Bratva: Some things never change

Chapter 7: Talk

As Shige and his family returned home, Izaku's family made their way into their own house. The tension from earlier lingered in the air, heavy and unsettling. Izaku couldn't shake the feeling that something more was at play—something that connected to his brother's mysterious disappearance. The thought gnawed at him, making him uneasy.

Entering the guest room, Izaku noticed the birthday cake, still untouched. It struck him that they might have planned to save it for a more intimate celebration after the formal gathering.

"So... Happy Birthday, I guess?" Izuku spoke, trying to cut through the awkwardness that hung between them. He felt the strangeness of the moment acutely, not knowing much about his younger brother before his disappearance. Despite the initial awkwardness, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. After all, he had always wanted a younger sibling—a companion, someone to look after and guide.

Feel how it's like to be on the other side.

The joy was bittersweet. In his younger days, he had been the one pestering their parents for a little brother, back when life was simpler—when happiness was abundant, and curiosity ruled his days. Now, as he looked at Izaku, he saw a younger version of himself, that same unquenched curiosity shining in his brother's eyes. Yet, the world seemed so much darker now, filled with dangers he couldn't always protect Izaku from.

"Yeah, thanks... I guess?" Izaku responded, tilting his head slightly, sensing the awkwardness in his brother's demeanor. "Izuku, right?" he asked, earning a nod in return. "Right," he continued, turning to their parents with a slight frown. "You guys run out of ideas?"

Their parents exchanged confused glances, trying to grasp the meaning behind Izaku's words. Then, as if a light bulb had gone off, their eyes widened, scrambling for an answer. But before they could respond, they were interrupted by a chuckle from Izuku.

"Can't blame them, ey?" Izuku said, smirking. "Remember, I was gone before you were born. You've got to use that head of yours to figure it out."

Izaku sighed, realizing the truth in his brother's words. "Yeah, you're right. My bad." 

As the family gathered around the table, Izaku pulled out a chair and sat down, staring at the cake in front of him. His parents followed suit, with Izuku taking the last seat. For a moment, they all just looked at the cake, as if unsure how to proceed. The room was filled with a strange silence—one that was heavy with unspoken thoughts and emotions.

Izuku broke the silence, trying to lighten the mood. "So, what kind of cake is it? Looks pretty good."

His mother smiled, grateful for the attempt to ease the tension. "It's chocolate with a bit of raseberry filling. We weren't sure what you liked, Izaku, so we just went with something we thought everyone might enjoy."

Izaku nodded slowly. "Chocolate's good." he said, not really sounding enthusiastic but at least appreciative.

Izuku glanced at his brother, trying to gauge his mood. "You know, when I was your age, I was all about chocolate cake. Still am, actually," he added with a small grin. 

 Izaku gave a half-smile in return, feeling the awkwardness start to dissipate, even if just a little. "Yeah? Well, I've always been more of a vanilla cake guy. Guess I'm in the minority here, huh?" 

 Izuku chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Vanilla? I guess that makes you the sophisticated one. But hey, chocolate's a classic."

The little brother, sensing the shift in mood, decided to steer the conversation toward something more personal. "Izuku, why don't you tell us a bit about yourself? I've missed so much while you were away."