Chapter 4: The Yukinoshita family final part: Changing point
An unbearable pain, followed by the lonely darkness, the moment of him getting hit by a rapidly approaching truck. The pain that courses through my entire being abruptly fades into darkness. I have already experienced these feelings multiple times, and I know well it isn't a good sign. These are the symptoms of death.
Before I could even ask Aurora about her eye color, that doesn't match my memories, before I could find out more about what is happening around me, I was once again dead. Anyone or anything is messing with me, is not on my side, I can safely declare this.
It seems like I'm in a state of death for more time than last time. It's strange since no one would imagine death as a state of consciousness where the individual could think. Am I even unalive? My body is equal parts cold and warm, I can't feel anything.
So this is what awaits you after complete decease? A dark world where you can't feel anything? Nothing else like the afterlife or meeting my creator? Although, I already reincarnated into another world, so it would be too much to ask. I suppose I'm dead for good.
It seems like nothing they say is true, there's no afterlife as religious people think, not Heaven, not Hell, not even Purgatory. And so, this is my fate, to float in the emptiness of an unseen and imperceptible space where I can't do anything.
At least I have the time to think about my life. It's not as fancy as the saying says; 'My life flashed before my eyes.' I even have to take my energy and might to think about it, it's not fair.
I had a loving family at first with a sister that showed me unconditional affection, my parents too, they weren't the best of the best but they tried their best and I appreciated that. I had a stable life with a few friends and a potentially bright future.
But then, for some unknown reason, because of someone or something, after I got hit by a bus, I got transferred to another world. It turned out that world is none other than the world of my favourite series, Oregairu. There I had to start over my life from zero. At that moment I thought that my progress, my achievements from my previous life had gone forever, even if there were insignificant things I achieved to begin with.
Then, like a miracle happened, I woke up in a hospital where a lovely nurse informed me about what had happened to me. From what she said, it turned out that I was in my original world and I survived the encounter with a bus. Unfortunately, it costed me my ability to move my limbs. After a sudden heart attack, she spared me from a life of an incompetent paralyzed chunk of meat, and let me pass away in peace. Well not that I despise paralyzed people, I rather feel sorry for them.
After I died from that heart attack, I got back to the world where I had been sent. The worst part was that I was reincarnated as the main heroin's, Yukinoshita Yukino's twin brother. I reborned in the worst family possible, with a twisted natured bigger sister and a psychopathic mother who can't stand a second without ordering someone around.
After six years, six years without experiencing the phenomenon of travelling between worlds, he was unexpectedly sent yet again. There, the conditions were changed. Instead of being paralyzed from an accident with a bus, I just got a broken hand from a car accident. And instead of laying in a hospital bed, I stood in the middle of a mall. There, after a long time, I reunited with my beloved older sister, Aurora.
We bought a very weird book for our mother. Then, when a man tried to hit on my sister, I had to pretend I'm her boyfriend. In the cafe, I poured out my soul and expressed my thoughts to her. I'm glad I have such a good sister. But when we tried to get home and crossed the street, I noticed something that wasn't right. Her eyes were green instead of blue as they should be. And then a truck hit them. And then darkness, I didn't have the time to ask her about it.
And now we are here. I'm floating in a void with no hope of getting out.
When I experienced that previous vision, I'm not only noticed the difference in my sister's eye color but much more detail. The mall I'm used to going to hang out with my few friends or just to buy something, had a slightly different layout from what I remember. In the book store too, on the cover of the light novel, My Teen Romantic Comedy, Yui had blonde hair instead of pink or peach color. And the most significant difference was my own two eye's color, I also had green eyes when I'm supposed to have blue ones like my sister should have.
In most things it was the same world as I remember, but for some unknown reason it was slightly different in the details. Like it was my world, but at the same time it is not. It's like another version of my known world.
This darkness, this is much longer than last time.
I still wanted to deny it, not wanting to accept the truth of my situation. After all, I met this fate multiple times and now it's no different. I survived worse, well to be precise, I passed away in more brutal ways. I felt like I had already died several hundred times, I can't put my finger on it but I feel like I had more rough times.
I can't give up, I have to wake up. I said these words in my mind like a mantra as I tried to move my body. If my hands moved, then I couldn't know it, because I can't feel any pressure or material with my skin in this state. But I still tried, I don't want to give up just yet. No matter where I will wake up, either somewhere in my original world or in my bed surrounded by a fake family, anything is better than this.
Suddenly, I felt something around my waist, something that replaced the lingering feeling of void with a welcoming warmth that eased my mind. That magnificent feeling spreaded throughout my entire being, from my side, through the length of my spine and continued to radiate through my limbs.
Slowly my eyelids parted away from each other. When I realized that I'm starting to wake up, as if I'm just waking up from a bad dream, my eyes snapped open and my lungs gasped for air. I can't believe that I'm alive, I thought I'm dead for eternity, that I will float there, in that void forever.
"Are you okay?" A soft, concerned voice asked.
"Yeah, just a bad dream." I turned my head in the direction where the silent voice came. There was a worried looking Yukino, clinging to my side. Her petite arms wrapped around my waist, her small form pressed against my body. It's an incredibly cute sight.
"What are you doing in my bed? What are you, a koala bear?" I couldn't help but tease her, after all it's rare to see Yukino this vulnerable, so I will take this opportunity to mock her.
At my words she retreated her hands and looked away. "Well, I had a bad dream so I didn't feel at ease alone, so I decided to sleep here." I hope she didn't have dreamed things like I experienced tonight. I sat up and leaned my back against the backrest of the bed. "Really? And you decided to run to your sweet Onii-chan and cuddle him?"
"I couldn't let my useless brother toss and turn in fear." She said mockingly.
"What do you mean?"
"I woke up to you kicking the air and gasping for oxygen, so be grateful that your cute little sister calmed your nerves with a big hug." She explained proudly.
So apparently, for an outsider it looks like I'm just having a nightmare, well, it's not so far from the truth. Still, I can't let go of the feeling that's real. And who knows? If she hadn't woken me up, I might still be floating in that void.
"Thank you for taking care of me." I said gratefully and gently ruffled her long silky hair.
"Are you messing with me?" Yukino seemed surprised. I can't blame her, if I were her I would be suspicious of myself too.
"No, I'm truly thankful to you." I gave her a small smile and she returned it with a warm one. "But~ I'm really curious about why did you come to my room instead of Haruno's. Did you mistake the door?" It's enough of the wholesome conversation, back to teasing.
Yukino narrowed her eyes, but the little blush on her face that I could sense in the dim light, betrayed her feelings. From the light beams shining through the gap between the curtains, I assumed it's already morning. It was the worst night of my life, but I can only be grateful it ended. But who should I be grateful to?
"It's just because I didn't want to bother Onee-san, it has nothing to do with you." She retorted, pouting cutely.
"If lies caused pain, you would already be screaming for mercy."
"I could say the same but with sloth. You deserved to be bothered because you do nothing and complain about everything. While Onee-san is the complete opposite of you in this field." Yukino said with a satisfied grin.
Damn Haruno, you wrapped her around your finger already with your charm and hardwork. I have to pick up the pace with her if I don't want Yukino to end up as she originally was. Although, I don't know why I want to change her. Maybe I see something in her, some hope that she could be happier, or it's just a big brother's concern. Either way, I don't want Haruno to influence her, she's the root of everything. Maybe if I tear out the root, as if she was a weed in a flower garden, maybe if I change Haruno itself, then I may be satisfied.
"You may be right, but she's not as cool as your easygoing Onii-chan." I could see as the corners of her mouth curled up in a small smile that faltered almost immediately. Yes! I caught her.
"Anyway, what did you dream about?" I'm a little curious what she dreamed about, but it might just be about a monster chasing her, or a pack of dogs or an alien raptor, not that I had these dreams.
Her expression turned thoughtful as if she remembered something, and assuming from the twitch of her lips, it wasn't pleasant. "It's nothing." This made me more interested. What if she experienced something similar to my whatever to call it.
"Alright, we should prepare for today." I didn't want to push the subject further, after all I too, wouldn't want to talk about what I saw. On the other hand, today we are going to the amusement park in Chiba, so the sooner I forget about it, the better.
Yukino nodded and climbed off my bed to go to her own room. After she left I also crawled out of the bed to do every necessary thing before I go downstairs.
I started by pulling aside the curtains. The sun illuminated the entire room and filled with warmth. It's about seven in the morning, I think. The sun was up enough to hurt my eyes and squeeze my pupils. My eyes!
I hurried to my mirror that was attached to my closet to examine my eyes. Purple again, my eyes shone in that same violet color, just like my sister's. My features too, I got back my slightly more handsome face.
I'm happy that I'm back in a more charming body, but confusing feelings swirl inside me. On one hand, there's this life. A completely new one, where I could start over and do things I missed in the other. On the other hand, there was my original life. With ordinary, boring days and with a normal family.
I can't decide what I want anymore. I still yearn for my previous life, but if I can't control when I can go back and if I die every time I'm there, then I'm afraid that it isn't an opinion anymore. Whoever is messing with me, I'm clearly not their favorite.
Maybe I can prosper here if I try, maybe I can even change things, and avoid every unpleasant situation.
When I set my foot on the first floor, Yukino already clattered the cutlery and had already set a kettle of water on to boil for tea. I sat down at the table.
"We should wait for Haruno with the breakfast." The water Yukino put on for tea had already started boiling.
"Right, I'm not hungry yet anyway." We agreed and decided to wait until Haruno woke up. Yukino poured the hot water into a teapot and soaked a filter in the liquid. After a couple of minutes, she filled two cups, one for me, in an ordinary cup, and for herself, in a Pan-san cup. She definitely is a fan of him. Good thing we can buy Pan-san plushies in the park's souvenir shop.
"Are you excited about today?" I broke the silence, after all, I wouldn't want to sit here and just stare at each other while waiting for our sister.
"Of course, we haven't been there in a long time." She seemed happy about it, but as her little fingers drummed on her cup, I sensed her unease.
"Is something wrong?" Despite being the younger sibling in my entire life, I'm slowly getting used to the big brother role. At first it seemed suffocating, facing the responsibilities, but it could be worse, after all I'm just the middle child now.
"Yeah, just thinking about last time, I hope she won't tease me to that extent." She sighed and took a long sip from her cup.
She's referring to the last time we went to the amusement park. Haruno's usual activity is to scare her when we ride on a game. She says things like 'What if this break down under us.' or 'Hold on to something otherwise you might fall out.' Especially when we are in a horror themed place. It's her sick entertainment, or just siblings teasing.
"She doesn't mean it." I said that so suddenly that I even surprised myself. From the moment I arrived in this world I despised our sister, Haruno. I always thought of her as a manipulative scum who can't be helped. But I think, no, I want to believe that I'm starting to understand her. She's just a child now, who wants to live the best of her youth. But unfortunately she's pressed by the weight of expectations and responsibilities, just because she is the oldest sibling.
"She's just… expressing her feelings in other ways. Don't be mad at her, if she didn't love us, she wouldn't treat us like this." I tried to reassure her, but the more I said the more I felt something in the back of my mind, that I was talking to myself. Maybe this family isn't that bad.
"How's about this? I'll make sure she can't mock you." I took a sip of my tea to calm my nerves. Although a Max Coffee would settle me down sooner.
"Are you for real? Like how?" She asked with doubtful expression.
"I'll just take the rides in the amusement park with her. Look, I'll try my best." She gave me a small smile and a thank you.
"Why are you guys up so early?" The speak of the devil. A tired looking Haruno asked while swiping her sleepy eyes in her loose pajamas. She yawned as she approached the table. That made me let out a big yawn too, which in turn made Yukino yawn as well. This is seriously infectious.
"Don't mind us, Yukino here just had a nightmare." Despite my promise to protect her from Haruno's joking, I can't help doing it myself.
"Hey, Onii-chan here too, had a nightmare!" Yukino retorted with a flustered tomato face.
"Oh my, my Yukinon and Tomo-chan had a bad night at the same time, twins definitely think alike." Haruno giggled sarcastically while covering her smug grin.
"Yeah, yeah, if you have this much energy to joke around, then you should do the breakfast yourself.* I answered.
"You can make jokes but you restrain me from doing so? It's not fair." She pouted with cute puppy-like eyes. Stop guilt tripping me.
And so, we prepared some breakfast and sat down to eat. After finishing and washing the dishes, we packed up and got ready for the day in the amusement park.
As if fate wanted it, right after we cleaned up the mess remaining from breakfast, the doorbell rang. As discussed, Hayato showed up at nine with Alfred, his driver and butler.
Haruno eagerly hurried to open the front door, greeting them. They got invited for a cup of hot tea before we left for our destination.
Sitting in the black luxury car, I ogled out the window as we passed through the bustling city of Tokyo. At first, I couldn't believe I'm here, in the dream metropolis of otakus. My dream of travelling to the center of Japan came true the moment I got reincarnated.
The huge buildings, super japanese cars, anime themed shops and even maid cafes, it's all right in front of my eyes. It's like a dream come true, but no, this is the reality, and I'm getting used to it. My new reality is here, in the heart of Japan.
At first I was uncertain about it, I agonised about it, but as time flew I came to realize that this isn't so bad. Especially after what happened tonight. If I can't stay in my original world, then I have to accept this and make the most of it.
My life just started in this dimension, this is just the beginning. I have so many things to do, so much activity I want to do and so much time. Unfortunately, despite it's a couple of years until high school starts, I have relatively little time until the main story begins. And I have intentions to interfere with the plot. So until then, I want to enjoy my stay.
"What would you like to do first, kids?" Alfred asked us after arriving at the park, buying tickets and looking around on the park's main square.
"Roller coaster!" Yukino cried out excitedly.
"I want to shoot to get a prize!" Hayato said.
"Anything is fine for me." I said, after all, whatever is good as long as we have fun. "Maybe some snacks would be great."
"We are coming from breakfast and still want to eat? What are we gonna do when you throw up all the food you ate on the roller coaster?" Haruno asked mockingly.
"Then what's your idea, what do you want to ride first? You didn't say anything" I was a little suspicious when I looked into her eyes. What are you planning, devil girl?
"I think we should start with the haunted house ride, it will awaken all of us in the morning." Haruno answered with an innocent smile.
I can see through you, devil girl. She wants to tease Yukino right off. I have to stop her from doing so.
"Well, in that case, start with the roller coaster. I too, don't want to puke out my guts." I'm doing this just because I promised Yukino to help her avoid our big sister's mockery.
Yukino seemed to understand my actions, considering her big smile on her face. Or she could be just happy that I agreed with her once in a blue moon.
"I think the shooting area could wait if you guys want to start with a more exciting ride." Hayato said, he probably doesn't want to be a third party and just joins the majority regarding the opinions we stated for him.
"Three against one, it means we start the day at the roller coasters." Alfred ended our disagreement with the authority of democracy in no time.
So we headed to the destination we voted for. We would jump into the carts if an employee didn't stop us.
"Sir, I can't let them on without an adult supervisor." The man said, I can't blame him, he's just doing his job.
It wouldn't be a problem, but the thing is Alfred is a little old for sitting in such a fast moving cart that changes direction in the blink of an eye.
"You don't have to do it, we can find something else, there's a ton of other things." I reassured him.
"No Mister, this is my duty, I can handle it so you kids have a wonderful time." That's the man I know, always responsible and does everything for the sake of both families.
"In that case, we are grateful for your sacrifice." Haruno thanked him in our names.
"Yukino, do you want to share a cart with me?" Hayato offered. And like that, me and Alfred took our seats in the first cart, Yukino and Hayato behind us, and Haruno behind them, alone.
This way she can't joke with Yukino about pushing her out during the ride or something. When I looked behind my shoulder, she seemed a little lonely, but I couldn't think about it further because the carts started moving forward uphill just to drop extremely.
"Man, I didn't know you like rough rides like this." I really didn't know Yukino the type of child who loves stomach churning roller coasters like this. This once I'm happy I took Haruno's advice and didn't eat snacks as soon as I got here.
"It's just a skill issue if you can't keep up with me." She retorted.
Poor Alfred, he's still leaning on a lamp post for support while panting heavily. It was really not invented for him.
"I overdid myself with this for the day. If I have to do this again, I might have a heart attack." His voice sounded suffocated as if someone was choking him.
"Don't even mention it, that was a painful experience." I didn't want to be reminded of the past but I unintentionally get slapped across the face all the time with it. "I mean the headache after the roller coaster."
"I thought you were talking about the heart attack. I was afraid you know what does it feels like, but it's expected you know the symptoms, after all you are the brightest one here." I wasn't fully prepared for his praise but I'm flattered.
"Oh Alfred, don't laud him too much, it might get to his head." Haruno seems to be a little pissed. Meanwhile Yukino and Hayato, well, they are chatting carefree about something.
Suddenly the two children rushed in the direction of the prize shooting booth. They are such a pain in the ass.
When Haruno noticed this, she hurried after them to stop their irresponsibility, but she couldn't catch up.
"I'll teach those brats, you guys can come later!" She cried out before vanishing among the crowd, leaving me, who showed his understanding toward her throught a thumbs up, and a heavily panting old man alone.
Alfred just laughed off the situation. Seriously, when I thought he's a responsible man, he came and crushed my idea of his personality.
"He's really enjoying himself." He said with a nostalgic smile.
"He's enjoying himself a little too much, don't you think?" I answered.
"It's better than not having fun at all." His words surprised me, because I couldn't imagine why he would say that. Out of curiosity, I had to ask.
"What do you mean? Where did this come from?"
"You see, despite how joyful Hayato may seem, it's a rare moment to see this much happiness on his face. Whenever we are at home, I can't stand the lonely look that his eyes give. Because at home, his parents can't give mister Hayato their full attention due to their job. That's why I'm grateful for you and your siblings that you are there for him as a company. Every time he spends his free time with you, Yukino and Haruno, he seems to cheer up, and that makes me happy too."
I was overwhelmed by the many words he said but it gave me a chance to understand Hayato Hayama's character more.
As an only child, just like Haruno, he too has responsibilities that burden him from a young age.
Despite being introduced as a famous and cheerful character in the series, he's now just a lonely kid who has a fistful of friends. But as we know, this won't last long as he is entering elementary school the next day, where he'll have a chance to make friends.
It's interesting though, to see the supposedly joyful and popular Hayato be so lonely and alone.
"He's a good guy, he will surely make a bunch of friends." I said finally, after gathering my thoughts. Actually it was just a simple answer after all that train of thoughts, but Alfred seemed to be satisfied with it.
"You think that too? Let's hope so." He answered, a small smile forming on his lips. He really cares about Hayato, and feels concerned when he's sad. In conclusion, Alfred is a great man.
"I lost…again!" As we catched up to the others, I could see Yukino's complaining form as she fell for an amusement park vendor's cheating games once again.
"There you are! I can't believe them, they ran away just to try to win a Pan-san plushie." Haruno exclaimed.
"I don't know, it's a pretty serious matter, especially if it's a limited edition Pan-san." I hope I'm dancing on her nerves right now with this answer.
"Alfred, will you just let it slide and not teach them a lesson?"
"It's not needed, they did not cause any trouble and get hurt. It's fine as long as they have fun." I'm seriously concerned about how his kids are raised with his easygoingness.
"What? How do you keep your kids in line?" It seems like Haruno had the same thought in her mind.
"Well, my kids have already flown out of the family nest, but until they grew up the one who kept them in check was my wife, she's pretty strict." Alfred's hand reached up to scratch the back of his head nervously as he explained to us his hierarchy in the household. It seems that the Yukinoshita family is not the only one with a woman on the top. I wonder if all Japanese households work like this. Women are scary.
"Anyway, did you guys win anything?" I could tell they didn't but I had to break the silence, I'm the icebreaker in conversations today, it looks like that.
"Unfortunately I didn't, but Hayama hasn't tried yet." Hayama? Did she call him by his first name? Here in Japan, calling others by their first name shows that you are close with them. To tell the truth, I didn't pay attention when she started calling Hayato by his other name, but I guess it's normal, after all we are all friends. So why do I still call him by his last name then? Maybe I'm just seeing and treating them as characters from an imaginary world.
"Then how about we race to see who could shoot more targets?" I could see the competitive fire light up in Hayato's eyes. It's time to genuinely enjoy my situation. "What will the winner get?" He asked with a sly smile. I didn't think about that detail, but all competitions need a reward.
"How about this? The winner can ask the other for a favour, and I mean anything, well if it's ain't against the law. "And if it's a draw, we are both losers."
So we paid our fees and each of us grabbed a gun that shoots cork stoppers. "The rules are easy, you have ten shots and you have to shoot down the moving pandas, if you hit five targets out of ten you win a prize." Said the vendor.
Taking his position, Hayato tried his luck first. He shot down the targets one after the other. He was pretty good, the fact that he successfully got seven hits out of ten proves that true.
"Try to beat that!" After him I took out my gun and aimed. My first try didn't reach any pandas.
"Your aim isn't as good as mine. Uhh, what should I ask from you?" Hayato exclaimed cockily.
"Don't celebrate just yet, it was my first try." I tried again and this time I hit the upper edge of one of the targets. Despite all logical thinking the panda still stood, happily smiling in my direction. It doesn't count as a hit.
"Uhh, next time aim better Tomo-chan." Interrupted Haruno.
"Shut up! I clearly hit that!" Grrr, don't harden my life more than it already has been. "Well, then it's time to lock in!" I know it's such a lame line but I can't help it when my competitive side stirred up.
It seems like my trashy line worked because after my first two failed attempts, I hit target after target until I brought myself up to seven successful hits and now I'm aiming for my last shot.
If I miss this, we'll both be losers and I can't afford to lose. Although I don't really lose nor gain anything after all, we agreed that if we have the same point, no one is forced to do anything for the other. But it's a showdown so… "I WON'T LOSE!!!"
"Please don't yell, you scare the customers."
"Oh, sorry about that." I should watch my mouth next time. Damn me, you got yourself in an embarrassing situation yet again.
So I raised my gun, closed one eye and held my breath as I aimed. When I was sure of myself, I slowly curled my finger around the trigger and pulled it. The cork stopper flew across the booth, colliding with the annoyingly smiling panda with a force that flipped it over.
I won, I really won! "It seems like I'm the king of firearms." I declared pridefully.
"Fine, what's your request?" Hayato sighed as he admitted his loss.
"I don't want to use it just yet, I'll keep it for rougher times." He seemed suprised at my answer, hurt even.
"What!? You have to ask now." He's really just a child yet. Not that I'm not, but I'm just physically, right?
"Well, I didn't say any word about when you are supposed to use it. If you had won, you could have decided that way too." I said with a visible superiority.
"Calm down big guys, in the end both of you win a prize." Haruno interrupted us before it could escalate any further.
That was right, we both exceeded the quota which was needed to win a limited edition Pan-san plushie. It's a shame they don't give limited Max Coffee for the winners though.
"That's right, I haven't seen kids with such a great ability to use guns, not even every adult could do that." The employee praised us as he offered to choose from the hanging plushies.
Hayato choosed a stuffed toy panda with a diploma in his paw and a diploma hat on his head. Me on the other hand chose musketeer Pan-san, with a musketeer hat which had a fancy feather attached to it and musket rifle in his paws.
"Here, you can have that, you are collectic them, right?" Hayato offered the toy which he recently won to Yukino.
"A-are you sure? Well, thank you very much." She hesitantly accepted his present with furious blush creeping on her cheeks. When she took it from him they both smiled at each other as Yukino hugged the plushie to her chest.
"He really experienced a lot today, more than friendship." Alfred muttered under his breath beside me.
Ignoring his words, I took Hayato's example and turned to Haruno. "Here, take this. I can't really do anything with it anyway."
She seemed taken aback. The slight blush forming on her neck told me that. "W-why do you think I would need that? You won this, didn't you?"
"Yes, but as far as I know you too are a fan of these toys. And beside that, you took care of us during the weekend. Even better, when our parents called you about their extended work trip you didn't back off." I don't know where this is coming from right now, but I feel she deserves this, my gift and words, my approval.
Upon hearing my words, her smile widened even more and wrapped her hands around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.
"Aww, don't flatter me cutie, I don't deserve a little brother like you!" Wow, I complimented my way into her heart. And her grip, it's not so bad, not to mention her sweet smell.
As reality hit me hard in the face, I somehow managed to pull back from her inescapable grip. "Don't think I did it for free, you deserve it, so keep up the good work."
At my words everyone laughed up, it doesn't matter if it was hearty like Alfred's, or a delicate giggle you barely could call a laugh, they all laughed up.
And it felt soothing, encouraging even, and that made me laugh too, like I belong here, here with these characters who seem to warm up before my very eyes and grow more human. Maybe I misjudged them? That made me second guess my own thoughts, about my prejudice of this family.
We spent the whole day trying new rides and foods, the day passed happily. Before we went home the four of us decided which game we should try for the last time today and so we took a seat in one of the ferris wheel cabins while Alfred waited for us in the car. The sunset was beautiful as the sun shined through the plexiglass of the cabin.
"So this is your last day as carefree children?" Haruno started the conversation this time. The other three parties just nodded.
"Let me give you guys some advice. Socialize, and help others." I couldn't understand at first why she said that but if I think about it, it makes sense. You have to communicate with your peers from the very first day otherwise you will drift off from the people and what remains is just a lonely person. That was in Hachiman's case. He screwed up the chance to get friends. True, it wasn't his fault he got into a car accident, that's why they call it an accident.
"All of you are intelligent, including me. If you won't try to get to know other people and don't let them get to know you then they will pin the nerd label on you. Believe me I know how this is working, so I overcame my fears and here I am, a lovable person to be around." Despite being just a nine year old, she has much more emotional intelligence than her peers in her age, and some adults included.
"Especially you Tomomi. You are the one most likely to find yourself in this situation. So please take my advice." At that moment I wanted to protest, wanted to tell her I don't need her pity, that she has no right to tell me to be someone who I'm clearly not. But her small smile stopped me from doing so. It wasn't pity, how could it be, I'm such an idiot. It was a big sister's concern. I finally saw something in her I hadn't thought I would, Aurora. I saw my sweet, big sister from my other life, and her protective intentions.
At home Haruno, Yukino and I patiently waited for our parents to come home. Hayato and Alfred have already left due to tomorrow being our first day in school.
The door suddenly opened, revealing our tired mother and even more exhausted father. Yukinomama must have drained his energy. Yukino immediately jumped on my father, causing him to fall on his butt.
"Ouch, don't attack your tired father out of the blue." But he couldn't escape her grasp and ended up returning the hug.
"Oh you, Yukino." Our mother chuckled, hiding her mouth behind her palm elegantly. "Could it be, my sweet children were missing their parents?" Haruno too walked up to them to greet them with an embrace.
That made me think about her question? Was I lonely? No, I wasn't lonely because there was my siblings and Hayato were there for the weekend. Did I miss them? Maybe, after all, they are my parents.
From the moment I realised where I really am I wanted to get as far away from them as I can. I didn't want a life with a megalomaniac mother and my most hated character as my older sister.
But this weekend changed something and made me realise two crucial things. That people can change very quickly and easily, if you meet someone and they make a certain impression on you that doesn't mean they were like this in their childhood or even a year ago. We, humans change through experiences, it doesn't matter if it's the better or the worse, we can change in a blink of an eye. And it suits Haruno and Yukino well. They are far from what I knew about their characters, and I'm sure they will change into what I hate the most. They will change even if slowly, and I can interfere with it.
"Won't you come here and greet your mother like a good boy?" She asked in a soft voice as she crouched down so I could reach her. I slowly approached and hesitantly wrapped my arms around her neck. I feel like I belong here finally, like I have a family once again, a loving and supportive family.
The other thing I realised is that family is important and can be your support in hard times like this.
"Did your sister take good care of you?" She whispered into my ears.
"Yeah she did, actually we went to the amusement park today. She deserves praise for it." I exclaimed with genuine happiness.
"Really? Then you really deserve one, good work sweetie~" She winked at her. "Tell me about it." As Yukino led my parents into the dining room while telling them the weekend's actions, me and Haruno still stood in the hall.
"Thank you, for your words and earlier gift." Haruno turned in my direction with an honest, grateful smile.
"No need to thank me, it was a token of my gratitude."
"No, I really mean it. And sorry. Sorry for always teasing you, especially yesterday."
"Don't worry, I understand you don't mean the mocking and you actually understand and love us." She then pulled me into a tight hug, expressing her gratitude.
"Thank you." And with that she turned around to join the others in the other room.
I didn't felt this motivated once in my lifetime, in my two lifetime. Now I have a purpose in this world and this is, I want to make everyone have a happy ending, all of them. And I'm prepared to take every chance and means.
I will be the hero of this story!
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