Mizuki POV
I haven't heard from my brother. He was in an accident. I went to visit him. But he was blind at that moment.
So he couldn't see me.
And he said so many embarrassing things that I couldn't stay there.
But more than two weeks have passed since he was released.
I know that he is well but at least contact your family.
I asked mom if she wanted to visit him.
But she refused. Not just refuse but even denied it entirely. She even tried to stop me from visiting.
So I am going alone today.
I am currently walking to the station when I found Momoko.
"Hello." I say to her.
"Ohh Mizuki. Where are you going?"
"To visit my brother."
"Oh. Actually I have been thinking about visiting too. How about we go together."
She said something unexpected.
"Ok." I just said okay.
She is all dressed up and looking good.
We arrived at the building.
Paradise apartments.
The top floor should be his home.
But is he home?
I was thinking that when I saw Nadeshiko-san coming from the opposite direction.
"Hello." I greet her.
"Oh. Finally came to see him."
"Yeah."
"I am also here."
"I see. I also want to visit him."
"What? Haven't you been working?"
"No. He forcefully sent me and my mother on a hot spring trip. Just came back today."
"What is he doing?"
I am shocked.
He did that.
We enter the building and take the elevator.
But when we arrived, his door was locked.
"Maybe he's not home." Nadeshiko-san said and took out his key card.
She opened the door but when we entered, we were shocked.
Totally messy. Unwashed dishes at the sink and trash thrown around everywhere.
"What was he doing?" Nadeshiko-san held her head.
Of course, I would be like that as well.
Momoko is also nodding.
"What is that smell?" I smell someone.
It smells sour and gross.
"It smells like booze." Momoko said.
"What? He's been drinking." Nadeshiko-san said.
Is he a drunkard?
And this house feels like no one lives here.
"Let's see." Nadeshiko-san opened a door.
It was the bedroom but it was empty.
More than that, there are woman's clothes.
What? Did he bring a girl?
We enter the room.
On the bedside table there's a photo frame.
My brother in a wheelchair and a girl behind him.
That girl was so beautiful I cannot say it.
"Who's that?" Momoko asked.
"His girlfriend." Nadeshiko-san answered.
But isn't his girlfriend dead? Then she is her.
But where is he?
"Maybe that other room." Nadeshiko-san said and opened another door.
The room smelled bad. Like vomit.
It was dark and I held my nose because of the stench.
I guess they are the same.
I try to see and I see something.
Something is moving on the floor.
Nadeshiko-san found the switch and turned on the lights.
I can totally see. My brother is lying on the floor surrounded by bottles and cans.
But his hands and feet are looking real.
Also this room has a red circle in the middle and there are cuts on his body.
What was happening? My mind was in disarray and they were the same.
But Nadeshiko-san decided to wake him up.
"Akatsuki. Akatsuki, wake up."
She rocked him and tried to wake him up.
But he was sleeping like a log. No signs of waking up.
"Come you two. We have to work together."
She called for us.
I was kinda hesitating but Momoko joined her instantly.
They both were trying to wake him up.
I joined in as well.
It was still hard to wake him up.
"Mizuki, call him onii-chan."
Nadeshiko-san said.
"Huh? What?" I was confused. Why would I call him onii-chan?
I vehemently disagreed.
"Do it. He'll wake up in a heartbeat, probably."
What's with that answer. It doesn't help.
I decided to do that embarrassing thing.
"O…oni…onii-chan." I called him.
"Uuwwooooohhhh." He woke up.
He literally jumped.
It startled all of us.
"My sister finally called me onii-chan. Now, I have no regrets." He said and looked at us.
Then his smile disappeared.
"What's happening?" He asked.
"Nothing much." Nadeshiko-san said.
"Sorry, but I am gonna scram." He said.
"How?"
That's the question. Not really, why is the correct question.
He opened the window and jumped.
"Waaaaiitt." We tried to stop him.
But he jumped out the window.
We all hurried to see what happened.
I look down and see that he is fine.
He is looking at us with a smile. So gentle that it looked scary for some reason.
And then he ran off somewhere.
But he just jumped. It was more than a 20 meter fall. And he just jumped.
And how are his hands and feet back? Wasn't he born without those?
I look at Momoko and she is kinda gloomy.
Nadeshiko-san is angry. But then the front door opened. I thought he was back. So, I rushed to the door.
But a girl with a huge bag came. She was holding the bag so it was covering her face.
"Why is the door unlocked?" She said.
I am the one who should be asking you that.
They came as well.
But when she put her bag down, I saw her.
I know her. Nino-chan.
"Nino-chan, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"Eh." She was surprised. Maybe.
"....." She didn't say anything and just stared at us three.