Fixing The Broken One | BroCon

XVI. Goodbye Midnight

"I always look forward;

Because there you are.

In the path I walk."

.

.

.

A day after their visit to the mansion, Kanzaki Sumire stood in front of the door of the Sunrise Residence.

Louis had offered to invite her to the house, in attempt to placate Rin, that maybe inside a place where she had grown familiar to, she could face her feelings and stand on her two feet proudly. It worked, for sure, she was more at ease than the first time meeting her. Instead of a beast lurking in the night, ready to strike—it was more like a wolf; calculating and careful, eyes sharp and senses heightened.

Rin felt a squeeze on the small of her back, warm hand that felt like a place she is willing to melt into. She didn't need to look back, knowing surely that he was there—the still violet of his eyes held fire underneath the surface. Azusa leaned his waist against the couch, circling his arms around her and sheathing her in a protective hold. Louis was there too, albeit his presence is vivid, barely saying anything since the start of the ordeal.

"How are you?" Rin tried, testing the waters, lips pursed into a tight line however not forgetting her grace. The woman in front of her had her lips in a scowl, eyeing the men around her like a hawk. Rin gave a squeeze on the arms encircling her figure—i'm okay, you can let go now.

"I thought you weren't one to engage yourself in a polite conversation," Sumire scorned, acrylic nails glimmered against the sunlight peeking through the blinds. Rin inhaled, leaning her cheek against her palm.

"I simply intent that things will not remain so hostile between us," She retorted, shaking her head lightly as Sumire's jaw tensed, "After all, we are responsible adults, aren't we? It's a pity if we keep chasing around like  hellions."

Sumire hummed in reply, cocking her head at the low jab she had delivered. It surely had struck a nerve as she shook her head with a dry laugh. As she unclasped her arrogant and flashy glamour, Rin could see past the ego she held up so high, and saw someone more akin to her memories than before—she inhaled a sharp breath, the scenes rushing through her head like a coursing river. The evidence of exhaustion exist in the bluish bags around her eyes and the rigid strain wrinkles around her eyes and between her brows. Age had consumed her, Rin finally realized.

She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear, periwinkle eyes that usually appear like stern and cold rocks had melted into something more calculating, like she was threading on a tightrope—one wrong move and she would topple over and fall. Her cards are on the table, exposing every layer of skin until she felt raw.

"Sumire-san, no." Rin inhaled, heart drumming in inside her ribcage, "Mother, I have come to terms to how I want to resolve this conflict regarding Father's inheritance."

As the words escaped her lips, Sumire visibly flinched, shoulders raising in a defensive stance. Rin didn't push further, both parts afraid of going too far, scratching more than the surface. Her brother's grip on her shoulder tighten considerably at the words. She knows of his pain for she's not naive, his words may hide but she was good in reading people, especially the ones she truly cares about.

"So please, at least this one time, listen to me."

***