♪♪♪
KOU’S weak side was on full display during the car ride, but he’d regained his normal composure by the time we’d arrived at the restaurant.
We didn’t have to wait long for plates of food to be carried to our table because the twins had ordered the full course in advance. All my energy had been sucked away by my quarrel with Tobi, leaving my empty stomach growling, so I was glad the food came fast.
I wanted to forget about the music competition for the time being. So I steered the conversation toward what I’d enjoyed about the concert. Kou and Kon both caught on to what my intentions were and went along with my new topic with a smile.
“Hey, Kou, why did you choose to play Prokofiev’s Sonata? I was surprised by your choice. I thought you’d pick a more standard, sweet song that’d fit the Christmas season,” I mentioned.
Kou’s eyebrow twitched. “No reason—”
“The piano department girls nearly went to war over who should play his piano accompaniment,” Kon explained over Kou’s answer. He protested by scowling at his sister.
“Aha! I thought that was why.”
Words couldn’t even begin to describe Kou’s expression when he saw me accept that answer. He had his poker-face on, but the pain of betrayal flickered in his eyes.
“End of story,” Kou said sullenly. He changed the mood by switching topics with a cheerful voice. “Anyways, I nearly forgot to give you this. Here.” He pushed a gift bag sitting on the corner of the table towards me.
“Oh? What’s this?”
There wasn’t a logo on the shiny gift bag. I peeked inside to find a foot-tall rectangular box.
“It’s a little early, but this is a Christmas present from me and Sou.”
“Seriously?!”
Why is he giving me a present?! And why is it a present that includes Sou?! There were so many points to nitpick at, I struggled to speak at first.
“I-I didn’t bring anything for you,” I finally managed to say, pathetically.
Kou burst out laughing. “We’re not looking for a gift exchange. We just wanted to give you a present, Mashiro.”
Am I speaking to the real Kou? Not his friendlier clone?! I slammed my mouth shut before I accidentally asked. That was about as rude of a response as I could give in return for someone’s kindness. Kou was growing up. That’s all there was to it.
“Thanks. Can I open it here?”
I can’t accept it if it’s something ridiculously expensive.
“Go ahead,” Kou consented, holding his palm out toward the gift bag.
I removed the wrapped box from the gift bag and gingerly untied the ribbon, revealing a mini tabletop Christmas tree within. A cute white and baby pink tree stood on a purple, rectangular base. Delicate looking ornaments hung from the string lights wound evenly around the tree. The Christmas lights were connected to a clear battery pack on the bottom of the base. When I flipped the switch to try it, the LED lights clicked on all at once, giving off the vivid colors of the casings. Kon and I raised our voices in awe over the whimsical and colorful Christmas tree.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s lovely. Way to go, Kou.” Kon poked Kou’s shoulder.
“I wasn’t the only one who picked it out,” Kou corrected, being unusually modest for once.
“I love it! It’s super adorable, and I can put it anywhere because of the battery pack!” I thanked him from the bottom of my heart.
“Yeah. I thought the battery would help with that,” he said proudly, his cheeks flushing. He looked his age when he made that face.
“I wonder where I should put it in my room. I’ll take good care of it. Thank you so much!”
I was ecstatic about the surprise present. I would’ve been nowhere near as happy if they’d given me some high-end brand item that cost an arm and a leg. It was the best present they could have picked out for me.
“Sou found the tree in Germany and sent it to me. I picked out the Christmas lights.”
“What? D-Didn’t Sou send that to you as a present then? Is it really okay to pass it on to me?”
Kou stared at me then heaved a massive sigh. “Haah… Do I have to explain everything to you? Do you know how to read the mood?”
“Of course I do! Don’t be rude!” I rebutted.
“Liar. No way you know how.”
“I do too! I don’t mind if you gave it to me after getting Sou’s permission.”
“There are some things you should just pick up on without them having to be said. Do you honestly believe Sou would send me a white and pink Christmas tree as a present? With a purple gift box for a base? Fat chance.”
“…I guess he wouldn’t. But then why did he send it to you, Kou? I could’ve sent him a present back if he’d sent it directly to me.”
“That’s what he didn’t want to happen.”
“He didn’t want a present from me?”
“He didn’t want to put you out. That guy doesn’t want to burden you in any way…haah,” Kou sighed midsentence and suddenly stopped talking. “Why do I have to be the one to tell you this?” he groaned, shoving his bangs up with annoyance. My slowness to catch on seemed to frustrate him.
“Sorry. I won’t bring it up again. Anyways, I’ll just take it as a gift from you both. Thank you very much. I happily accept,” I said, bowing my head.
Kon, who’d silently watched over our conversation, gently rubbed Kou’s back during the car ride home.
✦ ✦ ✦
♪♪♪
SPENDING winter break studying and playing the piano like I usually did over long breaks made it go by fast. Having become much more social than I was in elementary school, I acted like a proper middle schooler and watched movies with Rei and ice-skated with Eri and the gang.
“Three cheers for my little sister graduating from being a shut-in!” Hanaka had teased me.
Going out more often didn’t mean my goal to win next year’s big music competition had changed. Panic always haunted the edge of my thoughts, telling me that I didn’t have time to play around. But I’d matured enough not to let those thoughts rule over me like before.
Shinji stopped by our house after visiting the shrine with Hanaka for New Years. He and Dad were drinking beer and chatting about work while an ekiden race played on the TV in the background. Apparently, Dad had thrown out all the doubts and reservations he had towards Shinji.
Us women of the house were putting away the rest of the traditional New Year’s food at the dining table while we watched the men bonding in the living room.
“It happened so fast,” Mom blurted out as she reached for the red-skinned and white kamaboko with her chopsticks.
“What did?” Hanaka asked with a puzzled look.
Mom giggled. “Giving birth to you and raising you as my precious only child. Then just around the time I thought you didn’t need to hold my hand anymore, I gave birth to Mashiro and things became hectic again. We aren’t a wealthy household so I started working too, making my two favorite girls feel lonely. I was just thinking all of that happened so fast,” Mom said emotionally.
The tone of her voice squeezed my heart in a tight vise.
“It happened so fast. I can’t believe R-- is going to be a university student now too!”
“Only if I pass the exams, you know? Don’t put more pressure on me.”
“You’ll do just fine, R--. Won’t she, Mom?”
Tears began rolling down my cheeks without me realizing it until Mom and Hanaka gaped at me.
“Wh-What’s wrong, Mashiro?!”
“Silly girl. This isn’t something for you to cry over. Here. Take this tissue.”
I yanked several tissues from the tissue box Mom held out to me and blew my nose after wiping my tears. The tears took even me by surprise.
But I’m certain I felt an intense wave of sadness crash over me for a second. What in the world was that??
“Sorry about that. But Mom, aren’t you the one feeling lonely since you brought it up?” I teased.
Mom’s expression softened into a tender smile. “No, not in the way you think. Even if you girls get married and move out, it doesn’t change the fact that you are my dearest daughters. Your dad and I have been discussing going on an international trip once we’re empty nesters. I’m looking forward to that just as much.”
“Okay, okay, thanks for rubbing it in. But marriage is still far off in the future for us. Don’t try to get rid of us too soon!” Hanaka cried out in a pathetic whimper that got both Mom and me laughing.