'Ever since I was a child I have been living on other's expectations and beliefs. The only time I have rebelled against them was when I found out that I like men a little more than I liked women. I never said it out loud and kept this in my heart. It aches me whenever someone says that people like me are going to have to choose.'
"I'm home!" Daiken yelled as he went inside his small, dark house with dim lights.
"Welcome back, Aniki," Aika said, rushing to the front door. "Uncle had to rush to work. There had been some sort of incident. He might not come home for a few days."
"What?! He left the two of you alone?" Daiken yelled.
"Woah… calm down Aniki it's ok." Aika said surprised that her brother was so angry.
"But still!"
"Haru and I have been practicing Muay Thai." She continued kicking high up in the air.
'But I simply like both genders and it's difficult to choose. Everyone's just too cute and good-looking to me.'
"Heh, Sick kick but you guys just copied it from that very violent T.V show." He chuckled ruffling her neatly tied space buns.
"Staaaaapp. Your messing my hairrrrr." She whined trying to fix it.
"It looks cute on you, amazing improvement. Proud of you Imoto." He smiled before leaving the tiny girl to her studies.
Walking through the dimly lit corridor, Daiken made a mental note to buy light bulbs and that he has to excel in university to give his siblings a better living standard. When he reached his room he grabbed his pajamas and put them down on the bed when he saw his tracksuit.
"I want someone to hug me." He whispered to himself as he went out of his room.
Walking out of his room and going back into the poorly lit courier, Daiken made his way to the downstairs toilet. The door was slightly ajar and light leaked out. Inside was his quiet, short little baby brother flexing in front of the mirror. Daiken was surprised but kept silent until his chuckle was heard. Like deer in front of headlights, Haru searched his surroundings when his gaze fell on his older brother.
"So… how are they? Satisfactory?" Daiken said coming in knowing he was seen.
"A-Aniki! Why were you watching?!?!" Haru shouted, covering up his body with his hands.
"You are the one who didn't close the door properly." He protested.
"But, Aniki, you should at least knock on the door."
"If I did that you would get even more scared." He smiled cunningly. "So…. who you trynna impress? Is it a girl?"
"Nhn…" Haru sighed "I don't even know why I'm doing this. I doubt they even notice my existence in class." He continued getting down and sitting on the stool.
"Why would you say that?"
"I don't have a chance with them."
"But even after you tried so hard to change yourself for the better and they still don't accept you then leave them. There will come a time where the right person will like you. So don't get discouraged." He said sitting in front of his younger brother. "I'm you even got rid of your stuttering."
"You think so? But what if I'm not good enough for any girl to like?" Haru questioned with teary eyes.
"Watashi no Kawaii Ototo (My adorable little brother), how can any girl reject you? And if they did, don't mind them. You are a good person. You take care of your family. You can cook. Your writing and work are neat, heck the guys should be jealous of you." He replied rubbing his brother's bareback that was starting to shiver.
"Y-Yeah! I guess?" He said trying to sound encouraged. "But… If you don't mind me asking Aniki… What about you? Have you been in love or a relationship before?"
"Ah… Uh… mm…" He sighed. "Well… I have fallen in love before… but… gah nevermind me. The important thing is that you know you are great and never let anyone talk you out of it."
"Mn, Yes!"
"Why don't we go on a run? Go call your sister as well and meet me in front of the door." He escorted Haru out of the bathroom to change.
'I'm really grateful to my siblings. They had my back even in my lowest and embarrassing moments. If Haru and Aika weren't there for me, I would have been a depressed teen who grieved his mother's death till he died. I would have had no sense of direction or purpose in living. My adorable baby sister and brother mean the world to me. They are my treasure, ever so valuable. Mi Tesoro.'
"Aaaaaannnnnniiiiiikkkkiiiiiiii!!! Come out soon." Aika screamed from the first floor as he finished tying her shoes.
"Yes, I'm coming. I had to check if everything was closed." Daiken said, swallowing a sandwich. "This is definitely got to be the fastest you guys have ever gotten ready."
The pair of twins loved to show off that they were born on the same day. The two wore matching tracksuits, shoes, and caps. Aika carried a small backpack that contained water bottles, an umbrella, a flashlight, a box of sandwiches that they would eat under the starry sky, and her personal pocket knife that Daiken gifted to her.
"Aniki, can I have the keys or do I need my rings?" She whispered to her overprotective and caring brother.
"Both. Both are good." (XD This reminded me of that meme) He said closing the door. "Do you have them with you or are they in your room?"
"Haru brought them for me. In my pocket." She whispered, giving a high five to her twin.
'Being the overprotective brother he is, Daiken taught his sister a lot of things. He taught her how to throw a punch and when to say no if she was in an uncomfortable situation. I didn't want to be the kind person that told his sister to always stay indoors or to be in a group. He knew she would like it. He taught her to put on heavy rings or to wear her keys on her fingers if she feels unsafe.' (Man I want an older brother like him TT-TT)
"Awesome job buddy." He said, giving his brother a pat on the head. "So? Where do you two wanna run?"
"By the riverbank?" Haru said, raising his hand while Aika agreed with him.
"Nice, it doesn't seem like it will rain tonight either." He replied looking up at the starry sky.
'The night was cold but running generated a little heat while their nylon fabric tracksuits that were chosen by the sportsman himself, contained that heat. It was a full moon night and the sky was littered with stars. The stress was quiet and the chirping of crickets was heard. The three children looked up at the stars from time to time and told the constellations that each of them made out loud. To reach the river they had to pass by the children's park.'
"I found the water... bearer..." Haru said as he noticed his siblings come to a stop at the park entrance.
"Hey, Haru… Aniki... Doesn't that look like… Uncle Fujiwara?" Aika said quietly.
"But… didn't he say that he won't be back for a few days?" Haru said, eyes wide. "He works in Kyoto though."
"Yeah… but that's a whole ten-hour ride from here," Daiken whispered. "What's he doing here?"