#uecchi

CHAPTER 2

Secrets and Bruises

Ristuka and the rest of the band had invited the younger girl out for a celebratory dinner. It was to celebrate Mafuyu’s first performance and her acceptance into U.A.

They were at their favourite yakiniku place.

“Cheers!” Haruki raised his glass and soon Kaji followed.

“Cheers!”

The four boys looked with soft eyes as the younger girl raised her glass of chocolate milk to bump with their glasses of soft drinks and beer. The girl seemed to light up when their glasses clinked, she drank her chocolate milk gladly.

“Uenoyama-kun,” Mafuyu spoke softly, “is it a good time to tell her?”

“Eh? Tell me what?” Ritsuka froze, forgetting how sharp his younger siblings hearing was. Haruki and Kaji stared at the couple and the girl cautiously. Were they really going to announce their relationship here? They had hoped that it would be more formal, since Hide was a family member.

Ritsuka smiled uneasily at his sister. Hidenka looked between Mafuyu and her older brother, and smiled devilishly.

“You guys thought i didn’t know?”

“EHHHHHH?!”

“I’m not blind. Sui, I knew you were in love with Fuyu-chan a long time ago.It was obvious.”

Ritsuka’s world seemed to crash at the same time brighten up. It was that obvious huh? But he was glad that his sister accepted him for who he was and who he loved.

To him, her unconditional love made her the hero she was.

“Hide-chan,” Kaji spoke up. “How is your hero work?”

“Mm. Yeah.” Haruki put down his beer to look at the girl. “You’ve got a new bruise on your cheek.”

“Bruise?” Mafuyu looked closely at the girls cheek, and he in fact did see a dark coloured bruise poke out.

“Hide.” Ritsuka seemed more serious. He handed her a wipe, knowing she hid her bruise under make up. Hidenka sighed, wiping off the make up on her cheek.

Ritsuka’s hands curled up into tight fists. The bruise was worse than he thought. Her whole eye was black and blue and it ran all the way down her cheek to her chin.

“It’s not that bad.” Hide started.

“What do you mean it’s not that bad?!” Haruki said a little too loudly. “Hide-chan, look at you! Maybe you don’t notice it but we do! You’re worn out, your supposed to be enjoying your childhood not scaring it.”

“I’m fine, Haru-nii…” The girl said with her head held down.

“No you’re not! How can you not notice it, Hide-chan?? Do you not notice how your brother is worried about you too?!”

“Of course I do!”

The table went quiet as Hide let out her emotions.

“Of course I notice…” Ristuka put a hand on her head in an attempt to comfort her.