While closing up for the night, Haruka was looking over the kitchen inventory when she heard a knock. Hoping it was Keitaro, Haruka stepped out of the kitchen and was disappointed that it was Tsuruko.
“May I come in?†Tsuruko asked.
“Sure, just a minute. Care to tell me why? I'm a bit curious,†Haruka answered as she put her hand on the lock and started to fiddle with it. 'Dammit, I really need to replace this..''
“I need to vent a bit at how I made a mess with my younger sister,†Tsuruko answered, making Haruka pause.
Haruka sighed before unlocking the door and saying, “I'm not doing so hot with Keitaro either... Might as well vent to each other...â€
Tsuruko stepped in and Haruka lead her to the counter.
“Don't expect anything special, I'm just going to brew up a small pot of tea,†Haruka said as she began to do as she said.
“Very well,†Tsuruko replied. “who shall 'vent' first?â€
“I'll let you go first,†Haruka said, seemingly concentrating more on the teapot.
“I think that I either haven't done enough to help curb my sister's temper or have gone about it the wrong way,†Tsuruko muttered.
“How so?†Haruka asked.
“She threatened her landlord when he tripped and fell on her because the floor broke under him,†Tsuruko answered. She took note of Haruka's unchanging expression. 'So it had happened more than once, going by her reaction...'
“What happened next?†Haruka asked, just as the teapot whistled.
“I.... forced a duel on my sister. She had a choice of either fighting me or our cousin,†Tsuruko answered. She wasn't sure if Haruka knew of Tomoko's secret, but she wasn't going to reveal it if she didn't.
“First time you've met with your sister in a long time and you force a duel on her within seconds... Yeesh...†Haruka muttered as she poured some tea out for herself and Tsuruko.
“It happened after we spent some time out shopping, Haruka,†Tsuruko said with a glare. “Now what about your problem with Keitaro?â€
“He came to me, asking if it was right to let the girls hit him. Then he asked me to imagine something..... I don't feel like talking about the rest,†Haruka explained, before drinking some of her tea.
“While I wish that you would, I won't pry,†Tsuruko commented, before taking a sip of tea. “It seems like we both neglected our relatives and are now paying the price...â€
“Eh, I say just give it time and things will get back to normal,†Haruka replied.
“Maybe, maybe not. While I don't doubt that time heals all, simply ignoring the problem will only make things worse. Do you have any plans for when Keitaro calms down?†Tsuruko asked.
“I'll think of something when the time comes. What about you?†Haruka asked back. Tsuruko shook her head a little bit.
“Try to reconnect with Motoko, let her know that I'm not abandoning her,†Tsuruko answered.
“Doesn't sound like much of a plan, if you ask me...†Haruka muttered under her breath. Tsuruko narrowed her eyes a bit in anger.
“Perhaps, but at least it is one,†Tsuruko said, after finishing her tea.
“Who asked you? Besides, what would you do in my place?†Haruka angrily asked as she hit the counter.
“Let the tenants know that I'm supporting his decisions?†Tsuruko asked back.
“Big talk from someone that let her sister run away...†Haruka muttered, thinking she had the upper hand.
“Granny Hina had a hand in that. She claimed that she knew a way to help Motoko. Had I known that it involved letting Motoko attack Keitaro, I never would have gone along with the plan,†Tsuruko replied.
“So what? Are you going to take your sister away from here?†Haruka asked, resisting the urge to try and throw Tsuruko out. Haruka didn't want to risk ruining her teashop from any possible fights.
“If Motoko loses the duel in a few days, perhaps.†Tsuruko commented.
“And you're acting like I'm the irresponsible one...†Haruka said, as she took the empty tea cups away. “Anyways, I'm getting tired. So unless you have something really important to talk about, I'm closing up for the night.â€
“In that case, I'm going to bed. Good night,†Tsuruko said before she stood up.
“By the way,†Haruka said, once Tsuruko was at the door. “Your cousin had asked Keitaro to imagine something and he asked me to imagine it as well.â€
“Oh? What is it?†Tsuruko asked, wondering if it was something that Tomoko forgot to tell her about.
“I'll use a variant of it. Remember when Motoko threatened Keitaro and then try to imagine Motoko's and Keitaro's genders reversed,†Haruka said.
Haruka watched as Tsukuro looked down as she thought about it.
Makoto was standing over Keiko, with his Bokken pointed at her throat.
'Time after time, you keep throwing yourself on us like a wanton slut. I'm getting tired of it. I don't care what your grandfather said. Be a good little girl and leave. That is an order,†Makoto said, before putting his bokken at his side and started to walk away.
“But-But-but where will I go?†Keiko asked herself, as she started to crawl away.
“That is no concern of mine, so shut up,†Makoto said before he walked out of sight.
Haruka was a bit surprised at Tsuruko's hands curling in anger.
“Woah, calm down there. It was only something you though up. No reason to attack anyone,†Haruka said. It seemed to have a bit of a calming effect on Tsuruko.
“It seems like I may have went too far with what you asked,†Tsuruko muttered. She then quietly whispered to herself, “I can't believe that was my first thought at what Motoko might do to Urashima if the genders were reversed. Motoko has more respect for others than that...â€
“Eh, happens to the best of us. Feel like sharing what you thought?†Haruka asked.
Tsuruko smiled and said, “Only if you tell me what you thought when you were asked something similar.â€
Silence passed for a few seconds.
“On second thought, some things are best left private. Anything else you wanna talk about?†Haruka answered a bit too quickly for her own tastes.
“No. Good night,†Tsuruko replied before leaving.
As Haruka tried to sleep that night, she wondered if she screwed up big time with Keitaro.
