This is a personal request from a friend of mine. You know who you are. This is slow burn, sorry not sorry.

Ema smiled softly, nodding her head. "Of course you can come over to my house. Studying is easier with a friend."

Yuki sighed with relief, packing her bag as she prepared to leave class. "Thank you," she moved her bag on her right shoulder, flipping her short brown hair. "I really appreciate it."

The two girls walked home, ignoring the world until a blonde boy walked over to Ema, a bundle of sunflowers in his hand. "Hello," he blushed. "I think you are beautiful so I hope you accept these flowers."

Ema's face flushed with embarrassment, playing with her ponytail. "Thank you but you should know I have a boyfriend. However my friend here is available and I'm sure you will have fun with her."

Yuki gave the boy her best smile, though he was out of her league. He had the build of an athlete, maybe a swimmer. Blonde hair and green eyes with perfectly straight, white teeth. Yuki felt her smile falter, feeling insecure with her dingy brown hair and extra weight. At 71.214 kg (157 lbs) she wasn't overweight but she had enough of a stomach to not see her toes. Her skin wasn't perfect... the list went on. As if to confirm her insecurities, the boy put a hand behind his head, laughing nervously. "Well I have to go now. It was nice meeting you."

Yuki felt her heart shatter as she walked away from the boy, Ema by her side.

"He was so rude," Ema said with disgust. "I'm so sorry, Yuki. You have the sweetest personality I've ever seen."

"It doesn't get me far when no one looks past the surface," she sighed, playing with her hair to hide her tear-filled eyes.

She knew how to change things around: exercise, eat a better diet, have a consistent skincare... But it was hard on her when she was busy with other aspects of life. Her father lost his job so money was tight so things such as pretty clothes, gym membership, and healthy food were out of the question. The idea of a facial was laughable. When Yuki's father left her mother with Yuki and her younger brother, the finances became even harder on the small, broken family. They ate whatever cheap, unhealthy food they could find and any money Yuki came across went to her mother to help however she could. Depression seeped in, leaving Yuki with a lack of energy to care for herself, only adding to the insecurities she already had. 

Yuki was lost in thought about this as she walked with Ema until they reached the luxurious apartment. Ema smiled, friendly as ever. "Ready to study?"

"Yes," Yuki smiled, not wanting to go home until she absolutely had to. "I'm really struggling with my French homework."

After an hour of studying in Ema's room, the two young women went downstairs for a snack. Ukyo was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Ema smiled at her brother, offering a hand. 

"I can help too," Yuki offered, immediately cutting vegetables. She moved swiftly, the knife moving effortlessly. 

"You're really good at that," Ema complimented. "Do you cook at home?"

"Yeah. I help my mom because she works late most nights since Dad left. Sauske is too young to fend for himself so I make sure he eats properly."

"What's your favorite thing to eat for dinner?" The older brother asked, moving to set the table.

It took Yuki a moment too long to realize Ukyo was speaking to her. She blushed at her embarrassment. "I don't really like to eat dinner, so most nights I eat a light sandwich with water."

"That's what you eat for lunch too," Ema noted. "You must really like sandwiches. Maybe you could make me a famous Yuki special one day?"

The insecure girl smiled through the pain. "Of course! I'd love that. I'll do that tomorrow."

With the topic of food long forgotten among the girls, Ukyo frowned. Concerned, he messaged his brother.

Masaomi loved taking care of children, making sure their health was always at their best. His job was a very rewarding one with many perks. One of which was seeing the smiles of the children he cared for and helped. That was always his favorite part: topping off any appointment with a lollipop to see those smiles. On his way home, he got a message on his cell phone from Ukyo. How odd. He hardly ever messaged anyone, preferring a phone call.

Ema brought a friend over. I can tell she's lying about eating habits... care to help?

Naturally Masaomi was ready to help however he could. A girl Ema's age with a potential eating disorder was... unnerving. The long term effects of anorexia or bulimia would ruin her body. He rushed home, hoping everything was okay. Teenagers were always the hardest to get through to, in his experience. 

Upon walking into the living room, the two girls had moved on from studying to watching Fuuto, Yuki's favorite singer, on TV.

"I feel like I would be very overwhelmed if I had a famous brother," Yuki noted. "It seems like it would be hard."

Masaomi smiled broadly. "Hello there. You must be Yuki, Ema's friend. How were your studies?"

Ema smiled back. "They went well, but Yuki is going to stay the night. She accidentally stayed too late but the subways are dangerous at night. We can go to school together in the morning. What would you like to eat for breakfast?"

Yuki laughed, covering her mouth with the sleeve of her hoodie. "I usually don't eat breakfast," she admitted.

"That's the most important meal of the day," Masaomi informed her. "Do you mind if I give you both a physical? There has been a flu going around lately and I just want to make sure you are both healthy."

Yuki agreed, unable to afford a doctor nowadays, but instantly felt insecure the moment he looked at her weight. Shit.

"Well according to the scale you are slightly overweight, however not by much. In fact, I suspect that if you ate a balanced diet three times a day, it would help a lot. I assume you walk to school which is great exercise, so eating properly would be the key."

Yuki felt her tears fall from her face. She faced Ema's older brother. "I know I'm overweight but I can't afford healthy food. I hardly ever eat at all..."

"Not eating or hardly eating can lead to an eating disorder that will ruin your body in so many ways. Dizziness, fainting spells, pain, dry skin... and you damage your organs. I can help you get to a healthy weight, but you're not too far off the mark. You're still very healthy overall. I can see you being right back to your weight goal in a month or two."

Hearing his words comforted Yuki, though they weren't magical. They didn't cure her insecurity but through therapy she was able to work through her body dysmorphia.  But true to his word, Masaomi helped her lose weight, free of charge. He found out about Yuki's family situation, refusing to charge a young woman in need. Every visit Yuki took to Ema's apartment for studies or sleepovers, he would check in on her. At first, he was the only brother she would open up to but over time, Louis befriended her, helping her hair back to health. Iori was kind to her too, eventually taking her to his modeling agency. 

Through her connections from her friends, Yuki became a model herself. She was so beautiful and talented, she had the ability to model her way through college, becoming an internet sensation. Eventually she graduated college, becoming a dietitian, thanks to Masaomi. She owed him everything.

Yuki reflected on all this one night with Ema in the kitchen, blushing. "We were kids then but he changed my life."

"And you changed mine," Masaomi said from behind the beautiful dietitian. She blushed, turning around to see all the brothers around her. "Yuki, you have changed how I see the world and I've seen you become a confident, intelligent woman. Over the years we've become such good friends and I never want this feeling to end." He knelt on one knee, opening a heart shaped box, revealing a diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

With tears of joy in her eye, Yuki nodded, unable to speak. Masaomi placed the ring on her left hand, kissing it. "I love you, Yuki."

"I love you too, Masa," she whispered, wrapping him in her arms.