![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nebulancer
Summary – “Big bro’s in a tough spot. COME HOME TO NARA THIS WEEKEND.”
Such a message comes from You’s big brother, Tooru. Because of it, You and Yoru return to their hometown of Nara together for the first time in a long while. With his surroundings now containing the phrases of “marriage” and “kids,” You ponders his two brothers’ lifestyles, as well as his own.
1. Drama – “Brother in a Tough Spot and Returning Home”
[The cicadas are chirping in the middle of summer.
Flashback.]
You: *panting* I’m back...! Snacks, snacks~ Hehe!
Sou: You’re back, You?
You: Sou-nii-chan! I’m back!
Sou: Welcome home. You, make sure to line up your shoes after you’ve taken them off.
You: Mm... Okay.
Sou: Also, wash your hands.
You: Got it~! I’m gonna do it now!
Sou: Finish today’s portion of homework before you eat your snacks.
You: Uweuuh~?
Sou: Finish your summer homework little by little, or else you’ll end up struggling on the last day of vacation, the way Tooru does.
Also...
You: Ugh, what’s next~? Sou-nii-chan’s so annoying~
Sou: *chuckles* Yoru’s here to hang out.
You: Eh?
Yoru: You! Welcome back!
You: ! Yoru! I’m home!
Tooru: Hey, You, I bet you were playing around at the back of the mountain again?
You: Oh, Tooru’s here too?
Tooru: Call me your “-nii-chan.”
Mom’s always telling you that you’re not supposed to go there alone, since it’s dangerous. She’s gonna get mad at you.
You: Heh, I’ll be okay! No problem!
Sou: You, you’re only okay to go out alone if you get back by curfew. We trust that you’ll come back by then, so we can’t tattle on you.
You: ...Okay~ Got it. Bleh. I can go all the way to the top all by myself.
Yoru: All alone? The forest doesn’t scare you? You’re awesome!
You: Doesn’t scare me at all!
Tooru: There might be tengu or ogres, though~?
You: Not like they scare me even if there are! I’d like to meet one!
Yoru: You’re so cool!
Sou: *chuckles* Our family’s little tengu is a bold guy.
-
[The wind chimes are clinking as the cicadas chirp.]
You: My dream for what I wanna be in the future~? Hrmm...
Tooru: What’s that? Your summer homework?
You: Yeah.
Tooru: Ooh. Huh, it’s the same as when I was in first grade!
You: Really? What’d you write for yours, Tooru?
Tooru: Back then, I put... ...What’d I write again?
Sou: “Bishamonten.” It hit Dad’s funny bone, and he laughed about it for ages.
Tooru: Oh, yeah.
Yoru: Bisha... monten?
Sou: He’s a Buddhist god, Yoru. He fights bad guys, and he’s also known as Tamonten. He’s one of the Seven Gods of Fortune.
Tooru: Ooh~
You: Did you seriously write that down without even knowing?
Tooru: He’s got a bunch of statues of him, so I thought it’d be cool. Anyway, who cares about my answer?
You, what’s your dream?
You: Me...? My dream’s...
-
Tooru: Insert date and time here. In a certain location in Nara, this transmission is brought to you by Haduki Tooru. Enemy raid! Enemy raid!
The enemy’s fierce attack launched towards Haduki Sou will just not cease!
Old man: So, you know? This little lady is a great woman! I definitely would recommend her for you!
She’d become a great wife for you. Got it? You just need to meet her once.
I’ll set everything up right away. Just leave it to me.
Sou: ...Thank you for always watching out for me. I’m grateful for your sentiments at the very least...
Tooru: Haduki Sou, while giving his thanks, attempts to dodge... However!
Old man: Priest Sou, you’re always like that! Don’t do that; you shouldn’t do that. I’m not letting you get away today, for sure.
You’re such a strapping gentleman, but at this rate, it’s all gone to waste!
Or could it be that you have someone in your thoughts already?
Sou: No, I don’t have anyone I’m thinking of in such a way...
Tooru: Gah, that’s the one thing he shouldn’t have done! That’s a bad response right there! Nothing good’s gonna come out of this if you respond with the truth, like an idiot!
Old man: Good! In that case, there’s no issue. It’s decided!
Let’s settle a date for the appointment. When’s good for you? This weekend... is a bit too sudden, I suppose.
But, well, they do say that the early bird gets the worm! Hrm, yes. About this date...?
[A fight bell clangs, signifying Sou has lost.]
Tooru: Ugh, see? Before we even noticed, the enemy’s leveled up to the point where just meeting the girl equals a matchmaking situation...! Aniki’s in majorly dire straits! Incredibly dire straits, you hear!?
Yeesh, fine. Looks like I’ve got no other choice. Uh, send to You...
“Big bro’s in a tough spot. COME HOME TO NARA THIS WEEKEND.”
All right, that’s settled.
-
You: *humming* ~♪~♪
[His phone buzzes.]
You: Ah? A text message from Tooru? “Big bro’s in a tough spot. COME HOME TO NARA THIS WEEKEND.” ...? Ah? The hell’s this?
Oh, yeah, I guess I did tell him that work was called off this weekend, so I’ll have three whole days off.
Still, this is way too cryptic.
[His phone buzzes.]
You: Oh? This time, it’s a phone call?
...Hey, this isn’t from Tooru. Haha, this name... takes me back. The heck, is today “Get contacted by rare people Day”?
Hey, hey~! Wassup? Haduki You-kun, at your service~
What’s the matter, man?
-
Staff member: Could you put that light a little more... this way?
Yes, that angle. All right, the setting for the light is basically good here.
Yoru: Will we be able to begin the photoshoot soon?
Staff member: Ah, Yoru-kun! You were waiting here?
Heh, sorry about this. We’re making you wait.
Yoru: It’s no problem. I like watching the sight of people setting up and preparing. I’ll be careful not to get in your way.
Staff member: You’re not getting in our way in the slightest! But, really? You like watching the preparations? Interesting.
Yoru: Personally, I like taking pictures, so I watch, since I think that what you’re doing will serve as a good example for me.
Ah, if you’re done with the setup, I’ll go call You over to start the photoshoot.
Staff member: I’d feel bad making you do that. I can go.
Yoru: Er, actually, I left my phone in the break room, so calling him over is just an excuse to go grab it.
Staff member: I see. Then, I’ll take you up on your offer.
Yoru: Sure thing!
-
You: The guy finally did it, huh? Hah~! Seriously? That’s awesome. His years of hard work paid off.
Mm. Mmhmm.
Yoru: You? You! Looks like we’re up soon—
*whispering* Ah, sorry. Were you in a call?
You: *whispering* Ah—crap, sorry about that. Gonna hang up now.
Ah, yeah! I’m working right now. Think I’m getting called up soon.
Mm. Mm, yeah. Gotcha. Got it. So send me the specifics through text, ‘kay? See ya!
...Kept you waiting. Are we up?
Yoru: Yeah. They’re done with the prep work.
You: ‘Kay then, let’s get workin’!
Yoru: Sure~
[They begin walking.]
Yoru: Looks to me like the call just now got you in high spirits.
You: Ah, that? It was a friend from back home.
Yoru: Someone from Nara? Do I know them?
You: Nah, I don’t think you know ‘em. One of the peeps from town.
Yoru: Town... One of the friends you had back when we weren’t around each other as often?
You: Nail on the head.
Yoru: A guy?
You: Quite unfortunately so. SHOOT!
I didn’t plan on being such a prim’n proper goody-goody. I should’ve been evading people’s gazes and doing a little more, uh... delectable stuff.
Regretfully, in my opinion~ I’ve been too much of a good boy~! Brings tears to my eyes~! *sobs*
Yoru: *chuckles* Yeah, yeah. You’d be helping me out, your partner, if you kept being a good boy.
Still, I guess this means that you’ve been with that friend for a long time now.
You: Oh, yeah, I guess. He’s like, three years...? Older? He’s workin’ for someone else as a shop manager for an izakaya pub.
He got married last year, and his baby was born just recently.
Yoru: A new father, huh? ...Urk...
You: Ah? What’s up?
Yoru: It’s nothing, uh...
...For us, I just realized that we’re at the age where words like, “marriage” or “having a kid” wouldn’t be unexpected to hear around us now.
It suddenly started weighing heavy on my mind.
You: True... We’re 24 already. Hey, Yoru. Y’know how many years it’s been since we wore our kimonos for our coming-of-age ceremonies?
Can you believe it? It’s been—
Yoru: I can count. You don’t need to say it.
...I guess it was true when people said that, compared to when we were students, time and the day will clearly start feeling like they pass quicker.
You: So true. The adults would say that every chance they got, but they were serious about it.
Yoru: Especially since we graduated university... Things have been going faster and faster. I feel like I’m gonna get thrown off.
You: Don’t get tossed off, man. It’s your own life, right?
Yoru: Yeah, I know! Shall I remind you that I could direct those words back to you?
You: I’m always makin’ the most of my life~✨
As always, I’m gettin’ fired up over dancing, and I’m improving my skills at my hobby of bouldering, too. I’m making my own choreography, recording myself, and giving editing a try.
There’s tons of stuff for me to do, and tons of stuff I want to do! Especially in summer.
Since it’s my season, my power’s at full throttle! I’m gonna dazzle and sparkle my whole way through~! ...Y’know?
Yoru: Hm. ...It pains me to admit this, but it’s convincing when you say that.
You: Ahaha! So, anyway, I heard from the brand new papa that someone else’s getting married. I was asked to record a video message for that second guy’s wedding.
That was the topic of the call I had back there.
Yoru: Haah... ...Another wedding? Our generation’s gradually becoming adults~
You: *chuckles* We’re technically adults, too.
Yoru: So, did you accept?
You: Yeah! The guy getting married is like, if you looked up “virtue” in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of him. He’s a bushy, hairy dude, but still, he’s a great guy.
Since it’s something to celebrate, I thought it’d be a good idea to spruce up the situation.
Yoru: Bushy and hairy...? Isn’t it rude for you to describe him like that?
You: Dude, you’d know what I’m talking about if you met him! He calls himself that, too.
He’s like a well-mannered big bear that’s got a hobby of collecting acorns.
Yoru: I think I’d get along better with the bear, rather than the new papa who helps run the izakaya.
You: *laughing* Yeah, I think so too. I’ll introduce you to him when the time comes.
*snaps fingers* Ah! Since we’re on the topic, I might as well ask. Yoru, are you free the morning after tomorrow, the day off we have?
Yoru: The day off? You’re talking about the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we have off this upcoming weekend?
You: Yeah. Remember when work was called off out of nowhere, and we were like, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had three days off work together~” Right?
Got plans? Are you free?
Yoru: I haven’t planned anything in particular...
I was just considering thoroughly cleaning out my room after a long time of not doing it.
You: Cringe. A guy in his twenties has a three-day weekend, and he spends it deep-cleaning his room?
Yoru: I take issue with how you’re the one asking someone else for his plans, yet that’s your reaction.
Goodness, I’m so sorry that my plans are just so boring.
You: No—er—I—uh—Sorry. My thoughts just slipped out—
Yoru: Just now, my plans have been rearranged, and I’m no longer free for the upcoming year~
You: Dahhh! I was just joking, man!
...Hey? Wanna go back home for a little while?
Yoru: Back home? To Nara?
You: Yeah. I don’t really get what’s up, but apparently, Sou’s in a real tight spot. Got an SOS from Tooru.
Yoru: Huh...
You: This.
Yoru: ...“Big bro’s in a tough spot. COME HOME TO NARA THIS WEEKEND.” ...What’s this?
You: I could ignore it as just a nasty prank from Tooru, but y’know that phone call I made just now?
I wanna meet that big bear in person and give him my well wishes.
The timing’s so perfect, doesn’t it feel Nara’s just calling for me?
Yoru: That’s true...
You: I thought it’d be a good idea to head back, since there’s another reason for me to go. So, how ‘bout it, Yoru? Wanna come with?
Yoru: ...Huh...
2. Drama – “Things that Change, Things that Don’t”
You: Ngh! Phew, we’re finally here~
It really feels like it’s been ages since we’ve come back.
Yoru: We didn’t get to come home for New Year’s, either.
You: So basically, it’s been about a year since? Didn’t the front of the station change a little?
Yoru: Hey, over there. That place was under construction for the longest time, and now it looks like a park.
You: That spot had construction work getting done on it ever since we were in uni. I thought it’d be under construction forever.
Yoru: Hehe. The traditional sweets shop on the corner’s gotten stylish, too.
You: You’re right. Wait, it’s not even a traditional sweets place anymore. Says it’s a shop specializing in freshly-baked bread.
Yoru: Mm...... Very modern.
You: *chuckles* That’s one slapdash reaction, eh? So, uh...
[A car horn honks.]
You: Ah! There he is.
Tooru: Haduki You-sama, Nagatsuki Yoru-sama. Welcome~!
You: Nice welcome, and good work picking us up, Hotel Clerk. Could we get you to carry our luggage~?
Tooru: *chuckles* Who you calling a clerk, bro? Put it in the car yourself!
Yoru: Tooru-san! I’m sorry you had to drive all the way here for us. Thanks for picking us up.
Tooru: Haha! ‘S no problem at all. Getting to drive here was basically you boys giving us justification to leave, anyway. Right, Aniki?
Yoru: Huh?
Sou: It’s been a while, You, Yoru.
You, Yoru: Sou!? / Sou-san!?
-
Tooru: That’s basically the gist of it. I, the capable little brother, have just recounted to you the situation regarding the big brother~
You: I get it now... Even though it’s past Bon now, this season’s still pretty busy, so it’s not much different. I thought something was up when I saw that both of my brothers came to pick us up. I was your excuse to leave the temple, huh?
Tooru: Exactly. Because we fabricated our reason for having to go pick you up, we successfully avoided the matchmaking sesh.
You: Well, saying, “We have to go greet our little brother, who’s working as an idol in Tokyo, since he’s coming back home after a while!” is a stretching it a little. ...Actually, it’s not.
Mm. Definitely not.
Sou: You, wipe that look off your face. No need for hidden meaning.
You: *chuckles* What kinda hidden meaning? I was just thinking, “Who knew that Aniki also has something he’s bad with~?”
And... and it’s... *snickering* ...marriage arrangement talks that the neighborhood busybody geezer keeps bringing over!? WAHAHAHAHA!
Yoru: H-hey, You!
Sou: It’s fine, Yoru. Even I have one or two things that I can’t handle.
You: Huh, that’s the first I’ve heard of that!
Sou: What do you even think I am?
You: The next Haduki family head, my oft-prided worthy oldest brother, who’s the very carbon copy of his father who’s a brilliant backbone of his family, who acted too old for his age in all sorts of ways ever since he was a little kid~
[SMACK.]
You: That hur—Ow! Hey, come on! You put some real effort into that smack just now, didn’t you!? Treat your long-awaited baby brother with some gentleness, why don’t you?
Sou: It’s unwilling education-based guidance to make sure said baby brother isn’t impertinently insulting people in places I can’t see. This is borne of my worries.
Tooru: Nice job, Aniki~ I would’ve given him a good whack myself~
Yoru: Mhm. You’s the one at fault for this.
You: Come on... Dammit~!
Tooru: Oh, yeah, Yoru? Since we’re here already, how ‘bout you drop by our place?
Then we can have your dad’n mom, and your grandpa, come to the Haduki home. We can all have dinner together.
[T/N: The Haduki boys refer to Yoru’s parents as “Ojisan/Obasan,” a way of saying “Uncle/Aunt”. It’s common, especially in Asian cultures, to refer to elder people with whom you have a casual connection, in this way.]
Yoru: Eh—But...
Sou: No need to hold back.
Our mom was also planning on doing that. I saw her setting the dinner table before we left. I think she must be calling your mother right about now.
Tooru: So there you have it. We’re done with Bon, so I bet she wants to spend time around a lively dinner table with relaxed people she can chat up a storm with.
We had to be considerate a lot recently, so I guess it’d serve as a little closing party, too?
Yoru: I see. In that case, would it be fine if I took you up on your offer?
Sou: Of course. I’d have it no other way. Mom would be happy.
Yoru: That’s good to hear! Then that’s settled. I’ll contact my family just to be safe.
Tooru: And I, too, shall contact our dearest mother that we’ve succeeded in granting entry to our home one Nagatsuki-sama~
You: *laughing* Tooru... You really are the hotel clerk.
Tooru: Call me your dearest brother! Here, we’re home~ Your beloved family home.
You: Huh? Got a new garage? Looks more impressive now.
Tooru: Just the looks, mind you. We made sure to make it wider, since Aniki bought a car.
You: Ah, for real?
Sou: After spring, I had to set up a number of things that were necessary for Bon, including purchases and preparations.
It’s more efficient if I did stuff separate from Dad and did my own share of the work, right?
You: Guess that’s true.
Tooru: These days, Dad’s started to learn how to force work onto Aniki.
You: Huh~! Someone like the old man’s starting to let someone else handle the work?
Oh, I got it. He’s steadily building the foundation for his successor...
Mm...
Yoru: ?
Tooru: Aniki’s trusted ‘round here~ Thanks to that, he’s starting to resemble Dad more and more!
When I see him sitting from behind in seiza, there are times I don’t know if it’s Aniki or if it’s Dad!
Sou: Is that so? I can’t tell very much myself.
You: But on the other hand, anyone’d know if it’s Tooru doing that or not. Like, you just can’t sit still at all?
Tooru: Pot calling the kettle black~
Yoru: Fufu. I think you two resemble each other, though.
Sou: You’re quite right about that. Well done picking up on that, Yoru.
Tooru, You: Ugh~?
Yoru: Fufu!
-
[The wind chimes are clinking as the cicadas chirp.]
You: Stuff like... these sounds... the air... and the smell... It’s exactly the same as what I remember.
You: Hahaha! Yoru, over here, over here!
Yoru: You...! Wait up~!
[Their childish laughs and giggles fade out.]
Yoru: You!
You: Ah. Yoru, that you?
Yoru: Yeah. I brought over some barley tea.
*sits down* ...The scenery here... is exactly the same.
You: I thought the same thing.
Yoru: ...Hey, You, um...
Back in the car, when you were talking about Sou-san, did something... nag at you a little?
You: ...Huh? How could you tell?
Yoru: *chuckles* We’ve been together this long.
You: I guess you’re right.
...Y’know, Aniki’s headed straight on the course to inherit this temple. The foothold for that’s being sturdily built up, right?
...That’s why it just crossed my mind, like... “Is this really for the better?”
Yoru: Eh...?
You: Y’know me. The easygoing youngest of three sons. I’m doing whatever I want, whenever I want, since I get to give it a try.
But in return for that, I just wondered that maybe the elder two are tied down to the house... tied down to the temple.
Yoru: ...I see.
You: Because, unlike Tokyo, places like this still consider having the oldest son take over the family business to be a given.
Honestly, I’ve been totally onboard with that line of thinking until now. I pretended I didn’t notice.
But the truth is, it’s not set in stone that Aniki has to take over the temple.
Tooru could... heck, even I could.
In that case, he doesn’t have to inherit it.
Yoru: The reason why you can’t pretend you don’t notice anymore... is it because of the marriage talks they’ve been discussing?
You: Yeah. Like, “He should’ve had more to his life aside from inheriting the temple,” y’know? It just... popped into my head.
Yoru: Mm... I guess so. You’re right.
You: ...My dream of what I want to be in the future.
Yoru: Eh?
You: Remember the summer homework we did for first grade? When I wrote my answer down for the question of what I wanna be in the future?
I asked Aniki what he wrote...
...I don’t remember.
Sou: ...I’d written down that I wanted to inherit the temple.
You: Ah... Aniki.
Yoru: Sou-san!
Sou: *chuckles* When I see you and Yoru sitting side-by-side on the corridor leading outside, I feel like your appearances have changed, yet the atmosphere between you is exactly the same.
It’s dredged up old memories.
You: ...The stuff we were just talking about... you caught it?
Sou: Yes, I heard it.
And my response to that is...
“I’m going my own way. So you go your own way.”
You: ...Aniki...
Sou: I feel apologetic saying this when you’re wracking your head over it, but no one forced me into this.
I chose to do this of my own free will.
Despite being members of a household like this, both Dad and Mom are people with flexible mindsets. Yes, I know I’m referring to my own parents this way.
Ever since early on, they’ve always been telling me that I don’t have to force myself to inherit the temple.
But every time they did, I responded, “I’m going to inherit it. That’s my dream.”
You: Oh, really...
Sou: ...Yeah. ...It’s because I love this house... and this temple.
You: ...Gotcha.
Sou: Yeah. *chuckles* Despite everything I say, though, you still might see me as being tied down to the home.
But I’m naturally the type of person to feel joy and stability from having something I can rely on.
You’re different, aren’t you? You want to always be free, doing whatever you want.
Your life will likely be one rich with change, filled with a plethora of choices.
However, if someone were to tell me to pursue a life like that... it’d feel as if I’d been uprooted. I’d feel heavy anxiety and be incredibly lost.
I wouldn’t be able to handle it well.
You: I... I see.
Sou: Now you see? Each and every person’s different. The way they feel, the way they think.
I can’t live the way you do, and vice versa. You can’t live the way I do.
As for what we can do...
We can live in the individual ways that only we can. We can be aware of those lifestyles as we continue on. I suppose that’s all there is to it.
You: The individual ways... that only we can...
Sou: Yes, exactly. So, with that being said, you can let me and Bishamonten take care of this house.
You: *chuckles* Oh, yeah, that was here too.
Sou: *laughs* Though he might claim otherwise, that likes this place, too.
Mom cut up a watermelon, so she wanted to call you two over to eat. Make sure you wash your hands before you drop by.
You: Yeah, yeah.
Sou: I only need one.
You: Yeaaaaah~
Yoru: Fufu. All right, Sou-san.
[Sou leaves.]
You: *sighs*
Yoru: Feel a little more relieved?
You: I do. Our own individual paths, huh?
There are things that change and things that don’t.
Within it all, I’ll continue living as I always have, so that I don’t waver in my beliefs. So that I don’t regret it. Isn’t that right?
Yoru: Fufu. I guess so. I hope that’s the case.
Your own dream for the future hasn’t changed at all, either.
You: Huh, me? What’d I even write for that?
Yoru: Wait, you don’t remember something you wrote for yourself?
You: I only remembered Tooru’s. It’s his fault that his answer was way too impactful.
I guess I do remember writing down a sloppy response.
Yoru: Personally, I quite liked your answer. I don’t think it was sloppy in the slightest.
You: Eh... Yoru, no way. Dude, you actually remember it?
Yoru: I do. Little You’s dream of what he wanted to be in the future was...
The sun.
“I’ll become the guy that shines the brightest,” you’d said.
You: ...The sun...
...Heh. Got it.
The sun, huh...?
