped up inside. "Are you really okay?" Hibiki worried. Chihiro rolled her eyes huffing, "I'm not an invalid Hibiki?!" She winced slightly when Hibiki touched her back. "See," Hibiki insisted. Chihiro punched her side making her hunch over, "Are you done babying me now?" Hibiki looked up, gritting her teeth, "Yeah."

"Are we sure about meeting up with Emma? She should spend her birthday alone with her brother," Hibiki wondered. Chihiro double-checked her text, "Yeah she said she wanted us to meet her there. And to bring Hina if she wanted to come." Hibiki insisted on carrying both the presents each of them got for Emma. The two continued down the street and ran into Hinata, Naoto, and Takemichi. "Time to solve this mystery. Solve in the name of my grandpa!" Hinata exclaims. They walked over and Hibiki quipped, "What in the Nancy Drew is going on?"

Chihiro had forgotten about this part in the anime. Neither Hinata nor Takemichi knew that Mikey and Emma were related by blood. "Chi! Hibiki! Perfect timing!" Hinata cheered. "Perfect timing for what?" Hibiki questioned. "Emma and Mikey are on a date together?!" Emma announced as if it was earth-shattering news. Chihiro quirked her brow, "That's a bad thing because?"

Hinata got really close to Chihiro's face, "Because Emma is crazy about Draken!" Hibiki facepalmed, "Hina, Emma is-" "No time for chit chat let's move!" Hinata cut off. Hibiki narrowed her eyes and Chihiro placed a hand on her shoulder shaking her head. The four followed Hinata to a cafe and for some reason had a pipe. "So where'd you get that pipe, Hina?" Takemichi asked.

Hinata removed the pipe and seriously answered, "Pay attention, dear Watson. Focus on Emma's eyes." Takemichi glanced over muttering, "Her eyes." Emma was staring at her brother the same way Chihiro stared at Takemichi. A familial love was what filled Emma's gaze. All siblings had that look if they had a good relationship. "Those are definitely the eyes of a girl in love," Hinata claimed. Hibiki crossed her arms, "I think that's a bit of a reach."

Takemichi looked at Hibiki curiously. "Why do you say that?" Hibiki rolled her eyes. "Because Emma and Mikey ar-" Hinata punched Takemichi. I said, "Pay attention!" Naoto's sweat dropped. "There it is. Hinata's detective punch out." Chihiro sighed to Hibiki. "It's hopeless." Hinata was so lost in her own world that she would not listen to either of them. Chihiro and Hibiki weren't even crouched down like those three.

"Hey Takemichy! Is that you?" Yamagishi called. Takemichi looked surprised to see his friend, "Woah Yamagishi!?" Takemichi gave Yamagishi the rundown about what was going on. "Yeah from what you say I definitely smell a case here," Yamagishi agreed. Takemichi nodded, "No doubt. That's why we're following them around to try and find out the truth." A vein popped out on Hibiki's forehead, "You guys are damned idiots." Yamagishi reveals that Emma and Mikey have been seen numerous times leaving Sano's residence together. Yamagishi concludes that Emma was spending the night and going to her home the next day.

"Or she lives with him," Chihiro sighs. "Emma and Mikey are a couple of two-timers!" Hinata exclaims. "Hina you're wrong-and there she goes," Chihiro huffs. Hinata was already storming over to the two before Chihiro could de-escalate the situation. "Yamagishi, did your sources happen to mention Emma's last name?" Chihiro asked. Yamagishi nodded, "It's Sano." Hibiki then asked, "And what's Mikey's last name?" Yamagishi paled as the realization dawned on him, "S-Sano?!"

Chihiro and Hibiki announced, "Emma is Mikey's little sister." Naoto and Takemichi were shocked by the news. "Take, stop your girlfriend!" Chihiro snapped. Takemichi stumbled as he rushed over to them, but Draken had already arrived teasing Mikey, "Check this out! Hanging out with your little sister on her birthday, Mikey." Mikey was of course uncomfortable, "Shut up!" Draken then smiled at the confused Emma, "Mikey and Emma are siblings. Though they had different moms." Chihiro and Hibiki came over, "We tried to tell you guys, but you wouldn't listen."

Emma tilted her head to the side, "I could have sworn I told you this Hina." Takemichi looked annoyed, "That right Hina?" Hinata, Naoto, and Yamagishi tried to play dumb, gawking at the sweets. "Here," Draken said, placing a pink bear on the top of her head. Emma blinked, "Huh?" Draken grinned, "Have a happy birthday Emma." Mikey recognized the bear, "Oh that's the thing you wanted from the arcade the other day."

It sucked that the two weren't officially a couple. Draken would be by far the sweetest most considerate boyfriend. He remembered something so small as a bear at an arcade that she wanted. It was a thoughtful gift and Emma looked so pleased. After Draken left Mikey noticed, "Huh, Chichi?" Chihiro looked confused, "What?" Mikey pointed out, "Your hair isn't braided today."

Chihiro felt her loose hair, "Yeah, it still hurts to lift my arms too high." She hadn't worn it in braids for the past three days. She refused to let Hibiki braid it since she found it in herself to do almost everything to help her. Chihiro's had so many showers with Hibiki it wasn't funny. It was a big help since she still couldn't move or bend certain ways, but she had to put her foot down somewhere. "Yeah, Chichi won't let me help her braid it," Hibiki pouted. Chihiro deadpanned, "I'll smack you."

Mikey tugged a little on Chihiro's hair, "It's so wavy without your braids." Chihiro nodded, "It's because I keep my hair braided so much." Hibiki leaned her chin on Chihiro's shoulder, "Her hair used to be so much longer before Junior High." Mikey, curious, asked, "Really?" Emma chimed in, "Ooh I remember the photo you showed me. It used to go down to your hips!" Hinata's eyes widened, "Wow, it's so short now!" Chihiro frowned, "You can thank my asshole cousin. He thought it would be funny to stick gum in my hair before my first year of Junior High." Emma and Hinata gasped horrified that something like that happened.

Some women tended to be overprotective of their hair. Takemichi laughed nervously, "Y-yeah she broke Masaru's nose for a second time for doing that." Yes, Masaru was a victim of Chihiro's physical retribution numerous times. "The first time was when Masaru tried to take her bike from her. He took Michi's bike several times, he got so bold as to try Chichi! Then she right hooked him and broke his nose," Hibiki recounted. Mikey laughed, "Seems like your guys' cousin never learned his lesson." Takemichi and Chihiro shared a look, "You have no idea."

Hibiki then placed her and Chihiro's presents for Emma on the table, "Oh here. Chichi and I got you a little something." Emma looked even more surprised, "You guys didn't have to." Chihiro grinned, "We wanted to." Mikey encourages his sister, "Open them." Emma opened Hibiki's present first. Inside, the pink bag was a makeup set Emma had been eyeing at the store when the girls went window shopping. "Hibiki you didn't!" she gasped.

"Those were the palettes you were looking at," Hinata smiled. Emma frowned slightly, "I didn't buy them because they were so expensive." Hibiki shrugged, "My Mom buys stuff there all the time. I used some of her points to get it at half price." Chihiro leaned into Hibiki's side, "Hopefully she doesn't kill you." Hibiki shushed her and changed the subject, "Open Chichi's gift now!" Emma placed the palette in the bag and grabbed Chihiro's gift. The light blue gift bag contained a deck of tarot cards.

Emma was obsessed with fortune-telling so a tarot deck seemed to be the perfect gift. "I know how much you like fortune-telling." Emma giggled, "Now I can be a full-fledged fortune teller~" After giving her the gifts they chatted for a bit before parting ways. Takemichi, Emma, Naoto, and Yamagishi had already left by the time they did. The sun was already starting to set when Chihiro got home. It took everything to make Hibiki go home.

Hibiki hasn't left her side since she left the hospital. Hibiki left with the biggest pout on her face as she made the trek home. She went up to her room when she received a text. Chihiro noticed the text was from Mitsuya. The text read: 'Hey, can you come to my school to get your bottoms tomorrow? I already called Takemichy. So you two should come together.' Chihiro texted: 'Sure ╰(▔∀▔)╯'