(Sutamai) Short Story, B's Log May 2018

[nhp]

Title: Secretly conveying these desires 

 

Characters: Tsuduki Makoto & Tsuduki Kyosuke.

 

Summary: The second installment in the planned series of specials! The older brother who is a prodigy novelist, and the younger brother who is a famous actor; just what present have these two prepared for you especially on White Day?

 

“Since it’s you, Brother, there must also be some meaning in the colour of the roses and in the number of them.” - Tsuduki Kyosuke.

 

“And you as well, Kyosuke. You’re someone who uses a lot more caution than others when it comes to the meaning behind the present.” - Tsuduki Makoto.

 

 

 

This story takes place in a certain luxury hotel in a members-only lounge; a place where there would certainly be no one capable of conspicuously turning their gazes towards the “Tsuduki Brothers”. With the both of them holding a bouquet, they however manage to leave an overwhelming presence……

 

Kyosuke: Good job today, Brother. You made sure to come on time.

 

Makoto: I can’t have you and “her” waiting on me now, can I? Indeed, I……

 

Kyosuke: (Oh, he’s trying his hardest to stifle a yawn……)

 

Makoto: …… Though it is true that I have been struggling with my deadlines for days on end. Even you, Kyosuke, had a photoshoot till late yesterday.

 

Kyosuke: Thanks for worrying about me. But something of that level is nothing.

 

Makoto: (It’s only slightly, but his face is paler than usual. Has he slept at all……?)

 

Kyosuke: Also, when I think about “her” coming here, all of my exhaustion vanishes.

 

Makoto: Haha…… You’re right. I didn’t think that by enticing her with a return gift for White Day, she would actually come. 

 

Kyosuke: You, who’s a shut-in, did say that you would leave the house after all. Even I was surprised. 

 

Makoto: Simply inviting her over like always as thanks for her handmade chocolates lacks any romance. 

 

Kyosuke: Well, that is true. It’s my day off today as well, so let’s pour in everything that we have and treat her.

 

Makoto: Of course. In order to calm my nerves and receive her warmly, I even switched off my phone before coming here.

 

Kyosuke: …… Isn’t that just going to make your editor frantic again?

 

Makoto: Alright, I’ll take a seat here first then. I’m glad that I arranged a late time to meet up with “her”.

 

Kyosuke: I guess it’s just the usual pattern…… 

But even so, I didn’t think that our White Day return gifts would overlap like this.

 

Makoto: A bouquet…… of flowers. And they’re both of roses. How rare to coincidentally be the same thing.

 

Kyosuke: The colours vary between them though. Yours are white while mine are pink. 

 

Makoto: That aspect of it is very like us.

 

Kyosuke: Yep. Like in the past, when it came to receiving different colored souvenirs, or when picking out what we wanted at the same time, we’ve never had any clashes. 

 

Makoto: (...... Although during those times, I had picked out the ones that Kyosuke looked like he didn’t want.)

Perhaps it was due to the differences in our innate preferences that we’ve been able to get along well all this time.

For example, even those times where you’ve bought several kinds of cake, we would always want to eat a different one from the other.

 

Kyosuke: (Haha, sweets are another matter altogether. Because I know straight away which one it looks like you’ll be wanting to eat, brother……)

Yeah, I get the feeling that we’ve both managed to pleasantly live our separate lives.

 

Makoto: Yes, exactly. I’ve often been told from a young age that it’s unbelievable that you’re my little brother, Kyosuke. 

 

Kyosuke: I’ve had my fair share of being told the same thing. Even now, that topic still comes up during my interviews. 

 

Makoto: Now that you mention it, there have been times in my interviews with the tabloids where I’ve only ended up talking about you.

 

Kyosuke: But you know, even if I’m being constantly asked about my brother—

 

Makoto: I agree. I don’t dislike it at all. Quite the opposite really. It’s a million times more comfortable than when I talk about my deadlines.

 

Kyosuke: As your brother, I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to be thrilled by that or not. It’s kind of a fine line there……

But come to think of it, the only one to tell me that us brothers are alike is “her”.

 

Makoto: So she’s told you that as well then?

 

Kyosuke: You too!? For me, she’s said that our profiles are similar, or like the shape of our nails are identical, or that our posture when walking is the same.

She sure is looking at us properly to notice such details like that. 

 

Makoto: (Whenever the conversation switches to “her”, Kyosuke makes an expression like he’s really having fun……)

 

Kyosuke: What’s the matter, Brother? You’re showing a super fine smile there. 

 

Makoto: …… It’s nothing. As for me, she said that the way I respond during conversations is similar to you, Kyosuke. 

When I think about it, she was able to rather quite accurately pinpoint an aspect that no one else has been able to pick up on previously. 

She may not be someone who possesses what you would call an especially high IQ, but she has outstanding observational skills. 

 

Kyosuke: (...... What a happy expression. Even Brother has taken an interest in “her”. Though I already knew that.)

Since it’s you, Brother, there must also be some meaning in the colour of the roses and in the number of them.

 

Makoto: And you as well, Kyosuke. You’re someone who uses a lot more caution than others when it comes to the meaning behind the present. 

 

Kyosuke: Ahaha, when it comes to gifts for other people in the entertainment industry, then that’s unavoidable. 

But for a return gift on White Day…… I chose a present that I would like to give. One that is sincere and without any pretense. 

 

Makoto: I see. It would be nice if she realized the feelings you put into it, Kyosuke—

 

Kyosuke: Jeez Brother, even I’ve properly grown up into an adult.

It’s fine if she doesn’t realize, I’ll go ahead and pour my feelings into it anyway. For that reason, I went with five pink roses.

 

Makoto: “My lovely dearest, I am glad to have met you from the bottom of my heart”...... So that, huh? It’s almost like a line right out of a story.

 

Kyosuke: I’ve never said a line that romantic even in my dramas~

And the meaning that you put into your eight white roses are…… “I’m thankful for your warm support” and “a deep respect”, is about right.

 

Makoto: You’ve memorized it well.

 

Kyosuke: When I decided that I would be giving roses, I looked into it quite a bit.

(I’m pretty sure that white roses also carry the meaning of “I am becoming of you”, but......)

 

Makoto: Look, Kyosuke. “She” is here. She’s shrinking into herself while surveying the surroundings.

 

Kyosuke: I wonder if she’s being overwhelmed by the atmosphere here. We should hurry up and call out to her. 

(...... For now, I won’t say anything.)

 

The two rallied themselves with their bouquet, and presented the full-bloomed roses to their one and only “girl”. As to when they themselves would become aware of the desires placed in those bouquets…… is still a story for a little ways away into the future.