Sippy Cups & Pastel Bruises

                                    

                                          
Taro quietly read in the living room, listening his little brother's cooking some dinner since their parents are still away at work. Not like they'd eat when they get home let alone spend time with them since they're so tired from a day's work. 
"Hey, Hanako," Called out the eldest from the couch still, gently placing his book on the coffee table. The smaller boy popped his cute little head on the other room with a slight hum of questioning. "Yes big brother?" He asked. "Do you have feelings for Ayano Aishi?"
                          
Hanako's face turned a deep shade of red, his small palms getting sweaty and his legs locked from the knees. "W-Wh-Why do you asked..?" He finally formed a sentence without trying to make it seem he does. Taro simply chuckled under his breath and got up, wrapping his arms around his little baby sibling. After a bit of silence, he spoke his answer, "Just asking. Not like I'm asking for my own benefits, I just wanted to know maybe I could help?" "You'd really do that for me big brother?" "Of course. You're my wonderful little Hanako." The older boy ran his slender fingers through the smaller's shorter black hair, which caused a unexpressible adorable sound of sweet innocents. 
He wasn't lying though. There's no way he could ever do harm to his family and friends over just some girl. But is Ayano Aishi just "some girl"?
                          
"I...um...I can admit Aishi-Senpai is amazing in so many ways more than one. She's so smart and strong and pretty." Taro stood there listening to Hanako's feelings being poured out. Honestly, it's adorable, not like he hid these feelings well even when he's not there to see it. 
He does do the laundry though. .
And cleans up the dishes that are dirty from around the house. . .
But other than that, the feelings seem to be pure. Something Taro's doesn't like much...
                          


                          


                          
~
                          


                          


                          
Night came just in time in the household and the rest of the area of Japan, people tuck away in bed for the waiting of tomorrow morning and it's results to come. 
That is...most but the Aishi household.
During nights like this, ever since Kia had stayed to watch Ayano for reasonable excuses, the house's lights would be on and the TV blaring loudly on the channel the two girls watch at this time; "Shibuhara Girls"
                          
It's a show that you'd be surprise to just randomly see these two watch. Scratch that, a show you'd be surprise to just randomly see Ayano watch. Basically to sum it all up, it's about young Japanese women who seek stardom in many forms in Tokyo where their dreams meet reality. Something you wouldn't think on this teenage girl to be into in the mist of all that has happened. 
The two young ladies let out a nice long heartfelt sigh as they watch a re-run of the show play back, it's clear why Kia likes this show but Ayano we may never know. 
"Kosue Akimoto is the best girl." 
"I'm sorry but I must disagree with you Aunty Kia, for you see, Shion Miyawaki is the best girl."
"You only say that cause you listen to her songs."
The two girls giggled and laughed, this was a fun thing they do not since Kia had became keeping a eye out for Ayano but since Ayano was small and Kia would go out of her way to babysit her little niece. And seeing her little niece happy and well cared for is the greatest no one will ever take away. 
                          
Kia looked over at her niece, thinking back on many things that had happened since she saw her grow, even bits and pieces the much younger girl can't remember. She watched her as she nibbled on some ice cream they bought earlier for this night, her niece catching her some. "What? Want some?" She asked, holding up the chocolate mint ice cream bowl to her aunt, who gently pushed it back with a no thank you. "Just  happy to see you in a good mood." Was all she said. Ayano smiled to her, but it almost seemed a smirk, as she replied, " That's good. And it's about to be as good as this later on." Kia has zero idea on what she could've mean by that but simply shrug it off since it's none of her business to engulf herself in a teenager's lifestyle choice. 
                          
That very moment the doorbell rang.  
                          
Who could it be at this hour?
                          
Kia shifted to get up but Ayano beaten her to it and walked to the very front of the house to answer the unannounced visitor, still in her comfiest pajamas and indoor slippers. She unlocked the house's indoor locks and cracked the door open and stared out, meeting pale silver and white imminently. 
                          
"Huh? Megamo Saikou, what are you doing here at this time of night?" She asked, some of it in a sweet calm whisper than her normal tone of voice. Megamo didn't look her in the eyes, instead his beautiful silver eyes focus on the sky and such, handing her something. "It was my orders to send this to you but the other council members has already left home so I believe I had to bring it myself." He said, again not looking at her. 
Ayano looked down at what he's handing over to her, seeing that it was a medium sized black box with white horizontal lines along with pastel blue diagonal lines across the seems, a pretty red ribbon tied around it and finished with a bow right in the center of the box. It was oddly pretty and well gifted that it made it hard to figure out  what can be inside the box. 
                          
She gently placed her hands on both side of the box and held it to herself. "Thank you.." She mumbled, checking the tagged note that's attacked to the ribbon: "To my Ayano Aishi" Who could that be? She thought to herself, feeling the ribbon some. 
Megamo turned to leave but stopped, reaching in his bag again. "I almost forgot. This is also for you, but it's from a different person which I'm not allowed to say who." He stated as he handed her a simple white envelope that is sealed and has Ayano Aishi's name written on the blank back. 
Ayano reached out and took the envelope, getting the quick whiff of a familiar scent she sworn she smelled before. "Have a nice night Aya-" Megamao cleared his throat as if there was something stuck in it before correcting himself. "Aishi! Have a nice night Aishi Ayano." He then walked off away from the door, which also meant he left Ayano there confused with two thing in her arms. She shut the door and re-locked it before going back to her Aunty Kia to open the box and envelope. 

                          
In the box after carefully removing the ribbon and tape on some edges was a beautiful red kimono, a green obi, and a golden hairpiece with matching slippers on the bottom. Kia looked at the sudden gift and gushed at how pretty each piece is of design and colors. "So beautiful~! Who's it from sweetie?" She pushed gently, a cue for Ayano to dig around for a card. Once she found it, she was having mix emotions(for the first time ever) on what it said who's it from. 
                          
"Meet me in the theater club room before classes. ~Kizano"