‹Kuroko Nijisaki›

I don't know why. I think that's the most common answer the characters give if asked why they are doing the narrations. I'm no exception.

I think that a brief of my backstory will already suffice, and I don't really want anyone to know that. So that's out of the question.

But then again, in a slice of life, does it really need a very significant plot to go on? We can say that it is similar to a cake; well, they are both sliced. Either that cake is average, a masterpiece, or the batches that I firsthand burnt and failed on, it's still a cake and you can't just shove the entire thing on your mouth so you'll slice it obviously. To that point, I would say that this story is on the third example. Also, I still ate the cake I burnt. It's not like it became carbon or anything.

Oops, I placed the author in the oven and forgot that it was set to broil.

A/N: HELP

But I sure am not going to tell you about the Battle of Attrition within the Toilet Arc.

▪ ▪ ▪

Thinking about it now, Rei was not yet born when her- sorry, force of habit; when our parents adopted me. I'm sure that I mentioned perhaps only once that they thought that they weren't able to have a child even after many years in their marriage. Maybe there was a tinge of desperation when they found me. I was trafficked and all because of my eyes until I was basically homeless, and then they literally picked me up from the streets. I was cleaned, groomed, sent to the hospital to get vaccinated and be rid of substances that accumulated over my scavenge. I was given a new name and got them written on the family register. For the first time, I finally became a son. Were they not scared of me; it's an absolute joke if I said yes. One thing I learned from all the abuse I went through was to trust and not to trust even as a child. My emotions were ultimately overshadowed by my caution, so it really took me some time to mellow down and convince myself that I really am in a family now.

Positive.

I was told that I'll have a sibling. How did I feel about it? Nothing, I guess? I'm an alien from those things as all I've known is being abandoned and being a sandbag, so I didn't really know how to respond to it even after Rei has been born and has grown. It was not that I was cold to her, but I treated her just like any other person even when she was already going to school.

But you know what they say, old wounds never heal. By the time I was in junior high school, yes, I went to school, I reawakened from my past. My crimson eyes had never given me any good, and so I was bullied… until I got my first taste of distortion.

To their eyes, it was pure horror. The other children cried and feared on the sight of me. It just so happened that all the painful things I went through flash backed in the midst of that distortion. "This is what you want to do with me, right?" I asked on a wicked voice, crippled smile, and blanking eyes while digging my nails deeply to the skin of my arms until it was all but a grotesque scene.

There is no denying the reality that I am a freak.

At the same time, not so long after I coped up from that mental error, I realized the whitening of my hair, which has already turned pure white at this point without reverting back even once.

Needless to say, my days in a school were short lived. But be that as it may, we found ways to have me educated academically without leaving the house. Back then… internet connectivity was very expensive but also very slow. But I was able to pull through, finding what I really wanted to study from science, engineering, architecture, language, statistics, art, and so on.

With the way I was—being the center of attention only to lead to my ruin—I reflected and came to an answer that I am more of the behind the scenes person; someone that can do something without my appearance being seen.

I found creative writing.

I realized that the linguistic and verbal abilities were able to compensate to the lack of aesthetic execution. You are constantly thinking, brainstorming, and creating ideas that have not yet seen the light of the day.

But my naivety nearly closed that path off from me. I was very questioning as to why I do not see the same things that happened to me in the news. And so I wrote a narrative of a story about the brutal realities that was reflected from my past. My mentor was however awoke to those atrocities having conducted my case studies and taught me that that kind of writing will unfortunately make myself an "enemy" no matter what my sense of justice was. I still wanted to give it light, but I realized that it was the same as molding myself to a weapon that would eventually go against my foster family.

▪ ▪ ▪

In the midst of my wanders with my eyes completely set on writing, I set out to find inspirations on what I can write next. My primary goal was to accumulate ideas and use them as a reference, making an amalgamation of thoughts and concepts and putting them together to one unique thing. But very ironically, the greatest thing that I was able to gather and reflect upon was not even close to something that is different, but definitely one of the most common things in this world.

I stumbled upon an orphanage.

It may not come as a surprise, but it was the same orphanage. It was a time way before even Gin knew of the place, so it was most probably because his connection to his late uncle that brought me here.

At that time, it was Ms. Ayane's aunt that is managing the orphanage as its head while she herself regularly helps to take care of the children and assist those who had grown up as an orphan.

I have never been to one, and all I thought that it was a good material for a documentation. I initially just wanted to observe, but the head insisted that I interact with the children as they don't get to have the opportunity to meet others. Very reluctantly, I pulled down my hood, and without even removing the deeply worn cap over my head with my bizarre appearance was still very evident. The head herself was awed, not knowing what to do in front of my soured face. But Ms. Ayane walked up to me and confidently led me to the lounge.

"Don't worry. They won't be scared of you."

It was very mature of her for a young lady who is about to graduate from her teens. It felt like her character was way ahead of her age with the way she interacted, and how she was loved by the children.

"What are you doing, Yuka?"

Out of the blue, I was approached by a child, perhaps eight years younger than me or so. I was never shy to begin with nor was I communicatively challenged. After all, I have a younger sister.

"I'm… writing."

"Writing? Like alphabet?"

"It is way harder than that. But I write stories. Do you read books or listen to stories?"

"Mhm! Ane Aya reads us books!

What stories do you write, Yuka?"

"Hmm… I write stories that I like. Whenever there is something that I think is amazing, I try to make stories out of them."

"Ooohhhh…"

"What stories does your Ane Aya tell you then?"

"She knows many stories! There was this one book about a friendly white fox that is always mistaken as a cat. She is friends with a cat, a wolf, a dog, and many, many more!"

"Ohh. What's the name of the fox?"

"Her name is Friend!"

Recalling that now, it feels extremely familiar.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Ane Aya is really amazing! It was a book but she already knows the story without reading it!"

"That really is amazing."

"Right?! She always takes care of us, and then she cheers us up immediately when we're crying or sad. She tells us that when we grow up, we will also do the same thing. We will take care of other kids just like she does and love them.

…

I have no mama and papa, but because Ane Aya and the others that make us feel like family here, I am happy. Ane Aya is not really my big sister, but to me she is the best big sister. I really love Ane Aya!"

Funny as it was, I was the one that bawled instead of the child. Ironic as it may be, it was a child that made me realize of what I lacked. A while after observing the orphanage, I immediately went home and holed myself up on my room. I reflected, reflected, and reflected. I found in myself what I was scarce of, and reevaluated the way I see the family that accepted me from the beginning to present.

At the same night, I decided to accept the eyes and hair that I so considered a curse. I decided to let my hair grow out as a proof of the change that I will undertake.

Needless to say, it was never easy. To let go of my habits was difficult, but I eventually got there, turning a 180 so to speak.

I can still remember the dumbfounded face of Rei when I endlessly apologized to her without even knowing my reason, and perhaps she might still not know what my reason was to this day. Since then, I strove to become a brother to her and watched over her growing up even if I turned sickly at some point.

Then I saw the regrets of a certain person. It made me feel like my problem can be so easily be dealt with. All I needed was the initiative, but this certain man needed to muster up not only that, but the courage, the memories, and the emotions he had lost to properly see his family in the eyes.

I then realized that what I was seeing is a memory of another person, and a fainter memory within his. I get to discover why I was able to see them, and so I went to many countries, writing as I go, and looked for information that could be similar to it. I then found a book, more substantial than any of the data I took. But it still felt very much a secondary source.

I knew that it was in his nature to do things in an unconventional way. And so I did the same thing. Instead of a normal meeting, I made a roundabout approach that would leave an impact to him the most.

However inappropriate it may sound coming from someone who wrote one of the most difficult times of the subject's life, I was somehow enthusiastic on writing it, perhaps being solely driven by my emotions.

But now what do you know, I am either on a voice chat with him or in his house watching a virtual concert of a 3D anime girl in YouCube.

Oh how far we have fallen to the rabbit hole.

▪ ▪ ▪

But just so you know, I never made my sister watch any vtuber streams… yet one way or another I saw her laughing to a meme review.

The only one I can blame for that is most probably Ringo.

But with that out of the way… I love Yona a lot.

That honestly sounds like I'm talking about a woman, but sadly no. I've been a very frequent patron of the cafe in Sector T1 as it is a very peaceful place to do my work, write scripts, and tricking the director into treating me to some coffee and cake. But all in all, it is an honest to goodness comfy place, as expected from a seasoned businessman that knows his customers well.

There really wasn't an occasion, but September buries the nail of the transition period towards the colder seasons, as there is only a month and more until winter comes. So what better way to savor this middle ground with warmer drinks? That said, this is also an excuse to pull Rei away from her works in the institute as a form of a requisite diversion. Legend says that the first year in the CCI is as expected difficult and heavier on the units, lighter on the second year, being the embodiment of stress in the third year, and facing the reality in the final year.

"Lighter on the second year" can be some kind of a joke, honestly. I sure did not go to college but I at least know that there is no time that you are not stressed. At least, I have a fair share of my own challenges in last-minute and general manuscripts. I can at least sympathize, but not in the same way.

"S-Sora?"

"Reina! It's been a while."

I can't really blame my sister. I don't know whether or not she really knows that Haruka, the owner of this cafe, is her brother, but at the back of her mind she should know about this from Ringo's memories. That being said, she really does not concern herself much from that hence her surprise probably.

Surprised… and then fawning. Even through Gin, I'm not one to know Ms. Sora personally, but I can easily see that this may be the first time Rei is seeing the esteemed girl on such causal outfit with a plain shirt, jeans, apron, a short ponytail, and an oriental pair of eyes looking at her while holding a tray.

I would say it was a nice gap of her.

With a flick on her forehead, I put her back to her senses.

"Don't ogle at her too much. You can talk to her later."

"May I take your orders then?" and it seems she is working as a waiter.

"You can tell your brother about the usual. Ah, the name is Kuroko."

"I'll have New York bagels and… uhh… the shop's recommended drink.

If I may, how are you, Sora?"

"I'm well, and I've been doing good at my studies."

"Let me guess, you're acing them all don't you?"

"…Let's not talk about that…"

"Anything with Aomine?"

"We're pretty busy with our own matters so we really can't expect anything."

"I see… Then see you later!"

"Yes."

…

"You haven't been hanging out with your old friends, I guess?"

"The camp we had was our only major outing, and it's sad that it was back in high school."

"From time to time I think you should give way for those kinds of things. Don't take the example of a youthless old fart like me who only gets his happiness from vtubers."

"Yuka… that sounds a bit too self-depreciating, you know…"

"I'm just telling you to keep that in mind.

Anyway, are there things you're up with Ringo?"

"We're still floating in space… How was Yuka Gin able to make a very concrete place?"

"We crazy ones tend to think of one thing and stick to it, then put our imagination and mostly sufferings from it. We have our worlds of our own. Sadly, they mostly materialize from negative emotions.

Anyway, I don't think that can ever help Ringo. What could probably work is tedious trial and error and I think after that point will be much simpler. In the same sense, you two, or mostly Ringo is building a house without knowing how to properly make one."

"Oh, that made sense! But we're still both idiots if that's case."

"I'm not the one that said that."

"Thank you for waiting, here is your garlic bread, loaded fries, hot mocha, New York bagels, and a special recipe hot chocolate.

The custard pie will be coming next."

"Wasn't that very formal."

"Thank you very much."

"Garlic bread and then loaded fries… do you always order that much?"

"I have weird tastes, but this much is normal for me. They're really good though. You have some too. You might find some inspiration from them."

"If you say so."

"Also, do you want to observe me at work? I'll send you my calendar when I'm out in shooting."

"Wouldn't I only get in the way…?"

"No, some of the directors I worked with are… hmm, they have more than one. There's one time when we were literally watching a drama right in front of our eyes. Really, the slap sounded like fireworks."

"That's tough…"

Have I ever mentioned that I also work on films?

"So? What do you say?"

"I guess I can sometime… it sounds like the real day in a life things."

▪ ▪ ▪

‹Reina›

Thus I found myself in one of their sets.

I really expected that I will probably get bored quite quickly with only looking around and sitting in one place, but that wasn't the case for me at all. Somehow I felt very intrigued by all the technical equipment surrounding the studio. It made the place somewhat livelier, which was a rather weird compliment considering that they will not visually contribute to the aesthetic of the set. Maybe I have a thing for tech like those that move around.

"Hmm… Reina?"

"Ah? Yuka Nagi? You're here too?"

"Yup, doing some work here. I didn't expect to see you here. Are you here to join on… the…

Nijisaki… Wait, Kuroko is your brother?"

"Yes. I'm just here to observe since he invited me to look around."

"I see… I really thought… huh."

"Oh, who's here, who's here, Nagi?"

"Reina from the club."

"Hello, Ane Shiro."

"Heya!"

"Is Ane Shiro here for a shoot?"

"Ah, nah. She has nothing to do with today's shooting. She just tagged along for fun."

"Ahahaha…"

"Want me to give you a tour?"

"No, I'm fine. I can see them from a distance."

"Alright then. Hope you enjoy seeing the process."

While Yuka Nagi went back to the center of the set, Ane Shiro took a chair.

"I'll sit with you here since I'm basically filler in this chapter."

"Huh?"

"Sorry, that was strange of me."

"Is this also your first time here, Ane? I've only been to stage play rehearsals."

"In a closed studio, yeah. I've been to a quickfire shoot outdoors once.

Also, I've heard about you and your brother."

"Yes…?"

"About the coincidences, I mean. We've known about that kind of thing quite a long while already so we're not new to the concept.

Aren't you glad that there are people that can understand your brother?"

"Super. It was a huge relief knowing that."

"You know, I don't entirely know how it feels to have siblings, really, since I'm an only child. But I really do consider Naru as my sister. It's not always the blood that ties a family, don't you think?"

"I totally agree! He may not be the best, but I saw him change significantly and bettered himself. I don't know why it happened but I'm glad it did.

Seeing him like this—working hard—makes me see how amazing he is on the things he does amidst the things that had happened to him."

"She sounds different yet so familiar. What a bizarre feeling."

"Ohhh, looks like they're getting the set ready."

One by one, the crew let in large props in the set using platform trolleys and the set in a very fast pace began to take its full appearance.

"That was so modular… Wait, those props look really real."

"I think that was a real stove with how heavy it looked like, Ane."

"So it's a kitchen, huh… Looks very industrial. How much was their budget for this…"

"Reeeeeiiiiiii-!!" all of sudden, my brother called as he walked to us.

"I have a favor to ask you. Can you wear this?"

He handed out a shirt that was still on a plastic packaging which is apparently a…

A chef's uniform.

"H-Huh…?"

"Also, you have a face mask with you, right? Don't worry, they won't film your face. Nagi's the one recording anyway."

"Huh…?"

"And they'll pay you generously. I heard they had prime roast on the temporary pantry. It's all adlib, so you can go all out."

"Huh…

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…?"

I may have been tricked, and quite possibly, bamboozled.

He'll pay for this.

«Well, they are going to, duh.»

Shut up!