Chapter 110 - Worries

"Big bro."

Suzuki Aki turned around to find a very colorful and lively Kazehaya Gin waving at him as he bounced – yes, happily bounced towards him. Today, Homura International's CEO was bright as the sun, sporting an orange ensemble, with a green, red, orange tie.

"Presi – Gin," Aki started, but quickly, switched to the other's given name instead of his title, as he had been told, returning the other's greeting much to the surprise of everyone around them. 

It was just yesterday that Suzuki Aki of the Suzuki Raiden Group was seen chummy with Homura Ryuu, the Koutaishidenka of the Homura House, and today, he was just as close to Homura International's CEO, and Homura House's second-in-command Kazehaya Gin – and was even on a first-name basis with him.

Just what was the real relationship between the three prominent men, the others wanted to know but were too scared to ask. Suzuki Raiden Group's people, however, were all smiles and looked proud to see the close relationship of their boss to the biggest bosses of Japan's economy. 

As usual, the clueless Aki had no idea of the ruckus his casual greeting to Kazehaya had started. He was just following Ryuu's and Gin's request to use their given names since they would be family soon, and just like his younger sister, he didn't care about explaining the situation to other people. Even if bigger opportunities would open its doors to Suzuki Raiden Group as soon as people found out that they would be in-laws with Homura International, he wouldn't say a word. He would let Ryuu and Ara do that. 

He and Homura International's CEO had already seen each other that morning, but only waved at each other as their places in the conference were far apart. Now that it was finally their lunch break, Kazehaya came breezing towards him with his usual mega-watt smile.

"Let's eat together!"Homura's CEO invited, and both groups headed towards the luncheon area together, while people eyed them.

"Are you feeling much better?"

"Oh, Ara told you I was sick?" Gin inquired and Aki shook his head.

"Ryuu did," Suzuki Aki answered.

Oh…

Kazehaya sat on the table next to Aki, his face reflected a mischievous expression as he leaned towards the other man as if to whisper a secret. "I think Ryuu is sick too,' he told him confidently.

"What? He got the flu as well?" Aki sounded worried.

If Koutaishidenka was sick, then he should stay at home and let someone else pick Ara up. Come to think of it, the train should be coming soon, and so they needed to find someone to get her.

"No, Big Bro, Ryuu doesn't have the flu, "Gin assured the older Suzuki.

Technically, Kazehaya Gin was two years older than Aki, but still called Ara's brother "big bro" because it's what Ara called him. Aki didn't care, however. 

"Then what do you mean by he's sick?"

Kazehaya Gin leaned back in his seat and laughed. "Ryuu's lovesick," he answered cheekily as he wiggled his chestnut brows at the other. "Idiot's been asking me how to ask Ara to get married early the whole night."

Ah…

"Well, he asked me how yesterday too," Aki informed the other as he shook his head while smiling.

The two found it so funny that when it came to Ara, the all-knowing, highly revered Koutaishidenka of Japan's most prominent family was at a loss.

Gin looked thoughtfully at the other. "Well, I'm just glad you approve," he commented.

"What's the difference between marrying sooner than later?" Aki shrugged. "And it's not as if he's going to force my sister into marriage if she doesn't want. He wouldn't ask us how if he was going to push her no?"

"True," Gin nodded.

Homura Ryuu was ever the gentleman. Regardless that he was in a position where he could insist or demand things to happen, he never used his power, and properly and respectfully asked for permission from Aki. Which family wouldn't feel lucky to have an in-law like that?

They were about to stand to get some food when Aki's private phone rang, and he frowned. "Ara's teacher," he informed the other as he answered.

"What? What happened?"

Because of the urgency on his face and voice, Gin was also alerted. The latter fished his phone from his pocket and dialed Ryuu's number which the Koutaishidenka immediately answered. "Wait. Aki's talking to Ara's teacher. There seems to be a problem."

With that, Ryuu waited on the other end while Gin waited for Aki to tell him what's going on.

"Alright, but someone will come to take her in my stead," Aki replied before the call ended. Knowing that Gin was talking to Ryuu, he informed them immediately.

"The teacher said Ara suddenly had terrible pain, started crying before collapsing on the train. They are planning to send her to the hospital as soon as they arrived but I told them someone will take her."

EH?

"Did you hear that?" Gin asked Ryuu who said yes before he also hanged up.

Suzuki Aki looked totally worried he started shifting on his feet. "Don't worry. Ryuu will take care of her. He will call us as soon as he gets there," Kazehaya assured him.

They had no idea what was wrong, but thinking that Koutaishidenka would take care of her was assuring in itself. Aki sighed and nodded. He seemed to be somewhat appeased.

"I wonder if she had a relapse," Aki queried audibly. "She had been doing a lot these days when she should still be taking it easy."

Kazehaya sighed. He had nothing to answer that. He also believed Ara was too active for someone who just recovered from severe trauma. "Then it's a good thing she'll be staying at the Cedar Palace then so people can monitor her well."

Aki smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, she's always sneaking out of the house with her sketchbook even at night. I worry about her most especially when I see some rips on her clothes."

HA?

Kazehaya Gin was dumbfounded. Ara went out at night? Her clothes were ripped?   Just what has Ara been doing at night? 

"Big bro… I think you should worry more about her."