After leaving the shed, I felt the urge that I wanted to play more. It was such a long time since the last time I touched a guitar. I supposed it was due to me attending high school and needing to focus more on schoolwork than the guitar. I also assumed that since I joined the band, now I wouldn't have time to hand out with Iris as much. It was fun to, but I wanted to continue playing.

"Jax and Gray are cool, aren't they?" Kai blurted out, causing me to snap out of my thought.

I let out a sigh before answering, "Gray is nice, but Jax is a big pervert."

"Hahaha..." Kai scratched his head. "I mean yes, but if you put that aside, he's pretty cool. He usually doesn't mention about his love life, so I don't know that side of him. But he is a great singer, right?"

I then remembered how I fell in love with that voice of his. "Yeah, true. I suppose that I can deal with him."

"Nice!" Kai smiled and happily walked forward a bit, turning around in front of me. "I'm sure Kevin will be happy to hear that you took up the guitar again."

"You think so?"

"Of course! He was the one that taught us after all." Kai lifted his nose into the air acting like we were the only two people who knew how to play it after learning it from the God of guitars.

"Oh, wait. Why did you ask me to play the guitar? You know how to play too, Kai." I squinted, showing him a disgusted expression.

"Because I, unlike you, know how to play the drums also. Since I was already the drummer, there was no way I could play the guitar also." Kai then walked up beside me and wrapped his arm over my shoulder, which I stared at it. "Just think about it, Maple. 'Sunrise,' the most popular band! Jax, the angelic singer; Gray, the stupid yet hot bassist; and the Sakamoto twins, coming in with their guitar and drumming skills! We'll be famous!"

I then moved his arm off of my shoulder and looked back at him. "Did you just call Gray an idiot? That's not nice."

"Huh? Why?" Kai looked at me with a confused face, but then it turned into a shocked expression. "Wait, do you like him?!"

"Huh?!" I began to blush. "What are you talking about?"

"Maple, the band has two rules: being able to play an instrument and no relationships! I should have known you just joined because you are desperate for a boyfriend." Kai shook his head with disappointment.

"I...I do admit that I did come at first because of that reason. Iris persuaded me to. But..." I hesitated and blushed, "I did enjoy today, playing with Gray and Jax and You that is."

Kai's disappointed face changed to a soft smile suddenly after I honestly told him my feelings. He then gave me a big hug. "I'm glad that you enjoyed it. It has been a while since I saw that type of excitement from you, Maple."

I returned the hug. It was true. That was the first time in a long time that I felt relieved and happy again. Schoolwork has gotten harder and more stressful lately, that I've only had enough time to spend at a coffee shop or shopping for an hour, but had to return home right after. I did hope that I would have enough time to stay in the band.

"However," Kai continued, "You do need to work on your guitaring skills a bit more. Although you were able to follow along, you still were rusty."

"I know. I know." I nodded my head as we both released each other. It was normal that I still needed to practice more. I would have to ask Kevin to help me. I could only wish that he was not busy.

***

"We're home!" Kai and I both said in unison, taking off our shoes before entering the house.

"Welcome back," Kevin revealed himself, popping his head out from the passageway that led to the living room. If you were to go straight into the house, some stairs led to the bedrooms. The passageway was to the right, right before you had to climb up the stairs.

I went down the hallway after I took my shoes off before Kai. I ran up to Kevin and gave him a big hug, which he had to carry me a bit due to me being shorter than him. "Wow, you seem happy, Maple."

"I am!" I squeezed him as hard as I could before realizing he was wearing a pink frilly apron that I usually wore when I baked with a ladle in his hand. "Oh, are you making dinner?"

"I am." He put me down and then showed off his attire. "Cute right? I'll be such a lovely housewife someday."

I cringed and laughed at the same time as Kevin did a little twirl for me. Kai then followed us into the living room and joined in the conversation. "Kevin, what's for dinner?"

"Your favorite! Curry." Kevin expressed a smile, knowing that he made something that was amazing.

Kai's eyes lightened up as he heard the five-letter word. "I'll go change!" He ran up the stairs.

"I'll help out," I said, following Kevin to the kitchen.

"You don't have to," he said with a worried expression.

Kevin was the type of person who always put others first before himself. Sometimes they referred him to a "push-over" or a "door-mat." Although he was known as the nicest person at his work, he was great when it came to money and scams. He never let anyone take advantage of his money, and only allowed them to use his willingness to help. Because of that, I've always looked up to him.

He even protected us when mom and dad died. We received an inheritance that the rest of the family wanted. It was enough to pay for college tuition, but instead of using it for himself, he used some of it to pay for Kai and my needs. After he finished high school, he began working to help pay for Kai and me to go to elementary school. Kevin was the one who decided to save the tuition money for Kai and me to go to college. It was all for us.

So, instead of sitting my butt wasting my high school life away, I decided to try my best during school, trying to get the best grades I can. I made sure to allow myself one hour of free time a day that I spend with enjoyment, so Kevin wouldn't worry that I'm overworking myself. I also learned the guitar just for Kevin. He had to give up his dream of becoming a guitarist for a band. I asked him to teach me every day until I became perfect at it. I also decided to get a boyfriend so Kevin wouldn't think that I am too focused on my studies and will end up single in the future.

I tried my best to also help him with household chores, such as setting the table. I owed Kevin my life.

"But I want to help," I answered back, walking to the cupboard. I took out three plates for us. "Alright?"

Kevin had a soft expression on his face. His smile warmed my heart. "Yes. Here, pour in the rice, and I'll do the curry. Did you wash your hands?"

"Oh, I forgot! I'll do that first." I ran over to was my hands.

After we finished filling the plates with curry and rice, I put them on the table. I then set down napkins and spoons. Kai came into the room and smiled when he saw the curry. The fragrance was good, I had to admit. It had a somewhat spicy yet salty smell. It made your mouth water when you looked at the potatoes, onions, carrots, and meat that was laying with the curry covering.

"Alright! Let's eat!" Kevin sat down in his seat, and we followed.

"Thanks for the food!"

We all took a bite from the curry and cupped our cheeks. The taste watered our mouths, giving us the feeling of wanting more.

"So good!" I took another bite.

"How was school today, Kai and Maple?" Kevin asked us as a kind older brother would.

"It was great!" Kai answered with a mouthful. I swore I saw a piece of carrot fell onto that table. Before continuing, Kai swallowed. "Maple joined my band!"

I looked at Kevin to see his reaction. Kevin's face looked shocked at first but then became excited. "Wow! Really, Maple? Are you playing the guitar?"

I then blushed a bit and brushed my hair behind my ear. I wanted him to know that I put the skills I learned from him to good use.

"Jax and Gray are happy she joined." Kai took another bite.

"Jax? Gray? Are those boys?" Kevin asked Kai with a twitching smile. His expression changed fast. Now he was angry.

"Ah, but don't worry. We made a policy that there would be no romantic relationships allowed in the group." Kai explained with a straight face.

Kevin then let out a big sigh and grabbed my hands. "Thank goodness. Don't marry anyone but big brother, okay?"

I then pouted and shook my head. "I'm not a kid anymore, Kevin. Someday I'll get a boyfriend who will be able to take care of me, so you get a girlfriend too, okay?"

Kevin then made a face that looked like he was painfully rejected. "Even rejected by my little sister."

"I'm going to take a bath first." I stood up and made my way to the sink to put my dish in.

Get a girlfriend, Kevin. Okay?