The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 126~♫

 'I'm so melting!' Aiyoku groaned in his mind as he put all the puzzle pieces together. "This sure was unexpected. I wonder how I can tell it to Ri." He sat down the podium they had built.

"Tell me what?" his older brother asked, sitting nearby and checking papers with small illustrations.

"What?" He collapsed on the side, almost rolling down the podium. If Aiyoku had his old hair, it would bristle. "You gave me almost a heart attack!" He grasped his drenched shirt, taking a few deep breaths.

"I didn't mean to. I thought you noticed me." The oldest brother pushed up his glasses, trying to mask the embarrassment.

"No worries." Aiyoku got up. "I was just lost in thoughts." He got up, convincing his muscles to work for him before taking back his place.

"So, what you wanted to tell me?"

Aiyoku needed a few minutes to think about how to phrase his request. "Do you remember how our dad told us to give a second chance?"

"Yes, and the answer is no."

Aiyoku's hand slipped down his knee. "How do you know what I want to ask for?"

"Simple." He pushed back his glasses. "Second chance is for somebody who did wrong towards you or messed something up. Taking into account your personality, my best bet is you are thinking of letting Ueno get closer to us once more." He shot his younger brother a strict look.

"I'm sure you didn't forget what she did or tried to," Rigaku reminded.

"Of course not, I'm just thinking... it would be unfair."

"Unfair?" Rigaku turned his way. "How so?"

"Because then we shouldn't deserve the second chance Freya-chan gave us."

Rigaku's eyes widened as his younger brother hit the head of the nail. "True, but you are comparing apples and oranges here."

"It's about the principle." Aiyoku pressed. "Wouldn't it make us hypocritical?"

His nose under the glasses wrinkled as Rigaku crunched the info. As much as he disliked Ueno, he almost despised for his brother to speak the truth. Denying the second chance to others, when they received it, would leave a sour taste in his mouth.

"I'll give it a—"

"Hey!" Kagetsu shouted from the top of his lungs, and a new wave of sweat grew on Aiyoku just from seeing his bouncing younger sibling.

How he could be full of energy in this blood-boiling weather was beyond him.

"Look what we got!" Kagetsu showed the box between them, with Freya a step behind him. "Those are from Cat Coffee! They are trying the Star-wich, as you suggested!"

Aiyoku almost grabbed one, but Kagetsu slashed his hands away. "Wash your hands first!"

"Just one! I'm starving!"