Chapter 5: Greetings

The man chuckles. "Did you hear that from the others?"

"Oh, gomenasai!" I apologize. "Is that not your name?"

Maybe "Kyo" was a nickname?

"My name's Ukyo," he says. "Some of my brothers call me Kyo-nii."

"Ah, that makes sense," I say, blushing. "Ema's told me a little about you. I hear you're a cook?"

Ukyo glances at Ema, who blushes. "I'm actually a lawyer," he explains, "But I do a lot of the cooking around here."

"When he's not being a pervy lawyer he's actually a good psuedo-mom."

"Huh? Pseudo-mom?" I mumble. Who just said that? 

Ukyo tilts his head. "Ah, the boys do like to call me that sometimes, but it's a little embarrassing." His forced smile tells me he hates it. 

I turn to Ema, but her attention is on a fuzzy grey thing sitting on her shoulder. 

Wait, that wasn't there before.

"Ema, what's that?" I point to the creature.

"Oh, this is Juli. He's my pet squirrel."

Can you keep squirrels as pets? 

"Oh, nice to meet you, Juli," I say. Then I glance around the floor. I don't see anyone else, and if it wasn't Ukyo or Ema who spoke just a second ago then...

I shake my head. No way. Squirrels don't talk. I must be hearing things.

Juli scratches behind the pink bow around his neck. "Who's this, Chii? A friend from school?" his little mouth moves.

My jaw drops. 

Oh. My. God.

"Ema, did Juli just talk?" 

Ukyo looks concerned for me, but in the least judgemental way.

Ema looks equally shocked, but it's Juli's eyes who grow as big as saucers. He glances from Ema to me, and repeats.

"Wait, you can understand me?" the squirrel squeaks.

I'm too afraid to nod. "This is my life now," I mutter to myself. 

My friend has a talking squirrel for a pet.

"Well, he's the only pet we keep in the house right now," says Ukyo, trying to spark up conversation again. He must think I'm weird for saying such things, but he does a good job of brushing over it. "I'm just about to make tea. Would you like some, Mai-san?"

"I think I can take a cup," I say. I walk over to the dining table and plunk down in one of the chairs. "I just need a minute."

While Ukyo sets the kettle to boil Ema and Juli come and join me. 

"I'm sorry about that," Ema says hastily. "Not many people can understand Juli'."

"I never would've guessed," I say, sarcasm oozing from my tone. "Ne, so that means you two can understand each other?"

Juli nods. "I'm Chii's protective guardian. It's the least I can do to make sure none of the horndogs in this house lay a hand on her." 

He crosses his little arms. I fight the urge to tell him how adorable he looks.

"Uh-huh." I lean back in the chair. "I mean, I used to talk to cats, but I guess now I talk to squirrels, too."

"Louis calls us 'kindred spirits,'" Juli says. "He can understand me, too. We're part of the Coalition to Protect Chii."

"Chii.... being Ema?" 

Ema laughs softly. "It's a silly nickname from a long time ago. Juli's been with me ever since I was born."

Now there's something I never would've guessed. How long do squirrels live, anyway? That must mean Juli's at least nineteen years old, maybe even twenty. Logically, that shouldn't be possible, and he doesn't look like an old squirrel, either. 

Then I remember how Ema was adopted, and how her parents had passed away wishing that she'd be taken care of. Maybe Juli was part of that wish, watching over her in their stead.

"Like Kitaro?" I murmur aloud.

"What was that?" Juli tilts his head. 

"Ah, nothing," I say quickly. 

Somehow I don't think Juli would appreciate being compared to Medama-Oyaji.

"Ukyo-san must think I'm a little weird now. Do any of the others understand Juli?"

Ema shakes her head. "Only my brother Louis-san."

That's the fourth name I know, and I have a feeling Louis isn't the punk we saw fighting Yusuke earlier. So that's five brothers so far.

"Sugoi," I say. "It must be so cool having Juli around."

Juli puffs out his chest. "Well, I do a good job of taking care of Chii, if I do say so, myself. But it's hard keeping tabs on thirteen boys. It's a good thing not all of them live here right now."

"How many of them will be here today?" I ask. "It's so quiet right now. You'd never guess there'd be so people."

"They're all at work or school," says Ema. "Not all of them make it back for supper every night, and some eat in their rooms if they're busy. I think the twins will be back today, and Yusuke-kun and Wataru-chan."

"I think you mentioned Wataru before?"

"He's the youngest one," says Juli. "But that doesn't mean you can let your guard down around him." 

Why's he on edge about a grade-schooler? An image of a young delinquent comes to mind. If he's anything like Yusuke I could get the idea.

"Wataru-chan is a sweetheart," Ema defends. "He's not in middle school yet, but he already says he knows what he wants to do when he grows up."

"Sugoi ne," I say. I still have no idea what I want to do. This kid must be really smart. 

"I heard about what happened to your place," Juli changes the subject. "I'm sorry to hear about your house."

I'm touched by his sincerity. "Ah, arigatou. Ema's been really nice in offering to have me stay. I'll be in your care."

"In that case, may I consider you for candidacy for the Coalition to Protect Chii?" Juli perks up. "She's told me about you, and you seem like you're a good friend to her."

I look to Ema. "Eh, it's more like the other way around."

Juli scurries up onto my shoulder. His little claws poke at my skin, but I don't mind it. 

"Chii told me about the time with that senior," he whispers into my ear.

"Ehhh?" 

I'd almost forgotten about that.

A while back when Ema and I had just met we went to the club fair together. Since it was early in the term all the clubs at university were dishing out stacks of pamphlets and pitches to get us to join their groups.

One of the seniors got a little too aggressive and physically tried to drag Ema to a booth. Ema had been protesting the whole time, but her voice was lost in the chaos. 

On an adrenaline rush, I'd karate-chopped the senior's arm (an action I'd regret later when I had to write a quiz) and told him to back off. 

I guess Ema mentioned it to Juli when she got home. 

"I could use someone like you on the team," says the squirrel. "And you might need protection too. All the brothers here can't keep their hands off of Chii, so who knows what they'll be like around you!"

Though he says it out of pure concern a burst of anxiety floods through me. 

Say what now?

I shoot a worrying glance at Ema, whose awkward expression tells me that Juli may be exaggerating. But he might have a point. 

Thirteen (or less) single men living together in one house. I don't want to think the worst about them, though that's exactly what Juli's tone is implying. 

I bite my lip.

Just what kind of brothers has Ema been living with all this time?