Project Rebirth #2

Chapter 11

Content Warning: We have mentions of abuse and lots of romance.

Y/N had snuck out of the park as soon as possible after escaping Ayaka and Hu Tao's watchful gazes, racing back to Heizou's house. She ran to the back of the house, searching for a way to get to a second-story window. Y/N spotted a sturdy oak tree leaning toward the old building, and decided to use it to reach the window. She climbed the tree to reach the second story, entering the house through the same window she had used to get out. Yuki was there waiting for her, her expression glum.

"Heizou still hasn't woken up," Yuki said sadly. "What if he never wakes up?"

Y/N felt her gut wrenching. "I– Of course he'll wake up! I know for a fact that absolutely nothing can stop that annoying guy!"

Yuki froze for a moment then burst out laughing, startling Y/N. "You two seem very close, yet you keep acting as if he's so annoying. Sounds like you're in love~"
Y/N turned bright red. "I am not!"

"You are so!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Admit it, you're in love~"

"Excuse me, but what is the extremely interesting topic you two were discussing?" Heizou asked, causing Y/N and Yuki to scream and hug each other in surprise. His eyes were half-open, and it seemed to take a great deal of effort for him to speak.

"Heizou! Are you alright?" Y/N exclaimed, running to the bed.

Heizou groaned. "Jeez, how many times have I heard that question..."

Yuki glared at him, then said indignantly, "Hey! Y/N asked you a question!"

"I'm fine," Heizou replied, sitting up slowly and wincing. "It's not that bad this time anyway."

"It's not that bad!? You literally collapsed!" Y/N said furiously. Her voice rose, but she didn't care enough to lower it. "You call that nothing?!"

"Heizou had to go to the hospital once because he stopped breathing," Yuki said, shrinking under Heizou's glare.

"...What? You...stopped breathing?" Y/N said in shock, her anger momentarily gone.

"I mean, it was only for a few minutes..." Heizou turned away from her. "Besides, I would never leave Yuki."

Y/N frowned. "Yuki, could you leave Heizou and I alone for a moment?"

Yuki hesitated, and looked toward Heizou. "Should I go?"

Heizou sighed. "You can hide in the bathroom for...three minutes."

Yuki scurried out of the room, leaving Y/N, Heizou, and an uneasy atmosphere by themselves.

"If you don't tell someone, then you might be forced to leave Yuki," Y/N said harshly. She knew how cold her words were sounding, but if she didn't convince him, he would die.

"If I tell someone, then I will be forced to leave Yuki," Heizou countered.

"You don't know that," Y/N argued.

"I only have one year left until I can take Yuki away from him!" Heizou yelled. "I'm not going to have her lose her last bit of childhood just because her dumb big brother can't deal with his father!"

Y/N lapsed into silence for a moment. Then she said slowly, "That's what you really think, isn't it."

Heizou remained silent, so she continued, her voice rising rapidly again. "You don't even care whether you live or die! You're willing to die just so your sister can have a childhood! If you died, then Yuki would be stuck with Attutire for years!"