[FFML] [fanfic][Yotsuba&!][oneshot] Fuuka & Home

[Mythril Moth]

 AUTHOR'S FOREWORD:

This is NOT part of, or related to, Pretty Neighbor 2nd Visit.

This is a standalone work, using only the canon manga as its basis.

This is actually my third major Yotsuba&! story, and is the ura to my 
as-yet-unpublished first story, "Yotsuba & Mommy". Yotsuba & Mommy would 
have been my first ever Y& fic, if PN2V hadn't popped up out of nowhere; 
continuing in the same vein, this story is functionally complete and ready 
for public consumption LONG before its omote.

Note the keywords "functionally complete". Obviously, I can and likely will 
take this story a LOT farther. But as it stands now, it can be considered to 
be complete. Any future installments will pick up where this part leaves off 
and will be noted as such.

C&C is welcome. Standard disclaimers apply.

Enjoy!

fuuka & home<-------------------------

by mythril moth<----------------------

based on yotsuba&!<-------------------

by kiyohiko azuma<--------------------

used without permission<--------------

not for profit<-----------------------

--------------------->thursday evening

----------------------------->ayase-ke

"Ne, Asagi-oneechan, Fuuka-oneechan *is* home, right?" It was just past 
sunset, and Ayase Ena had yet to see any trace of her other sister since she 
got home from school herself.

Her eldest sister, Asagi, shrugged. "Probably, but I dunno. You know how it 
is with high-schoolers."

Fuuka's bedroom door suddenly opened. Something came out that might 
conceivably at one point have been Ayase Fuuka. It certainly had her 
ever-so-slightly-thick thighs, her unusually large chest, and her 
somewhat-large eyebrows. It was even wearing a pair of her panties and one 
of her tank tops. Presently, however, that was about as far as it was 
possible to identify the creature shambling into the hallway as the middle 
Ayase sister.

"Oneechan?" Ena asked, blinking.

The disheveled, bleary-eyed, vaguely Fuuka-esque thing threw its arms up 
over its head and roared like a bear.

"Eep!" Ena squeaked, hiding behind Asagi.

"I'm goin' over next door for coffee," the Fuuka-creature grumbled, 
shuffling past her sisters toward the stairs.

"Dressed like that?" Asagi asked curiously, an eyebrow raised.

Fuuka paused and looked down at herself, then trudged back into her bedroom, 
closing the door.

Ten seconds later, she emerged again; the only change in her appearance was 
she now wore a matching pair of panties on her head. "Later," she groaned as 
she shambled towards the stairs.

Asagi shook her head with a bemused expression. "I've seen some pretty bad 
cases of this, but I don't think I've ever seen one this bad."

"Cases of what?" Ena asked, staring in horror at the sister who was 
dangerously close to thoroughly embarassing herself.

"Exam strain," Asagi said. "She's cracked, the poor thing."

"That's not good!" Ena rushed ahead of the shambling Fuuka-creature and 
barred her path to the stairs. "Oneechan! Pull yourself together! Pull 
yourself together!"

Fuuka blinked, fixing her bleary, unfocused gaze on Ena. A little of the fog 
started to clear. "Eh?"

"Don't go next door without any pants on! And with your panties on your 
head!" Ena pleaded. "You don't want the neighbors saying strange things!"

Fuuka blinked. "With my...huh?" She reached up and felt around on her head. 
Removing the misapplied undergarment, she blushed. "What the...? Why did I 
have this on my head?"

"At least it isn't the only pair you had on at all," Asagi said, amused.

Fuuka looked down at herself, turned very red, and dashed back into her 
room. Two minutes later, she came back out wearing track pants and a soft 
cotton hoodie. Her face was still flaming. "Don't tell me I was gonna leave 
the house like that," she said.

"Well, I'm sure Koiwai-san wouldn't have minded," Asagi teased.


"Oneechan!" Ena cried. "Yotsuba-chan's dad isn't like that!"

"I wonder," Asagi said with a cat-like smile as she headed downstairs.

"A-sa-gi," Fuuka groaned, exasperated.

"Are you still gonna go over there?" Ena asked. "It's almost dinner time..."

Fuuka glanced back at her bedroom, grimaced, and nodded. "Yeah, I'm not too 
hungry and I need a little break anyway."

"Dinner's not enough of a break?" Ena asked.

"With Oneechan teasing me about cracking up under the strain?" Fuuka asked.

"Good point," Ena said miserably.

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

Fuuka let herself in the front door, slipped off her shoes, and headed for 
the nearest source of noise: the TV room. There, she found Yotsuba watching 
some or other anime. "Hey, Yotsuba-chan," she greeted.

"Fuuka!" Yotsuba called happily. "Wanna watch TV with me?"

"Sure," Fuuka replied. "Your daddy working?"

"Nah, he finished early today, but he was up all night workin', so he's 
takin' a nap."

Fuuka blinked. "So you haven't had dinner yet?"

"Nuh-uh," Yotsuba said.


"I bet you're hungry then, huh?" Fuuka asked.

"Yeah, kinda," Yotsuba said. Her stomach growled.

Fuuka rolled her eyes. "I'll make dinner."

--------------------------------------

Koiwai awoke to very pleasant aromas, and sat up, frowning.

Something smelled absolutely delicious. But he hadn't cooked, and Yotsuba 
couldn't cook...not like that and not without help, anyway...

Standing and stretching, he left the bedroom and followed his nose to the 
kitchen. Yotsuba was seated at the table, beaming, and Fuuka was busy 
tending the stove, humming idly as she did so.

"Um...hello?" he hazarded.

"Oh, hey," Fuuka replied absently, not diverting her attention from her 
cooking. "Just in time, dinner'll be ready in a couple minutes."

"Oh...kay..." Koiwai replied, blinking.

"You had a bunch of veggies that were about to go bad on you, and some meat 
that really needed to be used, so I pretty much used everything in the 
fridge tonight," Fuuka said. "I hope I don't screw this up too bad."

"Fuuka said she'd cook dinner cuz you were still asleep, Daddy!" Yotsuba 
explained.

"Ah, I see," Koiwai said. "Um...thank you, Fuuka-chan. I appreciate it."

"Oh, it's no problem," Fuuka replied. She emptied the skillet she was 
browning stuff in into a large bowl and started vigorously whisking it. She 
reached into the cabinet and pulled out a griddle, placing it on the 
still-hot burner.

Koiwai raised an eyebrow at her preparations. "Don't tell me you're 
making..."

"It was this or a throw-everything-together stir fry, and I figured 
Yotsuba-chan might enjoy this more. At least, if I did this right." She 
looked up briefly and smiled. "Go ahead, sit down, I'll have everything 
ready in a few minutes."

"Ah...right," Koiwai said, joining his daughter at the table. "I didn't even 
know you came over," he said.

"Well, duh, you were asleep," Fuuka teased. "I hope you don't mind. I just 
really needed a break from studying."

"Oh, it's okay, I don't mind," Koiwai said. "We're always happy to see you, 
right Yotsuba-chan?"

"Yeah! Fuuka's the best!"

"Thanks," Fuuka said, smiling. A minute later, she slid a plate in front of 
Yotsuba. "Careful, it's hot. Oh! Almost forgot the sauce..."

"Uooooh, what is this? Is it a pancake? But it's got all kinds of stuff in 
it..."

"It's okonomiyaki," Koiwai explained. "It looks pretty good, too," he added.

"I hope so, anyway," Fuuka said, placing a plate with two okonomiyaki in 
front of Koiwai.

"Ah, thank you," he said.

Lastly, Fuuka served herself and sat down with them. "Itadakimasu!" they 
chorused, digging in.

"Uooooh! It's yummy! It's really yummy!" Yotsuba exclaimed.

"It really is," Koiwai said. "I didn't know you could cook something like 
this!"

"I've never actually tried before," Fuuka admitted as she tucked into her 
own meal. "I'm glad it came out okay. I just didn't want all the stuff in 
the fridge to go to waste, and stir-fry is kinda boring."

"Well, it sure has been a long time since I had okonomiyaki," Koiwai said. 
"And it wasn't nearly this good. You did a great job, Fuuka-chan."

Fuuka blushed at the praise. "It's nothing, really."

They ate and made small talk; once everyone was finished, Fuuka started 
cleaning the kitchen. "You don't really have to do that," Koiwai said. 
"Cooking for us is plenty."

"Yeah, but I know if I don't, you'll just leave everything in the sink like 
you always do," Fuuka chided.

"Ah...sorry," Koiwai said, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm trying to do 
better, really."

"Well, at least you're putting pants on finally," Fuuka teased.

"So how's the studying going?" Koiwai asked. "I know it's not too long until 
you'll be taking entrance exams..."

Fuuka dropped the spatula she was washing; it clattered noisily in the sink. 
"The exams. Yeah. Studying. It's..." She sighed.

"Not going so well?"

"Not at all," she moaned, shoulders slumped. "I hate studying. I hate it so 
much..."

"I know what you mean," Koiwai said, sighing. "Third year of high school is 
pure hell..."

"Oh come on, it had to be easy for you," Fuuka retorted. "You're 
super-smart. I mean, you make a lot more than my dad and you work from home. 
You can't possibly sit there and tell me the entrance exams were actually 
hard for you."

"I'm not THAT smart, I'm just good with languages," Koiwai said. "Trust me, 
I hated every minute of those stupid exams, just like everybody else..."

"I didn't say you enjoyed them, I just said I bet they were easy for you," 
Fuuka said. "And I bet I'm right, too." She rinsed her hands off and wiped 
them with a towel. "Admit it. What percent were you in?"

"Oh come on, it's been so long, you expect me to--"

"What percent?" Fuuka repeated.

Koiwai sighed. "Top three percent."

"See? I'll be lucky to be in the bottom ONE percent," Fuuka replied.

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Koiwai said.

"I'm pretty sure I'll fail miserably," Fuuka groaned. Taking a moment to 
wipe down the counters and sink, she rubbed at a kink in her neck, then 
glanced at the clock. "Oh, crap, I didn't know it was this late!" she cried.

Koiwai looked up at the clock too, and frowned. "Damn, I almost forgot about 
the game on television." He sighed. "I'll miss at least the first inning 
getting Yotsuba ready for bed..."

"Oh, no problem! I'll do it," Fuuka said.

"Eh? But shouldn't you be getting back home?" Koiwai asked.

Fuuka waved a hand airily. "Another half hour won't matter. Go on and watch 
your game, I'll take care of Yotsuba-chan."

"Ah...thanks, Fuuka-chan," Koiwai said.

Twenty minutes later, Fuuka walked into the TV room. "Yotsuba's all tucked 
in and sleepy," she reported.

"That's good," Koiwai said. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

"No problem. Oh, and here...thought you might like a beer," Fuuka added, 
placing a cold one on the table in front of Koiwai.

"Hey, thanks. Wow, you think of everything."

Fuuka blushed. "Well, it's not really that much. I'd better go home now."

"Okay. Goodnight, Fuuka-chan. And thanks for everything."

"Goodnight, Koiwai-san."

----------------------------->ayase-ke

"I'm back," Fuuka called. She found everyone in the living room; Asagi and 
Ena were watching some drama, Mom was reading a mail-order catalog, and Dad 
was reading the evening paper.

"Fuuka-chan!" Mom exclaimed. "What on earth kept you out so late? You missed 
dinner!"

"Oh, I ate next door, don't worry about me," Fuuka said.

"You shouldn't impose on Koiwai-san like that," Mom chided.

"Actually, I kinda cooked dinner for him and Yotsuba-chan," Fuuka said. "He 
pulled an all-nighter and was asleep when I went over, and Yotsuba-chan was 
hungry, so I..." She trailed off. "And of course by that point I'd already 
made enough for all of us so I just..."

"I see," Mom said. "Well, that's fine, then."

"What the heck did you cook that you were over there so long?" Asagi asked, 
an eyebrow raised.

"Oh, I didn't cook anything fancy, just okonomiyaki," Fuuka said as she sat 
down on the couch with her sisters. "It just took a while to clean up after 
dinner, and then I got Yotsuba-chan ready for bed..."

Dad's newspaper lowered enough to see his face; he was frowning. "I should 
really speak to Koiwai-san," he said. "He has no right imposing on you, 
asking you to do--"

"He didn't ask me to do anything!" Fuuka replied, waving her hands in 
negation and shaking her head. "It's just, stuff needed doing, I was there, 
I did it...you know?"

"Still..."

"Dad, seriously, don't get upset," Fuuka said. "I mean, Koiwai-san's got it 
pretty tough, you know? He works really hard, and he's a single parent, and 
Yotsuba-chan is a real handful. I figure he could really use the help now 
and then, so..." She shrugged. "I mean, it's not like I have anything better 
to do, and I don't mind lending a hand over there."

"Nothing better to do, huh?" Asagi echoed. "Did we forget all about studying 
for our entrance exams?"

Fuuka sighed, sounding remarkably like a deflating hot air balloon. "Getting 
away from studying is the whole reason I was even over there in the *first* 
place," she pointed out.

"So let me get this straight," Mom asked, tilting her head and looking 
strangely at Fuuka. "Your idea of taking a break from studying is to spend 
most of the evening being someone else's maid?"

"Well, no, not exactly," Fuuka said with a nervous laugh. "I mean, I really 
just went over to play with Yotsuba-chan. Everything else just kinda 
happened."

Mom shook her head. "Well, whatever. Just don't get your priorities all 
mixed up..."

"Don't worry, I won't," Fuuka said with a sigh.

----------------------->friday morning

-------------------->outside koiwai-ke

"Good morning, Koiwai-san!" Fuuka greeted as she walked her bicycle out of 
the front gate.

"Ah, Fuuka-chan! Good morning. Thanks for everything last night."

"Oh, it's no problem! How was your game?"

"My team lost," Koiwai grumbled.

"Aww, I'm sorry." Fuuka smiled encouragingly. "They'll do better next time, 
I hope!"

"Thanks. So? How about you? Get any studying done?"

Fuuka sighed. "No, not really, but..." She shook her head. "Anyway, we get 
back results from a practice exam today. Wish me luck!"

"Good luck," Koiwai said.

--------------------->friday afternoon

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

Koiwai came downstairs to use the toilet, and found Fuuka and Yotsuba 
playing with Yotsuba's blocks in the living room. Fuuka was showing the 
younger girl how to stack blocks without them falling over, and Yotsuba was 
paying rapt attention.

Koiwai frowned; Fuuka was still in her school uniform.

"Hello," he called.

"Ah! Koiwai-san, good afternoon," Fuuka replied, standing and bowing. "You 
don't mind that I came over to play with Yotsuba-chan, right?"

"Of course not, but...you didn't even go home before you came here?" he 
asked.

"Huh? Oh," Fuuka realized how he had known that, and sighed. "I'm...just not 
ready to go home yet," she said.

"What's wrong, Fuuka?" Yotsuba asked.

"This have something to do with that practice exam you mentioned?" Koiwai 
asked.

Fuuka nodded miserably. "I bombed it. Bad."

Koiwai winced. "Ouch. I'm sorry."

"I kinda don't wanna tell Mom just yet, and I sure don't want Asagi to know, 
so..." Fuuka trailed off.

"You'll have to tell them eventually," Koiwai said.

Fuuka sighed. "I know." She fidgeted, then bowed. "I guess I'll go ahead and 
get it over with."

"Good luck," Koiwai replied.

As Fuuka left, Yotsuba asked, "What's a practice exam? An' did Fuuka really 
blow it up?"

Koiwai shook his head with a weak chuckle and explained as best he could to 
the five-year-old...

--------------------> saturday morning

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

Fuuka showed up very early and dressed in old, worn-out clothes, with a 
scarf tied around her head.

Koiwai blinked at her. "What...?"

"Figured I'd clean your toilet and furo today," Fuuka said brightly. "Then 
I'll take Yotsuba-chan out for lunch." She held up a small tote bag. "I even 
brought a change of clothes so I can just get ready and go from here."

"...Fuuka-chan, really, you don't need to do all that," Koiwai said.

"But I want to!" Fuuka insisted.

"But you should be home studying," Koiwai reminded her. "I mean, you said it 
yourself, you didn't do so hot on that practice test..."

"I tried to study all night, and I am so sick of it I could scream," Fuuka 
said. "I honestly can't even look at any of my books anymore." She sighed. 
"Can we not talk about that, please? I've got to get to work..."

Without even waiting for a response, she stepped out of her shoes and headed 
for the toilet. Koiwai stared after her for a long moment.

"When did I actually say this was okay...?" he wondered aloud. Sighing, he 
closed the door and went upstairs to work.

--------------------->saturday evening

----------------------------->ayase-ke

"I'm home," Fuuka called.

"You left awfully early," Mom said. "I hope you were at school studying in 
the library, after that dismal test score you brought home..."

Fuuka shook her head. "I'll study tomorrow. I tried to study all night and I 
just couldn't, so I took a break..."

Mom sighed. "...at Koiwai-san's house," she finished. "Honestly, Fuuka-chan, 
you're starting to spend a little too much time over there. I don't want 
Koiwai-san to get aggravated with us..."

"He doesn't mind," Fuuka said. "If he did, he'd have said something." She 
yawned. "I'm sleepy. Goodnight!"

----------------------->sunday morning

----------------->koiwai-ke front gate

"Ah, Fuuka-chan! You're up early."

Fuuka smiled brightly at Jumbo, who had just pulled up to the gate in his 
truck. "Good morning, Jumbo-san. What brings you by?"

"I'm giving Koiwai and Yotsuba a lift to the airport," Jumbo replied. "His 
folks are gonna do some sight-seeing and shopping in Kobe, and this is a 
chance for them to catch up a bit."

"Oh, how nice!" Fuuka replied. "So, are they going to stay here while 
they're in town?"

Jumbo shook his head. "They want to see his place, but they don't have the 
time this trip. They're on an itinerary." He rubbed the tip of his nose. 
"Won one of those ball draw prizes."

"Ah, I see." Fuuka nodded.

A moment later, Koiwai and Yotsuba emerged from the house. Fuuka waved to 
them. "Good morning!"

"Hey, Fuuka!" Yotsuba called. "We're gonna go see Gramma an' Grampa!"

"So I heard," Fuuka replied, smiling. "Koiwai-san, do you need me to do 
anything while you're out today?"

"Yeah," Koiwai replied. "I need you to stay home, study, and not worry about 
doing stuff for me and Yotsuba. Seriously, you've got enough to worry 
about."

Fuuka sighed. "Okay. Um...I guess I'll see you when you get back, then."


"Hang in there, Fuuka-chan," Koiwai said, clapping a hand on her shoulder as 
he and Yotsuba passed to get in Jumbo's truck.

Fuuka was still rooted to the spot several minutes later, long after they 
had gone.

Finally, she sighed and trudged wearily back into the entrance gate of her 
own home, towards the hellish nightmare of exam prep manuals.

------------------------>jumbo's truck

"What was THAT all about?" Jumbo asked.

Koiwai sighed. "Fuuka's kind of been..." He plucked at a few strands of his 
stringy hair as he thought of how best to explain it. "Entrance exams are 
kind of driving her up the wall."

"Ah. Been there, done that," Jumbo nodded.

"Yeah, but this is..." Koiwai paused, thinking.

"She comes over an' plays house all the time instead of doin' her work," 
Yotsuba said.

"Yeah, that's basically it," Koiwai agreed. "She hates studying, so she 
blows it off to play with Yotsuba-chan. Except 'play with Yotsuba-chan' 
usually turns into 'cook dinner', 'clean the house', 'do the shopping', or 
whatever else she decides needs doing around my house. Without even asking 
if I want her to or not."

Jumbo raised an eyebrow. "Wow. That's...interesting." He shrugged. "My 
advice? Enjoy it while it lasts. I mean, you're basically getting free maid 
service out of it, right?"

Koiwai shot Jumbo a hard look. "That's something I'd expect Yanda to say."

"And ordinarily, I'd be a jerk for saying it, but let's face facts. You DO 
need the help."

Koiwai sighed. "Yeah..."

----------------------->sunday evening

----------------------------->ayase-ke

A completely frazzled Fuuka shambled into the kitchen and took her place at 
the dinner table with her family. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was in 
total disarray, and she sagged and drooped as she slumped over the table, 
radiating dejection and frustration and despair.

"Oneechan," Ena murmured in a worried tone.

"Wow, is the studying really going that bad?" Asagi asked, blinking.

"dunwantalkbtit," Fuuka mumbled.

Mom eyed her middle daughter with concern. "Fuuka-chan? Are you alright?"

Fuuka looked up at her Mom, made a noise not unlike a stuck drain, then 
slammed her forehead into the table.

"Oh dear," Mom said, shaking her head.

--------------------->monday afternoon

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

Koiwai leaned against the banister at the foot of the stairs, hands in his 
pockets, watching nonplussed as Fuuka scrubbed the hallway floor. 
"What...are you doing," he asked in a flat tone.

"I'm cleaning, what does it look like?" Fuuka asked.

"Isn't this going a little too far?" Koiwai asked.

"A clean home is a happy home," Fuuka replied. "By the way, what do you want 
for dinner?"

He blinked at her. "You're not serious."

"What? I need to know what I need to pick up from the store before I start 
cooking," Fuuka said absently.

Koiwai shook his head and walked over, squatting down in front of her. 
"Fuuka," he said softly, seriously, "I really do appreciate all the help you 
give me, and the way you take care of me and Yotsuba-chan, but...you're 
doing TOO much. Seriously, we can get by without you. You've got your own 
stuff to deal with, right?"

"What, studying?" Fuuka asked, making a dismissive noise. "I needed a break 
from that."

"And this is your idea of taking a break," Koiwai said disbelievingly.

"ARGH! You and my mom both!" Fuuka shook her head, irritated. "Just let me 
do this without going on and on at me about studying, okay? I'm sick to 
death of that subject." She wrung her rag out into the bucket next to her 
and stood, stretching. "So, about dinner."

Koiwai just stared at her. Then, he sighed, "Whatever," he said. He shuffled 
off to his work room.

----------------------------->ayase-ke

"I'm home."

"Welcome back Fuuka--oh goodness, you're FILTHY!" Mom exclaimed. "What in 
heaven's name--"

"Just cleaning Koiwai-san's house," Fuuka replied absently. "The floors 
needed a good scrubbing. I'm gonna go have a bath now."

"Alright..."

---------------------->tuesday morning

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

"Ah! It's Mom! Hi Mom!" Yotsuba called cheerfully as she opened the door.

Mrs. Ayase smiled down at her. "Good morning, Yotsuba-chan. I was hoping I 
could speak to your father."

"Yeah, he's in the kitchen makin' coffee," Yotsuba said, stepping aside.

"Then pardon my intrusion," Mrs. Ayase replied, slipping off her shoes and 
stepping into house scuffs. As she entered, she looked around and gasped. 
"My goodness! Your house is very...VERY clean!"

"Yeah!" Yotsuba cheered. "Fuuka's awesome! She did all of this!"

Mrs. Ayase stood in the living room, simply gazing around at the absolutely 
spotless house. "This isn't normal," she said quietly. "MY house isn't this 
clean."

"Yotsuba? Who's--oh! Hello," Koiwai greeted. "Care for some coffee?"

"Y-yes, please," Mrs. Ayase replied, distractedly, following him into the 
kitchen. "Fuuka-chan seriously cleaned your house this thoroughly?"

"Yeah," Koiwai said, pouring another cup and handing it to her. "Um...look, 
I'm sorry she's blowing off studying to come over and do all this. I'm NOT 
asking her to. She just...kinda...does it."

Mrs. Ayase sighed. "That IS the reason I came over, to discuss Fuuka's--oh 
my, this IS good coffee." She paused to savor it for a moment, then 
continued, "As I was saying, it's just...getting a little out of hand, don't 
you think?"

"I completely agree," Koiwai said, sitting down at the table. "I told her as 
much yesterday afternoon. I told her she needs to tone it down and take care 
of her studies." He sighed. "She bitched at me and went right on doing 
housework."

"I see," Mrs. Ayase said, sighing. "I...honestly don't know what to do about 
all this, Koiwai-san."

Koiwai ran a hand through his stringy hair. "Neither do I," he admitted. 
"I'm worried about her and I don't want to see her neglect her studies, but 
at the same time, I can't just..." He sighed. "The only way I see of putting 
a stop to this is forbidding her from coming over, and I just can't do that. 
It's not fair to anyone." He sipped his coffee.

"I agree...I don't see that as a viable solution," Mrs. Ayase said. "When 
you weren't home Sunday, she was forced to stay home and study all day. What 
came down to dinner with the family...wasn't a pretty sight. I don't even 
know what it was, but it certainly wasn't Fuuka." She sighed. "It's like she 
just fell apart. But then yesterday afternoon she came over here, and she 
came home utterly filthy and obscenely happy."

They sat and drank coffee in silence for a time.

"I just...don't know what to do, Koiwai-san," Mrs. Ayase admitted. "I mean, 
it's not like I can punish Fuuka-chan for anything. She hasn't done anything 
wrong. Her grades are just barely acceptable, and her study habits are bad, 
and her practice exam scores are utterly deplorable, but...it doesn't seem 
like trying to force the issue will improve that."

"Mm," Koiwai nodded. "I guess the only thing you can really do is impress 
upon her that she needs to be worried about her future, and that playing 
pretend housewife over here isn't healthy if she hopes to do anything with 
her life."

Mrs. Ayase sighed. "Yeah, but she won't listen, no matter how much I say 
it..."

"And if I tried to force her to study over here, she'd ignore me or bitch at 
me, and then probably plant a whole new garden out front or something."

"It's so WEIRD," Mrs. Ayase suddenly blurted. "I mean, I've been married 
more than twenty years, and housework is a complete pain in the ass. I can't 
even begin to imagine anyone enjoying it as much as Fuuka-chan seems to."

Koiwai shrugged. "It's not unheard of. Some people are just like that."

"Great, I have TWO weird daughters now," Mrs. Ayase sighed.

Koiwai laughed. "Well, we'll figure out what to do about Fuuka-chan. It may 
take time, but I'm pretty sure we can bring her around. Just hang in there."

"Yes..you're right. Thank you, Koiwai-san. And thanks for the coffee."

"Anytime."

-------------------->tuesday afternoon

->fuuka's school, student council room

"So it's resolved that we'll urge stricter measures against inappropriate 
conduct among the student body as regards sexual harassment," the President 
said. "Any other new business?" After a silent moment, she nodded. "Then 
we're done for today."

The various members of the Student Council began packing away their notes 
and standing; some of them talked among themselves rather than immediately 
clearing out of the council room.

"Hey," one of the representatives asked the President, "is the Vice 
President okay? She seemed kind of out of it all during the meeting."

"I don't know," the President admitted. "The best one to ask about that is 
Shimau..."

A couple other members walked up to where Fuuka remained seated at the 
table, lips pursed against the eraser end of her pencil as she worried over 
a notepad in front of her. "Hey, Vice President," one of them greeted. 
"What's up?"

"What're you working on so intently?"

Fuuka glanced up at them, blinked, and covered what she was doing with one 
hand. "Nothing!" she exclaimed. "Sorry, it's personal stuff."

"Oh? I'm dying to know about the Vice President's 'personal stuff'," a 
handsome boy with wind-swept tea-colored hair said mischieviously, snatching 
away Fuuka's notepad. He scanned it, eyebrows climbing. "How interesting!"

"GAH! Don't--" Fuuka yelped.

The President suddenly stood behind her, a restraining hand on her shoulder. 
"Overruled," the third-year girl smirked. "Go ahead, Hiro-kun, read the Vice 
President's minutes aloud."

"H-hey! You can't--!"

Before Hiro could read a single word, Shimau plucked the notepad away and 
handed it back to Fuuka, who quickly shoved it in her skirt pocket, 
red-faced.

"Aww, you're no fun, Shimau," Hiro pouted.

"Embarassing our Vice President is not appropriate behavior for this 
Council," Shimau said, frowning prettily. "We're not fourth graders. Let's 
behave with respect and dignity."

"Thank you, Shimau," Fuuka said.

The President smirked. "We have nothing but respect for Ayase-san," she 
said. "We just wanted to tease her a little. No harm was intended."

"Yeah, and I wouldn't have actually read that out loud," Hiro said.

Fuuka sighed. "You guys..." She stood. "I'm off." Without waiting for a 
response, she stiffly left the council room as fast as dignity would allow.

Shimau frowned at the President and Hiro as they snickered. "It really isn't 
funny, you know. Fuuka puts a lot of effort into everything she does, you 
shouldn't tease her like little kids."

"Sorry, it won't happen again," Hiro replied. A moment later, he asked, "By 
the way, Shimau, who's Kotashi?"

The round-faced girl blinked. "Hm?"

"That notepad," Hiro explained. "It looked like she was collecting a lot of 
really personal information on someone by that name."

Shimau tilted her head. "Funny, I don't know anyone named Kotashi," she 
said. Shrugging, she adjusted her bookbag strap. "It's none of our business 
anyway, I'm sure."

After Shimau left, the President arched an eyebrow. "What KIND of 
information?" she asked.

Hiro shrugged. "Favorite foods, least favorite foods, clothing sizes, 
allergies, stuff like that."

"Hmm," the President replied thoughtfully. "A new boyfriend perhaps...? 
Interesting...."

---------------------->tuesday evening

---------------------------->koiwai-ke

"Evening, Koiwai-san," Fuuka greeted at the door, straining under the weight 
of three large, sagging plastic bags. "I noticed you were running out of a 
bunch of stuff, so I went shopping."

Koiwai blinked. "Um...thanks," he said. "Let me help you there..." He took 
two of the bags from her, and together they carried them into the living 
room.

"I'd have been by earlier but I had a Student Council meeting today," Fuuka 
explained.

"Oh? You're on the Student Council?" Koiwai asked.

"Yeah, Vice President. It's nothing, really," Fuuka replied, rubbing the 
back of her head.

"Actually, that's pretty impressive," Koiwai said. "But then, that's the 
kind of thing I'd expect from the amazing Fuuka-chan."

Fuuka blushed, twiddling her hands in front of her. "Koiwai-san..." she 
groaned in mock exasperation.

Koiwai laughed. "In any case, Yotsuba went off to play with Ena and Miura; 
I'm pretty sure they're over at your house."

"I'll just help you put this stuff away before I head home," Fuuka said.

It took about five minutes; Koiwai was surprised at some of the things Fuuka 
had brought; he didn't even know he'd been running out of some of it.

"Well, I'd better get back to--ugh," Koiwai grimaced, clutching at his 
shoulder. "Work," he finished lamely.

"Are you okay?" Fuuka asked.

"I think I pulled something, maybe. Or I'm just getting old."

"You're not THAT old," Fuuka said.

"Mmm, maybe, but my shoulder's stiff as..."

"Sit down," Fuuka commanded.

"Eh?" Koiwai asked.

"Just sit down," she repeated.

Koiwai did so. A moment later, he felt Fuuka's slender fingers digging into 
the knotted, aching muscles of his neck and shoulders. "Ohhhhhhh..."

"Does that feel good? Is it helping?"

"Yeah," Koiwai replied. "Little lower...little more to the left...yeah. 
Ahhh...yeah, right there. A little harder..."

For several minutes, Fuuka massaged Koiwai's aching shoulders, and he 
thoroughly enjoyed it.

They heard the front door open, and Fuuka stopped. "Yotsuba-chan must be 
home," she said.

Two seconds later, the green-haired fireball bounded in. "Hi Daddy! Hi 
Fuuka! You wasn't home! Were you here?"

"I just got here a little bit ago," Fuuka replied.

Koiwai stood and stretched, sighing. "You'd best get on home, Fuuka-chan. 
And thanks."

She smiled and bowed. "It's nothing. Well then, goodnight!"

----------------------------->ayase-ke

Fuuka's parents were waiting for her when she walked in. She paled. "Am I in 
trouble?" she asked.

Mom sighed. "Not exactly, Fuuka-chan. We're just...worried."

"About what?" Fuuka asked.

"About the amount of time you spend next door," Dad said.

"Oh god not this again," Fuuka groaned.

"Yes, this again," Dad said more sternly. "Dammit, Fuuka, we're worried! 
This isn't normal!"

"What isn't normal? Being a good friend and neighbor, that isn't normal? 
Helping out when I can because I care, that isn't normal?" Fuuka demanded 
angrily.

"Spending more time in the house of an unmarried adult man than you spend in 
your own home isn't normal," Dad said. "Insisting on cleaning every inch of 
Koiwai-san's house, AND shopping for him, AND cooking, AND tending to 
Yotsuba-chan, that isn't normal."

"Even Koiwai-san is concerned," Mom said. "I talked to him this morning. 
He's as worried about you as we are. He's grateful for all you do for him 
and Yotsuba-chan, but he agrees...you need to apply yourself to your 
studies, for your own future. You can't neglect yourself the way you have 
been."

"I'm not neglecting myself, though!" Fuuka insisted. "I...okay, I don't 
really study as much as I should. It's just..." She sighed. "I can't explain 
it."

"Try," Dad said.

Fuuka looked down. "I'll try, but...not unless Kotashi comes over, so I can 
explain it to him at the same time."

Dad raised an eyebrow. "Kotashi? Who--?"

"Koiwai-san neglected to mention you were on a first-name basis," Mom said 
archly.

Fuuka blushed. "Um...that just slipped out," she said sheepishly. "I mean, I 
don't...I haven't...not in front of him..."

Mom studied her for a long moment, an eyebrow raised. "I think," she said 
slowly, "I'm starting to see what's happening here." She sighed and walked 
over to the phone. "Koiwai-san?" she asked after a moment. "I'm sorry to 
disturb you this late, but would you please come over? We need to have a 
talk."

--------------------------------------

Ten minutes later, Koiwai sat in the Ayase living room with Fuuka and her 
parents; Ena and Asagi had been sent next door to stay with Yotsuba.

Fuuka shifted uncomfortably under everyone's scrutiny. "Um..." She began 
quietly, "First off, I...please don't blame Koiwai-san for any of this. He's 
completely clueless."

"Oi," Koiwai grunted.

Fuuka smiled at him. "I'm sorry, Kotashi, but you are, or you'd have figured 
this out days ago."

Koiwai raised an eyebrow. "And all of a sudden I'm 'Kotashi'?"

"Apparently," Mrs. Ayase said.

Mr. Ayase coughed. "Alright, you said you were going to explain, Fuuka-chan, 
so...explain."


"R-right," Fuuka agreed, bowing her head and twiddling her hands in her lap. 
"O-okay. It's like this..." She took a deep breath. "The reason I've 
been...the way I've been lately..." She hesitated. "The stuff I have to 
study for those stupid exams just gets me all confused and upset and I get 
so frustrated...but when I'm taking care of Kotashi and Yotsuba-chan, I'm 
happy. Cleaning the house, cooking for them, shopping for them, playing with 
Yotsuba-chan, even just sitting around doing nothing...as long as it's with 
them, as long as it's *for* them, it makes me happy."

Koiwai stared at her. "Fuuka-chan..."

"I...feel useful," Fuuka said. "Everything I do for Kotashi and Yotsuba-chan 
makes me feel useful. I feel like I'm needed. I feel...I feel complete," she 
decided. "At school, I'm lost and adrift on a sea of rote facts that I don't 
want or need. It's all a bunch of noise and it makes my head hurt and makes 
me feel grouchy and bitchy and awful. But then when I put down the books and 
go over there...it goes away, all the crap I don't want to deal with. It 
goes away and it's just me and the little family I want to take care of." 
She paused. "Want to be part of." She looked up, then, and locked gazes with 
Koiwai. "I need you, Kotashi. I need you and Yotsuba. I need to take care of 
you and play with you and just BE with you."

"Fuuka-chan..." Koiwai said again, stunned. Her parents were gaping openly 
at her.

Fuuka turned very red, and in a much quieter voice:

"Please, Kotashi. Set me free. Set me free and let me come home with you. 
Let me be where I belong. Where I'm happy..." Tears gathered in her eyes and 
begin spilling silently down her cheeks.

Mrs. Ayase felt herself getting choked up, and pulled out her own 
handkerchief, dabbing at her eyes.

Mr. Ayase stared at his daughter in disbelief and wonder, scarcely able to 
wrap his mind around what was happening.

Koiwai was frozen in place, eyes wide and staring at the teenage girl who 
had just laid bare her soul to him, and was now watching him, waiting, 
anxious and afraid.

After an eternity, Koiwai swallowed thickly and faced Fuuka. "One thing. 
Before I...say anything else, one thing."

"Yes?"

"You will finish high school. The entrance exams, you can blow off. You 
obviously have no intention of even taking them. But you WILL finish high 
school. That's not open for debate."

Fuuka nodded, sniffling. "I...I do want to graduate with my friends."


Koiwai nodded. "Then..." He paused. "Are you absolutely sure this is what 
you want? I mean, this sounds like it kind of just came out of nowhere, 
but..."

"It's what I want, Kotashi. It's what I need. And...you need me as much as I 
need you," Fuuka said. "You know you do."

Koiwai sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I won't argue that, because 
you're probably right." Taking a deep breath, he looked from Fuuka, to Mr. 
Ayase, to Mrs. Ayase, and back to Fuuka. "Alright then...I..." He trailed 
off. "Wait. She kind of already did the part I was supposed to do, right? I 
mean, we all heard it that way, right?"

Fuuka giggled, wiping at her eyes. "Mou..."

Koiwai shook his head. "Screw it. If it's okay with your folks, then yeah, 
I'll marry you. If it's what you're absolutely, positively sure you want."

Fuuka nodded silently, smiling brightly enough to light the entire block.

Mr. Ayase took a deep breath, trying not to visibly tremble. "Alright then," 
he said. "You're on break Thursday and Friday, right Fuuka-chan?"

Fuuka nodded. "Yes, Dad."

"Okay. Then...if you're absolutely, positively--"

"DAD," Fuuka interrupted. "For the last time, this is absolutely, one 
thousand percent what I need."

"Right. Okay, then...we'll take care of the legal stuff this week, and then 
if you want to have a ceremony, we can plan that for summer break."

Fuuka shot across the room and plowed into her dad, a squealing cannonball 
of happiness. "Thank you thank you!" she squeed. "I love you so much, Dad, 
you're the best!"


Then, she threw herself at Koiwai and wrapped herself around him. "And thank 
you, Kotashi...I promise you won't ever regret this. I'll make sure every 
day together with you is the most enjoyable day. I promise. I'll be the best 
wife you could ever hope for."

Koiwai smiled and embraced her. "I know you will, Fuuka-chan. I know you 
will."


==================
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