CoMari Au (Omori)

Part 29

"Hey KEL, do you want to spend today together? We haven't hung out much since I left for college..." HERO says to his younger brother.

KEL grins. "Of course!"

"So... what do you want to do?"

KEL grins again. "Are you down for some sports?"

HERO matches KEL's grin.

"Who do you think I am? Of course I'm down for some sports." HERO responds, the brothers enthusiasm matching.

They walk to the park together, and they start off with KEL's favorite game, basketball. They play 1v1, and KEL wins the first match, and then the second. HERO makes a comeback on the third game, defeating KEL, and the scores are close, but ultimately, the older brother has the highest score. They play another round, and KEL, with his relentless stamina wins once more.

After four games in a row, they decide to take a quick break. They go to HOBEEZ first, and look at the various things.

"Pet rocks!" HERO says, rather loudly and excitedly.

"Pet rocks?" KEL questions, confused at first. "Oh my god! Pet rocks!"

"They aren't selling..." The cashier says disappointedly. "Tell you what, you two battle with random pet rocks, and then the winner battles me, and if you win, I'll buy you guys the whole box of these guys, but if I win, you guys owe me a whole pizza from GINO's."

KEL and HERO exchange glances. 

HERO chooses rock first, and so does KEL.

"Great minds think alike." KEL said, smiling. He was just happy to spend the day with his brother, to see him happy for the first time in so long. He didn't care if he had to buy 100 strangers pizzas from GINO's (mr beast fr). 

"Oh, but greater minds win." HERO shot back, as he chose rock once again, and KEL chose scissors.

He knew HERO would choose rock again, thinking that KEL wouldn't know he would choose rock again. Fortunately for HERO's pride, KEL was a nice brother, and picked scissors once again.

"Yessss!" HERO celebrated momentarily, before going up to the cashier.

It didn't look to be going well, as HERO lost twice in a row.

And then HERO won twice in a row.

And then they tied.

And tied again.

And finally...

HERO won!

"Let's goooooo!!!" HERO shouted, happy he had won. It seemed like he'd been losing so much lately, so to win in even something as small as this was a victory in his eyes.

The cashier sighed as he rang up all 143 pet rocks. He clearly hadn't expected to lose.

"Listen, as annoying as this is," The cashier started, "At least it gives me something to do."

The total came out to $454.74, and the cashier paid, not looking bothered.

As they were leaving the store, HERO looked pained.

"I forgot something, let me run in real quick and get it." HERO said, going back in.

He opened up his wallet to the cashier, and gave him five hundred dollar bills. (mr beast fr)

"Holy shit, dude, you don't need to do this-" The cashier started.

"Have a good day." HERO said, walking back out calmly.

KEL looked confused. "What did you forget?"

"That we're all just people. We're all struggling to provide for our families. I have more than enough. It was the least I could do, believe me. Let's go to GINO's and get a pizza." HERO responded.

The two boys ate their pizza, happily chatting while eating it. When they were done, they went to fix-it, and bought flowers for MARI.

They took the flowers and pet rocks to the hospital, picking out one pet rock for every member of their friend group, and donating the rest to the children in the hospital.

"Awww... you're so sweet!" MARI said to HERO, kissing him softly.

KEL wanted to tease his brother, but he didn't. He let HERO have this moment. 

When the two brothers went back home, right before HERO started to make dinner, he went to KEL's room.

KEL was laying on his bed, playing on his gameboy, listening to music.

"I love you." HERO said.

"I love you too." KEL responded.

(655 words) (8? parts left)

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Wholesome brotherly bonding. We all needed this, didn't we?

Admit it. You did.