While they drove, Hiro tried his very best to keep his attention on the conversation between him and Kaori rather than all the buttons there were to mess with. Their conversation was mostly small talk - Hiro talked about the Orchestra club and his family's music shop, and Kaori told him about her fashion line. It was pleasant, to say the least, yet somehow Akihiro felt himself growing the slightest bit awkward under her quiet gaze and calm expression. Just like Aoi. Except I know how to read Aoi, sort of. I don't know anything about Kaori-san yet, other than that she's Aoi's sister and owns a famous fashion line. I don't even know if she likes me or not. What if she's here to send me away? What if she thinks Reiko-san is better for him than I am? XXXX
Suddenly, Hiro felt uncharacteristically worried, and fidgeted restlessly in his seat. He still managed to continue their chat without showing any outward hints of his impending awkwardness, and was silently grateful when the limousine finally came to a stop outside a cafe. The smell of coffee was comforting, despite the fact he didn't actually like coffee himself. Maybe its comforting because I know how much Aoi loves it... Taking a seat across from Kaori, Hiro nervously rocked his feet back and forth underneath his chair and fiddled with his fingers in his lap, politely refusing to order anything. XX
"I've never thought that there would be someone who would be able to conquer a mountain that is indestructible like Aoi." Hiro looked up at Kaori with an open expression. Indestructible mountain? What an interesting way to describe him, I never thought of that. "In a way, he's even stricter than I am and long he's stopped showing any emotion, or telling me or Chiyoko how he felt about himself. Of course, no matter how much I have pushed my younger siblings to do their best all the time, I still wanted them to be happy, because I'm still their sister after all." Hiro nodded at that, understanding how it felt. Though he was the youngest, he'd always been very close to his brother, and was always his main supporter. XX
"After the death of my parents-" Oh, so that's why. "-it has left a big impact in all of us, but I think the one who was affected by it the most was Aoi. He had always looked up to them and they were his motivation to work for the top. What's more, he's a successful artist, but the world he's living in isn't just about glamour and fame. There's a lot of complication and the more successful he got, the more hatred and jealousy he also gained. That's why he had to conceal all of his thought and become the person who he is today. I guess that is, until he met you." XXX
"...me? I thought Aoi seemed really close to you and Chiyoko-chan..." Akihiro's expression surely showed surprise. Aoi wasn't too charismatic, but he wasn't distant either, and had put quite a lot of effort into getting to know his classmates and clubmates. Surely I can't be the first person he's ever opened up to. After all, he has two really great sisters who seem like they care about him a lot, doesn't he open up to them too? "I can see that Aoi had brightened up a lot recently and there's always a hint of deep trust and amity in his eyes whenever he talked about you. I have to admit, I thought that it was amazing for anyone being able to break his ice like that. So, I will place my trust on you to look after and care for him too, because I will not always be around to keep an eye for my siblings. He might be cold at first, but there's no one that can be faithful as him." XX
"So try your best to hold onto him and don't ever break his heart." Nodding furiously, Hiro flashed Kaori what he hoped she would interpret as a reassuring smile. He hadn't missed the edge in her tone. He was an idiot, but he was observant, and he figured it was probably the same edge his brother had used when Aoi had visited a few days prior. "Never in a million years would I ever do anything to hurt him. I know what its like to have your heart broken, and there's no way I'd want to put Aoi through that." Hiro planted his feet flat on the floor and messed around with the keychain on his bag. XX
"I'm supposed that you've already known that the engagement between Aoi and Reiko is nothing more than an act, until then, I hope you will continue to stay quiet about it. I will ensure that none of the reporters and news press will bother you, but you and Aoi shouldn't be too exposed. If you have any other request or question, feel free to ask." "Will you come to our Orchestra tournament?" Even through Kaori's calm exterior, Hiro could tell she was surprised, if only slightly. "We have a big tournament coming up next month, and the preliminaries are in Tokyo. Aoi and I will be playing a duet together, and I think it would make him really really happy if you and Chiyoko-chan came to watch the performance, so..." XXX
Suddenly, Hiro felt uncharacteristically worried, and fidgeted restlessly in his seat. He still managed to continue their chat without showing any outward hints of his impending awkwardness, and was silently grateful when the limousine finally came to a stop outside a cafe. The smell of coffee was comforting, despite the fact he didn't actually like coffee himself. Maybe its comforting because I know how much Aoi loves it... Taking a seat across from Kaori, Hiro nervously rocked his feet back and forth underneath his chair and fiddled with his fingers in his lap, politely refusing to order anything. XX
"I've never thought that there would be someone who would be able to conquer a mountain that is indestructible like Aoi." Hiro looked up at Kaori with an open expression. Indestructible mountain? What an interesting way to describe him, I never thought of that. "In a way, he's even stricter than I am and long he's stopped showing any emotion, or telling me or Chiyoko how he felt about himself. Of course, no matter how much I have pushed my younger siblings to do their best all the time, I still wanted them to be happy, because I'm still their sister after all." Hiro nodded at that, understanding how it felt. Though he was the youngest, he'd always been very close to his brother, and was always his main supporter. XX
"After the death of my parents-" Oh, so that's why. "-it has left a big impact in all of us, but I think the one who was affected by it the most was Aoi. He had always looked up to them and they were his motivation to work for the top. What's more, he's a successful artist, but the world he's living in isn't just about glamour and fame. There's a lot of complication and the more successful he got, the more hatred and jealousy he also gained. That's why he had to conceal all of his thought and become the person who he is today. I guess that is, until he met you." XXX
"...me? I thought Aoi seemed really close to you and Chiyoko-chan..." Akihiro's expression surely showed surprise. Aoi wasn't too charismatic, but he wasn't distant either, and had put quite a lot of effort into getting to know his classmates and clubmates. Surely I can't be the first person he's ever opened up to. After all, he has two really great sisters who seem like they care about him a lot, doesn't he open up to them too? "I can see that Aoi had brightened up a lot recently and there's always a hint of deep trust and amity in his eyes whenever he talked about you. I have to admit, I thought that it was amazing for anyone being able to break his ice like that. So, I will place my trust on you to look after and care for him too, because I will not always be around to keep an eye for my siblings. He might be cold at first, but there's no one that can be faithful as him." XX
"So try your best to hold onto him and don't ever break his heart." Nodding furiously, Hiro flashed Kaori what he hoped she would interpret as a reassuring smile. He hadn't missed the edge in her tone. He was an idiot, but he was observant, and he figured it was probably the same edge his brother had used when Aoi had visited a few days prior. "Never in a million years would I ever do anything to hurt him. I know what its like to have your heart broken, and there's no way I'd want to put Aoi through that." Hiro planted his feet flat on the floor and messed around with the keychain on his bag. XX
"I'm supposed that you've already known that the engagement between Aoi and Reiko is nothing more than an act, until then, I hope you will continue to stay quiet about it. I will ensure that none of the reporters and news press will bother you, but you and Aoi shouldn't be too exposed. If you have any other request or question, feel free to ask." "Will you come to our Orchestra tournament?" Even through Kaori's calm exterior, Hiro could tell she was surprised, if only slightly. "We have a big tournament coming up next month, and the preliminaries are in Tokyo. Aoi and I will be playing a duet together, and I think it would make him really really happy if you and Chiyoko-chan came to watch the performance, so..." XXX
In that case, I think I might have the actual abduction take place in front of Hiro's house. It would make a lot more sense logically, and this guy isn't an idiot, so he'd probably be lying in wait for a good opportunity. I was thinking it might be right after Aoi drops Hiro at home (after the visit to the Shimizu house) and Aoi is driving away? It'd probably be the only time the criminal could get Hiro while he's by himself, since the kid is pretty much never alone.