_Chapter 51~ Photographs_

I fixed my gaze onto the school courtyard; the scattered leaves across the grass originating from the tree Ryu and I were seated under for shade and also the sunlight poking between the clouds in the sky. It was still fairly warm outside today with occasional bursts of cold wind; the perfect weather that portrayed the autumn.

I watched as Ryu picked up a karaage from the bento I'd brought for him and put it into his mouth. His countenance automatically brightened. Rather amusingly, he went on to stuff his face with more of it, and the rice as well. "Whoa, why am I not surprised you're an amazing cook too?" Ryu said with his cheeks filled like a squirrel with acorns. "I've only ever had your baking but now I'm sure. Your hands are a gift, Reina!"

Considering how awkward it was when I first offered it to him, his praise only added to it. "You should just make your own," I said demurely. "Instead of buying lunch every day; it's unhealthy."

Ryu met my eyes with a silly smile. "Is that why you made it for me? You're worried?"

I ignored the warmth that crept onto my cheeks. "So I'm taking you will?"

"Well, after this amazing lunch, I don't think I should even try. But I also don't want to bother you again," he replied with another heart-stopping smile. "I'm blessed enough with this. Thanks for worrying about me, Reina."

My heartbeat picked up in my chest and I darted my gaze to my twiddling thumbs. At my bashfulness, Ryu distributed a chuckle before returning to stuff his cheeks. Inhaling a deep breath to calm myself, I dug into my lunch as well. The silence was comfortable, but it also allowed for my thoughts to roam.

"Hey, Iwasaki," I finally said.

"What is it?"

"Nothing much. It's just, the school year will be ending soon."

Ryu bobbed his head. "Time flies by quickly."

"Yeah..." I tapped the outer container of my lunch. "Mr. Matsuda even handed out those university application sheets awhile ago."

"He did, yeah." Cocking an eyebrow, Ryu looked in my direction. "What's bringing this on suddenly?"

I feigned a quick smile. "Well, I was wondering... You already know what I want to become in the future, but what about you? Do you have something you're going for?"

The question spurned an impassive reaction from Ryu. His shoulders rose and fell and he shifted his gaze back to his lunch. "Not really."

"Seriously? You don't have any idea?"

"I don't really think much about that stuff," he admitted.

I reclined further against the tree. "So you're a 'live in the moment' type of human being?"

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," Ryu said. "Don't I still have a few months left to decide?"

"Still, it'd be easier to find something now and work towards it," I reasoned. I placed a finger to my chin. "Hmm... You like basketball and you're good at it. How about that?"

"No way," he refuted. "If you're telling me to join some professional basketball league or something, I'm nowhere near as good, or capable."

"I think you are, but would that just be me being biased?"

Now it was Ryu's turn to smile. "Definitely biased. Seeing as you can say that you probably don't know a thing about the sport."

"Hey, I know enough." I shooed him away. I pursed my lips and sprung up like a rocket when an idea hit me. "You're super smart so you could become a doctor! Something in the medical field!"

I caught Ryu making a face. "Um...."

"C'mon, you'd be 'Doctor Iwasaki!' It has a nice ring, doesn't it?"

"Well...."

"Iwasaki the doctor," I went on, "Doctor Ryu—"

"Denied," he cut me off, poking me between the brows.

I flattened my lips, knowing it was because I'd said his taboo name, which for some reason, he hated. Although I wanted to ask him why, I had a feeling he wouldn't give me a straight answer anyway.

"How about what your parents do for a living?" I suggested instead. "Like, your dad? Maybe you'd want to follow in his footstep—"

"Not over my dead body," Ryu's answer was curt, and the immediate scowl that crossed his face lodged my voice in my throat. My eyelids rose and Ryu flinched, looking my way in surprise. He quickly cleared his throat, dropping his eyes. "I mean, I'm not close exactly with him, so...I'd rather not, uh...."

As Ryu fumbled for words, the dots connected in my mind. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, not exactly liking what things were leading to. I hurried to find my voice again. "How about a lawyer?"

Ryu's shoulders slumped, as if in relief. Breathing out, he shook his head, tossing more food into his mouth. "I'm not the argumentative type."

"Engineer? Accountant?" I fired off. "You are a math whiz."

"A whiz that doesn't want to be neither engineer nor accountant."

A sigh left my mouth. "Not very easy to please are you?"

"There's just too many options."

"That's true," I reluctantly said. "Well, I hope you find an ambition soon then."

"Hopefully," he agreed. "In the meantime I'll just focus on you."

I couldn't fight back the grin that appeared upon my face, matching his. "Very smooth aren't you."

"You bring out the best in me."

As he resumed eating the lunch I made for him, I shook my head, pressing my head against the tree. "You're always buying lunch and Aki says he's stuck eating cup noodles all the time. If you two are that irresponsible, you should just ask your mom to make your lunches for you."

Automatically, Ryu's eating came to a halt. I craned my neck his way. He wore a poker face as he dropped the chopsticks into the container. "Our mom... Well, I don't want to bother my step-mom with that kind of stuff, so I'm fine with buying lunch. And Aki doesn't come home anyway."

My eyes bulged from their sockets, as it all came crashing down on me. Step-mom. That lady I met the day I went over to his house was their step-mom? And what did he mean Aki didn't come home?

I started, "Iwasaki—"

"Those questions you said you had trouble with in class," he cut me off, picking himself up from the ground. He set aside the lunch. "I'll help you with them now. Let me go get them; I'll be back."

"But..." My voice trailed off after Ryu had scampered out of the courtyard, leaving me to myself. My lips pursed together as I dropped my gaze onto his lunch. That wasn't conspicuous at all... A breath left my mouth as I dug into my lunch. This was the first time Ryu had spoken to me about personal matters, but he was still very secretive.

Sure I had a feeling his mom and him weren't related considering their contrasting appearances but it was still pretty shocking. And with such an angry look on his face he said he wasn't close with his dad... Was it selfish of me to want to know the details? It wasn't my business, and it shouldn't really matter, but despite how long I've known him I didn't really know much about him. He was such an enigma.

"A cold, autumn day; a secluded environment; a boxed lunch for the boyfriend... How cute."

          My heart just about leapt to my throat. My neck immediately jerked backwards to locate the source of the voice only to find Aki's head poking out from behind the tree I was leaning against. Speak of the devil... Aki's words soon processed in my mind and newfound heat rushed to my cheeks. "W-what are you doing here?"

"Well, this is school so I believe I'm here to make advancements on my knowledge," chuckled Aki as he stepped out from behind the tree, maneuvering his way in front of me and crouching to his feet. Despite the weather, he was still wearing his summer uniform—a short-sleeved dress shirt fit with grey pants. His arm reached out towards Ryu's lunch, picking up a karaage before plopping it in his mouth. "Don't mind if I do."

          "Hey!"

          "What?" Aki asked after I withdrew the lunch from him. An oddly chipper smile appeared on his face. "You're not going to offer me lunch like last time? Just because you have a boyfriend now you're giving me the cold shoulder? How cold, Senpai."

The creases between my brows disappeared. "That's not it," I assured him. "You're still not bringing yourself lunches?"

"If I say I'm not will you make me a bento too?" he countered.

Was he being serious? "Well, I wouldn't mind I guess...."

"Sweet," said Aki. "Honestly, you making me lunches every day doesn't sound too bad. Especially if you're going to be making my brother."

"I don't think I'll make him every day..." My voice trailed off. I noted, "You're always trying to compete with Iwasaki aren't you?"

"I just really want to beat him," Aki answered, his smile faltering. "It sucks though, because in terms of you, he's already winning."

I tilted my head to the side and the corners of his lips quirked up in a soft smile.

"Enough chitter chatter," he said, newfound mischievousness in his eye. "I've come to see you on business."

"Business?" I echoed.

"Correct," he responded. "Let's settle things before Aniki* comes back."

Discomfort set in my gut, more so at the sight of Aki's smirk. A frown made its appearance on my face and I swallowed hard. "Um, it's okay, I don't need—"

"Now, now," Aki hushed me, "I have something you definitely do not want to pass up."

Aki's suggestive words caught my attention. Folding my arms across my chest, I rose an eyebrow at him. The smirk enveloping his face never disappeared, and after a mini staring contest, I gave in.

"What's this about, Aki?"

The guy beamed at my response. His slipped his bag off his shoulders and fiddled with it. In no time at all he slipped something out.

Puzzled, I watched Aki's smile widen as he held them out before me. My eyes carefully landed upon the flourish of photographs—photographs of Ryu—and they shrunk back immediately. Not because I was shocked (well, I was at first) but it was also due to awe. Him smiling, pouting; a photo of him playing videogames, him sleeping and just waking up—they were all most likely taken secretly because his eyes were never on the camera. Regardless, they were of pretty high quality. Before I realized it, Aki had slipped the pictures into my fingers and my heart was melting the slightest after every one. He was so cute.

"You want them don't you?"

His voice brought me back from staring at Ryu attempting to fix his bed head. When I turned my gaze onto him to see Aki grinning, a blush flooded my face as I dropped the pictures from my vision. "I-I... What? No! Of course not...! Wh-why are you showing me these anyway—"

"You don't have to lie, Senpai. It's fine if you do," Aki prodded with a laugh. "I have pretty good photography skills don't I? I have more pictures if you want."

"More?" I grew flustered. My voice had gotten caught in my throat. "Wait, I-I don't—"

"Fine, you convinced me." He grinned like a Cheshire cat, already reaching into his bag. "But since you're so gushy-eyed over those innocent photographs, I'll let you in on a pretty dangerous collection, too."

"A-Aki," I choked out, his amusement rubbing me the wrong way, "if Iwasaki finds out about this—"

"Yes, yes," Aki cooed, holding up more images in front of my eyes. "Here you have pictures of your boyfriend working out, playing sports, after taking a shower... all whilst being shirtless. Enjoy."

I knew I shouldn't have looked—it was what Aki wanted—but my eyes had fallen upon them before I could stop myself.

I regretted it immediately.

Mainly because, straightaway, I'd been taken entirely by my infatuation. If he was cute before, it was obvious now he was hot. The pictures gave off his delinquent vibes, and the fact that he was shirtless—giving me a really good look of how well-built he really was—didn't help with the ogling I was beginning to do. I'd ended up staring at all of the pictures Aki had extended towards me. With a suggestive hum from the male, I finally came to my senses, and my face grew insanely hot.

In panic, I shoved the photos back into his hand, my heart hammering against my ribcage as I covered my face. Holy crap I was such a pervert.

Was I a typical girl to get so attracted to abs and muscles? Well, clearly I went beyond that. What kind of girl would do something like this? But I didn't even realize Ryu... oh jeez how could somebody be so attractive?

"Wow, Senpai. I didn't know you were so perverted," Aki cooed, only furthering the redness of my face and ears. "What would my brother say if he found out you were staring at his naked upper body like that—"

"Ah!" I screamed to cut him off, extending my hands to cover his mouth. "Y-y-you can't tell him!"

"Hmm," sang the redhead, easily dodging my flinging hands. "I don't know. Those lecherous eyes you clearly have for me brother kinda worries me a bit."

"Th-that was only because... y-you..." I was grappling for words the best I could, but nothing seemed to be forming on my tongue.

I couldn't argue no matter how much I wanted to. More mortification swelled up inside of me, lingering on my bright red face. Aki's smile grew more amused as he slipped the pictures into my fingers.

"Since you want them so badly, I'll give them to you."

New warmth crossed my cheeks as I thrust them back to him. "N-no! Wh-what makes you think I want these?"

Aki only nudged me in return. "You sure?"

"Y-yes I'm sure!" I stuttered. "I-I'm not shallow! E-even if Iwasaki is hot and has a nice body—"

I froze the moment the words left my mouth. Aki leaned closer to my face with an excited whistle. Steam poured out of my ears like a train.

"Did I j-just...?"

"You did," Aki confirmed with a boisterous chuckle. He patted the top of my head as I once again hid my face, burrowing it into my knees. "Teasing you has been super fun, Senpai."

"I hate you so much," I hissed.

"Now, now, I did say you didn't want to pass this experience up," Aki snorted. "Now that I've blessed you with pictures I knew you'd love, I want something in return."

"If it was my dignity you already stole that too."

Aki chortled loudly. "Calm down, Senpai," he breathed, stifling his laughter. "These pictures aren't even that bad. I think it's normal to be so entranced by the person you like."

I grunted, not raising my head in the least. "I can't face him anymore."

"You're exaggerating."

"Why'd you come here?"

Aki went mute before the ruffling of leaves crossed my ears. "I was kinda bored and saw you and my brother together. I wanted to tease you a bit, sorry."

I chew on my lower lip, peeking through the cracks of my fingers. I sent him a dirty look. "If you're so bored why don't you hang around Raidon Tsuki and Keisuke Yamasaki?"

Aki who was now sitting cross-legged perked at the question. His head cocked to the side and he shrugged. "I don't have as much fun with them than with you, that's why."

My head has risen subconsciously, my glare lifting the slightest. Aki chuckled under his breath as he extended out a single picture for me.

I tensed, retreating from him. "I'm not—"

"Take a look at it," Aki prodded, flipping it over for me to see. "The best photograph for last."

My eyes widened the slightest once I saw the image displayed. Ryu and I laughing about something, red, orange and yellow leaves fluttering down from the tree above us. The entire autumn appeal only added to the already wonderful picture. I grabbed hold of the photograph, staring at it in utter awe. My head jerked from the tree behind me then towards Aki.

"You took this—"

"Right now." Nodded Aki, slipping out his own photograph from his pocket. His lips quirked up wistfully as he stared at it. "It was the first time I'd seen Aniki smile like that in a while so I thought I might as well capture the moment."

I remained still as Aki extended the photo to me. Instantly, I could tell it was from their middle school days. The top of Aki's head was easy to pinpoint; wisps of his dark red hair barely poking through the gap between the shoulders of a much taller Raidon and Keisuke. Ryu was also at the corner of the picture with his orange hair and the widest smile plastered upon his face. But there was also an unfamiliar male beside him who possessed the most ridiculous hair colour I'd ever discerned—neon pink—and the goofiest grin of all as if to match Ryu's.

Many emotions and thoughts rushed through my mind as my attention flickered to Aki. The only thing I'd ever witnessed between both Aki and Ryu had been childish arguments and unspoken hatred, but maybe that wasn't the case at all. Maybe they didn't hate each other—they were brothers. Then, something must've happened that caused the rift between them. Something that ignited their dislike—caused Aki to not 'come home' as Ryu had said. Now that he mentioned it, I'd never really seen Aki anywhere near their house....

Pushing aside my roaming thoughts, my focus continued to end up on the last face within the scene. "Who's..." I started.

Aki tucked the photograph away. "You can keep the picture," he said, hinting towards the one I carried of Ryu and I. "But also keep this one."

My eyelashes fluttered, following him with my eyes as he slouched against the tree beside me, camera in hand. "This one...?" I asked.

Aki didn't answer. His finger over the shutter, he used his other hand to hold up a peace sign. A wide smile took hold of his lips as he chanted, "One, two, three... cheese!"

A click! sound originated, as well as a blinding flash, signalling the capture of the moment. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the inconsistent gradient of light filtering my vision. Aki rubbed his eyes also, snorting a bit.

"Oops, forgot about the flash."

He brought his camera to his eyes as it produced a photograph like the older cameras always did. It was a black image at first but soon speckles of colour began to fill the rectangle. A gasp escaped my mouth the moment I saw a glimpse of the actual photograph. Aki was grinning in a silly manner with his peace sign while I was sitting there awkwardly with widened eyes. Heat dusted my cheeks as Aki broke out into a laugh.

"You should've smiled, Senpai."

"You took it without permission!" I defended, craning my neck his way.

Aki had his hand over his mouth to stifle his snickering and broadened smile. For the first time ever, Aki's smile seemed genuine. No smirk. No contempt or underlying mischief. Only pure fulfillment and joy. It was a look that suited him very much.

He slipped the photograph through my occupied fingers while I was in a daze and after fiddling with them a bit, took the opportunity to rise to his feet. "Make sure to treasure those two pictures, Senpai," he said, shrugging his bag onto his shoulders. He flashed me another grin, waving as he did. "Oh, and be sure to frame ours. Aniki's can be second priority. Bye!"

Without waiting for my reply, Aki took off towards the entrance of the building. I watched him, my lips curving up. Jeez. Both brothers have really played their way into my life haven't they?

"Reina, I'm back!"

The sound of Ryu's voice sent my body rigid. He fell down beside me once he arrived, gesturing to the notebook in his hand. My heartbeat grew unsteady in my ears as I inwardly cursed. How did Aki expect me to look at Ryu and pretend to be innocent?

Ryu's neck craned forward as if to see what was in my hands. His eyebrows rose. "Is that a picture of...."

I stiffened, my eyes falling onto the picture. "Y-yeah, Aki came and took a picture of us—"

My jaw fell to the ground as soon as I fixed my gaze onto the photo. Redness consumed my features at once and steam flew from my ears. In one hand there was the picture of Aki and I, but in the other what was between my fingers was not the photograph of Ryu and I. It was the shirtless photo of him sleeping.

My fingers trembled. Ryu's eyelids opened and closed consecutively, but no words or emotions surfaced from him. I immediately scrambled to my feet, waving my hands vigorously.

"I-I sw-swear we had a picture of us! I-I wasn't...! Wh-why is this here?" I didn't know how persuasive I was being considering the vibrancy of my blush and the fumbling of the words off my tongue. I freakin' hated that weasel! He swapped the photos when I wasn't paying attention...!

After what felt like centuries, Ryu awkwardly drew away from me, a hand over his nape, sudden colour dusting his cheeks. "Reina... um—"

"N-no don't get the wrong idea!" I exclaimed. "I-I-I was not staring at this picture of you sleeping! Th-this picture isn't mine! It isn't mine okay!?"

____________________________

Aniki* - a Japanese honourable term for an older brother or a superior.

Yay, a lighthearted chapter. Lmao Aki is such a snake. But now that these two are together we only have one more conflict to tackle then the story will be finished. I apologize for how long this story is though lol I'm definitely cutting tons of stuff when I edit it.

The brighter side is that I'll be uploading the rest of the story's chapters after this (sorry for the spam, by the way!) I completed this first draft a while ago and haven't gotten the time to upload it before, but now I do. So, yay! I hope you enjoy the rest of the book, regardless of any mistakes you may come across! ❤️

-Misty