What is in a Sigh

Chapter 1

Hey there. My name's Peter Jūnishi, and I'm far from ordinary. You see, my 11 siblings and I harbor a secret so profound it would shatter the world's understanding if revealed. I'm trusting you to keep this to yourself. We're descended from an ancient line of Mystic Warriors. Sounds insane, right? But trust me, that's just the beginning.

I see by the look in your eyes that I got your attention. So let's kick this off right. As I said, I am one of 12 siblings. My mom, bless her soul, is Kiley and my dad, help his sanity, is Yin. Now let me introduce you to my siblings:

Emma (28): The eldest, always the responsible one. She's the glue that keeps our family together and has a knack for organizing chaotic situations.

Liam (27): The second oldest, a natural leader with a passion for sports. He's always been my go-to for advice and motivation.

Sophia (25): She's the artistic soul of the family, constantly painting or crafting something beautiful. Her creativity knows no bounds.

Noah (23): The tech genius. If you have a gadget that's broken, Noah's the one to fix it. He's also a bit of a prankster, always keeping things lively.

Ava (22): The bookworm. She's always lost in a novel and has an incredible imagination. Her stories captivate us all.

Ethan (17): The fashionista. He has a great sense of style and loves helping others look their best.

Olivia (17): Olivia, Ethan's twin, is the athlete. She's always on the move, whether it's running, biking, or any sport you can think of. Her energy is infectious.

Mason (15): The joker. Mason can lighten up any room with his humor and is always up to some mischief.

Isabella (13): The animal lover. Isabella has a way with animals, and she's always bringing home strays to care for.

Lucas (12): The little brother with big dreams. Lucas is already showing signs of following in Noah's tech-savvy footsteps.

Mia (10): The youngest. She's the baby of the family, adored by all. Her curiosity and wonder keep us all on our toes.

And then there's me, I am 18, the sixth out of the twelve, the literal middle child. I try to balance being a mediator and finding my own place amidst this lively, wonderful chaos.

Home life wasn't the only place I struggled to find my place. School was no different. I wasn't a jock, nor was I a nerd; I was just kind of... there. For the last three years, that was fine. Being a Jūnishi kid meant most people knew my older siblings and left me alone. But everything changed my senior year when we got a transfer student named Jacques. A French golden boy, rich and talented at every sport.

This tale really starts with Jacque being a complete ass.

***

I was walking the halls, minding my own business, when I felt the atmosphere around me shift. Whispers and sidelong glances followed my every step. I kept my head down, not wanting to attract any attention. It was a typical day at school, or so I thought.

Then I heard his voice. Jacques.

"Hey, Jūnishi, where do you think you're going?" His tone was mocking, dripping with condescension.

I turned to see him standing there, surrounded by his entourage, Jim and Billy Zeothero, his ever-present sidekicks. Jacques's smirk was infuriating. "Just heading to class," I mumbled, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Class, huh? I didn't know they had classes for nobodies," Jacques sneered, stepping closer as the crowd around us grew.

Jim, the taller of the two brothers, laughed obnoxiously. "Yeah, nobodies like you, Jūnishi!" he echoed, pointing at me.