A Reason to Live

chit-chat

(Time-skip several days later)

"Hoh? Shinonono Houki, a 14-year-old girl, takes the victory for the national kendo competition. Is that your little sister?"

I was reading an excerpt from a news article projected on Tabaco's screen. Tabaco was, as always, on her weird maintenance chair, only this time, her screen was filled with Shinonono Houki and the article I was reading off of.

"Hai! Hai! That's my Houki-chan!"

Shinonono Houki, just as her name suggested, was Tabaco's little sister. When Tabaco first received the news, she was very hasty and eager to show off about her little sister's accomplishment.

"I'm impressed. As expected of the little sister of a ridiculously strong onee-san."

"Ah! Tom called me onee-san! Say it one more time!"

"Like I will!"

"Stingy!" she pouted.

"And stop calling me Tom!"

Then, I noticed something else in the same page of the article shown on Tabaco's screen. I directed her attention to the bottom of the article.

"Wait, Tabaco, scroll down a bit…"

"I'm not Tabaco! Call me Taba onee-san!"

"Shut up and just do it!"

Her pout became even bigger, but nonetheless, she scrolled down for me to see.

"Orimura Chifuyu… former world IS tournament champion, and the world's strongest woman forfeits from the finals match? What the heck is this?"

Then, I saw Tabaco's expression brighten like a maniac,

"Chi-chan!"

"Chi-chan?" I tilted my head at the unfamiliar name.

Shinonono only nodded furiously.

"Mhmm! Chi-chan! She's my best friend!"

For some reason, I wasn't surprised at all. Tabaco was ridiculously strong as well.

"But if she's so strong, why did she forfeit from the finals. Maybe she was afr-"

"NO!"

I slightly jumped when she suddenly yelled. She was glaring at me for the first time. I had never seen her get this angry before.

"Chi-chan has a little brother… During her match, he was kidnapped by some organization, so she left to rush to his rescue."

Her pair of magenta eyes bore through my eyes with a serious expression.

"I won't forgive anyone who makes fun of Chi-chan, even if it's Tom!"

I stared at her with wide eyes for a few seconds. It's been a while since I saw her serious side of her personality. It was obvious that this Chi-chan was an important person to her.

I lightly hit her on the head with my fist.

"Stupid."

"Eh?" She was flabbergasted when I hit her on the head, and she looked at me with wide eyes.

"It wasn't my intention to make fun of her. But still, if that's what really happened, well, isn't that admirable of her."

I let a rare smile escape from my usually stoic face.

"Tom…"

Her demeanor changed instantly to a cheerful one,

"But still! I'm glad Chi-chan saved I-kun. Houki-chan and I-kun seem really fit for each other. If I-kun died, Houki-chan would be sad, and if Houki-chan's sad, onee-san would also be sad!"

Even though her tone was childish, I sensed truth in those words.

Out of the corner of my eyes, something caught my eyes like a magnet.

"Wait, scroll up a little more…"

There was a bold heading written on the first page of the news article;

Multiple bodies of test subjects found near an abandoned R&D laboratory in the corner of Japan!

It was written by experts that the event that took place there was the most atrocious case of crime against humanity since the holocaust. The forensics also seemed to have discovered the motive behind the research laboratory from the autopsies. Hence, they named the event as the Apeiron Tragedy.

Tabaco probably saw my face darken and my fist shaking; she gave me a worried look,

"Tom..."

I only let out a sigh,

"Could have been nicer if they found the place a little earlier…"

I turned around, and made my way out of the room.

"Anyway, don't sit all day in there and do something proactive."

I walked outside to the garden and stared at a small pond with some orange white fishes in it. I believe that they were called 'Koi' fishes, a traditional Japanese fish.

I was lost in thought before I even realized. The concept of family flew around in my head,

'A family, huh?'

Then I noticed a churning feeling in the pit of my stomach.

'A stomachache? No. Is this what they call envy? I shouldn't be worrying about that for now. I'm sure when my memory returns, I'll be able to see my family too.'

Then, Tabaco's voice called out from behind me, she seemed to be excited for some reason.

"Tom! Good news, good news! Guess what! Guess!" She was unusually hyper, but I didn't pay particular mind to it because she was always like that.

"Just tell me. What is it?"

"You'll be attending the all-girl school IS academy next year! They reserved a place for you there, isn't that great?"

"Huh?"

"It's already been decided! You'll have so much fun!"

"HAH?!"