Banana Fish AshxEiji

~part ten~

Eiji

I nuzzle my head into Ash's neck, allowing myself to finally let go. I wonder if my absence ever affects my little sister, she's thirteen now. Her birthday was about a month ago. Ibe-san tried to get me to go and I tried to but everytime I stepped outside of my apartment I broke down, I sent her a letter apologizing for not being able to come and she asked me to come see her soon. I pull back from our embrace and look at Ash, "wanna meet my sister?" I ask hopefully, he lets out a light chuckle, "of course, what's her name?' he replies grinning.

"Aimi, it means love and beauty, she just turned thirteen." I say walking away to get my phone and text her, she loves getting letters in the mail but I can't wait for that. I text her:

Eiji: hey when can I see you? I want to meet you somewhere away from mom and dad

I anxiously wait for her to text back, I glance up at Ash to see an amused expression on his face. I roll my eyes at him knowing that I look stupid sitting here staring at my phone awaiting an answer. My phone buzzes in my hand and I jump a little bit, I've always gotten easily scared ever since I was a kid.

Aimi: Hi! Let's meet at our old meeting place, behind the cafe? I can't wait to see you again!

I smile at her text, Aimi and I have always been pretty close but our age difference makes it challenging sometimes. I remember our meeting place. It's behind an old cafe that sold the best hot chocolate, I would always buy her one after school and we would sit behind the old brick building and talk about how school was that day. Everyday we had to wait until 5pm to come home, because my parents would fight before my father left for work and my mom didn't want us to ever get stuck in the middle. My smile falters, I wonder what happened after I left for New York. Is she okay? Does she still sit there after school? Is she safe?

I feel Ash put his hand on my shoulder and I snap back into reality, "you zoned out, are you okay? You look pale" he says worriedly. I plaster a smile back on my face and nod, "I'll call her and figure out the details," walking past him I swiftly press the call button so Ash can't ask any further questions.