Familial love.
It is a crucial part of a child's life. So it was very apparent how it affected the Nagano siblings' lives when their father died in battle while he was scouting for humanity.
The mother of the three, Sayuri Nagano, which was also part of her husband's squad, came back almost crippled and barely able to walk.
The shock that the three siblings suffered could not be described. Unfortunately for them, it did not end there.
The Hiroshi clan, even before the invasion started, was a very wealthy group. They started rising financially throughout the 2030s, a decade before Earth was attacked. They did so using their monopoly on a new type of mineral that produced vast amounts of renewable energy.
They used their near-limitless funds to resist and fight in the war for almost six decades before finally retreating to the four Bastions, cities built to hide from the invaders.
They hid as a regular wealthy family and lived among the populace of Triage, the 4th Bastion. Some members of the clan still held their pride as one of the most prosperous groups to exist, however.
One of those members that clung to that useless, noble pride was the current patriarch and leader of the Hiroshi clan.
So when his one and only son married a mere lowly commoner in his eyes, he lit up in a fury. And as someone who fought in the front lines of humanity, his anger shook the city.
Still, his son was as bold and stubborn as he and was unfazed.
The patriarch of the Hiroshi clan could only give up in resignation as even the mightiest of the clan could only fall to his knees in front of his son's power.
There and then, the "lowly commoner" was accepted as the wife of Hiroshi clan's only successor.
But when that same successor met his end in a battle against the self-proclaimed Angel race, and that he sacrificed himself to save his wife, the master of the Hiroshi clan went mad. He exiled his son's family except for his grandson, who he then trained to become his new successor.
Isei, the talented young man would secretly sneak out into the lower levels of Triage and meet his sisters. He would help them with their necessities to the best of his abilities. He did so, despite being just a youth at the age of 14.
But how could the patriarch not know? He knew what Isei was doing, but no matter how hard they tried to stop him, Isei would always find a way to escape. No matter what punishment he got, he never budged.
And so the master of the Nagano clan met his grandson. He was filled with cuts and bruises, both of which he got either from his training or as punishment.
They talked in front of the whole clan.
"Why do you endure?" he asked his grandson.
"I gave you the chance to leave the clan. I even gave you money, enough till you grow old enough to work and then live normal lives. Instead, you took the money, gave it to them, and came back. " he laughed as he stared at the boy as if to analyze those still naive but unflinching eyes. He was curious.
"Why?" The child muttered.
"Hmm?"
"Why did you exile my mother and sisters but kept me here? I do no..."
He cut off the boy's sentence.
"Because I had no choice. I wanted my heir to have my blood directly in his veins. But my one and only son is dead, and what he left behind is all I have to make do with."
"But you, however, have a choice now."
"To be honest, I've begun training other candidates. The only reason I haven't kicked you out yet is your outstanding aptitude." the old man leaned back on his chair and waited for the boy to talk.
"Why didn't you say anything when father was here?" The boy clenched his fists as he asked.
And the old man answered him, while still leaning back.
"Because he was strong. When you are strong enough, no one can go against you. The same could be said to you. You can't do anything to me because you are weak! Simple as that."
"So if I work hard and grow strong enough, you'll accept us?" the boy asked, but what he got was laughter.
"You seem to misunderstand. You are no longer my heir. I'll repeat it to you. I'm only keeping you because of your talent, but your talent alone is not worthy enough to be my heir, and you will no longer get the same privilege."
"The other candidates will catch up to you in no time." The old patriarch shook his head.
Isei stared at him.
"What if they don't?" he asked again.
The old man snorted.
"Ren"
"Here, sir!" a young man the same age as Isei stepped forward.
"Fight him." the patriarch gestured with his chin.
"Yes, sir!"
The young man named Ren stood in front of Isei and handed him a wooden sword.
"No need." Isei spoke.
Was it because of confidence? Whatever the case, Ren snorted and took a few steps back after putting down the sword that Isei rejected.
Ren took his stance.
Isei stared at his enemy, put his guard up then pounced towards the opponent.
When fighting barehanded against an enemy with a weapon, you must instantly close in the gap and close enough that the opponent is unable to swing their arm.
But how could Ren just let him do that? He swung his wooden sword at Isei while taking a step back, attacking and defending at the same time.
Isei easily dodged the strike but was unable to get in range. He went in again and knowing from the previous exchange that half-hearted attempts will get him nowhere.
He dashed to his opponent's right just as he was about to enter the sword's range.
Ren stayed calm, however, and swung again while stepping back.
Isei, predicting his opponent's move changed his direction instantly. A step that would have injured one's ankle was performed with ease. He had done this before on many occasions.
Finally getting an opening, Isei closed in. His fist ready to punch out.
*Thud*
Isei was down on the ground.
Ren's swing was followed up by a kick that clearly predicted Isei's quick movements. With power that was enough to down Isei, that swing must have been a feint.
"It seems there is nothing more to see." The patriarch stood up from his seat and got ready to leave.
Isei grabbed the wooden sword as he stood up and swiftly attacked Ren.
His sudden strike caught Ren off guard and was forced to block in instinct.
Isei's sword struck hard, instantly snapping Ren's sword. Then, he looked at the patriarch.
The old man just shook his head.
"You think you've won with that? Are you proud?" he said.
"You dodged Ren's strikes only because you are fast. You lack technique. You are arrogant, stubborn."
"You fell for a feint and got knocked on your ass. You couldn't accept your loss and attacked your opponent even after the fight was done."
He started walking towards them, and Isei started feeling heavy pressure on his shoulder.
"The only reason you snapped the wooden sword was solely because of your strength."
The patriarch gestured with two of his fingers, and the wooden sword in Isei's hand flew into the patriarch's palm.
"You didn't win. If anything, that merely shows that you could only do that because of the resources I gave you."
His two fingers turned into a fist. Isei could see the wooden sword crumble into a ball the size of a thumb.
The patriarch stood face to face with Isei. Although he was taller than the old man, he felt as though he was looking down him from above.
"Humans are not monsters that rely on power alone. There must also be skill involved."
He turned around while telling Isei, "Until you understand this fully, you will try... "
And you will fail.
Those words were stuck on Isei's head. It seemed contradictory to him that the patriarch deemed strength as paramount but denied the strength he displayed. But somewhere in his mind, he knew it was merely his ignorance. And that there was something he could not grasp yet.
A week later, Isei left the clan on his own and lived with his mother and sisters.
***
"It's been a while."
No one spoke. No one moved even a single finger. You might even mistake it as no one breathing due to the extreme silence that pervaded the room.
"You guys look..." He stopped his words as he glanced at them one by one.
"...well. I'm glad." Isei smiled. He sighed before he spoke again.
"How long was I asleep?"
"What the..!" Makise could bare hold her anger in.
"Big sis!" Ruka grabbed her arm to try and calm her down.
"This fucker is acting all close to us like he did nothing wrong!" Makise was almost hysterical.
"Big sis!" Ruka grabbed Makise's arm, now with both hands. With tears in her eyes starting to fall, she pleaded.
"What do you mean!? Don't you remember the things he did us!? To you!? How can yo... "
"Makise!" Mizuki interrupted her.
"But...!"
"Makise! " Mizuki shut her up. She looked at Isei straight in the eyes.
She asked, "Do you remember?"
"Yes." He answered.
"Are you not gonna say anything?" Mizuki asked calmly, but her tone showed traces of sadness.
"I won't." He sighed.
"I see."
Mizuki tore her gaze away from him and looked down at the floor.
"Let's go." She told the three and pulled them outside.
Ruka took one final glance at him before getting dragged away by Mizuki.
"She was crying, you know." Jin said as she shook his head.
"I know." Isei responded with a sigh.
"You've slept for six whole years, and your stubbornness has only grown worse."
Jim sat beside him, his best friend.
"It seems I owe you for taking care of me and my sisters." Isei laughed
"Nah, man. I just paid you back."
"Then do I still have some change from that" Isei joked.
"More than!"
The two laughed.
"I missed you, man." Jin hooked his arms around Isei.
"Oi! I only slept for six years. I didn't change my gender too!"
Isei tried to break free, but his weak body failed him as he struggled in vain before finally stopping.
"I might have to spend those changes from you too. " He looked at the window after Jin let him go.
"It seems I no longer have a home." He stared at the four from the window. Mizuki was visibly in tears.
Jin felt conflicted at the sight of the once-close relationship crumble.
"Yeah..."