On the rooftop during lunch at middle school the next day.
Kaori, Miyuki's best friend, sighed inwardly as she ran her hands through her hair, which was down to her shoulders.
"So I turned down the casting and stroked my brother's hair because he's a big brother♥..."
"I see. You're done babysitting your wonderful brother, aren't you?"
"I'm not done yet! He's so sweet when he eats, he eats the stuff off my lips...."
"Haha."
Kaori looked at the time.
It was already half past lunchtime.
Kaori said nonchalantly.
"I'm jealous of you."
"Huh?"
"Your dream isn't even an idol, and you just got cast.... I even got a confession from a popular boy the other day, and I'm loved by everyone...."
"Huh?"
Miyuki tilted her head in confusion.
"What the hell is so great about that?"
"Huh?"
"You don't have the love of the one that really matters, haha. You don't know my tender heart, and even if you dash off like that, you'll still say I'm not interested...."
"You're such a weirdo."
Kaori set her lunch box down on the bench and grabbed Miyuki's shoulders.
"You're her real brother, right?"
"Yes!"
"Do you want to marry him?"
"Of course!"
"Are you sure you want to get pregnant?"
"Hehehe...."
Miyuki drools like she's happy just thinking about it, and Kaori wipes it off with a tissue.
"Ewww, gross!"
"How can I love you, you've taken my heart."
"Seriously, how surprised would other people be if they knew what you really are?"
"Hmph. You're only talking to Kaorii, right?"
"Of course. I keep my best friend's secrets."
"You're my best friend!"
Miyuki clutches Kaori's shoulder.
Kaori stared enviously at Miyuki's carefree smile.
'He's my brother....'
It's fifth period after lunch.
Kaori sits in the seat behind Miyuki and stares out the window for a moment.
"I'm jealous.
Kaori is an only child.
Her father died after gambling and bullying her and her mother.
When he died, they were finally freed, but not from all the pain.
The hardships of financial reality.
From that day on, my mother went out early in the morning and stayed up late at night to earn money.
She was cast as an idol trainee by a small agency while studying.
She may not be as good-looking as others, but she has a talent for dancing.
She can't wait to get out of her student t-shirt and make her debut so she can soften her mother's rough hand.
But she knows better.
The hardships of the real world.
How cold this floor is.
Kaori bites her lip and turns her attention back to class.
I envy her.
That she always has someone to whine to and lean on.
"What kind of person is Miyuki's brother?
"Ouch. It's like I get a boost of energy just looking at my Kaorii, eek."
"Don't treat me like a child, sis."
"You can treat me like a child because I'm an anime!"
My sisters stroke my hair furiously. We change clothes and practice dancing.
I also practice songwriting and get training from a vocal trainer.
I'm terrible at singing.
I don't think I have any talent.
The test evaluation is coming soon.
I didn't get a good score in the first round last time, so if I don't show remarkable growth this time....
"I'll be eliminated."
Second year as a trainee.
No agency wants to hold on to a hippopotamus unless he or she is exceptionally talented.
I continued practicing and before I knew it, it was late evening.
I say goodbye to my sisters, change back into my school uniform, and walk home.
The shabby semi-detached house in my mind's eye.
The small house is crawling with cockroaches and full of humidity, but it's still home to my mom and me.
A smile spreads across my face, and I start to think about what to make for dinner for my mom, who's coming home late.
"Hey."
In the alleyway.
A fat man in a white shirt and suit tugs roughly on my thin arm with a sweaty grip.
"Mu, what are you doing?"
"Shut the fuck up. How much do you want?"
"What?"
I don't understand what he's saying.
"How much do I need to fuck you."
Ah!
That's what he meant.
I've just been taken in by a crazy man!
"He, don't do that.... Don't do that...."
I need to scream right now to get away.
I see my dad's shadow in this man.
If I scream, he'll hit me with his rough hands.
If I screamed, I would be hit with those rough hands. If I yelled for him to stop, he would continue to stomp on my face and body with his feet and laugh with a strange sense of pleasure.
Because that's what my dad did. I panicked, fearing that this man would do the same.
"Hold still. Let's go somewhere nice. Kkkkk."
"Please. Please. Somebody help me. I can't talk.
That's when the tears started rolling down my cheeks.
"Boom!"
A plain-looking man in plain clothes lunges at a big, fat man and drives his fist into his gut.
Puck! Puck! Puck!
"No! No! Fuck! It hurts! Stop!"
"Get the fuck out of here. I'm calling the cops. What's heavier, attempted sexual assault of a minor or just assault?"
"Motherfucker."
The fat man spits on the floor and runs off, looking like a slob.
The man strokes my head as I burst into tears.
A rush of warmth coursed through my skin, like he was treating me like a little sister.
"Are you okay?"
"Blackblackblack...."
I sob, hugging myself tightly against the pillar I'm leaning against, tears streaming down my face.
"Aaaaahhhh. I was so scared. Blackblackblackblack...."
"Hey, it's okay, everything's going to be okay now."
And just like that, I spilled my tears on a man.
I was saved.