Chapter Text
“I could create a contraption to just kill Emu-Kun’s—”
“No.” Tsukasa and Nene shut down Rui’s idea at the same time.
“First of all, Emu would hate us.” Tsukasa explained.
“And second of all, that’s illegal.” Nene reasoned, sighing and putting a hand on her head.
“Well, if we don’t get caught—”
“ No. ”
Tsukasa, Nene, and Rui sat in the Tenma household’s living room as they tried to come up with a plan for how to get Emu to safety as the girl in question slept upstairs in Tsukasa’s room. The conversation so far has gone… nowhere.
“Well, then what do you two have in mind?”
“Well, she could stay with Tsukasa for a while again.” Nene offered.
“I think that’s a good idea, but is it something she would want?” Tsukasa questioned.
“Indeed, and also is it something that will end up working out? Will Tsukasa-Kun make sure to not yell at Emu for a stupid reason?” Rui remarked, side-eyeing Tsukasa with a scowl.
Tsukasa stood up and started walking towards Rui before Nene intervened, stepping between the two boys.
“Rui, quit being an ass. Tsukasa already accepted and apologized for what he’s done and this isn’t about your grudge, it’s about Emu!”
“I’m aware, but this is a valid concern of mine!” Rui yells.
“Well, what else would you suggest Mr. Never says stuff out of anger?!” Tsukasa shouted.
“Can both of you chill out?! You’re both being ridiculous!” Nene tried to make them stop, but failed.
The three continued to argue amongst one another for a few more minutes, so much so that they didn’t notice when Emu walked in, rubbing her eyes. All she could make out among the bickering was her name a few times. She didn’t step in, nor did she try to listen in. Her mind immediately conjured up the possibility that she may have been why they were arguing. Of course it was, why wouldn’t it be? She’s caused them all this trouble after all, so why wouldn’t they be arguing because of her? Emu stood there staring at the scene in front of her for a few moments before she started to tear up.
It took about a minute before Tsukasa saw Emu out of the corner of his eye, he looked over at her and saw her watery eyes and guilty expression. He stopped arguing and immediately started walking to her. Nene also saw Emu and stopped, but Rui didn’t and tried to grab onto Tsukasa.
“Hey, you and I aren’t done here!”
“Yes, we are! This conversation is over!” Tsukasa shoved Rui’s hand away, resulting in Rui looking up and seeing Emu, making his annoyance vanish. Tsukasa walked up to Emu and captured her in a hug.
“I-I’m.. I’m sorry..” Emu muttered, her tears starting to fall. Tsukasa pulled back and looked at her, confused.
“Sorry..? What for, Emu?” Tsukasa took his girlfriend’s hand in his, gently running his thumb over her knuckles.
“You guys are arguing… and it’s all my fault..”
Instantly, Tsukasa, Nene, and Rui felt a wave of guilt wash over them.
“No.. no, Emu.. we aren’t arguing because of you, I promise! We just..” Tsukasa sighs, not finishing his sentence.
“We can’t agree on a way to get you away from your brother.. so we got into a fight,” Nene explained, looking at Emu apologetically.
Emu looks at Nene for a moment, before looking at Tsukasa, still teary-eyed. “But.. but it’s still because of me..”
Tsukasa sighs, looking at her. “If we were angry because of you, we would be yelling at you.” He gently wipes a tear off her face with his thumb. “I’m sorry we made you upset, I swear we aren’t upset because of you..” he brushes a strand of her hair behind her ear, getting an idea. “Hey… Do you want to help us come up with a way to get you away from your brother? We won’t argue this time, I promise.”
Emu looks hesitant. “Are you sure I won’t make you guys upset?”
“You won’t, we swear.” Nene chimes in, nudging Rui with her elbow, who simply nods.
Emu nods slightly and Tsukasa gives her a smile in response. The group of four sit back down, two on each side of the table now. Emu leaned against Tsukasa as they started talking.
“Well, we need to come up with a plan, but we should probably start by asking where Emu wants to go, right?” Nene says. The three look at Emu expectantly. The pink girl is silent for a moment.
“.. I want to stay with Tsukasa-Kun…” she says. Tsukasa looks up at Rui with a look that says ‘I told you so’.
Rui slightly glares at Tsukasa before turning his attention back to Emu, his face softening. “Just remember, Emu-Kun, that you are always welcome to stay with me or Nene if need be,” Rui says, smiling. Emu slightly smiles back, nodding.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The four of them go on to discuss how they should go about getting Emu out of that environment. After about an hour of discussion, they decide that the best course of action would be to bring what has been happening to the attention of Emu’s parents, Keisuke, and Hinata, and keep Emu at Tsukasa’s house for a short while until the entire situation is handled and fixed.
They would have to find a good time to get Emu’s things for a temporary stay and also inform one of the three parties that they need to. It quickly became clear that their best option would be to go during the day while Emu’s brothers weren’t home and Hinata was. Emu and someone else would go to her house and pack her things before telling Hinata what was going on. Afterward, they would leave and keep in touch to see what becomes of everything. That's what they hoped to do anyway. They just hope that it will work.
It was decided that Tsukasa should go with Emu, as Emu was with Tsukasa a lot and it would seem normal enough on the cameras. They agreed to do it the following day, wanting Emu to rest up a bit before finally telling her sister what had been going on.
They all just hoped things would go in their favor.