7

The Good Old Days

A tension drifted between the two, one awkwardly uncertain.

"Souta," Kaito turned, trying to keep a smile. "Let me be honest with you, I think it’s better if you give up on my sister.”

"Where did this even come from?” Souta asked, his smile dimming like the sun on a rainy day.

“We haven’t had the time to talk in between just us in a while, so I thought I might as well finally get this off my chest.” He adjusted his jacket, slipping one of his hands into his pocket.

Souta turned his body annoyingly. “It’s only a crush. Nothing dangerous.”

“Then get rid of it before it grows; it makes it all the less painful.” He reached for a close-by branch, still clinging to his body, and snapped it.

“It’s not that easy.” Souta faked a smile, growing irritated underneath.

“Souta, I’m serious,” Kaito whispered, taking a mild sigh. “She’s not interested in you or romance, and you know that very well.”

"I know that, but feelings are feelings. You can’t just get rid of them at will." Souta closed the distance, budging against his shoulder in insistence.

Kaito didn't answer, looking at Souta with a flat expression.

"If I'm going to lose my only family to someone," Kaito murmured, taking a calming breath. “It'd better be to someone who treats her like a goddess."

Souta's expression cracked. "No one in this filthy world is close to perfect," Souta exclaimed, aggravatedly, his fists clenched. “Damn it, you’re not the only one who’s lost loved ones.”

Drip! 

A drizzle began. Faint droplets started to fall from the gathering clouds.

“You never had anyone to lose, Souta. You were spared the pain.” Kaito glared at Souta with envy.

“That doesn’t excuse your obsession with pushing everyone away, you bastard!” Souta shouted, pushing his hand through the air sharply.

Kaito froze for a moment, exhaling deeply.

"My sister deserves nothing less than the best." He stood his ground, unwaveringly.

Souta looked away, streaks of lightning emitting from his pupils. "Then you shouldn’t be talking either.”

The sky was split by lightning, and when Kaito blinked, Souta had disappeared too.

As the storm intensified, he stood still in sorrow, reflecting on his actions as raindrops pelted his body. His chest tightened, his hand shivering.

Have I really become a bad brother?

He glanced up into the hefty sky, a gray canvas of sorrow.

A moment of silence encased his deep breaths.

"It was this type of weather..." He whispered, voice trembling. "...when I became a brother."

As the sweet rain poured and his husk's glowed, he couldn't help but remember the day he met his precious little sister.

Thirteen years ago.

Kaito knelt on the couch, chin against the rim, facing towards the paned windows of his home.

"Cmon,” He murmured. “What’s taking her so long?"

A distance away, the kitchen cheered with light sizzling and whistles.

"Kaito,” His father asked as he placed some chicken onto a plate. “What do you want for dinner?”

"I'm not hungry," Kaito rested his head on the chair's rim, letting out a sigh.

He reached for the window with his finger, following the running droplets pouring down the window as if it were a race.

Kazai paused. Then footsteps marched.

"Don't tell me you're still waiting?" He dried his hands as he strolled towards his side.

"Yeah!” Kaito replied, his eyes stuck to the gray sky. “When’s the last time we ever got to eat this good?”

Still wearing his apron, he crouched beside him, resting his hand on the couch.

"Okay, come here for a second." His violet hair swayed slightly alongside his soft chuckle, dark shades of black visible in a few spots.

Kaito tilted his head in confusion, returning to looking at the sulking window after a second.

"The weird thing next to my heart?" He turned his body, swinging his legs, now hanging off the cushion.

He took off his pink soft apron and rested it on the floor.

"Yes, that thing, c'mon now."

He studied his son for a moment—then rested his open palm against Kaito’s chest.

A faint glow emerged from both, spreading a delicate warmth around the house.

"How interesting," He murmured. "It’s still vibrant." 

“The weird thing by my heart again?”

“Yes,” His father said gently, eyes calm as the sea. “That.”

The soothing warmth vanished over the following seconds, watching as Kazai lifted his apron and stood up.

“Does this mean you’ll finally train me?” Kaito asked excitedly, jumping up and down.

Kazai crossed his arms with a soft smile.

“Yeah, fine,” He chuckled lightly, lowering his head ever so slightly. “But that’s for tomorrow.”

Kazai stood, ruffling his son’s dark, wavy hair.

“Awesome,” Kaito extended his fists in celebration. “I can’t wait to beat up bad humans!” 

Kazai hesitated. 

"Okay, I wouldn't say all humans are," Kazai corrected swiftly. "Especially because your mother used to be–"

He froze in fright, realizing what he was about to reveal.

"My mom?" Kaito tilted, a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

"I meant that..." He coughed loudly, fidgeting with his fingers. "...she was a human rights advocate. Yeah, that."

"What does an ado cat have to do with Mom?" 

“Okay, nevermind that,” He waved his hands frantically, laughing nervously. “We should be fixing the table right now.”

Before Kaito could protest, the door creaked open, glaring at the two.

Echoing footsteps.

Then, hollow hesitation. 

A woman stood in the doorway, rain clinging to her coat, and a bundle strapped carefully against her back.

Kazai exhaled in defeat, closing his eyes.

"Oh." 

That’s all he could manage before her sudden presence. 

“Kazai,” Ava said flatly, her black eyes glistening. “Why isn't the table set?!" 

"Ava, my dear!" He acted surprised, raising his hands in defeat. "See, my heart skipped a beat and–”

Slowly retreating a few steps back, he smiled sheepishly. 

She pulled him back and grabbed hold of his face, kissing him.

Kaito groaned, shutting his eyes in embarrassment.

"No crappy excuses next time, okay?" She whispered, stepping away from the warmth.

"I'm sorry, my dear,” He replied gently, regaining his balance. “It won't happen again." 

Ava exhaled as she took a step back, her hand instinctively steadying the bundle behind her.

“I didn’t want to wait,” She said. “Six months was too long.”

Kazai blinked, tilting his head to the side.

“...Wait for what?”

She unfastened the leather straps.

Slowly and carefully, she turned, her black hair swaying—revealing a sleeping child cradled against her chest.

Dark hair. Soft cheeks. A tiny frown.

Kazai stood still, his breath caught.

“Oh,” He whispered once more. “She’s…”

"Say hello to our precious daughter, Elena." Ava smiled, carrying her daughter with utmost grace.

Kazai gently extended his pinkie finger to her small and soft hands.

"Oh wow, she's like a mini you." He chuckled lightly, noticing how her resting face appeared a little mad.

Ava giggled as she began rocking her steadily, rubbing her forehead with hers.

“She’s ours,” She said simply, the white tips of her hair watching over Elena. “Adopted.”

Kaito tried to catch a glimpse, tilting his head from side to side.

"Mom, Dad, who’s that?" 

Kazai grabbed him from underneath his shoulders, lifting him and placing him on his arm.

"Look, you have a sister now." 

He put his finger over his mouth, hinting at Kaito to be as quiet as possible.

"How nice." He whispered, looking at her with gleeful curiosity.

Mesmerized by her warmth, one similar to his parents, he was both happy and reluctant.

Kazai patted him on his legs.

"Yeah, say hello to Elena." 

Kaito gathered his bravery and introduced himself.

"Hello, Elena, nice to meet you." A small and timid wave.

The baby stirred in her mother's arms.

Emerald eyes fluttered open. 

They locked onto Kaito.

And for a moment, neither sibling moved.

Then, slowly, one tiny hand reached out—her fingers curled clumsily around Kaito’s thumb.

Kaito forgot how to breathe, a smile waking up on his face.

“Hi,” He whispered delicately. “I’m your big—”

"Big bo!" She murmured sleepily, her other hand resting.

The room froze.

Looking with mixed expressions of shock, surprise, and astonishment, their jaws dropped. 

But Kaito quickly broke out of his state, leaning in closer to her sweet warmth.

"Yeah, that's me." He smiled once more, happier than ever as her tiny fingers wrapped around his pinkie. "My name's Kaito, welcome to the family."

Then, the memory shattered violently.

Bump!

His senses panicked back and forth, trying to adapt to the sudden intrusion. 

Kaito stumbled over a rock, the cliff's edge rushing to reach his feet.

"Wait–ah!" 

The wind rushed before him, roaring against him like an angry crowd. From the gossiping cliff to the nervous trees, the edge grew further and further.

"Oh, great," Kaito exclaimed with a blank expression, looking from where he fell, rather worried.

Crash!