The entire school day, Isagi hadn't seen her until she was waiting outside for him.

She had a distant look on her face and he noticed the change of clothes she wore. "Let's go." she said, not wanting to spend anymore time on school grounds. Isagi kept his eyes on her. She probably hasn't ate. "We're gonna stop by a store on our way first. I'm kinda hungry." Isagi fell by her side, matching her pace.

"Okay." Seiren mutters, glancing at him before staring straight ahead. She kept her hands wrapped about the straps on her school bag, biting her bottom lip. She didn't want to go home. She knew her brothers were going to make a big deal out of what happened. Seiren followed Isagi around the corner before entering a convenience store.

She was hungry. She starved herself because she just wasn't in the mood to eat. Isagi quickly went to grab two drinks, some candy, and even some onigiri. She didn't notice the double servings until the two had stopped outside, the male going through the bag, and handing her the onigiri.

"I'm sorry about what happened today..even though I wasn't the one who did it to you. You should eat something. My mom is making dinner until later so you're more than welcome to stay but that's if you want to hear my family talk until midnight.." Isagi said, waiting for her to say something. "Sure.." Seiren gently grabs the food into her palms, staring at it before unwrapping the onigiri.

Isagi waited until she took a bite before he could start eating his.

———

The two then entered the house, immediately hit with a wave of laughter.

"Ah Yoichi! You're home!"

Iyo, his mother, walked up to him and hugged her son. Seiren glanced around his living room, figuring the people there were his aunts and uncles. "You came too! We'll try to be quiet so you two can focus. Go on!" Iyo smiled at them while Isagi went to say hello to his family. Seiren stood by the steps, waiting for him.

"Is that your girlfriend Yoichi? She's very pretty!" one of his aunts whispered to him while a blush crept onto his cheeks. "No..she's just my project partner.." Isagi mutters. Once he was done, he gave Seiren a nod to start going to his room. "You could've just went up and waited for me." he said, the two entering the hallway.

"I didn't want to seem rude.."

Her phone was blowing up, messages from her brothers asking her what had happened earlier, just like how she expected. She turned off her phone completely, placing it in her bag before grabbing her notes. "We can honestly start writing now. I think we can both do a page on the different songs we found. One can write and the other can make the poster? We take turns?" Isagi suggested.

"Yeah we can do that."

"I have the poster stuff here. I bought it over the weekend." Isagi then walks over to his desk, pulling out a white poster board with a few markers in his hands. "I'll start on the poster." Seiren said as he placed the materials down in front of her. "Cool. I can start writing." Isagi gave her a gentle smile before grabbing his laptop.

Once he opened it, a few messages came in.

rin itoshi

rin itoshi
is my sister there with you

rin itoshi
answer or im getting you kicked off the team

rin itoshi
i know where you live

rin itoshi
i'll make it there in 3 minutes if you

rin itoshi
isagi????

isagi
goodness

isagi
she's with me

isagi
we're doing our PROJECT so don't
freak out

isagi
AND DONT COME TO MY HOUSE????

isagi
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE
I LIVE???

rin itoshi
why are you asking stupid questions right now

rin itoshi
walk her home and make sure she goes inside

isagi
i will

Isagi glanced up at her. She moved over to the floor to have more space, carefully tracing her pencil around the edges of the board.

sae itoshi

sae itoshi
bring her home at 8 or
whenever you guys finish.

sae itoshi
meet me at the front door once she's
inside.

sae itoshi
???? answer me isagi. i know
you replied to rin.

isagi yoichi
understood.

Isagi sighed, scratching his cheek before switching tabs. The room was quiet, except for the part where they could hear his family talking about his love life. Seiren wasn't listening, not even paying attention but Isagi felt his face burn up. He cleared his throat, watching her swipe the eraser markings off the board.

Her throat tightened. Apparently her thoughts were rushing at her all at once and now all she could feel was a great wave of sadness. Is that all people see me as? A way to get to them? The tip of her pencil broke, reaching over to get the sharpener as she sat up. I can be a good friend too. I want friends too. Don't they know that? She kept turning the pencil against the razor, dropping her head.

I know I'm mean..but that's because they see me as their sister. Not for me. Seiren didn't notice how small the pencil was getting, Isagi staring at her in concern. At least I have Reo and Seishiro. I think. Isagi slowly got off his bed, sitting by her side before taking the pencil and sharpener away from her. The now 3-inch pencil was tossed aside before he grabbed another one, sharpening it for her. Seiren stared at his face, eyes traveling to every corner of his features.

Do I have you too? As my friend Isagi?

He gently placed the pencil into her palm before throwing out the shavings into his small trash bin. Seiren stared at him, eyes almost wider than usual. She didn't even notice what he had done until he went back onto his bed, humming before he started typing away on his laptop. Her eyes fell down on the pencil. Perfectly new. Perfectly sharpened. Seiren hated perfect.

Isagi stared at her one more time, she was still for a few seconds before she went back to work. She never talked to anyone in class and the rare few times she did, it was always with Reo. Every time the bell rung, she was the first one out of class like she had somewhere else to be. Every time exam grades were posted, they weren't surprised whenever she held the number one spot.

They were more annoyed at the fact that she never had even looked at the sheet to begin with. She just knew she was the first one on that list.

Why couldn't it just be them two? She swung her pencil against the blank board. Why can't I just be born in another family? Seiren gulped, writing the title on the top middle. Why are they now starting to care how I feel? Questions circulated around her head, she felt trapped with them. What if I just run away? Would they look for me?

Her pencil broke again. "Damn it.." she mumbled, sighing once more before grabbing the sharpener. Isagi noticed this. It's only been two minutes? He watched her sharpen the pencil too much again. Isagi placed his laptop down on the bed, saving his progress before he decided to help her. "I'm in a writers block now. What's your idea for the poster?" he asked her, taking the pencil and sharpener into his hands.

"Since it's about love songs, I was thinking drawing stuff that's more..romantic. Like hearts, stuff they describe in the songs." Seiren said while his eyes peered over to her light drawings. There was a couple holding hands, a couple hugging, a guy tying laces for his girl. It was the smallest stuff yet everything she thought of as romantic.

"I like it! I'll draw the hearts."

Now the two were sitting next to each other, Seiren on the left and Isagi on the right. The two fell into a comforting silence, their rhythm steadily paced until his mother knock on the door. "Guys! Dinner is made if you'd want to eat now!" she poked her head in, the two staring up at her. "You wanna go eat?" Isagi said to Seiren. "Uh sure.." she mutters, standing herself up as she followed Iyo to the kitchen.

His family was still there, all staring at the two before continuing their conversations. Isagi and Seiran were seated at the dinner table, both quietly eating when one of his aunts came over to them. "So..I heard you two are doing a project together! What's it about?" she asks. "We're eating.." Isagi chuckles nervously, hoping she would get the hint to leave them alone.

"Just history." Seiren replies. "On what?" the older woman hums. "Japanese songs." Seiren continues on before taking a bite of the sweet food his mother had cooked. The warm taste filled her senses, almost making her cry. The girl glanced around his home, how surprisingly bright it was inside but maybe that's because his family here. Then again, it was the same when it was just his mother here.

———

"You didn't have to walk me home."

"It's pretty late Itoshi."

"Just call me Seiren."

Isagi nodded his head. "Since I'm on..first name basis with you, you be on first name basis with me? Maybe it'll help you remember names better..?" he suggested, a gentle smile on his lips as they stopped at her front door. "I guess." Seiren shrugged. "Do you..even know my first name?" he laughed it off.

"Yoichi."

"Yeah!" he laughs. Why is he always so bubbly? Seiren hums. "Kay. Bye." she said, opening the door, closing it before rushing to her room. Isagi let out a deep sigh he'd been holding in. After a few minutes, Sae opened the door looking rather different than how he usually appeared. Are his bangs down? Isagi tilted his head.

"Stop staring too hard."

"Sorry.."

Sae then closed the door, leaving the two to talk. The older brother sighed. "Isagi. I have nothing against you. I think you're a decent add-on to our team but you better not toy around with her." he said, his gaze falling on the boy. "After today, I trust you in her hands." the eighteen year old placed his hands in his pockets, confusing Isagi. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Meaning I don't care if your empty shelled brain dates my weird sister."

"Huh?!"

Sae stared behind Isagi, Rin who was coming back from his run had just so happened to hear what his brother had said. "This..lukewarm cockroach?" Rin gave Isagi a disgusted look. "Get inside. I have to talk to you too." Sae face palms. "Besides. Didn't you see what happened today? We're all in different years. You can't expect us to watch over her all the time. You know how sensitive she is." Sae said to Rin.

Sensitive? Should I even be here right now?!

"Go home Isagi. Our sister isn't your responsibility." Rin then walked himself inside, heading over to Seiren while the other two were still by the door. "Don't pay attention to him. He's also weird." Sae glances back into the house. "I honestly..don't think it's your choice to decide if I should date her or not— I don't see her that way..! I'm just saying.." Isagi looks away in embarrassment.

"I'm not deciding. I'm saying I'd feel better knowing you're with her but alright." Sae shrugs. "We start practice next week again after school. Don't be late." he said, turning around and closing his door. Isagi let out a breath he felt like he'd been holding in for ages.

Suddenly feeling a warmth on his cheeks. Dating Seiren..?! Why would he think..I would date her..? Though the thought of her ran through his mind as he walked home.