Memories with the “Brat” – Part 2

Shopping Date with the Brats

“Alright? You listen carefully to what Yuu-kun says. If you get lost, absolutely don’t follow any weird people; go straight to the lost and found center. Got it, Mahiru-chan and Asaka-chan too?”

Miya’s mother, Miku Haruyama, puts her hands on her hips and urges the brats to pay attention.

“Yes!”

The brats reply in unison with energetic voices.

“Okay then, Yuu-kun, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

I had planned to laze around at home today, but somehow I ended up having to take the brats to a nearby shopping mall.

Since it’s worrisome to let elementary school kids go alone, Miku was supposed to accompany them, but it seems she had a sudden schedule change. My mom caught wind of it, and that’s how I got roped into being their chaperone.

In the countryside, a large shopping mall is practically a sacred ground for entertainment.

With specialty stores, a movie theater, a food court, and an arcade, it’s packed with families and couples on weekends.

After about a ten-minute walk, we reach the target, the Ae○n mall. As expected, it’s teeming with people.

“Listen up, you guys. In a crowd like this, if you get separated, it’ll be a pain to find you. Don’t run around or wander off on your own.”

As I say this like a responsible adult, Miya responds with an exasperated tone,

“Yuu-nii, you better not get lost yourself.”

“As if I would.”

“It’s not a date, so don’t get cocky,” Mahiru chimes in.

“As if I’d get cocky.”

“Hey, hey, where should we go first?”

Miya looks around excitedly.

Even though she probably comes here often with her parents for shopping, she’s acting like it’s her first time, brimming with excitement.

It must be thrilling for the kids—myself included—to come to the mall together like this. Asaka, in particular, has her eyes sparkling.

“Um… let’s go over there.”

Asaka points to the escalator. Wearing a large straw hat and a loose dress, she leads the way to the second floor.

The first place we visit is a whimsical general store. As expected, the shop, likely aimed at elementary and middle school girls, is bustling with girls of that age.

“Oh, this is cute.”

Miya says, holding a strawberry-shaped eraser.

“Miya, isn’t this one better? It’s scented.”

Mahiru holds up a scented eraser, and Miya and Asaka sniff it like puppies.

Three brats frolicking in the stationery section for girls.

They’re usually cheeky, but seeing them act their age and having fun like this is kind of cute.

That aside,

“…”

I’m the only guy in this shop, and the stares from around me are making me uneasy. If someone I know saw me in a place like this…

I’m at that age where I care about such things. Enduring the awkwardness, I wait for the brats to finish shopping.

“Next, we’re going to the arcade!”

This time, Mahiru takes the lead.

“Hey, don’t rush off like that. You’ll get lost.”

The arcade, decked out with gaudy lights, is lined with medal games, rhythm games, and ride-on shooting games. Next to it is the food court, drawing a wide range of people from kids to adults.

Rhythm game.

“Whoa, Asaka’s super fast!”

“I can’t even see her moves!”

“A full combo? That’s awesome!”

Shooting game.

“Shoot the ones on the side, the side!”

“Heal, heal!”

Medal game.

“That shot went in!”

“This gorilla’s pretty good.”

“We’re out of medals.”

Racing game.

“Who put a banana here?!”

“Yuu-nii’s in last place!”

“Hmph, losers.”

After enjoying the games, it’s lunchtime at the food court.

“Ugh, I’m so full. Yuu-nii, you can have this.”

“Me too.”

“You guys have some nerve leaving just the rice and passing it off to someone else.”

“Yuu-san, you can have some of my hamburger.”

“Oh, thanks.”

With our stomachs full, we head to the bookstore next.

Maybe because it’s lunchtime or just a busy day, the store is getting more crowded. It’s getting packed, I think, turning to the side—

Thud!

“Ouch!”

“Oh, sorry.”

“No, no, I was the one not looking.”

I bumped into an older lady coming out from behind a shelf. I could’ve avoided her, but there wasn’t enough space. That’s how crowded the Ae○n is today.

“Really, I’m so sorry.”

After the lady leaves, I turn my gaze back,

“Man, that was a mess. Huh?”

All I see are unfamiliar shoppers.

“Where… are those brats?”

2

The blood drains from my body. I told them so many times not to get lost.

No, this is my fault. I took my eyes off them…

I look around, but there’s no sign of them. Did they not notice I bumped into the lady and go ahead?

Pushing through the crowd, I hurry to the bookstore.

“Please, please.”

Since our destination hasn’t changed, they might be waiting at the bookstore entrance.

But,

“…They’re not here. Damn it.”

I searched every corner of the bookstore, but Miya, Mahiru, and Asaka were nowhere to be found.

Dark thoughts flood my mind.

W-What do I do?

What if they got taken by some creep…

It’s because I wasn’t paying attention…

Ping pong pang pong, an announcement echoes through the store.

“We have a lost child announcement.”

I snap back to reality.

Right. I’ll go to the lost and found center and have them make an announcement. That’s way better than wandering around aimlessly.

With that in mind, I rush to the service counter—

“From the city, Aritsuki Yuu-kun.”

Huh?

“A boy wearing a white shirt and brown shorts, Aritsuki Yuu-kun. If you’ve seen him, please contact the nearest staff member.”

Wait a second.

Huh?

“We repeat, a lost child announcement. From the city, Aritsuki Yuu-kun. Your friends are looking for you. If you have any information—”

“Those damn brats…”

Sure, it’s my fault for getting separated, and Miku did tell them to go to the lost and found center if they got lost.

But to call me the lost child…

＊

“Man, what a handful.”

Mahiru leans against the service counter, speaking in an exasperated tone.

“Getting lost as an adult? Total loser.”

Miya shrugs and shakes her head.

“There he is!”

Asaka spots Yuu emerging from the crowd and points.

“You guys…”

“Seriously, Yuu-nii. A high schooler getting lost… huh?”

“Whoa, he looks pissed.”

“Run!”

“Wait, you little brats!”

After that, I ran all over the Ae○n to catch the brats who scattered in every direction.

The Brats Love Beetles

1

A splendid horn. A glossy black body with a majestic form. The idol of summer for kids: the beetle king, kabutomushi.

Peering into the breeding case from the side, Sayaka says,

“Wow, that’s impressive. Did you catch this, Miya-chan?”

“Yup. Caught it earlier. I set a trap in the forest yesterday, woke up early with Dad, and found a bunch.”

“That’s amazing, amazing.”

“It was my first time catching a beetle, but it was easy.”

“Good for you.”

“Wanna touch it, Auntie?”

“Eek!? Um, uh, how about showing it to Yuu first? He used to catch beetles all the time when he was younger.”

“Oh, right. I’ll show Yuu-nii too.”

Miya hugs the case and heads for the stairs.

2

“It’s so hot.”

My room has no air conditioning, so the windows are always wide open. The fan futilely stirs the muggy air.

I was playing a video game earlier, but the heat dulled my brain, so I gave up. Lying on my back on the bed, I hear the thumping of footsteps rushing up the stairs.

Ugh, here comes the noisy one.

“Hey, Yuu-nii, you alive?”

“I’m alive. What’s with the check-in… wait, what’s that?”

“Pretty cool, right? I caught it earlier.”

Miya proudly holds up the case.

“Ugh…”

My body temperature drops instantly. The sweat on my skin turns cold, and my body stiffens.

“…”

Aritsuki Yuu, a guy who can’t handle bugs.

To be precise, now I’m a guy who can’t handle bugs.

When I was a kid, I’d head to the mountains to catch beetles and stag beetles, grabbing grasshoppers and praying mantises with my bare hands.

I’d swing a net at cicadas and chase dragonflies.

In fourth grade, I made a specimen collection of caught bugs for a summer project, earning the nickname Mushi King from a popular arcade game.

When did it start?

When did I start finding the underside of a beetle creepy?

It’s not unusual to grow out of touching bugs as you get older. Things you didn’t notice as a kid start to stand out as an adult, and they feel unpleasant.

“Cool, right?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

Still, a girl who likes beetles? Miya sits down and opens the case’s lid.

“Look.”

She casually grabs the smaller horn and pulls out the beetle.

Stop, don’t show me the underside.

Its wriggling legs and glossy surface. And those hairy bits—ugh, creepy.

The beetle, suddenly picked up, resists fiercely. Its writhing legs are no different from a cockroach.

Yeah, especially around the leg joints…

“I’ll let you touch it, Yuu-nii.”

“Huh? No, I’m good.”

“Don’t be shy.”

“No, seriously, I’m fine… I’m allergic to beetles. Don’t bring the underside near me.”

“Auntie said you used to catch tons of beetles.”

That old hag.

“Here,” Miya places the beetle on my knee.

“Eek!”

The prickly sensation hits me directly. My skin crawls instantly.

“Uwaaah!”

Every move the beetle makes sends an itchy, unpleasant feeling across my skin.

“What? Yuu-nii, are you scared?”

Miya looks up at me, grinning.

Oh no.

If she finds out I’m scared of a bug, she’ll never let me live it down.

“Yuu-nii’s scared of bugs even though he’s an adult. What a weakling.”

I can already imagine Miya cackling.

“Hah!”

Before I know it, the beetle has climbed up my shirt to my chest.

Stop it.

Don’t climb any higher.

Turn back, please.

As if sensing my plea, the beetle stops moving. Its lifeless eyes meet mine.

Those emotionless eyes are another thing I can’t stand. The fact that you can’t tell if bugs have consciousness or not adds to the creepiness.

“…”

“…”

The beetle and I lock eyes for a while, frozen. Come on, go back the way you came. If you climb any further, I’ll flick you off, even if it means going through your underside.

“…”

“…”

But the beetle does something far beyond my imagination.

With a bwoom, its back splits open, and thin wings spread out.

“Huh?”

“Whoa, so cool!”

With Miya’s excited cheer, the beetle takes flight, buzzing around the room. Then it heads straight for me and lands on my face.

“Pyo!”

I don’t remember much after that. It was the first time in my life I fainted, on a summer morning.

＊

“Listen, don’t tell Mahiru or Asaka, got it?”

“The weakling who lost to a beetle.”

“It’s because it suddenly flew—”

“Loser, loser! Hahaha!”

Going downstairs, Mom calls out from the kitchen.

“Miya-chan, come eat lunch!”

“Okay! Hey, Auntie, earlier, Yuu-nii—I mean, Weakling-nii—”

“Shut up! Oh, boiled shrimp?”

On the table are somen noodles, vinegared dishes, and whole boiled shrimp. Dad’s already finished and left the table.

“Looks tasty.”

Shrimp is my favorite.

I grab one, crack the back with my fingers, and tear off the head. Then I peel off the bundle of legs to get to the meat. The red, boiled flesh looks plump and delicious.

“What’s wrong, Miya?”

She’s suddenly gone quiet.

She’s staring at me, pale.

“Yuu-nii, that’s amazing.”

“?”

“That’s basically a bug, isn’t it?”

“…?”

I don’t get it, but she stopped calling me Weakling-nii.

“Come on, Miya-chan, eat up.”

Mom brings more somen from the basket.

“Oh, yeah.”

Whatever happened to her earlier bravado, Miya stays quiet throughout lunch.

The next day.

“Man, it’s hot.”

It’s swelteringly unbearable again today. Sprawled on my bed, I read a manga.

“Yuu-nii!”

Miya’s voice echoes, and the vibrations of her climbing the stairs reach my back through the bed. Judging by the noise, the whole brat squad is here.

I glance toward the door, and sure enough, it swings open with a bang as Miya bursts in. As expected, Mahiru and Asaka are with her.

“Hey, you guys—”

Mahiru and Asaka seem out of breath, looking flustered. Did something happen?

Miya, as usual, makes herself at home in front of the TV, starting the game console without my permission.

“Mahiru-chan,” Asaka whispers from behind, and Mahiru glances at Miya.

“Yuu-nii.”

“What?”

She’s lacking her usual energy.

“I heard from Miya.”

She hesitates. Asaka grips the hem of Mahiru’s T-shirt, eyes darting nervously.

What’s going on? I can’t read the situation.

Is it something hard to say?

Finally, Mahiru speaks up.

“Is it true you peeled and ate a beetle’s shell?”

“…Huh?”

“Are beetles plump and delicious?”

“Huh? Huh?”

What are they talking about?

“Miya said yesterday you peeled and ate one whole.”

“Yesterday? You mean the shrimp—wait. Miya, did you tell them about yesterday?”

Miya, not fully listening, tilts her head slightly.

“Yup.”

“What did you tell them?”

“Uh, how you fainted because of the beetle and how the shelled shrimp looked like a bug.”

“Ugh.”

I told her not to tell Mahiru and Asaka, but she ignored me. The problem is she probably mixed up the beetle fainting story with the shrimp-eating story. Kids’ stories often lack clear subjects or get jumbled.

Likely, the fainting story and the shrimp-peeling story got mashed together, making them think I boiled a beetle, peeled its shell, and ate it whole.

“What’s the taste like?”

“Can you eat stag beetles too?”

It took about an hour to clear up Mahiru and Asaka’s misunderstanding, needless to say.

The Brats and the Pool

1

“To our seniors, a salute.”

The juniors bow in unison.

“Thank you very much!”

Their voices echo through the gym.

Today is the retirement ceremony for our boys’ basketball team. After losing in the first round of the regional qualifiers, finishing the handover to the second-years, and cleaning the clubroom, we third-years officially retire today, July 30th.

I started basketball in high school. I played baseball in middle school, but the high school baseball team required a buzz cut year-round—unlike middle school, where it was just for summer tournaments—so I passed.

I wanted to join a sports club, and influenced by a popular basketball manga at the time, I chose basketball. I could barely dribble when I joined, but the days spent practicing with my teammates were fulfilling.

“Alright, the celebration is tomorrow at 7 p.m., as everyone wanted, at Okushoen. Dismissed.”

The coach wraps up, and the group disbands. Okushoen is a local yakiniku chain, by the way.

“Hey, Aritsuki. You free tomorrow? Let’s hang out before the celebration.”

Endo, a fellow third-year, calls out. Buzz-cut, over 180 cm tall, a goofy personality but sharp-minded, he’s like a big, burly Ka○o.

“Sorry, I’ve got some errands during the day.”

“What kinda errands?”

“Just some stuff.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow then.”

“Yep.”

Endo heads off to another teammate.

“—Tch, alright, Kageyama, let’s hang.”

I sigh, dreading the hassle awaiting me tomorrow.

2

The next day, the last day of July.

“It’s hot.”

The sun is especially intense today, almost like my skin is being scorched. But it’s perfect pool weather.

The good old public pool. It’s been losing visitors to the new, fancy leisure pool, but it’s moderately crowded.

A pool means bikini-clad ladies, of course. My eyes can’t help but be drawn to the curvy women playing in the water.

Someday, I want to go to the pool with a gorgeous girl like that.

“…Sigh.”

I let out a breath.

“Hey, what’s with the sigh?!”

“No helping it, Mahiru. Yuu-nii’s weak to summer. Total loser.”

Miya shrugs.

“There’s so many people,” Asaka says.

“Sigh,” I breathe again.

Sadly, I’m stuck with three flat, scrawny brats. As usual, I’ve been roped into babysitting them.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s do this!”

“Wait, you guys. Warm-up first. You need to stretch properly, or your heart’ll get a shock.”

“Yuu-nii’s shocking whiteness is what’s surprising. Whiter than me. Like a bean sprout,” Mahiru snickers.

“Shut up! I’m an indoor athlete, not that it matters. Come on, let’s do this.”

“Yes!”

After thorough warm-ups, we head to the pool.

“And don’t run by the poolside.”

“I know, here I go!”

Miya jumps into the shallow kids’ pool.

“No diving!”

Tap tap on my shoulder.

“Hm?”

Asaka is holding a deflated float with the air valve in her mouth.

“Yuu-san, please inflate my float.”

“What, you can’t swim? Let me see.”

She tried her best, but a first-grader’s lung capacity isn’t enough.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

Wearing the fully inflated float, Asaka jumps into the pool.

“Yay!”

“I said no diving!”

“Shut up, take this!”

Miya and Mahiru splash water at me. But it’s just kid strength—barely any water reaches me.

“You brats, I’ll show you a real splash. Here!”

“Wah!”

“Scatter, flank him!”

What a pain. These brats are exhausting. Well, I’ve got yakiniku tonight, so I’ll put up with it.

After playing in the kids’ pool, we eat ramen at the cafeteria.

Why does ramen taste so good after swimming?

“Hey, I wanna ride that.”

Miya points to the back. A large pipe snakes down from above—the pool’s main attraction, the water slide.

“Hm, that one? I think kids can’t ride it.”

“What, discrimination?” Asaka says.

“Where’d you learn that word?”

“Come on, let’s check it out,” Mahiru says, pulling me toward the water slide.

As expected, there’s a height restriction. You need to be over 125 cm to ride.

“Stand in front of the board. You can’t ride unless you reach the red line.”

Sure enough, none of them make it.

“Mrr,” Miya grumbles.

“There’s a smaller slide with no restrictions. Go try that.”

There’s a gentler, slide-type water slide nearby, safe for young kids.

Waiting at the bottom, Miya comes back.

“What’s up?”

“They say I can’t slide without an adult.”

“Huh?”

Miya grabs my hand and pulls me along.

“Come on, hurry.”

How did it come to this?

“It’s… kinda high.”

At the sliding point, fear creeps in. Without the pipe covering, the height feels stark.

But I can’t let them know I’m scared. These brats would totally call me a loser and tease me.

I sit at the starting point with Miya on my lap.

“Here we go!”

“Don’t squirm. Hold on tight—uwooo!”

Supporting Miya’s slender waist, we slide down fast. The water’s surface rushes closer, a chill runs through my legs, and then my vision is underwater.

“Hahaha, so fun!”

Is this really for kids?

“Alright, my turn,” Mahiru says, ready.

“Wait, hold on—”

No, this is intense.

“Hurry, it’s getting crowded.”

“Hieee!”

“Next is me,” Asaka says.

“Uwoooo!”

In the end, I slid twelve times—three kids, four rides each.

3

That night, at Okushoen for the club celebration.

“Hey, Aritsuki, why’re you so tanned?” Endo asks, puzzled.

“Look at his wrist. Only one side’s not tanned,” another teammate says.

The part where I wore the locker key band didn’t tan.

“You… went to the pool, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, kinda.”

Crap, they figured it out.

“You said you had errands when I invited you. Someone important enough to ditch your friends… a girl?”

“A girl?”

“Aritsuki has a girlfriend?”

“Who’d you go with? Don’t sneak around on us!”

Other teammates swarm me.

I can’t tell them I was dragged around by brats at the pool.

“Spill! Who was it?”

“Was it Shimomura from our class?”

“No, it’s not like that, seriously—”

The girlfriend-less teammates surround me. In the end, it was less a yakiniku party and more a grilling session.