𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 | 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐠𝐨𝐮 𝐤.

✩ eleven ✩

IT'S been about four days of doing nothing but sitting at home and healing up before starting my first official day at ua high school. to say that i was nervous must be the understatement of the century.

currently, i'm holding my word of helping futoshi to help him study his spelling.

"okay so what we can do that would really help is to write me a story so i can see how much support you need. that should be a good starting point for you." i give him the most supportive smile i could muster. his runs a hand through his dark blue hair that mirrors my own and lets out a big sigh.

"i guess if you think that will help. but you better not tell eijiro that i need help with spelling of all things!" he turns to me with his eyes squinted and points a finger in my face. i put my hands up to surrender.

"i pinky promise i won't tell him!" just like when we were little kids, i pushed my pinky finger out for him to grab with his own. he hesitated for a second still staring me down, and hooked his onto my own.

"jun said she would be out late with rumi so i'll start dinner." i sit up from my seat next to my brother and make my way out of the living room area and into our small kitchen. it wasn't much but it's perfect for the three of us.

ever since mom and dad died, we had to sell the house and move into a smaller apartment not too far from where we all grew up. to this day it's still hard for me to walk in that direction. as i am only able to see all of the happy memories we could be making now if they were still with us.

since they've passed futoshi and i's eldest sister has been taking care of us. she was the one that walked us to school in the morning, made our lunches, took off work to take care of us when we were sick. now that the both of us have become more independent, we both try our best to take some of that weight off of her shoulders.

for everything she has sacrificed for us, it's the least that we can do.

before i'm completely finished with frying the chicken i can hear the thud of the door open and close.

"i'm home my little munchkins!" junko's sweet voice echoes through the hallway of the entry way and suddenly i feel at peace. i rush to finish up the chicken and set it down before truly greeting her.

when i turn the corner, i find my sister slouched up against the wall while attempting to tug her shoes off of her feet. rushing to her side, i slink around her help her untie the knotted up laces.

"welcome back jun. how was rumi doing?"

"she wanted me to tell you how proud she was of you! she watched your matches during the tournament and said that you absolutely crushed it." my eyes meet with her soft blue ones as she stares down at me with gratitude swirling in the waves. she unties her light ginger hair from the high ponytail and lets her long hair loose around her shoulders.

"she also wanted me to tell ya she has a present for you and to swing by her apartment soon to pick it up." she pops the 'p' and stands after i finally untangle the laces. her hand ruffles the top of my head and saunters off into the apartment.

"lil futooo whatcha up to in here?" i follow behind not too far and round into the kitchen to plate the katsu.

"uh NOTHING AT ALL!" even from here i can hear the wavering of the lie he spills to our sister.

he's the worst liar.

"you workin' on a story here huh? how the hell do you spell better wrong? HOW DO YOU SPELL WHAT WRONG?!" the genuine cackling coming from our sister reverberates against the wood as i can hear the struggling of futoshi trying to get his paper back.

"SHUT THE HELL UP OLD HAG! DON'T SPEAK A WORD OF THIS TO ANYONE!" with three plates in both hands, i slowly peak around the corner to see if a fight has broken out yet between the hotheads.

luckily for me i don't hear any running yet which is my sign to book it for the table while i can.

phew i made it.

i swipe a stray drop of sweat that formed on my brow as i set down the three plates.

"the gurl tipped over her fet and into the orenge hair boy. ten he turns into a kat. HOW DO YOU MISSPELL CAT LITTLE MAN?" junko is reading off the story futoshi much have written while he is screaming for mercy. the thuds of running footsteps begin to sound in the small apartment. i watch in disbelief at junko runs past the small area of the dining room with a flustered futoshi close behind her.

"why does this sound so familiar?"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"

after the run past a few times, i hear a loud thud and the groaning of what i assume to be futoshi then the sound of dragging across the floor.

"how rude of you not to tell me our little koko was cooking tonight futo." jun's tall figure come from around the corner with a fist full of futoshi's blue and black stripped shirt balled up in her hand.

i light up at the sparkle that shines in her eyes when she looks down at the plates, her favorite dish being prepared. before she can say anything, her eyes begin to well up with tears as she drops futoshi with a thud and rushes over to me.

"you're the best little sis i could ever ask for!" she leans her entire body weight onto me as she sobs into my shoulder. i let out a chuckle at the gesture and hug her back.

"it's not all that special jun. i just thought you would enjoy it after your long day today!" she grips onto my shoulder as she holds me back to look straight into my eyes.

"well it's special to me little sis." even with the tears streaming down her cheeks, her voice comes out serious.

i give her a smile and turn to the plates on the table. i notice futoshi dragging himself across the floor to his usual seat, groaning the whole time.

"now lets dig in before it gets cold yeah?" junko sniffles as she goes back to her cheerful self. she plops right down into her seat as i begin to pass around the rice and curry to the other two.

i come to a realization as i sit there watching the two banter back and forth about the spelling incident.

this is truly what it's like to be surrounded by loved ones.