OUTRUN THE TRUTH {OMORI AU} (OLD)

Bonus/3k Reads Special

KEL's hand trembled as he fumbled with the doorknob before finally managing to push the door open and step inside his room. The sight of the familiar surroundings failed to provide the comfort it usually did. His mind was preoccupied with worry, his thoughts relentlessly drawn to his older brother HERO.

 'H...HERO..? Uh, Mom told me to tell you that dinner is ready...' he said, trying to mask his concern but failing to do so entirely.

Inside the room, HERO laid on his bed, seemingly lost in a world of his own. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling, and he didn't respond to KEL's words. It was as if he hadn't even heard his little brother's voice.

'HERO,' KEL said again, this time with a hint of urgency. 'You need to eat something. You haven't been eating much...' His concern was evident, and he hoped his words would somehow reach HERO and prompt a response.

But HERO remained unresponsive, lost in his thoughts or emotions that KEL couldn't fathom. It was unlike anything he had experienced with his brother before. The HERO he knew was strong, reliable, and always there for him, but this version of HERO seemed like a mere shadow of his former self.

'Hey, HERO,' he said softly, trying a different approach to capture his brother's attention. 'You know, Mom made your favorite dish tonight. It's really good. You should come down and eat with us.'

But HERO remained unresponsive, his distant gaze fixed on the ceiling as if he was lost in a world far away from their reality. KEL's concern deepened, and he fought back the urge to shake his brother to snap him out of it.

Drawing on his memories of the times they had shared, KEL recalled a moment that had always brought a smile to HERO's face. 'Remember that time we went hiking up the mountain and got lost for a while?' KEL said with a faint grin, hoping to spark some connection. 'It was frustrating at first, but we had a blast, didn't we? Mom was so worried when we finally made it back, but we made it an adventure!'

KEL watched intently, hoping for any sign that his words were getting through to HERO. There was a brief flicker in his brother's eyes, a hint of recognition, but it quickly faded back into a distant stare.

His concern growing, KEL tried to offer some reassurance. 'HERO, whatever it is you're going through, I want you to know that I'm here for you. We all are. You don't have to face this alone. We're a team, right?'

Silence filled the room, and KEL began to wonder if he was making any difference at all. But he refused to give up. He couldn't bear to see his brother in such a withdrawn state.

'I know things might seem tough right now,' KEL continued, his voice gentle but firm. 'But you've always been the strong one, the one who never backs down from a challenge. I believe in you, We can get through this together..'

HERO's frustration finally boiled over as KEL continued to persist, trying to break through the wall he had put up. With a sudden burst of emotion, HERO turned to KEL, his voice tinged with irritation.

'Enough, KEL!' he snapped, surprising both himself and his little brother with the force of his words. 'I appreciate your concern, but I just need some space right now. Can't you see that?'