Upside Down 28 Chapter 26: Celebration

"Girls, it's time to get up, dinner will be ready soon."

"Okay Mama. Be down soon."

I look at Chinatsu, who is awake and looking me.

"Is something wrong? You're staring at me."

"Oh nothing, Just wondering how you're feeling Sornee."

"I've got some mild cramps, but nothing too bad. I'd be much better if my cute little sister would give me a hug though."

Grinning, she pulls me close and hugs me. When she starts to let me go, I tell her, "Uh uh, more."

"Now who's acting spoiled Sornee?"

"I've always been spoiled by you Chinatsu. Didn't you know that already?"

"That might be true, but it's really more like I enjoy doing things for you."

"I enjoy doing things for you too. We really are a little strange aren't we? I mean, look at us. We spend almost all of our time together. We sleep together, we're usually touching each other in one fashion or another. Don't get me wrong. I love being with you and even though I'm no longer anxious all the time, you touching me, be it holding my hand, hugging me, or us snuggling makes me feel much more at peace and relaxed."

"Mhmm. You're right, we might be, but I don't care. I love being with you Sornee. Being with you and us holding hands or whatever makes me feel at ease too. If people want to think we are strange because of that, let them. I don't care what they think anyway."

I sigh.

"Before Mama comes back up and scolds us, I suppose we better get moving. I need to go to the bathroom to take care of something."

"You sure you're okay?"

"I'm positive little sister. See you downstairs."

I give her one last tight hug, kiss her forehead and roll out of bed.

After taking care of my business in the bathroom, I wash my hands and head to the dining room. I stop dead in my tracks when I enter the dining room. Why? Simple, I'm surprised because I only expected to see Mama, Dad, Chinatsu and Honoka, but Airi and Mayumi are here as well.

"Congratulations!"

Everyone says when they see me enter the room which causes me to blush furiously. Honestly! Why are they making such a big deal out of this? It's embarrassing that everyone knows I started my period! At least they didn't tell anyone else, I hope. Shaking my head, I make my way to my seat beside Chinatsu and sit down.

"I wish you wouldn't make such a big deal out of this. It's embarrassing."

Mama reaches across the table and pats my hand.

"It's not embarrassing Sora. It's an important event for girls. An especially important one for you sweetheart. We celebrated when Chinatsu had her first period too."

I notice Chinatsu nodding her head out of the corner of my eye.

Personally, I don't see how it's all that important, but who am I to spoil their fun. It's not as if celebrating this really hurts anything. Well, other than embarrassing the hell out of me that is. I suppose it won't kill me to let them have their way.

"Thanks Mama. Thanks everyone."

I tell them with a small smile, which probably looks a little odd considering I'm still blushing.

Dad places his elbows on the table and looks at me intently for a few moments.

"Sora, how are you feeling?"

"Eh? Oh, I'm fine thanks to the meds Honoka got me earlier." I reply to him slightly confused and a little tense now. I feel like something is coming. Chinatsu seems to notice, takes my hand, and lightly squeezes it. I look at her and smile.

"Mitty called me earlier. Mr. Akiyama has been arrested and charged with assaulting you. He also..."

Dad trails off whatever he was going to say because I began crying. I'm not sad, far from it actually. The news makes me extremely happy. Maybe they are tears of relief. Back to my default state again.

Chinatsu turns to me, pulls me against her, and holds me while I bury my face against her neck. I wish I didn't cry over everything.

It takes a little while, but I'm finally able to pull myself together. I whisper, "Thank you" in Chinatsu's ear and sit up. She smiles at me, picks up a napkin and blots away my tears.

"Sorry everyone. I'm not upset or anything like that, I seem to cry at the drop of a hat these days. What were you saying Dad?"

"Mitty also reopened in the investigation into your parents death. Your testimony gave him the reason he needed to be able to dig deeper. He said he was optimistic they would find evidence implicating him in their deaths. They've already served search warrants on TGR and his home."

He stops for a few moments looking pensive. A few moments later he seems to come to a decision.

"Sora, you will be required to testify against him. Are you okay with that?"

"Of course I am Dad. I want him to pay for what he has done. Regardless of what he did to me, I'm certain he had something to do with Mother's and Father's death. I hope Lt. Aoki's investigation proves that."

"Even if it doesn't turn up anything Sora, he will still pay with his life. Mitty told you assaulting a fertile female is a death penalty offense."

"I remember Dad, but I want to know why they died. Don't get me wrong, I'm angry over what he did to me and I want him to pay for it as I said, even if it doesn't feel like it was me that it happened to. More than anything else, I want to know why they died. I doubt it was an accident, they were too meticulous in that respect and they only allowed people that were just like them in their labs."

I take a deep breath and sigh. Mama claps her hands to get everyone's attention. "Enough of that for now. This is a celebration. If there's more to be said you can talk about it later."

Mama picks up her glass and everyone follows suit.

"Congratulations Sora! Kanpai!"

"Kanpai!" Everyone calls out together which makes me blush a darker shade of red.

Mama wasn't kidding when she said we were having a special dinner. Sekihan (red rice) was the first dish set on the table. I tried to get up to help, but was pushed back down into my seat by Chinatsu. Mama went far out of her way and made lots of my favorite dishes which made me feel bad due to the fact that I simply picked at everything. Sorry, I'm just not all that hungry, from what Chinatsu told me that is fairly common for girls at this time.

Even so, I had a lot of fun and in the end, I'm glad my friends were here to help celebrate with us.

Chapter end