Chapter Text
"Are you really leaving, Tomo?" A disappointed grunt left the university student's lips as he walked side by side with his best friend.
"You know I have don't have a choice, Sho. My parents want me to go over as soon as possible." Tomoaki sighed and gave two strong pats on Sho's shoulder.
"Can't you wait after graduation?" Sho tried again. He really didn't want Tomoaki to leave. Tomoaki was his only real friend in this bastard of a society. Finding real friends is like seeking for a treasure.
"I know you'll be sad when I leave. I won't encourage you to become friends with those that are pining for your money. What I'm trying to say is, the world is huge out there, there will be people that can become your true friends too! Besides, it's not like you're losing me forever! We can still keep in touch!" Tomoaki tried to assure his friend. He felt bad for leaving his friend behind, but responsibilities weigh you down most of the time.
"You're right. What time are you leaving?" Sho sighed dramatically and put on a brave front. He wouldn't want his friend to worry about him on the plane.
"Tonight. 12am on the dot." Tomoaki smiled softly at Sho's attempt to cheer up.
"I'll send you." Sho said.
"You don't have to, Sho. I know you still have a lot of assignments to finish. Get it done. Don't let me worry, okay?" Tomoaki grinned and punched Sho's bulky arm.
"Fine. You feel like my mom sometimes." Sho laughed and punched back.
After walking Tomoaki home to pack his stuff, a limousine stopped in front of Tomoaki's apartment.
"Young Master, Yonashiro-sama requested you to call him." The black-clad driver told Sho, who was just entering the limousine gracefully.
"Noted." Sho sighed and whipped out his phone and dialed his father's number.
"Sho-chan!" The other line came a very familiar and cheerful voice.
"Okaa-sama?" Sho was surprised to hear her voice since it was his father's number he dialed.
"Yes! How are you, Sho-chan? Are you living well in Tokyo? We're so sorry we can't be at your side." Genuine concern and guilt was evident on the other line.
"I'm fine Okaa-sama." Sho replied respectfully.
"How are you doing living alone? Do you need us to hire butlers and maid for you?" His mother continued her tirade.
"It's really fine, Okaa-sama. A driver alone is good enough. I prefer to clean my whole house, myself." Sho sighed at his mother's constant question tirade. This was the fifth time this happened.
"Good. I wouldn't want my only child to have a tough life. We'll give you anything, Sho-chan." Sho listened and almost replied with, 'Can you give me your time?'. He did the previous times, and it didn't end with a good conversation, so Sho let it be for now.
"Anything else, Okaa-sama? I think I'm reaching soon." Sho asked, wanting to end the call.
"Yes, one more thing! My friend in Okayama pleaded me to take care of this child. But you know our circumstances. So I send my friend your address, and the child should be reaching today. Please give him a room to stay in. I'll send you his expenses. Please take care of him for now." Sho's jaw dropped an inch every second as his mother told him that a kid was joining him in his house.
"Okaa-sama! Why didn't you seek my permission first?" Sho sighed dramatically and facepalmed himself.
"I know you'll agree, that's why! Ah. Your father wants the phone back. Take care of yourself, Sho-chan! We'll visit you soon! Love you!" And the line went dead, leaving Sho speechless.
"We're reaching, young master." Sho snapped out of his thoughts and raised his head to the windows. Indeed they were turning into the gates of the majestic mansion that his parents had bought for him in Tokyo. The bare grounds in front of the estate entered his vision. His mom told him to do anything he wants to the space in front of the house. He didn't have any plans yet since he was only living alone.
As the driver was heading towards the porch where Sho would be alighting, he could see a tiny figure from afar, crouched into a ball, sitting on the steps of the porch. A worn-out maroon luggage sat beside him. As soon as the boy heard the engines on the limousine, he stood up immediately and patted himself off as clean as possible. Sho spotted him wearing a sea blue oversized sweater and cotton pants that went past his ankles.
Sho got down from the limousine and slowly walked up to him. As he got closer, Sho could see how short he really was. Hadn't hit puberty he would assume as the boy only reached his chest.
"Your name?" Sho asked with a small smile. He didn't want to scare the poor boy.
"Mamehara Issei. I'm 13 years old this year. Please take good care of me!" The boy didn't show any signs of fear and introduced himself brightly.
"You're not scared of me?" Sho was surprised that such a young boy isn't afraid of being thrown in a new environment.
"Nope! Shizuki-san said that there would be a kind big brother that's going to be taking care of me when I reach Tokyo!" Mamehara replied with a grin that reminded Sho of a puppy.
"Well, I'm the kind big brother, then. Come in." Sho ruffled Mamehara's hair and led him into the house.
"I'm Yonashiro Sho. You can call me anything you want." Sho said as they walked into the mansion.
"Can I call you Yona-nii?" Mamehara asked as his eyes wandered around the delicate designs of the mansion.
"As you wish, Mame-chan." Sho smiled at how Mamehara was amazed by the sheer size of the mansion.
"This is the first floor. The first floor comprises of the living room, fireplace, dining room, kitchen, two restrooms, and a lounge at the back." Sho brought Mame to the living room and pointed in all directions, all the while Mame's head was turning in all directions as well, making him dizzy and excited.
"Your first floor is as twice as big as my orphanage, Yona-nii!" Mamehara excitedly pointed out, dragging his luggage carefully across the carpets. But when he looked back, there were dirt and mud stains dragged across the carpets in two neat lines.
"I'm so sorry, Yona-nii!! I'll get it cleaned up later!" Mame frowned and immediately lifted his luggage so that it doesn't stain the carpets anymore.
"Sure, we can do it together. Here, I'll help you." Sho was surprisingly not mad at the boy. Instead, he reached out and took the boy's luggage from his hands. It was light for him, but it took Mame some effort.
"Eh? Is it okay?" Mame thought that Sho would get mad at him and throw him out of the house. Shizuki had told him that Sho liked his house to be clean and tidy. Instead, this kind big brother just offered to clean the carpets with him.
"Of course. Come on. I'll lead you to your room. All the rooms are on the second floor." Sho gave Mame a kind smile and carried his luggage up to the second floor after climbing a luxurious flight of stairs.
A simple lounge entered their view when they stepped away from the last step of the stairs. Two hallways split at the end of the floor.
"My room is at the end of this hallway. There is a washroom in each room. You can pick any room you want." Sho pointed straight and waited for Mame to choose his room. He had expected the boy to check the rooms one by one before deciding. But Mame already had a choice in mind.
"I want the room closest to yours, Yona-nii." Mame pointed at the room that was located diagonally left of Sho's.
"Are you sure?" Sho raised his eyebrows and asked in amusement. This boy is too cute. He looks just like the Shiba Inu keychain that is hanging on his backpack.
"Yes!" Mame gave Sho his brightest smile, and Sho thinks that having another person in the house isn't going to be so bad after all.