Project: Karma

S2 | 04 Sweet Siblings

<Nakaru>
Two weeks after starting my second year of university, Mari has been texting me non-stop about how much she already misses me. Even Momma has been calling me on the weekends about how cranky she has been since I left.

"Mari, we literally spent the summer traveling together with Momma and Papa." I talked to her on the phone during my break from studying. "You should be focusing on your studies."

"You and Nozomi say exactly the same thing." She sighed and I could hear a loud noise on the other end. "Ever since she started high school, she's been busy too, it's not fair."

"I'm hanging up." I said, "you should eat dinner soon." I stared out and glanced at the moon, "tell Momma and Papa I said hi."

Mari hung up the phone and that was when Daichi appeared next to me, sitting comfortably while sipping his coffee.

"When did you get here?" I questioned a bit startled.

"A couple of seconds ago." He smiled, "was that your sister again?"

"Yeah." I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "She's been complaining like usual."

"At least she calls you. Nozomi doesn't even call me, not ever. What a little brat she is." He frowned and stood up. "Let's grab food, I'm hungry."

"Where did you just come from?" I wondered as I packed my books and laptop away in my backpack.

"From the gym. We had a short team session, nothing strenuous though." He explained while flexing his arms.

"You're such a meat-head." I teased, "that's why Nozomi favors Haruki over you."

While it did shock many when we applied to universities after high school, it was unbelievable that Daichi would even get accepted into the same university as me. And that was because his grades were generally low and a school like this was considered a reach-school for him.

However, he was able to get an athletic scholarship from one of the soccer coaches here as well as being scouted for basketball. At the moment while I'm studying for biomedical sciences, Daichi is pursing sports medicine.

"Nozomi is just a spoiled little girl that has no respect for me. Haruki brainwashed her for sure." Daichi nodded his head as if his assumptions were true.

"Maybe if you were nicer to her, maybe she would call you too." I faked coughed, "can we eat out too? Not feeling the crowded dining tonight."

"Ramen?" He suggested. "There's a new place that opened nearby."

"You know me so well." I laughed and we headed off campus. "You buying?"

"Hell no, you think I'm made of money?" He shoved me and started running away.

"I was joking." I caught up to him. "But it would be appreciated." With a light grin, the both of us started to crack up on our way there. It ended up becoming a race because Daichi refused to let me pass him.
••••
<Namari>
Ever since Tuesday, Naki has been ignoring all of my calls. Of course I was frustrated but I understood that if I were in his position, it would be quite tiresome to have someone constantly call me.

But even so, I would be checking my phone after school waiting for a message of sorts but at this rate, nothing was being sent my way.

"Namari."

Someone tapped my back as I was standing off to the side outside the front doors of the academy. When I made eye contact, I smiled at my classmates who called my name.

"We're going to the bookstore, want to join?" They asked me, "the weather is nice too so we might hang out at the park and work on some assignments together."