Chapter 2: What a Surprise

We’ve entered the month of July, so its summer and it’s been a month since we arrived in Japan and have settled with our new home.

Surprisingly our house is much simpler and smaller than what I have imagined…

Well that’s what it shows on the outside but the interior of it tells another story.

Here, let me explain…

Our house is a two-story building with a front and back yard and underneath it is an underground floor.

Yup, you heard it right….

An UNDERGROUND FLOOR

I actually asked dad about it (in my own ways of communication) and all that he said is that ‘it’s a man’s romance’

I more or less understand what he meant

Going back

The living room, dining room, kitchen, and servant’s quarters are all on the first floor.

The master’s bedroom aka mom and dad’s room, and our room are located at the second floor. Plus there’s also a game room at the end of the corridor of the second floor. Dad said that it’s for us kids but he also said that he might take visits from time to time especially when he’s stressed out.

The music room, mini library, theatre room, gym and office are all in the underground floor. Dad also said that when we’re old enough (especially me), he will make an expansion but I’m not sure what room and which floor it will be located.

As you have guessed since we have servant’s quarters, it’s obvious that we have brought servants but the one’s with us is a family. The Subaru family to be exact.

Dad won’t be home much so he worries about our safety even if the neighborhood is deemed safe. So instead of bringing lots of servants, he just asked the Subarus if they would like to come with us and since they are our personal servants, they are basically the first and final choice but still dad said that even if it seems like they have no choice, it would still be polite to ask.

So let me introduce the Subaru Family…

First is the head butler of the Yukimura and also dad’s bodyguard, Subaru Rintarou (39 yrs old) but I call him Rin-ji. He have black hair and greenish grey eyes, apparently he is also half Japanese and half British.

Second is the head maid of the Yukimura also mom’s bodyguard and bestfriends since childhood, Subaru Eclaire (37 yrs old). Since she got mad when I called her Laire-ba, now I refer to her as Laire-nee well women are quite sensitive so don’t ask. So Laire-nee have brown hair and grey eyes, she’s a French woman just so you know.

Third is the eldest son, he is Sou-nii’s bodyguard, childhood and best friend, Subaru Ryota (13 yrs old). He is my other elder brother, Ryo-nii. He looks exactly like Rin-ji except that he has Laire-nee’s brown hair and eyes.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Last is the youngest also my childhood and best friend, Subaru Chika (5yrs old). We do everything together in fact we have the same birthday so we’re like twins with different mothers. Well he’s an exact copy of Laire-nee but have Rin-ji’s black hair and green eyes.

Rather than servants, the Subaru family is our best friends and comrade in any aspects. Like a group of friends in one house. They do use polite speech when they are referring to us but their tone is more like a friend and an equal.

That’s about it for our household…

Well I did say that its already summer and other than summer, our birthday is also right around the corner… July 19 to be exact.

This also means that there’s only 2 weeks left before our birthday.

Honestly dad wants to have grand celebration but since I’m shy and all, I somehow able to convince him to just have a simple party with the Subarus.

Anyway, right now I’m in our mini underground library looking for a gift or at least an idea of the gift that I can give Chika.

[I wonder what will be a good gift to give Chika]

I was browsing the shelves when my eyes caught on a recipe book for chocolate cakes. I took it out and continue on my search. As I was searching I ended up in the cd/music department, I saw a cd of Forever In Your Mind.

[I think mom got hooked up in their music a while back]

I took the cd and the CD player on the shelf then I went and sat on the vacant table.

I was browsing the book while I began to listen to the cd when I remember the days when I was at the hospital. Back then Saya-nee would give me books to read and most of it is books about cakes and sweets. She would describe to me the taste and how delicious it is, there is also the time when she snuck a cake for me to taste and Taku-sensei caught us.

[I miss those times, I wonder what Saya-nee and Taku-sensei doing right now?]

I got sidetrack for a bit before I went back and browse the recipe book as I listen to the music. When the chorus of one of the songs played through my ears, it made me stop browsing and listen to it intently.

Whenever you need me

I'm right there with you

Whenever there's something

You wanna redo

The clock is ticking but not for me

I'm living in a different reality

Whenever, whatever, wherever

I'm right here with you

It’s like the song is telling me that this is it so I decided to play this song for Chika. Then I remember the songs that Taku-sensei let me listen to like Hakuna Matata and other Disney songs. Back then I was just curious with the music notes of the songs and then Taku-sensei out of the blue gave me a guitar. He then taught me how to play but I never really got to perform at all, my body is just too frail for a performance.

[But now that I think about it, I remember Saya-nee found out about it and beg me to play a piece for her. I can’t remember what happened afterwards…

Anyway for the piece maybe I could ask Sou-nii and Ryo-nii for help…]

I decided to leave the library and search for Sou-nii and Ryo-nii but when I was about to close the recipe book, I saw a picture of a Chocolate Orange Cake.

[Chocolate Orange Cake… maybe…]

After pondering, I took the book and cd with me and left the library to search for Sou-nii and Ryo-nii. It wasn’t hard to look for the two since they’ll only be in the game room, apparently both of them love games. Typical boys.

I barged in the game room and rush towards Sou-nii. He became a bit flustered but eventually calmed down when he saw there’s nothing wrong.

“You startled me Sei. What’s wrong? Do you need something?”

“Music. Help.”

I showed them the CD and both of them look at each other.

“Sei-sama, do you want to play this song?”

“Un! Band!”

“So you want to make a band and play this song? Is that it Sei?”

“Un! Gift Chika”

“Ah, I see… so it’s a birthday gift for Chika…”

“We don’t mind helping but who will be the vocals and guitar? As you know, Sou-sama isn’t much of a singer and neither am I but I can play the drums and Sou-sama with the base…”

“Me. Guitar. Sing.”

“Eh? Sei’s going to play the guitar? I have no doubts in you singing but can you do it? Playing the guitar I mean”

“Un! Can Do”

“Well since Sei-sama have said it then let’s believe in him but first we should buy a guitar that would fit you”

“I’ll handle that”

“Ari-tou So-nii, Yo-nii”

And thus our practice began but before that, I went to Laire-nee and asked if she could help me bake a Chocolate Orange Cake. She was a bit skeptical at first but seeing my serious eyes, she eventually gave in.

With the band practice and baking session, I somehow forgot to play with Chika so I ended up making him mad and now he’s sulking at the moment.

[I’m sorry Chika, please bear with it a bit more… I’ll make sure it’s all worth the wait]

After 2 weeks, our birthday finally arrived.