Ash was an orphan because his parents died in a car crash. That day, he was only 7 years old, while his brother, Ethan, was only 13 years old.

Because it was not legal for them to inherit their parent's inheritance yet, their aunt and uncle from another country became their legal guardians and used their inheritance, which was a house and a small restaurant, to earn some money by renting them out.

In the house, their uncle and aunt didn't treat them well or badly, they just treated them like guests, only giving them food, a place to live, and some daily necessities, they also didn't talk to their cousins much and they ignored each other unless it was necessary for them to talk.

At school, Ash was considered as the smart but quite classmate as he didn't talk much, he would usually only talk when someone is asking him something, rarely starting a conversation unless he had something to ask or confirm.

Ash was friendly in his past school but ever since his parents died, he was kept to himself, he also became much more mature, that was why he thought that it wasn't useful to make friends.

Although he didn't have much friends, he was quite famous for being a good tutor.

He did several jobs to earn some extra money, such as tutoring his schoolmates, babysitting, dog walking, doing errands, and several other jobs that he could do at his age.

In his free time, he stayed in his room and read mangas, manhuas, or manhwas, sometimes reading some novels. Even after all those, his scores were still good.

He was only ever close with his brother after his parents passed away.

Only after 5 years that, his brother finally became an adult and inherited his parent's inheritance, they also moved back to their old country, at that time, Ash was 12 years old and entered 8th grade at his new school.

Although he still didn't make friends there, he decided that it would be better to socialize more with his classmates at the very least.

He was living happily with his brother but the day he turned 13, his life turned upside down.

When he came home from school, his hands were filled with the gifts he got from his classmates for his birthday.

He happily went home, thinking of opening the gifts he got together with his brother, who would always celebrate his birthday together with him before. Although his brother only bought him cakes before, he was always thankful to his brother.

However, contrary to his thoughts, what welcomed him was a deserted home, with the lights still off.

After putting the gifts from school on the dining table, he turned on the lights, and seeing the decorated living room, he was happy, knowing that his brother must have prepared it for him. 

After a while, he became anxious, something was wrong, it's been a while since he came home but his brother was nowhere to be seen, usually, his brother would come home at 6, 4 hours after he came home from school, after living with his brother in the same house for a year, he knew his brother's full schedule.

Ethan would usually come home from college at 1, sometimes he would go to his restaurant to manage some things or helping out this and there.

Ash knew that as the owner of the restaurant, his brother could come home whenever he wanted without needing any permission.

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Ash felt panicked, worrying about his brother, he knew his brother would never forget his birthday. He tried to calm himself down, thinking that his brother might just be out to buy his gift or something.

Suddenly, his phone rang, he picked it up immediately.

"Excuse me, is this Mr. Ash? I'm the doctor in charge of your brother, Mr. Ethan. I'm very sorry for this bad news, but please visit your brother in the XXX Hospital, he is asking for your visit, please arrive as soon as possible." A doctor called him for his brother.

After hearing the doctor's words, Ash's expression turned dark, he immediately ran out the house and locked the door before running at full speed to the XXX Hospital.

Fortunately, it was not far and he arrived in just a minute, although he was out of breath, he ran to the receptionist and showed her the permission letter to visit his brother that the doctor sent when he was running. The receptionist then gave him a card and told him the room number of his brother.

He was out of breath when he arrived in his brother's room, 

"Brother!" Ash shouted worryingly.

"Ash, did you rush here? Take a break." Ethan said weakly.

"Brother, are you alright?" Ash asked worriedly.

"...Ash, I'm really sorry, we should've celebrated your birthday today." Ethan said apologetically.

"Brother..." Ash asked with a touched face.

"Ash, please leave this room, I need some time to rest." Ethan said.

"...Alright." Ash agreed hesitantly.

"Mr. Ash, this way." A nurse said as she guided him to the waiting room.

In the waiting room,

"Mr. Ash, your brother was a victim of a hit and run. Apparently, he heading home on his motorcycle when it occurred." A doctor informed him of his brother's situation before he continued, "His body is crippled and his skull had also been fractured from the impact, it was a miracle for him to have survived."

"It must have been for me." Ash said in a low voice with a smile. He was happy and also touched.

"But, if he didn't go out then, he wouldn't be in this situation right?" Ash blamed himself for his brother's condition, he felt like it was his fault.

Suddenly, a nurse came, "Mr. Ash, Mr. Ethan asked for you." She informed.

"Alright, thank you." He thanked the nurse before rushing to his brother's room.

"Brother..." Entering the room, Ash felt at fault for his brother's situation.

"Come here." Ethan said. "...I know my body's condition the best, I don't think I can live past today." Ethan answered, having a sad exppresion.

Ash went to his side, he was on the verge of crying, "Brother, you're... joking right? The doctor said you're alright, you're... just joking right?" Ash asked, trying to confirm, he was desperate, his father and mother had left, he didn't want his brother to leave too!

"Please, please don't leave me like father and mother, please!" He pleaded, crying, although it didn't fit his age, he was just really desperate for his brother to not leave him.

"...Ash, do you trust me?" Ethan asked.

"?" "Yes, of course." Ash was confused but answered anyway.

"Then, die." A knife suddenly appeared in Ethan's hands and he stabbed Ash's heart with it.

"W-What are you-?!" Ash shouted.

"Ash, no, Master, let us meet again in our next life." Ethan said before he stabbed himself too.

***