Chapter Text
Akito’s bizarre behaviour weighed heavily on Tsukasa’s mind.
Even after making sure Ena was fed and properly medicated, he felt ill at ease, like he had missed something crucial in that one-sided conversation.
Once Ena was asleep and wrapped up in all of the blankets he could find, Tsukasa kept her door open just a crack in case she needed anything, and started to head towards the stairs.
He stopped himself abruptly, turning around to look at the door to Akito’s room.
Shifting uncomfortably in place, Tsukasa tried to think about what he was supposed to do here. How could he begin to apologise to Akito when he no longer was certain of what he did wrong?
Beyond the fact that Akito was dating Toya, or that he was the brother of his new best friend, Tsukasa cared deeply about his own friendship with him.
Despite his icy exterior to Tsukasa, he was well aware that his under-classman cared about him in his own way. Tsukasa hardly took it personally with each jab or tease, eye rolls and scoffs. Tsukasa truly enjoyed being friends with Akito (Even if Akito adamantly denied that they were) and didn’t want him to be genuinely upset.
With a strengthened resolve, Tsukasa marched over towards the locked door and knocked on it thrice, waiting impatiently for a response.
The door opened to reveal a disgruntled Akito who just scoffed at the sight of Tsukasa.
“What do you want.”
“Tell me what’s wrong?” Tsukasa asked meekly, immediately dropping his confidence. Akito never responded well to Tsukasa’s typical bravado, but perhaps he’d be more open if Tsukasa came across as more sincere.
It seemed to have worked with the way Akito faltered, sharp features softening into something more akin to shame.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He muttered, leaning against his doorway as he avoided Tsukasa’s searching stare.
“We both know that’s not true,” Tsukasa said softly, a small smile on his face. He felt as though he were talking to Toya for the first time, when he was skittish and unsure of himself and needed extra coaxing to open up. “Please, Akito?”
With a growl of frustration Akito crossed his arms. Tsukasa watched as Akito clearly had a battle with himself deciding what to do before eventually settling on talking about it. “I overheard you and Ena talking earlier.”
Tsukasa frowned as he searched through the archives in his mind to try and recall which part of his conversation with Ena could have bothered Akito.
“...About your family not really taking care of each other?”
“She lied.”
Tsukasa blinked, not having expected that. “What did she lie about?”
“Look… She’s right about our parents, they aren’t the loving-type, they’ve always been like that. But… Ena…”
Akito looked so downtrodden that Tsukasa wanted to pull him into a hug. If it were anybody else he’d surely do it.
“Whenever I’m sick, Ena’s the one to slam open my door and shove medicine in my face. She tells me it’s because my coughing keeps her up, but she doesn’t even sleep at night!” Akito huffed. “She brings me pancakes and tells me it’s just because they gave her too many. She forgets to take the receipt out of the bag so I wouldn’t see that she ordered my favourites intentionally, even if she hates the flavours.”
Tsukasa felt like he was beginning to understand.
“It’s not your fault that you didn’t know she was this sick,” Tsukasa placated. “I wouldn’t have known myself if it weren’t for Mizuki.”
Akito shook his head, frustration written on his face. “No. That’s not it. It’s…” He faltered again, growing more irritated at himself for not being able to articulate his feelings properly. “I know I’ve never been sibling of the year but I thought I wasn’t doing too bad… But then you showed up.”
With a flinch, Tsukasa felt his heart sink. “What do you mean?”
“I was trying to be there for her when Mizuki started dating Rui,” Akito hissed. “I thought… Well it doesn’t matter what I thought because as soon as she ran into you she forgot all about me.”
Tsukasa’s eyes widened. He’d never seen Akito be open about wanting a better relationship with Ena. He wanted to say something but Akito wouldn’t give him the chance to speak.
“Then you became best friends and she stopped telling me anything, and whatever, I don’t care-” Tsukasa felt like Akito did care, a lot. “But even now! She doesn’t tell me when she’s sick, or upset, or anything! But she tells you, because you’re her new brother.”
Akito’s venomous glare was directed towards Tsukasa now. “You already have your perfect little family, do you have to take mine too?!”
He froze up after speaking, as if surprised by his own words. He rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve harshly, diverting his gaze to the floor.
“Akito,” Tsukasa said in nearly a whisper. “I promise you that’s not my intention at all-”
Akito rolled his eyes dismissively. His arms were crossed so tightly that it almost seemed as though his nails would pierce through his sweater.
“It was bad enough when it was just Toya going on and on about how perfect of a brother you were. But this…?” His voice cracked slightly with emotion. “It’s like I can’t escape being compared to the perfect Tsukasa Tenma.”
“I’m not trying to replace you,” Tsukasa insisted. “I thought… I thought you just didn’t want to take care of Ena while she was sick, so I figured I could help out, as her friend.”
Akito’s face crumpled. “...Do I really seem that heartless?”
“No!” Tsukasa shrieked. “Of course not! That’s not what I’m trying to say at all!”
Not seeming convinced, Akito looked like he was about to close the door before Tsukasa stopped it, holding it wide open.
“Akito, believe me when I say that Ena knows you care about her!” Tsukasa was practically pleading with him at this point. “I think you’ve misunderstood her actions. She takes care of you because she’s your older sister, she feels as though she’s responsible for you in some way.”
Tsukasa knew about that all too well.
“She doesn’t tell you these things because she doesn’t want you to take on her responsibilities, Ena feels like she’d be failing as an older sister if you did. If you were the one helping her, or you were the one taking care of her.”
“...Did she tell you that?”
Tsukasa flashed a sad smile. “She didn’t need to. Us older siblings… It’s an instinct to take care of our younger ones. Admittedly it feels like a failure whenever it’s the other way around. That combined with Ena’s stubbornness to let others help her in general… Well you can see why she acts like this.”
Stepping forward, Tsukasa placed a forward hand on Akito’s shoulder, mentally sighing in relief when he didn’t immediately shrug him off.
“I wanted Ena to experience what it was like to be taken care of, I wanted to be the older brother she never had. But you’re her younger brother, it’s different. You have to be the one to push and remind her that you’re not a helpless little kid, and that you can be there for her too.”
Akito was silent, though there was a contemplative look in his eye.
“You really are speaking from experience, huh?”
Tsukasa sighed, scratching the back of his neck. “I adore my siblings and I’d do anything for them, but admittedly it is a stab at my pride whenever they do the same for me. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember that at this point in our lives, my being older than them hardly makes a difference. We’re all practically the same age, they don’t need me to be responsible for them.”
“...And you think that’s how Ena feels too?”
Tsukasa nodded adamantly. “Despite your bickering and teasing, it’s obvious you both don’t hate each other. I’d go so far as to say you love each other. Ena is just as prideful as me, and it seems like she rejects help from all her loved ones. You’re a good brother, Akito, and Ena knows that.”
Watching the tension and stress leave Akito ever so slightly was a relief to Tsukasa. It seemed his words truly did make a difference, if even just a little bit.
Tsukasa was certain there was more to it than this - the Shinonomes seemed to have a complicated family dynamic in general - but he decided not to pry. It was better to focus on one thing at a time, even if Tsukasa was itching to figure out how to mend Ena and Akito’s relationship.
He also knew it wasn’t his place to step in and try to sort things out, no matter how much he wanted to.
Something told him that this needed to be initiated by one of them - that the Shinonomes would be just fine and work things out on their own.
They just needed to communicate, something Tsukasa was learning more and more to be frustratingly crucial in any kind of relationship.
“Yeah… Whatever,” Akito murmured in a weak attempt to save face. His gaze was directed to Ena’s partially open door, and Tsukasa knew what he needed to do.
“I think I’ll leave Ena in your very capable hands,” He said proudly, making Akito flinch.
“What? You’re just… Going to leave?”
Tsukasa grinned at his underclassmen. “My work here is done. I think this is your chance to show Ena that you’re both on equal footing now, that she can rely on you a little bit.”
Akito looked hesitant - or rather, downright anxious. Tsukasa couldn’t blame him. Akito probably never had to play nurse for someone else before.
“If you need any help you can always call me,” Tsukasa reassured. “I’m your older brother too, you know.”
Akito cringed and turned his reddening face away. “L-Like I’d want that. Ugh.”
Tsukasa just laughed loudly. “Oh it’s far too late for that Akito, prepare to be invited to every Tenma family event from now on!”
Akito’s expression was unreadable, but Tsukasa would like to think there was a bit of excitement to it. He just shrugged before waving Tsukasa off, refusing to make eye contact.
“W-Whatever. Just get out of here.”
With a grin and flourish, Tsukasa made his way downstairs and outside the front door, trusting that Akito would lock it on his own time.
Glancing up at Ena’s window, Tsukasa felt hopeful that they’d figure it out. And if they happened to need a little more help, he’d gladly return and offer his services.
With a hop in his step, Tsukasa began his trek home with a renewed sense of energy. Taking care of Ena and helping Akito out made him feel more alive than ever!
Until he started sneezing.