Memories with the “Brat” – Part 1

The Brat and the Typhoon

“Miya, the hammer’s out, so grab it. Asaka, keep them pinned down. Yuu-nii, you’re down to your last life. Blast them away!”

“Got it!”

“Okay!”

The brats team up to corner me.

“Wait, you little—ah, agh!”

On the ninety-inch screen, my character gets blasted into the distance.

“Hahaha, Yuu-nii’s dead last again!”

Miya raises the controller triumphantly.

“Yuu-nii’s seriously weak.”

Mahiru says with a smug look.

“Yuu-nii, want some snacks?”

Asaka offers me a Pocky.

Today, we’re hanging out at Asaka’s place. As usual, it’s just her and the maid in this huge house. Her parents have been gone for days, busy with work.

“Damn it. You guys keep ganging up on me. What kind of teamwork is that? Look, this game’s a battle royale, not one-against-three!”

“That’s what they call a loser’s bark, right?”

Mahiru smirks up at me, all cocky. This brat—maybe I should shove her off my lap right now.

“I’m pissed now. Time to get serious and switch to my real color!”

“Changing your character’s color won’t do anything,” Miya says.

“When I get serious, I go red. You guys pissed me off. Get ready to see the skills of someone who’s been grinding since first grade!”

Back in elementary school, my friends called me “Red Fox Yuu-chan,” feared by all. Time to show these cocky kids the power of an adult.

“Huh, it’s starting to rain.”

Miya jumps to the window.

The sound of rain hitting the roof begins to echo. Come to think of it, the wind’s been picking up too.

“You guys didn’t know? There’s a typhoon coming tonight.”

“A typhoon?”

“Alright, Mahiru, get off.”

“No way!”

“Tch.”

“Let go, you pervert!”

I stand up, carrying Mahiru, and head to the window. Peering outside, thin raindrops fall on the garden. The wind howls, and the sky rumbles. The trees and bushes sway violently, and ripples form on the pond’s surface.

“The wind’s strong, but it’s not pouring yet. Asaka, switch to the news.”

“Okay!”

The screen changes to the evening local news, just as they’re reporting on the typhoon.

“Typhoon Number ** is expected to make landfall in Japan tonight—its projected path is—”

The announcer reads out the typhoon details on the big screen. It seems the Tokai region will take a direct hit, peaking tonight—Friday night—and moving toward Kanto by Saturday morning.

“Typhoon!”

Miya spins around excitedly.

“It’s not getting too bad yet, so I’m heading home.”

“What? It’s only four-thirty!”

Mahiru squirms in my arms.

“Not ‘only,’ it’s already four-thirty. I planned to leave early because of the typhoon anyway.”

“So that’s why you told us to bring umbrellas.”

“You’re leaving already?”

Asaka tugs at my shirt.

“Can’t help it. I gotta go before the rain gets worse. Come on, Miya, Mahiru, pack up and get ready.”

“Alright.”

“Okay.”

As we talk, the rain grows heavier. By the time we leave Asaka’s house, it’s a full-on downpour.

“See ya, Asaka. Bye-bye!”

“See you tomorrow, bye-bye!”

“Bye-bye!”

“Later.”

I pat Asaka’s head and step outside.

“Alright—”

Now I just need to get these two brats home.

“Rain, rain!”

“Whoa, it’s like a flood!”

“Hey, Mahiru, don’t peek under the bridge. It’s dangerous. You’d die if you fell in.”

I pull Mahiru close, startled.

“A flood!”

The river’s water level is high and murky. A kid falling in there would be swept away in seconds.

“Look, look! I could fly with this wind!”

Miya’s umbrella sways wildly in the gusts, making my blood run cold.

“Whoa!”

“Idiot, Miya, don’t wobble like that!”

I can’t take my eyes off them for a second.

These kids have no sense of danger.

I was way more responsible when I was their age.

“Listen, don’t let go of my hands, got it?”

I hold Miya’s hand in my right and Mahiru’s in my left, balancing my umbrella with my neck. It’s awkward to walk, but this way, they can’t wander off.

“It’s just rain, but Yuu-nii’s such a scaredy-cat.”

“Mahiru, didn’t Yuu-nii almost drown in a river once?”

“What’s that story? First I’m hearing of it.”

“Shut up, let’s go.”

Using more caution than usual, I safely drop off Miya and Mahiru and make it home.

Or so I thought.

“It’s gone. It’s not here.”

When I get home, I realize my phone’s missing.

No way… did I drop it in this rain?

Wait, calm down. I might’ve left it at Asaka’s.

That’s right—those brats begged to play a game on my phone. I lent it to them, then we got bored and played outside, then got bored of that and played video games…

I retrace my memory.

Yeah, it’s gotta be at Asaka’s.

Just to be sure, I call my phone from the landline. My heart races as it rings, then connects. Someone picks up.

“Hello?”

“Yes?”

It’s Asaka’s voice.

“Hey, Asaka?”

“Yuu-nii? Hehe, you forgot your phone.”

“Good, that’s my phone, right?”

“Yes.”

I glance out the window.

It’s pouring pretty hard, but if I go now, I should be fine.

“I’m coming to get it.”

“What? Now? Is that okay?”

“Piece of cake. Wait for me.”

And so, I dash out of the house.

I should’ve stayed home.

The rain intensifies by the minute, and by the time I reach Asaka’s neighborhood, it’s a torrential downpour. The wind blows from all directions, rendering my umbrella useless. The river Mahiru and I saw earlier looks tame compared to now.

Asaka’s house sits halfway up a small hill, with a long, sloping road leading to it.

The incline is steep, and water streams down from above. One slip, and I’d be washed down like it’s a natural waterslide.

“Ugh, whoa.”

No turning back now.

Taking twice as long as usual, I finally reach Asaka’s house.

“Haa, haa.”

Made it.

“Yuu-nii, are you okay?”

Asaka greets me.

“You’re soaked!”

“I-I’m fine.”

“Here’s your phone.”

“Thanks. Alright, one more push—whoa!”

Beyond the door, it’s a different world.

The wind is so strong I can barely stand, and the rain is like buckets being dumped. It’s dark now, and I can’t see more than a few meters ahead.

I walked through this?

“Yuu-nii, you’re going back in this? It’s dangerous.”

Asaka’s face tenses with worry.

“Y-yeah, but I don’t have a choice.”

I regret not asking Asaka to hold onto the phone until tomorrow.

Maybe I could ask my parents to pick me up… but could they even drive in this storm?

Guess I’ll have to walk.

Amid the sound of rain and wind, a robotic voice from a radio broadcast cuts through.

“—From Fujinomiya Police Station, a missing person announcement—”

“Ugh.”

Missing people in this weather?

Fear creeps up from my feet.

But I have no choice but to go home.

Then—

“Wait!” Asaka says energetically.

“What’s up?”

“Tomorrow’s a day off, so why don’t you stay over?”

“Huh?”

2

“Yes, it’s fine. Our house is okay with it. No, no. Yes, got it.”

Asaka talks on my phone. The person on the other end is my mom.

Already chewed out by her, I’m sulking in a corner of the entryway. Given the situation, I got permission to stay at the Gendoji house for the night, but I deeply regret my reckless actions.

One wrong step, and I could’ve been in real danger.

I acted all high and mighty in front of Miya and Mahiru, but I’m just as bad.

How pathetic.

“Here, Yuu-nii. ‘She wants to talk to you.’”

“Alright.”

“Yuu?”

My mom’s voice comes through, low and angry. She’s seriously pissed.

“Yes.”

“I’ll thank the Gendojis properly later, so stay there for now.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve already scolded you enough, so don’t catch a cold. And, well—”

She pauses for a moment.

“If something happened to you, it wouldn’t just be me and your dad—Miya-chan and the others would be heartbroken too.”

“…Yes.”

The call ends.

“Haa… achoo.”

My sigh turns into a sneeze. I’m still soaked.

“So cold.”

The house is heated, but my wet clothes are chilling me.

“Yuu-nii, why don’t you take a bath before you catch a cold?”

“Yeah, sorry for imposing like this.”

“It’s fine. My parents aren’t here, so if I say it’s okay, it’s okay. Oh, Grandpa’s here, but it’s fine.”

When Asaka suggested I stay, the maids were understandably shocked and worried, but they backed down quickly when she insisted.

“Let’s go.”

Asaka seems in high spirits.

She leads me by the hand up the stairs. The Gendoji bathroom is on the second floor, apparently.

“Put your clothes in that basket. I’ll grab some guest clothes for you.”

“Thanks.”

The changing room alone is nearly twice the size of my bedroom. I struggle to peel off my waterlogged T-shirt. Even my underwear is drenched.

Asaka returns, carrying adult-sized clothes and her own.

“I’ll leave them here. The bath towels are on that shelf.”

She starts pulling off her clothes, revealing her white tummy.

“Wait, Asaka!”

“Yes?”

She looks at me, puzzled.

“What are you doing?”

“What? We’re taking a bath, right?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Yes.”

“No, that’s not okay!”

“Huh?”

Even if we were actual siblings, taking a bath with a first-grade girl would be wrong on so many levels! I’ve never even bathed with Miya, who I’ve known since she was a baby.

“Yuu-nii, don’t you want to bathe with me?”

Her voice trembles, like she’s about to cry, thinking I’m rejecting her.

“No, it’s not like that… Alright, here’s the plan—”

“Yuu-nii, let’s play games after dinner.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll wash your back.”

Asaka moves behind me with a foamy body towel.

“Feels good?”

“Yeah, feels great.”

“Hehe.”

Asaka’s not naked—she’s wearing her school swimsuit.

This should be just barely on the safe side. Well, maybe leaning toward unsafe, but still.

I’ve got a towel wrapped tightly around my waist.

“There, there.”

A grade-school girl in a swimsuit is scrubbing my back.

This feels like a dangerous scene, but it’s too late to care now. My little sister figure is doing me a favor, so I’ll just be grateful.

“Now turn around.”

“I’ll wash the front myself!”

After washing my body and hair, I soak in the tub side by side with Asaka.

“Phew.”

My chilled body warms up from the core.

The spacious cypress bathtub is big enough to stretch out fully.

The wall in front is all glass, and on a non-typhoon day, it’d probably offer a stunning night view. Rain pelts the glass, and the wind roars outside.

“I hate typhoons.”

“Scared?”

“Less scary than thunder, but I hate them more.”

That’s an interesting way to put it.

Asaka sinks into the water up to her chin and snuggles close. When I hold her small hand in the water, she clings to my arm.

I feel her soft, squishy touch along my left arm.

“How long will the typhoon last?”

“Who knows? Probably gone by morning.”

Leaves and branches, blown by the wind, occasionally hit the glass, making rustling sounds.

“Time to get out?”

“Okay.”

After soaking for about fifteen minutes, we’re nice and warm.

We head to the dining room for a lavish dinner, then return to Asaka’s room. Some of the maids live in rooms on the first floor, apparently.

We check the typhoon updates on TV. A heavy rain warning is in effect for our town.

Shizuoka Prefecture is at its peak tonight, so we can’t let our guard down.

“Yuu-nii, let’s play games.”

I sit cross-legged, and Asaka, in pajamas, plops onto my lap.

Her glossy hair smells faintly of shampoo, and her warm body has a slight flush.

“Let’s train tonight and surprise Miya-chan and Mahiru-chan tomorrow.”

“My training’s tough. Can you keep up?”

“Yes, Master!”

And so, we dive into video games.

Before nine o’clock, Asaka starts rubbing her eyes sleepily. It’s about bedtime for kids.

“Getting sleepy?”

“N-no, I’ll stay up a bit longer.”

“Alright, let’s brush our teeth now so you can sleep whenever.”

“Okay.”

I get a new guest toothbrush.

We brush our teeth side by side and return to her room. Asaka dives onto her massive king-size bed.

“You’re sleepy, aren’t you?”

“Nuh-uh.”

She takes off her glasses and sets them by the pillow.

I’m pretty tired too. The exhaustion from walking through the storm is catching up. Time to rest.

“By the way, Asaka, which room should I use?”

They’ve got guest clothes, so there must be a guest room. I need her to show me.

“Huh? This one.”

She pats the bed.

“What?”

“Come on already.”

Wait, where?

Aritsuki Yuu, a lonely guy whose “no girlfriend” streak equals his age.

Naturally, he’s never spent a night in the same room as a girl. To him, a night with a girl is a fantasy, as unreal as Godzilla or a tokusatsu hero.

Hold on.

That’s way too far.

Diving into the bed of a grade-school girl who lives there? Depending on who hears about it, that’s a crime you could get killed for.

Even when we hang out in Asaka’s room, I avoid sitting on her bed out of caution.

“Yuu-nii, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I will, but—no way.”

“You don’t want to sleep with me?”

That phrasing!

“Come on already.”

Asaka lifts the covers and slips inside.

A round lump forms under the blanket.

“You’re okay with me sleeping here?”

“Yes.”

I steel myself and climb onto the bed.

“Here I go.”

As I slide under the covers, Asaka snuggles close. She presses her face to my chest, breathing softly.

Her small, warm body feels so delicate, like it might break if I hugged her too hard…

“Hehe, it’s warm.”

“Yeah.”

A soft, sweet scent fills the air.

“Turn off the light. The switch is there.”

“Got it.”

I use the remote by the pillow to turn off the room’s lights.

In the darkness, all I can feel clearly is Asaka’s warmth.

…

My whole body feels hot, way more than in the bath.

My blood races, and my heart pounds.

…

What’s going on? Asaka’s always clung to me, so why am I so nervous today?

I’m not a lolicon, am I?

Is it because we’re in bed together?

If that’s the case, that’s even worse. It’d mean I’m seeing Asaka as a girl.

Maybe I should sleep in another room—

Just then, the wind roars loudly.

“Eek!”

Startled by the sound, Asaka clings even tighter.

“Whoa, the typhoon’s getting serious.”

The windows rattle, and the sound of wind and rain is relentless.

“Uu…”

Her small body trembles slightly.

…Maybe she’s had nights like this before. Typhoons, thunder, storms, all alone without her parents.

I pat her small back and pull her close.

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

“Yuu-nii.”

Seemingly reassured, Asaka closes her eyes.

“Goodnight.”

“Yeah, goodnight.”

Then it hits me.

This house is on a hillside, practically built on a slope. With a mountain behind it, could there be a landslide…?

“Oh no, oh no.”

“Yuu-nii, you’re shaking a lot.”

“I-I’m fine.”

“Are you cold?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Are you sca—”

“Absolutely not!”

“?”

That night, we slept tightly together, trembling.

The Brat Wants to Get It

1

It’s that time of year with wild temperature swings. Mornings are so chilly it’s a drag to go to school, but now it’s warm and pleasant.

I pedal my bike, gazing at the sunset-dyed town.

“I’m back!”

When I return from the shop, the brats are gathered around a table.

“Welcome back!”

“Welcome back.”

“Welcome back!”

All three flash suspicious grins. They’re up to no good again.

“What’s with those smirks? Dad, get me a cola.”

“Hehehe, we’re about to look at Yuu-nii’s album.”

Miya says, sprawling on the table.

“Oh?”

An album, huh?

Wait, whose album?

“Sorry to keep you waiting—oh, Yuu, you’re back.”

Mom comes out from the back, holding a thick album.

White cover, gold band, and in big letters: Yuu Kindergarten.

“Gah!”

“Welcome—”

“Yoink!”

I snatch it from Mom’s hands.

“Hey, what’re you doing?”

“That’s my line! Showing my album without permission—”

“It’s just an album.”

No way it’s just an album.

Especially my kindergarten photos—I’m too embarrassed to even look at them myself. If these brats saw them, they’d mock me even more.

“Show us!”

“Hand it over!”

“Please show us!”

“Shut up, no way!”

I dodge the brats as they swarm me and race upstairs to barricade myself in my room.

“He’s escaping!”

“After him!”

“Wait, please!”

Knowing them, they’d find it even if I hid it, and I’ve got nowhere else to run.

“Open the door!”

“You’re already surrounded!”

“Please open it, Yuu-nii!”

Wait a sec.

Maybe I can pull this off without them noticing?

I let go of the knob and open the door.

“Alright, you brats. You really want to see this album?”

“Show it already!”

“Hand it over!”

“Please show it!”

“Hold on. Let’s make it a game.”

“A game? No way Yuu-nii can beat us.”

Mahiru cuts me down ruthlessly.

“Tch, you’re gonna eat those words. If you win, you can look at the album as much as you want. But if I win, this thing gets sealed away. No complaints either way—fair game.”

“What do we do?”

Miya glances at Mahiru and Asaka. The brats start whispering.

“What, scared you’ll lose? It’s fine, it’s fine. If you’re not confident you can beat me, no big deal.”

I wave my hand and smirk.

“What’s that?” Miya snaps.

“No way Yuu-nii can beat me,” Mahiru says.

“Is this okay?” Asaka worries.

Too easy. They took the bait.

“What’s the game?”

Miya asks.

“I’m gonna hide this album in my room. If you can find it and get it, you win.”

“That’s it? Too easy.”

“Wait, Asaka. Knowing Yuu-nii, he might say ‘in the room’ but hide it on the balcony.”

“Good point, Miya-chan.”

“Idiots. I wouldn’t pull something that cheap. In the room means in the room.”

“How long do we have to find it?”

Mahiru crosses her arms.

“Let’s say fifteen minutes.”

“…Fine.”

“Alright, I’m hiding it now, so wait.”

I close the door.

2

“Alright, come in.”

Leaning against the wall, I open the door.

Once all three are inside, I close it behind me and stay there.

“Here.”

Mahiru peeks under the bed.

“Hmm, not there.”

“I’ll check over here.”

Asaka starts searching near the bookshelf.

“Hmm.”

Miya stands on the bed, scanning the room.

“Yuu-nii, it’s in the room, right?”

“Yup.”

“Alright.”

Miya jumps off the bed and starts rifling through my desk drawers.

“It’s big, so there aren’t many places to hide it.”

Not bad reasoning for a kid.

“Didn’t hear much noise, so he probably didn’t move anything big.”

Mahiru walks around, getting closer to me.

“W-what’s up?”

Did she figure it out?

“Hmm.”

She heads to the closet, and I relax.

“Not too messy.”

She opens the closet, then closes it quickly.

She’s checking how disturbed the clothes are to guess if I hid it there. Smart way to save time and effort.

But they’re missing the bigger picture.

“Ah!”

“Miya, did you find it?”

“Yuu-nii, can we play this game later?”

She pulls a cartridge from the drawer.

“Sure.”

“Miya, focus!”

“It’s not here either. Maybe the balcony?”

Asaka opens the window.

“Asaka, he said in the room, so it’s not the balcony.”

“Oh, right.”

Heh heh heh.

Time’s ticking away.

From their perspective, they’ll never find it. And even if they do, it’s no big deal.

For my pride and adult dignity, I have to protect this album at all costs.

Three minutes left.

“Damn it, can’t find it anywhere!”

“Maybe the closet after all?”

Miya bounces on the bed, and Mahiru reopens the closet.

“By the way, Yuu-nii, why’re you just standing there?”

Asaka asks.

“Huh?”

Something clicks for Miya, and she walks up to me.

Her cocky eyes look up.

“What?”

“Suspicious.”

“Shouldn’t you be searching? Two minutes left.”

“…”

“…”

“Found it! Inside his clothes!”

Crap, she got me.

“What?”

“You found it?”

“Look closely—his back’s all boxy.”

“Oh!”

“Oh!”

“Tch.”

They finally found it.

I hid the album inside my clothes, pressing my back against the door to hide the bulge.

They’d be too focused on searching the room to notice the blind spot at the entrance.

“Technically, it is in the room.”

“Not bad for Yuu-nii.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Hand over the album.”

Mahiru reaches out.

“Huh? What’re you talking about? I said find it and get it. Hahaha!”

I hold the album high.

“Come on, try and take it!”

“That’s cheating!”

“Yuu-nii, that’s not fair!”

Miya and Asaka jump, but they can’t reach my head.

Too bad.

Sometimes kids need to face unfairness to grow.

Hitting an unbeatable wall is how you become an adult.

I can’t let them see this album.

I check the clock. Thirty seconds left.

I win.

“Miya, Asaka, move.”

“Alright.”

“Okay.”

Mahiru raises her fist.

“Huh?”

“Take that!”

Thwack.

“Argh!”

A sharp pain shoots from my groin to my brain.

“Ah, ugh.”

My strength drains, and I collapse.

Not again…

Is she aiming for it on purpose?

“Got it!”

Miya grabs the album.

“Wow, Mahiru-chan, amazing!”

“I told you, Yuu-nii can’t beat me.”

“Ugh, ahh.”

My body’s burning.

“Ahh, ahh.”

“Alright, back downstairs!”

At Miya’s command, the brats rush out.

Left alone, I wrestle with the lingering pain.

“Ah, ugh.”

3

“This is from his first day at kindergarten.”

“He’s totally bawling!”

Miya laughs.

“He cried so hard on his first bus ride, saying, ‘I don’t wanna leave Mommy!’ It was a mess.”

“What’s this one?”

“That’s when he got scared by a festival float and cried.”

“What about this?”

“He went to see a Pokémon movie, but it was so crowded on opening day he couldn’t get in.”

“Yuu-nii, it’s all crying photos.”

Mahiru shrugs, exasperated.

“So cute.”

“Shut up! That’s why I didn’t want you to see!”

For some reason, I was a crybaby back then. Over half my childhood photos show me crying, and that’s what embarrassed me.

Damn it, isn’t there a cooler photo?

“Huh? What’s this?”

Miya points at a photo.

“Oh, why’s this mixed in with the kindergarten ones?”

It’s a picture from when I was in fifth grade.

A young me carefully holding a tiny baby, with a younger Miku-san beside me.

“Is this… Miya?”

“So cute!”

“Ugh, don’t look!”

Miya clutches the album and bolts.

Mahiru and Asaka chase after her.