"Reunions create warmth... dining with her is craziness."
As Yuu gazed rigidly at the dinner table, the soothing aroma of the simmering broth swirled around the Hayasaka dwelling. His mother, Akira, had prepared the dining area in what appeared to resemble a date setting — with candles, neatly folded napkins, and decorative dishes.
"Mom... why does the table resemble that of someone throwing a drama?" Yuu helplessly asked.
Akira held her hands together, wearing a big smile. "Because Hina-chan is coming for dinner."
"And how does that explain any of this?"
"That explains it all!"
Yuu sighed.
(Why does she continue to say that as if it were the only logical answer to the confusion she is creating?)
Before he could express anything more, the doorbell rang.
Akira gasped, "They're here!"
Yuu's dad peered over the top of the newspaper. "Prepare yourself, son."
"Prepare myself for what?"
"To see a portion of your life that you cannot get back."
Before he could even comprehend the meaning of that warning, Akira rushed to the front door and opened it wide.
Hina Kashiwagi stood in front of him.
Hina Kashiwagi wore a light cream-colored dress. Her cheeks were flush with color thanks to the cool air outside.
As she gazed upon the Hayasaka family home, her dark red eyes sparkled with anticipation; yet her body remained rigid as if she were a princess forced to hold a regal pose for hours.
"Uh...uh... Good evening Akira-san...thank you for having us," she stammered shyly.
Next to Hina was...
Reina Kashiwagi
Hina's older sister.
Tall. Assured of herself. Grinning like a character who had read the ending to a wild and chaotic story before anyone else!
"Hey, we brought some wagashi," she cheerfully stated, holding up a box in front of her. "Don't be surprised if we expect you treat us like royalty."
With warm friendliness, Akira welcomed the sisters in.
"Hina-chan! Reina-chan! Come on inside!"
Upon entering, Hina spotted Yuu.
"Yuu-kun! Good evening!"
Hina bent over quickly in a deep bow so she'd almost broken her neck.
Reina said to her quietly, "Chill out. Just Yuu."
"Don't phrase it like that!" Hina shouted at her sister, trying to get her to shut up.
Yuu gulped nervously.
(She's cute... please help me.)
He caught a glimpses of Hina's older sister staring back at him.
"Oh? Is Hina's big sister checking out my brother? Hmm?"
"STOP!" screamed Hina, lifting both hands and covering Reina's mouth.
Yuu saw Reina wink at him through Hina's fingers.
What a terrible woman.
Dinner Has Started, And Hina Is WAY Too Intent On Being Formal.
As everyone was seated around the table, Yuu was sitting beside Hina, Akira and Daichi were sitting across from both of them, and Reina was sitting at an angle, as if she was directing a play.
Hina was sitting unnaturally straight up, with her fingers neatly folded on her lap and her body rigid.
"Are you alright, Hina-chan?" Akira kindly inquired.
"YES! I'm doing GREAT!! I am completely calm... composed... perfectly..." she said as Reina poked her in the side.
"Stop with the princess act. You're shaking."
"REINA-ONEE-SAN!!"
However, Hina continued to act in a very stiff and formal manner, moving excruciatingly slowly and carefully as if she were a princess taking part in a tea ceremony.
Yuu was watching her anxiously.
"Hina, you don't have to force yourself to be formal," he said cautiously.
"I'm NOT forcing myself..." Hina replied barely above a whisper, shaking.
"She is forcing herself to be formal," Reina mumbled.
Daichi leaned over to Yuu and whispered, like a detective. "She's nervous because you're here."
Yuu nearly choked on his own air.
Hina overheard him and almost shorted out.
"M-M-Mr. Hayasaka!! Please, don't say things like that!!" she exclaimed, her face a deep crimson color.
(Reina is maximum chaos, Dad is stealth chaos, Mom is gentle chaos, and I'm surrounded.)
"Let's get started!" Akira said as she slapped her hands together.
Food Has Defeated Hina.
The entrees were gorgeous: grilled salmon, homemade karaage, miso soup, and steamed rice done to perfection. There was no way anyone could resist the aroma of the meal.
Hina's excitement was evident by her nerves as she raised her chopsticks to begin eating.
Her First Bite: Class.
Her Second Bite: Grace.
Her Third Bite: Completely Dilated Pupils.
Her Fourth Bite: The Lady-image Crashing Down.
Yuu witnessed the precise moment that Hina's instinctual behaviours from her youth took over.
Then it was like a rocket launch in pace: there was no stopping her.
It wasn't that Hina was being a slob; she was eating with such haste and fervour that she seemed to forget there were cameras.
Reina said, "And there's the end of her princess act."
Yuu had to stifle his laughter.
Hina stopped dead mid-bite upon realising her error.
She was holding her chopsticks in mid-air.
Her face suddenly reddened.
"I-I-I wasn't trying that hard, I swear!"
Reina patted her on the back. "Yeah. I believe you."
Hina grabbed her sister's wrist and yelled, "Onee-san!! Stop telling people I've lost it!!"
Yuu stood by with a helpless feeling.
She was a tornado of embarrassment yet a sweet little kitty at the same time.
Sorry, but—
He snorted.
He laughed.
He should not have laughed.
No way should he have laughed.
But he did.
He couldn't contain himself.
"Hina… You - HAHA - are so funny!"
Hina was shocked.
"You actually laughed!?"
"Haha - yes...well, no, but yes HAHA! That was so funny!"
Hina grew red and gave him light punches on the arm.
"I did my best not to make you laugh!"
"I know! That is why you made me laugh! HAH!!"
"Yuu-kun!!!!"
Reina smiled as she sat proudly in the corner like she was the host of a comedy club.
Daichi stated, "This is bringing back memories."
Akira laughed. "Just like old times when they were young!"
"Mom!!"
"Akira-kun!!"
The two teens wanted to hide under the floor.
Reina placed her elbow on the table.
"So, Hina?"
"W-What??"
"Are you over faking now?"
"...I'm done."
Reina Joined In On The Fun
Reina leaned forward as everyone was still eating, and said to Hina while leaning behind her chair, loud enough for Yuu to hear.
"Hey, why don't you sit close to him?"
Hina jolted. "O-ONNNNEEESSSAAAANNN!!!!!!?"
"You are so stiff, because you are so far away from him. When you were little, you sat so close together, you were like glued together! So, sit close to him!"
"T-T-That's not how it is now!!"
Yuu came close to dropping his chopsticks.
Akira smiled brightly. "Yes, I remember when they used to sleep on each other's shoulders! When Hina-chan was tired, she would sleep on Yuu-kun's shoulder!"
Yuu took a deep breath and prepared for whatever Reina would say. Daichi calmly said, "I have pictures."
"Dad!!"
Reina grinned. "Make sure you send them to me later."
Yuu panicked. Hina looked like she'd explode at any moment.
"W-WAIT—REINA-ONEE-SAN—PL—"
"Nope," Reina said without a twinge of remorse. "This is the best laugh I've had in like, forever. Keep going."
She then turned to Yuu.
"Well, hello cute boy."
"I'M NOT CUTE—"
"Oh! So you admit that you're a boy?"
"I—I mean—"
Reina laughed, and Hina just groaned and covered her face with her hands.
"Onee-san, please don't bully him!!"
Reina lightly flicked Hina's forehead.
"I'm not bullying him! I'm just prepping him..."
"For what?"
"To take you out."
Hina screamed, and Yuu practically fainted.
Akira clapped gently, "Wow."
Daichi coughed, pretending that he was not enjoying it.
With a smirk that would either make you a millionaire or land you in jail, Reina leaned back in her chair.
"I mean, let's face it! Everyone here knows that you two are going to date, right?"
Yuu and Hina turned to stone.
Akira nodded.
Daichi nodded.
Reina obviously nodded.
Yuu: "I want to die."
Hina: "I want to die."
Reina: "Perfect!"
After-Dinner Conversation
Finally, dinner was over and although Hina had already turned red during the meal, Yuu was now emotionally wrecked after his interaction with her.
While Reina assisted Akira with the dishes, Yuu took Hina home to the Genkan (the entrance way to a Japanese home), where Hina was fidgeting with the sleeves of her shirt.
"Hm… Yuu-kun…"
"Uh-huh?" Yuu acknowledged.
"I know we all kind of joke around and stuff, like we were just being silly with all the laughing today, but it honestly made me feel safe, so thank you."
Yuu looked at her in shock, "What? I mean…"
"I was embarrassed to admit it, but your laughter reminded me of when we were younger."
As she said this, Hina spoke with less and less volume until she almost seemed to whisper.
Hina's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.
"…Hina," Yuu said as his heart raced.
"Oh! I just wanted to say that I am really sorry for eating so fast…I just got really into it!" Hina quickly blurted out.
"I don't care if you ate fast; I mean…it was just adorable," Yuu responded.
Hina's self-esteem was at an all-time high…until Reina appeared behind Yuu and Hina.
"Mmmwwwwwhhhaaaattt? What are you kids doing with all this romantic tension?"
"ONEE-SAN!!!"
Reina laughed, "Okay, lovebirds…time to head home."
"Please stop saying that!"
"Hina, next time you should hold his hand."
"ONEEEEE-SAAAAAAN!!!"
Yuu choked at her outburst.
The girl waved her hand with a 'thank-you' and said, "thanks for dinner, cute boy!"
"Please stop calling me that!"
Hina bowed up and down repeatedly, as red as a tomato.
"Thank you so much Yuu-kun bye!"
And with that Reina grabbed her flustered little sister and left.
Slowly Yuu closed the door.
(My life is pure chaos! Pure chaos!)
At the same time, the feeling in his heart was warm and comforting.
It gave him a feeling of nostalgia.
Nostalgic for Hina.
Reina's Life Lesson
When you try to be perfect, you only put up a mask that hides your true self, but those that really matter to you will always love you for who you really are - the side of yourself you are afraid to show.
– Reina Kashiwagi