𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬 | ʰ. ʳⁱⁿᵈᵒᵘ [✓]

twenty-seven

Rindou couldn't push a word out. All he could do was stare at the mess in front of him. There she stood, staring back at him with tears streaming down her face. Broken. That was the one word Rindou could use to describe her at that very moment. He was snapped from his deep thoughts as soon as continuous knocks were heard at the door.

"Nee-san! I'm here!~" The muffled voice of the familiar child was heard as he knocked repeatedly at the door. Hana was quick to wipe her tears and snatch Rindou's round glasses from his face, wearing it on herself, thinking it would camouflage her bloodshot eyes. 

"I heard you won, nee-san! Congraludasions!" The young boy beamed, making Hana chuckle softly at his mispronounced word. "Thank you, baby. Did the doctor say you were fine to go out?" Hana asked with a groggy voice as he planted a kiss on his brother's cheek. "Actually.."

"I forgot to give these to you earlier. Senju asked to give these to you since she couldn't come today because of remedial classes."

Rindou's eyes widened upon hearing Waka's voice. He looked over his shoulder and saw him handing a paper bag to Hana which she gladly received. "Aww~ tell her I said thanks when you guys go home later." She asked, smiling. Rindou winced as he saw her smile. He was a jerk, but he could still tell a real smile from a forced one. And seeing that smile plastered on her face, it was painful. Excruciating, if you would.

"Rin-nii! You're here too!" The little boy removed her sister's grasp and ran towards Rindou, hugging his left leg. "Can you watch him for a second?" Hana asked, to which Rindou quickly responded to with a nod. She proceeded to go out and close the door behind her. Rindou sighed as soon as she was out of sight.

"Were you the one who made her sad?" 

Rindou looked down at the child who still had his arms wrapped around his leg. ".....I guess?" He couldn't answer directly. He already hurt her, why would he go farther and hurt her brother too? "Did you know, Rin-nii? My mama said that my nee-san has gone through bad things, so I always have to be a good boy. Every night, I pray that I get older and bigger faster, so I can be the one to protect her. I want a job too." The little boy sighed. Rindou picked him up and sat on a chair, sitting Haku on his lap.

"A job? What kind of job?" Rindou asked curiously. "A job that helps my nee-san. What job do you want?" The boy answered firmly. "I want what you want. If I'm going to pick, then my job will be to hug your nee-san whenever she's sad." Rindou replied with a sad smile. The boy was quick to turn his head and face the latter.

"That's Taka-nii's job."

"What?" Rindou blinked several times. "Whenever my nee-san's sad, or tired, or crying, Taka-nii is always there to hug her. That's his job." The boy explained. A wave of envy and guilt washed over him like ice-cold water. "Then my job is to take care of her." The young boy, once again, was quick to shake his head. "That's Taka-nii's job too." Rindou mentally rolled his eyes as he clicked his tongue softly.

"Then what job is.... available?" Rindou sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose. "Now that I think of it, no one has ever made my sister laugh or smile after she finishes crying. It sounds like an impossible job." Haku pointed out, a frown forming on his lips.

And at that moment, he was reminded of that very scene in the viewing deck.

"You've got a contagious smile."

"I think I've just found myself the right job." Rindou smiled to himself, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Haku looked at him as if his eyes were glittering. "Really? What is it? Tell me!" The young boy pleaded, shaking Rindou's shoulders. "I can't yet, bud. But, I'll tell you real soon. You have to promise me first that you'll tell me every time your sister gets sad. Can you promise me that?" Rindou asked, reaching out his stretched pinky finger. 

The little boy smiled from ear to ear as he linked his pinky with Rindou's, touching their thumbs to seal the deal. "My number's here, 'kay? If you feel like she's sad, call me right away." Rindou ordered, handing him a card that they hand to clients. Haku happily took the card and slid it into the tiny pocket on his shirt. "Okay!" He beamed, making the latter smile as he ruffled his hair.

"So, who's that?" Waka asked as soon as they reached a hall that was under construction where they could be alone. "Oh.. nobody." She managed to choke out. Waka quickly looked over his shoulder, raising a brow at the disoriented girl behind him. "I'm going to ask again. Who was that?" Waka pushed further, Hana heaving a defeated and tired sigh.

"A suitor, I guess?..." She whispered, her voice congested due to her crying. Waka's gaze left her and focused on the view outside of the window. With his elbows placed on the window sill and his body leaning over, he watched as the rest of their friends ate together at the school grounds, Takeomi and Shinichiro scolding the others endlessly. The side of Waka's lip lifted slightly as his heart felt warm, but immediately faded when a cold shoulder bumped into his, leaning beside him.

"You're wearing a jacket but you feel damn cold. Are you sure you're fine?" Waka asked as he felt her head rest on his shoulder.  "I'm fine. Just a bit tired." She breathed out. Waka closed his eyes shut as she felt her body slightly trembling. "She's fucking crying again." He cursed in his mind. He stood up straight, wrapping his hands around her neck and giving her what she needed the most. Comfort.

"He's just your suitor and he's already making you cry this much? What more if he becomes your lover, hmm? Kohana snap the hell out of it, I'm begging you.." Wakasa's voice broke as her grip got tighter on his torso. In denial. That's the state Hana was in. She knew very much of that. Rindou was a walking red flag, for fuck's sake! But what could she do? She knew that it probably wasn't worth it, so what's stopping her? What could Rindou possibly offer that is worth all that suffering?

"I can take it from here."

Hana froze at the sound of his raspy voice. Waka broke the hug and hid Hana behind him, glaring at Rindou who had Haku in his arms. "Waka-nii! Can you please take me to Shin-nii? He promised to buy me cotton candy!" Haku yelled the script Rindou has given him. Waka raised a brow at the two, second-guessing if it was all an act or not.

"Pretty please?" Haku pleaded, showing puppy eyes. Wakasa sighed as he faced Hana and gave her a peck on top of her head. Rindou felt his eye twitch as he watched him do that. "C'mere, Haku." Waka ordered to the child as Rindou put him down. 

"If another tear seeps from either of her eyes, I'll kill you myself. Imaushi Wakasa, by the way. Does the name ring a bell?" Waka was quick to whisper that as he walked past Rindou. His eyes slightly widened upon hearing his name. "A former Black Dragon captain, huh?"  He thought to himself.

Wakasa sighed for the umpteenth time as he was able to distance themselves from the complicated couple. "Waka! Oi! Earth to Wakasa!" Shinichiro snapped, waving his hands in front of the disoriented man's face. "Shut up, Shin." He groaned, covering his face with his hat once again and sitting down on one of the benches. "Why'd I have to overhear that? Fuck." He muttered a curse as he closed his eyes.

"Waka is like my brother, you fucking idiot!"

Her very words continued to ring in his head like a broken mixtape. They continued repeatedly that it started to make his head hurt, his chest aching along with it.

"A brother, mhm? When will you view me as a man, Kohana?"

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hiii!! before anyone flips out, yes, Waka is 28 here and Hana is 18,, BUT please no backlash mkay?? don't bash Waka HAHAHAHA he can't help it aight my oc is very charming 😜 jk :'D but anyw, thanks for 19k reads!!! damn road to 20k y'all got this! i'ts literally 12 something AM and i decided to at least publish this even tho i have a 6:30 AM class since i've been bombarded with a shit ton of homework :'( i get like zero sleep these days but hey decent grades + wattpad > sleep am i right?? again, tysm for all the support!! i'll update when i can!!