Sugar and Pepper (01)
Edited: 2012.07.21
Title: Sugar and Pepper
Feature/Pairings: Arashi, Ooshima Miyuki, Juntoshi
Rating: pg - r
Summary: Matsumoto Jun and Ohno Satoshi are halfbrothers.
PROLOGUE
* ONE *
01.
Matsumoto has an older brother in high school, the rumors said.
Jun always shrugged at the declarations of his classmates. "Why don't you go and see for yourself?" he'd dare.
So the juniors would sneak into the older kids' part of the building and search for any thick-browed boy. When they failed, they searched the yearbook for a boy (or possibly girl) with the same surname.
"But he has an older sibling," they continued to say even after failing to find a resembling student. "Because his mother makes an extra lunch box for him."
Jun continued to drop Satoshi's boxed lunch off at random times.
02.
"You should get more sleep at home," Jun said as his gaze fell on the boy in the bushes.
Satoshi's eyes snapped open and he blinked at the bright sky and student towering above him. He continued to lay motionless on the grass, slowly coming out of his drowsiness.
They were on lunch break. Satoshi hid in a deserted corner of the courtyard; an abandoned corner which had made Jun's search for him a bit difficult.
For the time being, Jun was grateful he had found his troublesome brother before the end of the break. He sat down before said person in concealed relief. "And mom says you should visit more often," he added as he set the wrapped lunch box near his feet.
When Satoshi sat up but still refused to speak, Jun gave up talking to him and reached over to pull a leaf from his older brother's blonde hair. Satoshi paid him no attention and opened his lunch.
They sat in silence, the only sounds an occasional grunt from Satoshi or the trees rustling in the breeze. Until Jun figured it was time to leave. As he stood to depart, Satoshi said through a mouthful, "My father is being transferred overseas."
Jun halted and thought for a second. Once he understood the implication, he nodded. "I'll tell mom for you."
03.
Mrs. Matsumoto called that night to talk to Mr. Ohno.
"It was a month ago. He was supposed to have already told you," his father bellowed into the receiver.
That was the last line Satoshi heard before he left for his room. He stared at his clay models and paint set, and he wondered if there existed a place in this world where he belonged.
04.
In two days, everything was settled. In one week, Satoshi would move in with his mother's family.
"I never knew you had so many things," his father said when he walked passed his son's room and saw the boxes.
"Artwork and supplies," Satoshi answered.
"You do art?" Mr. Ohno expressed surprise. But before Satoshi could reply, his father had already gone to check the other empty rooms.
05.
His many boxes were packed into the storage room.
"I'm sorry that you'll have to share a room with Jun," Mrs. Matsumoto told her elder son as she helped him unpack his clothing and school materials. "But our storage room is packed and we've no place to put the stuff. Jun volunteered to keep some of the things in his room, but well, it's much better to have everything in one place after all." She smiled and looked at him from folding his shirts. Satoshi refused to meet her gaze.
"Though," his mother tentatively added, "if it doesn't work out in the end, we'll figure something out."
"It's fine," he muttered under his breath, barely audible. There was no point in her making a fuss over him.
A noise at the doorway grabbed both their attention.
Jun calmly stood outside the entrance to his room and returned their stares.
"Oh, Jun-kun!" their mother exclaimed. "I thought you had gone out with your friends."
"We had nothing to do so I came back," he replied. His gaze immediately shifted to his older brother.
Satoshi blinked at him once before he turned to finish unwrapping his things.
06.
That night in the darkness of their room, Jun asked Satoshi as they lay in their respective sleeping places, "Did you want to take the bed? I could've slept on the futon."
"No," Satoshi answered.
They lie in silence for another heartbeat before Jun continued, "Are we walking together to school tomorrow?"
A few seconds after his question, Satoshi replied, "I'll wake up later than you."
So that they did not have to meet each other in the morning. So that Jun did not have to deal with his friends asking who Satoshi was. The truth crossed their minds in the quiet dimness.
Jun thought it was better to shut up and sleep. In the moment that ensued, the only sounds were of their breathing and the muffled nightlife outside their window.
Then Satoshi broke that silence. "Thank you," he murmured.
Jun thought he had heard wrong. He tensed when his brother stood from the floor and walked to the door. It slid open and Satoshi walked out.
* *
TWO