lend me your ears | bokuto kotaro

3 ' anemone

The weekend finally came and Hoshino was always eager to spend hours and hours doing what she loved the most- making jewelry with her brother. Besides, the only time she'd willingly turn her hearing aids on was  definitely only when with her brother.

She sat on her desk and pulled the topmost drawer to get her wire and wire-wrapping tools. She unlocked her phone, searching for references for a flower pattern to make a flower pendant.

"Nanao-nee, I have the copper," she heard her brother.

He opened the door and entered the room with a paper bag on his hand. "Oh," she mouthed, then smiled, her hand signaling to come closer.

He pulled a chair nearby and sat next to her. "A flower pendant today, right?" the small boy confirmed and placed the paper bag on the table.

She responded with a nod and carded her hand through his light brown hair.

The boy stared into his sister's phone as she scrolled through images of flowers. That's where she came across a photo of an anemone flower whose petals were white but its centers were black. As it instantly reminded her of Bokuto's black roots but white ends, a smile formed on her lips.

He was the first person to be kind to her in Fukurodani, and now that she thought about it, she hasn't returned the favor yet.

"Let's name this, Bokuto," she told him before turning off her phone. It was a habit of her to name her works and this one was no exception.

"Why Bokuto?" he wondered.

"You don't want to?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Well, sure, Nee-chan, let's name this one Bokuto," he simply agreed.

"Achoo!" Meanwhile, Bokuto, as he jogged on the school grounds with his team, kept pausing to sneeze.

"Are you okay? Are you sick, Bokuto-san?" Akaashi paused as well to check on the older.

"Yes, yes," Bokuto reassured while Akaashi pulled on his pockets to grab a tissue.

"Here," he handed it to him.

"Thanks, Akaashi."

Two hours later, the Hoshino siblings finally finished the small flower pendant they were working on. It took her more time than usual to make it because she was sharing her techniques and tricks to her learning brother.

"When can we buy a chain for this one, Nee-san?" he asked while helping her organize her tools again.

"Today," she answered and pushed the drawer.

"Really? Let's buy one today?" he repeated, eyes beaming with excitement.

She nodded at him and smiled, giving him an answer.

"Great! I'll get my backpack so let's go," he told her and got out of her room. Nanaki, her brother, was always bursting with energy and it was always a breath of fresh air.

"Nanao-nee, can I borrow your hat?" he asked loudly from the other room, then rushed back to her to see her answer.

She nodded at him in response and his face brightened again. "Thanks!" he exclaimed and put it on.

She got up from her seat and stretched, then headed to her closet to get her jacket. Afterwards, she combed her short jet black hair and noticed her light brown roots showing up.

"Nanao-nee, let's go, let's go!" he excitedly said and waved at her.

She placed her comb back in the desk and walked out of the room. "Okay, let's go," she spoke and placed her wallet and keys on her pocket.

Meanwhile, Bokuto's practice ended half an hour ago and the team was on their way to a convenience store since the managers promised to treat them to some snacks.

Her small apartment wasn't too far from Fukurodani. In fact, at the moment, the art store the Hoshinos were shopping at was just a minute away from the convenience store Bokuto was in.

"Nee-san, this looks very cool," Nanaki suggested and pointed at the display before they even entered.

"Don't point," she scolded, ironically in a bashful tone still.

"Can we still get that though?" he asked.

She sighed at him before nodding, "It's Nee-san's treat just for today," she added. They usually split art expenses through their small allowance.

"Thank you!" he exclaimed.

"Oya?" she heard from afar.

"Oya oya? Hoshino? Hoshi-san?" the siblings heard their name get called and both swayed their head to the right to see who it was.

"Bokuto-san, Akaashi-san," she mumbled.

"Nee-chan, do you know them? Wait, you mean, Bokut-" the younger asked and tucked her jacket, but she interrupted.

"They're from my school," she informed in a hushed voice.

"A chibi chibi version of Hoshino," Bokuto commented, thankfully inaudibly. Hoshino Nanao was small enough, standing only 5 foot 1, but Hoshino Nanaki, her brother, was obviously much smaller, being 4 foot 11.

"H-hello," she greeted.

"Nee-chan finally has friends?" the boy gasped.

"Hello," the two tall boys greeted back, varying in enthusiasm.

"This is," she spoke in a shaky voice, "my brother."

"Hello, I'm Hoshino Nanaki, nice to meet you," the little boy introduced himself, which was followed by Akaashi's and Bokuto's.

"So, what brings you here?" Bokuto initiated a conversation.

"My sister and I make jewelry, we're getting materials," Nanaki answered in her stead, surprisingly making her flustered about her hobby. Ashamed, she tried her best to avoid eye contact, and fixated her gaze on the ground.

"That's pretty nice," Bokuto remarked.

"Bokuto-san, Akaashi-san, hurry up!" they heard the managers from a distance.

"See you around, Hoshino-san," Akaashi bid them farewell, making Bokuto say his goodbyes too.

"See you on Monday, Hoshi-san!"

She lifted her head to look at the two then shyly waved her hand. "Bye," she mouthed.

"Nee-chan, is the Bokuto-san your crush or something?" the boy bluntly asked as soon as the two disappeared from their sight.

Her eyes slightly widened upon hearing the question and panicked, shook her head speedily. "Really?"