kiddo

chapter two

I walk up to the Neighborhood Association Gym having just left my friend's house. I'm a little unpunctual, but practice usually runs late anyway, so I don't think much of it.

"Hey, Yūsu-" I start as I walk in, but the silence of the empty court cut me off.

"Is that you, Takinoue?" a deep voice shouts from the storage room.

"Yeah, it's it," I confirm as I walk towards the open door, "Do you know where my brother went?"

I catch a glimpse of his bleached hair and my heart stops.

"Well Shimada and a few others had to leave, so we ended practice early," Ukai says as he places the net on the shelf.

"That bastard promised me pudding," I mutter, but after looking around I ask, "Can I help you put something away?"

He sighs, "No, I just finished, but thanks."

"Well, then I'll head home," I announce, turning around and walking to the exit.

"Do you want some pudding?"

I stop dead in my tracks, wondering if I heard him correctly, "Pardon?"

"Takinoue promised you pudding, didn't he?"

"Yeah, he did."

"Well I have to stop by my shop anyway, so I can get you some pudding," he offers.

'He has been sent by the heavens.'

"That sounds like a deal," I say with a smile, waiting until he's at my side to continue walking.

As I step out into the night, the crisp autumn air hits my lungs, the sensation putting a smile on my face.

We walk in silence for a few moments, but then he asks, "So, Takinoue is your older brother?"

I nod, "Yeah. Well, Yūsuke is actually my half-brother. My mother remarried his father a couple of years ago."

"That's why I don't know you," he exclaims, "I've known Takinoue since high school, so I was wondering why I've never seen you around."

I giggle, thinking of a seventeen-year-old Yūsuke, "Since high school? How was he in high school? Did he get a lot of girls?"

Chuckling he responds, "No, that's one thing that hasn't changed since high school."

Our laughs fill the empty streets, bouncing off the houses on either side of us.

After a few minutes of walking, he stops at the Sakanoshita Store, pulling out a key.

"You own this store?" I ask in shock.

He smiles as he opens the door, "It's from my mom's side of the family."

I walk in after him and the lights flicker on slowly.

Looking around, my eyes take in my surroundings. A simple convenience store layout with a counter near the door.

He puts his bag and jacket next to the counter and walks to the back, opening a fridge screen.

Grabbing two chocolate puddings he returns to the counter, grabbing two plastic spoons on his way back. He sits in the chair behind the counter and then looks at me standing near the entrance.

"You can sit on the counter if you want," he suggests with a shrug of his shoulders.

I grin and walk over to the counter, hopping up and grabbing a pudding cup. I open it and lick the top, grabbing the spoon once the foil is clean.

As I spoon my first bite I look down at him, curious since he hasn't moved to grab the dessert.

His eyes are on my thighs, my skirt having slightly ridden up from getting on the counter. Setting down my own cup I grab the other pudding and spoon and then stretch out my arm, offering him the dessert.