Max and Rashi walked together through the crowded streets, their hands intertwined as they weaved their way through the throngs of people. They stopped at street vendors and sampled different foods, savoring the flavors and smells of the city.
Rashi's eyes lit up at the sight of a stall selling Takoyaki, a Japanese street food that she had always enjoyed. Max could not resist her excitement and bought her some, despite his limited funds.
"Thank you so much, Max! This is my favorite," said Rashi, biting into the soft and savory dough balls filled with octopus.
Max smiled weakly. "Anything for you, Rashi."
They walked on in silence for a while, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city around them. Max couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment, for the chance to be with his sister and forget about his problems for a little while.
But as they turned the corner onto their street, Max's heart sank. His parents' house loomed in front of them, and he knew that they would have to face his family sooner or later.
He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what was to come. "Rashi, I need to talk to our parents. I need to make things right between us."
Rashi looked at him with concern in her eyes. "Are you sure about this, Max? You know how they can be."
Max nodded resolutely. "I have to try, Rashi. I can't keep running away from my problems. I need to face them head-on."
Together, they walked up the path to the front door of their childhood home. Max hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
The door creaked open, and Max's mother stood in front of them. Her expression was guarded, and Max could feel the tension in the air.
"What do you want, Max?" his mother asked, her voice cool and distant.
"I want to talk, Mom," Max said, his voice steady. "Can we come in?"
His mother hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to let them in. Max and Rashi walked into the living room, and Max's father sat in his armchair, watching them with a stern expression.
"What do you want, Max?" his father asked, his voice just as cold as his mother's.
"I want to talk to you both," Max said, his eyes meeting his father's but he couldn't say anything after that, seeing him Rashi came in between them.
"Max, let me talk to them first," said Rashi, grabbing his hand. "I'll explain everything."
Max nodded, grateful for his sister's support. They walked up to the front door and Rashi rang the doorbell. After a few moments, the door opened, and their mother appeared, her face red with anger.
"Rashi, what are you doing here? And why did you bring Max?" she spat, looking at Max with disgust.
"Mom, please listen to me," said Rashi, stepping forward. "Max didn't leave because he wanted to. He felt ashamed and didn't want to be a burden on us."
"Max has an F rank mana affinity, and he felt like he wasn't good enough," explained Rashi.
Their parents looked at Max, who stood there sheepishly, not daring to meet their gaze.
"We didn't raise you to be a quitter, Max," said their father, his voice laced with disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't mean to disappoint you," replied Max, his eyes filling with tears.
Their mother softened a little. "You're still our son, Max. We may have been harsh on you, but we still love you. We just want you to succeed."
Max nodded, feeling a little better. Maybe things could still be fixed between them.
"Now come inside. We can talk more over dinner," said their mother, ushering them in.
Max and Rashi sat down to dinner with their parents, and for the first time in a long while, they talked and laughed like a family again. Max felt a glimmer of hope that maybe things could work out after all.