Hina tilted her head, smirking. “So, big brother, what else is new in your totally fascinating high school life? Anything I should be aware of? Secret clubs, mysterious rivals? Or wait… don't tell me—you made a friend?”

Takuma sighed, smirking despite himself. “Yes, I do have friends. And no, it’s not some secret drama club or anything. Just… school.”

Hina’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Oh, come on, school doesn’t just mean ‘school’ for most people. You’re around all these people, Takuma! You can’t tell me it’s all just books and tests.”

He chuckled. “Alright, alright, maybe it’s not that dull. There’s this guy, Sam. He’s pretty chill. And a girl, Miu…”

Hina gasped theatrically. “A girl? Don’t tell me my little brother is finally becoming socialized!”

Takuma rolled his eyes, but his cheeks tinged pink. “It’s not like that, Hina. She’s just… we’re friends.”

“Friends,” Hina echoed, smirking. “Do you hang out? You know, just casually in between battles with secret rivals and winning over mysterious girls?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “It’s not like that. You know I’m not looking for drama. I just want things to stay calm.”

Hina raised her spoon, pointing it at him in mock accusation. “Liar. I can see it in your face—you’re totally getting wrapped up in it, aren’t you?”

“Why do you always assume there’s some big story?” he replied, chuckling. “Not everyone lives in an anime, you know.”

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Says the guy with the mysterious powers he barely talks about and an inexplicable strength everyone wonders about. Real normal, Takuma.”

Takuma gave her a long look. “You realize you’re just adding to the mystery, right?”

“Obviously!” she grinned. “It’s my duty as your little sister to make sure your life stays entertaining. And to keep tabs on all these new ‘friends’ you’re making.”

He chuckled. “I’d be worried if you weren’t so much of a handful already.”

Hina gasped, pretending to be wounded. “Wow, such disrespect for the one who made you this masterpiece of a meal! I don’t know if I can let that slide.”

Takuma’s smirk softened, and he reached over to pat her head. “Alright, chef extraordinaire. Thanks for the food.”

She huffed but allowed the gesture, secretly pleased. “You’re lucky I like you, big brother.” She grinned as she turned back to her cooking, her eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. “But don’t think I’m letting you off the hook. This Miu friend of yours? I’m keeping an eye out.”

Takuma couldn’t help but laugh.

Hina leaned against the counter, crossing her arms as if she were interrogating him. “So… tell me about Miu. Is she nice? Is she smart? Does she know you’ve got this goofy little sister at home who keeps tabs on her brother’s love life?”

Takuma rolled his eyes. “First off, not a love life. And second, yeah, she’s… nice. She’s got this way of talking that feels real, you know? No pretense.”

Hina's eyebrows shot up. “Interesting! So, she’s not like some princess type?”

He laughed. “No, she’s not. She’s kind, and a bit quiet, but… I don’t know, she’s got this fire to her. Like she’s not afraid to stand up for herself.”

“Hmm…” Hina tapped her chin, narrowing her eyes. “So, you’re saying she’s got guts? Is she like you—secretly strong or something?”

“Not like that,” Takuma said, chuckling. “She’s more… emotionally strong, I guess. She’s been through a lot. We haven’t talked about everything, but you can kind of see it.”

Hina's eyes softened for a second before she caught herself and smirked. “Wow, listen to you. So observant all of a sudden.”

Takuma gave her a look. “What are you implying?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing,” she sang, grinning from ear to ear. “Just that maybe you pay attention when it’s someone you actually care about.”

“Hina, I pay attention to plenty of people,” Takuma said, though even he could tell it sounded a bit weak.

“Oh sure,” Hina scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. “You mean like how you noticed I’ve been reading that same book for the past three months and haven’t finished it?”

Takuma raised an eyebrow. “You’re reading?”

“Ugh, see what I mean?” She waved him off, but there was a twinkle of mischief in her eye. “Anyway, so you two are close enough to talk about real stuff? Like, not just classwork?”

“Yeah, I mean, we’ve talked about other things,” he replied, shrugging. “I don’t know. It’s easy to talk to her.”

“Easy, huh?” Hina smirked. “Sounds like you might have a little soft spot for her.”

“It’s called being a friend, Hina,” he said, trying to sound unbothered. “Just because I talk to her doesn’t mean there’s anything more.”

Hina grinned slyly, clearly having too much fun with this. “So if I told Miu you said she was nice, you wouldn’t care?”

Takuma froze, his brain racing at the idea. “Wait… you wouldn’t actually say that to her, right?”

She tilted her head, looking all too innocent. “I don’t know… maybe I should introduce myself. Make sure she knows she’s got competition.”

“Please don’t.” He groaned, rubbing his temples. “I don’t need you scaring her off.”

“Oh, so now you’re worried?” She laughed, poking him in the arm. “Admit it, you’re totally nervous about her.”

“I'm not nervous,” he muttered, though he could feel his face heating up.

Hina just looked at him with a knowing grin. “You’re such a bad liar, Takuma. Don’t worry, I’ll be nice if I meet her.”

He gave her a wary look. “Define ‘nice.’”

She giggled, holding up her hands. “Hey, I’m not a monster. I’ll just be my charming self, let her know what a great brother I have.”

“Or, you could just… not mention me at all,” Takuma suggested.

“Oh, where’s the fun in that?” she said, shrugging. “Besides, if she really is as cool as you say, she’s got nothing to worry about from me. I just want to make sure you’re not getting in over your head.”

Takuma sighed, a faint smile creeping up despite himself. “I’ll take my chances.”

Hina softened for a moment, giving him a playful punch on the arm. “Just saying, big brother… if she’s someone who makes you feel like you can be yourself, don’t lose that. There aren’t too many people out there like that.”

Takuma glanced down, momentarily caught off guard. “Yeah… maybe you’re right.”

“Of course, I’m right,” Hina said, suddenly snapping back into her usual self. She turned back to the stove, stirring the contents of the pot with a look of determination. “Now, enough serious talk. Let’s eat! After all, if you’re going to keep impressing your mystery girl, you need energy.”

“Great, so I’m just a taste-tester now?” he joked, taking a seat at the table.

She rolled her eyes. “Be grateful you get to experience the culinary genius of Hina Takashiro!”

Takuma laughed. “Well, ‘genius chef,’ what’s on the menu tonight?”

Hina smirked, placing a bowl of her latest creation in front of him with a flourish. “Ta-da! Miso ramen, with a twist of Hina-style secret ingredients.”

Takuma eyed the bowl with amused skepticism. “What did you put in here?”

“Nothing weird!” she insisted, feigning offense. “Just some extra spice and a few... flavor enhancements.”

“Right. So if I pass out, I can blame you?”

“Takuma,” she said, raising a spoon in a mock-threatening gesture, “just try it before you judge!”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

With a smirk, Takuma took a tentative bite, savoring the burst of flavors. “Alright… I have to admit, this is pretty good.”

Hina grinned triumphantly, taking her own bowl and sitting down across from him. “See? You can trust your sister’s taste!”

The two of them dug into their meal, the playful banter flowing effortlessly as they shared stories from their day. For a brief moment, Takuma let himself relax, enjoying the warmth of family, food, and the lively energy only Hina could bring into the room.

Hina took another bite, then looked at him with a pensive smile, her voice softening as she spoke. “You know, Takuma… you’ve changed a lot since we were kids.”

Takuma paused mid-bite, feeling her words echo through him. A flicker of memories surfaced, unbidden. He tried to push them down, but the past seemed to flood in, unrelenting.

----------------------------------------

He could still remember the dark days of elementary school, feeling like he’d somehow done something wrong just by existing. He’d always been a quiet kid, one who loved to read and watch martial arts movies instead of running around the playground. But for some reason, that had only made him a target.

At first, the bullying had been small things—kids snickering behind his back, mocking his interests, and calling him names. It seemed harmless, but it started to eat away at him bit by bit. Then it escalated: his books knocked out of his hands, lunches stolen, and “accidents” that left him bruised and humiliated. The pain had run deep, the helplessness gnawing at him until he felt like he couldn’t face anyone anymore. The once-welcoming school had become a place he dreaded each day.

Eventually, he couldn’t take it. Takuma had retreated from school altogether, choosing to stay at home as a shut-in rather than deal with the constant fear and anxiety that shadowed him. He threw himself into martial arts as a way to escape, training alone, pushing himself to get stronger in the solitude of his room. Hours turned into days, and days into months. Every punch, every kick, every stance had been a small victory over the weight pressing down on him.

A year passed in the quiet confinement of his room. Then two. When he finally returned to school, he was different. The once-slender kid who used to cower had turned into someone stronger, someone who held his ground. And he wasn’t about to forget those who had made him suffer.

His old tormentors were still there, laughing and jeering as if nothing had changed. But the moment they tried to shove him, Takuma didn’t back down. They’d expected the same kid they used to push around, but instead, they found someone unrecognizable. He didn’t even have to throw a punch; just the look in his eyes—the intensity he’d built through countless hours of training—was enough. It was as if all the fear they’d instilled in him had finally reversed, spilling out and turning into something they hadn’t anticipated.

From that day on, no one dared mess with him. But it came at a cost.

Takuma had become someone people whispered about, someone they feared. Kids avoided him, teachers glanced his way warily, and classmates kept their distance. He’d become a loner not because he wanted to be, but because no one knew how to approach him anymore. No one except Sam.

----------------------------------------

“You remember those days, don’t you?” Hina’s voice pulled him back to the present, her gaze filled with a mixture of nostalgia and empathy. “I remember thinking that you’d always be my shy, bookish brother… but you came out of that time with a strength that nobody expected.”

Takuma managed a small smile, though it felt heavy. “Yeah… it’s funny. I trained so hard to stop being weak, but now it’s like people don’t even see me as a person. Just someone to avoid.”

“Not everyone, though,” Hina said, nudging his arm playfully. “And not Miu, right?”

Takuma’s smile softened. “True. Somehow, she sees me for… me.”

Hina’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint. “You deserve that, you know. You deserve someone who can see past all that strength and still find the kid who used to care so much about other people. Because, believe it or not, he’s still there.”

Takuma looked away, the weight of her words settling in his chest.

Takuma chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. “Guess I can’t hide anything from you, huh, Hina?”

She shrugged, leaning back with a playful smirk. “Nope, big brother, you’re an open book to me. Always have been.”

He rolled his eyes, but a warmth filled his heart. No matter how distant he’d felt from others, Hina had always been there, seeing right through him, even during his toughest times.

“But you know,” Hina continued, growing more serious, “I always wondered what would happen after you got that revenge. Part of me was worried you’d just... drift away. But you didn’t. You kept going. And now, you’re finally letting people in again, little by little. That’s something to be proud of.”

Takuma sighed, glancing out the kitchen window where the streetlamps cast a soft glow over the quiet neighborhood. “Yeah… I guess I’m just figuring out how to be normal again. If I even know what that means.”

Hina reached across the table and ruffled his hair, making him scowl as he tried to fix it. “Normal? Come on, Takuma, who wants to be normal? Just be you. The you that doesn’t have to carry everything alone.”

“Yeah, yeah…” he muttered, though her words hit home more than he’d admit. She always had a way of making things seem simpler, even if he knew they weren’t.

Hina stood up and stretched, her energy already shifting as she moved toward the door. “Well, enough deep talk for one night! I’ve got a movie queued up if you’re interested. Or you can keep brooding here alone like a true anime protagonist.”

“Ha, ha. Very funny.” But he was grinning despite himself. “Alright, let’s go. Just… no rom-coms, okay?”

“Deal!” she called, already halfway down the hall.

As they settled into the living room, Takuma felt a little lighter. For once, his thoughts weren’t so tangled.

The movie was a classic action-drama, something they’d both seen bits and pieces of before but never actually sat through together. It started with the main character, a tough yet vulnerable hero, taking on impossible odds. Hina leaned forward, completely engrossed, her hand clutching a pillow as the protagonist fought his way through enemies and close calls.

Takuma found himself relaxing, his attention drawn to the movie’s storyline more than he’d expected. But then, the plot shifted, diving into the hero’s past—a tale of loyalty and friendship, one that ultimately led to betrayal. It was the kind of twist that sneaks up on you, pulling you in with raw intensity.

And then it happened—a quiet, heart-wrenching scene where the hero stood in the rain, drenched and alone, watching the people he’d once called friends disappear, leaving him abandoned. The background music swelled, soft and somber, accentuating the quiet pain of the moment.

Takuma felt a pang in his chest as the scene unfolded. His mind drifted back to his own memories, of those lonely days in school before he’d found his strength, before he’d met people he could trust, like Hina and Sam. He swallowed, trying to shake off the feeling.

Next to him, Hina sniffled, her eyes shining as she tried to hide the fact that she was getting emotional. “They didn’t have to do him like that,” she muttered, her voice cracking a bit. “After everything he did for them.”

“Yeah,” Takuma agreed, keeping his tone casual, though he felt the weight of it too. “People can be cruel when they don’t understand you.”

Hina glanced over at him, her eyes soft. “I guess you’d know something about that, huh?”

He shrugged, attempting to brush it off. “Something like that.”

But the movie pressed on, not letting them escape the emotions it stirred up. The protagonist rose to his feet, determined yet broken, and set out on a solitary journey to rediscover himself. Takuma could feel the lump in his throat growing as the character found his way back, piece by piece, through grit and sheer will.

Hina reached over and took his hand, squeezing it without a word. Takuma didn’t pull away. They both sat there, watching as the credits finally rolled, and for a moment, all the unspoken things between them felt understood.

As the credits rolled and the last of the somber soundtrack faded out, neither of them moved. Takuma felt a heaviness in the room, like the movie had dredged up emotions they’d both kept buried, and now they were floating, unspoken, in the quiet between them. He cleared his throat, attempting to break the silence.

“That was… more intense than I thought it’d be,” he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.

Hina gave a small, breathy laugh. “You’re telling me. I’m not usually like this,” she said, wiping her eyes quickly, a bit embarrassed. “It just… got to me. The whole thing about him pushing people away, thinking he’d be better off alone…”

“Yeah,” Takuma replied, his voice softer than usual. “Guess there’s a part of us that gets scared to rely on others.”

Hina turned to him, her gaze sincere, as if trying to peer past his usual walls. “You know, Takuma, I don’t think we’re meant to be alone. No matter how strong we think we have to be.”

He swallowed, her words echoing in his mind. There’d been a time when he’d thought he was fine on his own, that he didn’t need anyone. But that time felt distant now, something he could barely recognize.

“Thanks, Hina,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “For… reminding me of that. You always do.”

She smiled, giving his hand another reassuring squeeze. “Anytime, big brother. But you know, it’s not just me. You’ve got people who care about you. More than you think.”

They sat there in silence, letting the weight of everything settle, the soft glow of the television illuminating the room. For once, Takuma didn’t feel the need to put on any pretense, didn’t feel the weight of expectations or loneliness pressing down on him. He was simply there, with his sister beside him, reminded that, maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t so alone after all.

After a moment, Hina broke the silence with a mischievous grin, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “So… since I picked this movie, next time it’s your turn. Just don’t pick something as intense, okay?”

He laughed, feeling the tension ease. “Deal. Maybe something with giant robots?”

“Ugh, fine, but only if there’s a love story hidden in there somewhere,” she teased, nudging him playfully.

“Giant robots and romance? You ask too much,” he joked back, smirking.

They bantered a bit longer, their conversation slipping back into the comfortable ease of siblings who’d been through too much together to let one emotional movie get in the way. But as they turned off the TV and headed to their rooms, Takuma found himself replaying the scenes in his mind, the words Hina had spoken, and the quiet reminder that maybe, in the end, he didn’t have to carry everything alone.

As Takuma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind replayed Hina’s words over and over.

“You’ve got people who care about you. More than you think.”

He didn’t know why, but the simple statement lingered, tugging at him in a way he hadn’t felt in a long time. Takuma was used to building walls, keeping himself guarded. It was easier to navigate the world that way, to avoid getting hurt. But somewhere, in the quiet of the night, the thought began to take root: What if he didn’t have to carry everything alone?

He sighed, feeling the familiar weight of his own self-doubt. Sure, he had Hina and Sam, but sometimes he felt like he was just another problem for them to worry about, one more thing they had to carry. Maybe he needed to give them a little more credit. They had stayed by his side, hadn’t they?

He thought of Miu and their unexpected friendship. She was kind and resilient, the type of person who saw the good in others even when they didn’t see it in themselves. But could he really trust someone like her with the parts of himself he’d kept hidden? That same voice—the one he’d heard since he was a kid—warned him not to get too close, not to be a burden.

Takuma let out another sigh, glancing over at his phone on the bedside table. Almost instinctively, he opened his messages. A simple text from Miu was still there, sent just before they’d parted ways after school:

“Thanks for today. I think I’d be a lot lonelier if it weren’t for you. See you tomorrow?”

He hadn’t responded yet. And now, staring at the message, he felt something soften in him.

After a moment, he typed back:

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

As he set his phone back down, a small sense of relief washed over him. It was strange, almost unfamiliar, like the weight he’d carried all these years was just a bit lighter. And as he finally drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t shake the quiet, lingering hope that maybe—just maybe—he was ready to start letting people in.