ᗯᕼIᔕᑭEᖇIᑎG ᖴᒪᗩᗰE [ Brothers Conflict ]

Chapter Seven

Ema stood there, clothed in a very feminine, creme-coloured dress with her hair looking all curly and perfect, and gave Rurijo a light smile. Rurijo stared back at her in a deadpan sort of way, obviously disturbed by her presence.

"Ohayou, Rurijo-san," greeted the lighter-haired girl, giving the other a small bow.

Rurijo was quiet for about a minute, before emotionlessly motioning for the shorter brunette to move out of the way.

A flustered expression came upon Ema's face as she hurriedly stepped aside, emitting a squeak-like apology for blocking the door. Her cheeks heated up lightly as she inquired, "H-how was your sleep?"

" ... "

"Was it good?"

" ... "

" Er ... w-was it bad?"

" ... "

"I-I'm sorry if it was, Rurijo-sa--"

"For fuck's sake, shut up already."

" ... G-gomenasai ... "

There was an awkward silence between the two, and, impatient of just standing around, Rurijo turned away briskly - only to walk right into the top of a lean, broad chest.

Eyes slightly narrowed, she snapped up her head and stared into the two misty grey eyes before her. An unknown male in his early university years was looking down at her; his short, faded blue hair tousled and slightly tanned arms muscular.

" ... "

Ema smiled at the tall man in recognition, saying with a soft chirp, "G-good morning, Subaru-san." She paused and, seeing the confusion hidden within the other's eyes, gestured to Rurijo. "Oh, and this is Rurijo-san. I don't think you've met before. She's staying at the Sunrise Residence on Miwa-san's account."

The bluette's attention fell back to Rurijo and, after analyzing her for a few moments, stuck out a calloused hand.

"Subaru," he said formally.

Rurijo looked at the hand, then back at her own pale, scar-slathered one, and pulled her arm back; eyes locked with his.

"Basketball player, right?" she stated, rejecting the handshake in a similar fashion to Miwa.

Eventually letting his arm fall to his side, Subaru gave a curt nod.

"Hm."

"Ne, Subaru-san, we were just about to go to breakfast. What about you?" Ema asked in that honey-sweet voice of hers, turning to the way-taller-than-her man.

He nodded, "Same here."

"Ohh. Let's go together, then!"

"Sure." The faintest of blushes decorated his cheeks.

Looking stiff at where this was heading to, Rurijo firmly planted her feet at her spot and stayed there, not really planning on joining them. For one, she didn't like how Ema put words in her mouth, and she most certainly didn't like being the third-wheeler either.

Noticing that Rurijo wasn't following her, Ema paused mid-walk and turned to the unimpressed-looking girl. " ... Rurijo-san, you coming?"

"No."

"E-eh?"

Looking bored and extremely disinterested, the teenager turned and started to stalk off in the opposite direction, "I'm going back to my room."

Rurijo didn't really catch what Ema said afterwards due to the loud slamming of her door, but didn't really care anyways. She plopped herself half-heartedly onto her bed, muttering pointedly, "Besides, I could use a few extra hours of sleep ... "

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The flames haunted her.

They were everywhere, surrounding her, closing her in. Ready to engulf her body at any given moment. A scorching inferno of reds, oranges, and yellows. Fire was not welcoming, nor was it warm. It was dangerous, and it wanted her killed.

The air was thick and excruciatingly hot, ash smothering everyone and everything. Wood crackled all around her, soon about to collapse. Rurijo choked for oxygen, lungs burning with the soot of her loved ones.

The flames haunted her. . .

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With a violent yank, Rurijo forced herself upright; rubbing furiously at her eyes until they opened. Her breathing was heavy, and a thin sheen of sweat decorated her skin; the girl pressing a stressed hand to her forehead.

"Dammit ... " she muttered, releasing a low sigh. She had forgotten to take her sleeping pills. Rurijo always took them before she went to bed, no exceptions. They were strong enough to knock her out; preventing the girl from having dreams like ... that.

But this time ...

Shaking her head, Rurijo swung her legs to the side of the bed and left her room; heading to the top floor. Maybe some breakfast would clear her mind.

As she reached the kitchen, her ears were met with an abnormal buzz of chatter. It was loud, much louder than she would have expected. And while Rurijo was used to the many voices of children talking amongst themselves, these were much deeper - something that would never be able to pass through a pre-pubescent's lips.

And the more her eyes scanned the room, the more unfamiliar faces made themselves present. Rurijo grimaced slightly and began to backpedal; starting to regret coming here in the first place. Perhaps breakfast could wait.

"Well, look who it is."

Giving a small huff of acknowledgement, a certain redhead seemed to catch sight of Rurijo from the corner of his eye; Yusuke taking a crunch out of his granola bar.

The brunette still lingered by the door, eyeing the teenager with a monotone stare in response.

"Dinner sure was tasty last night, eh?" he said with a testing raise of his brow, boring his maple-red hues into Rurijo's. "Oh wait - you can't really say anything 'cause you weren't even there, can you?"

She was just about to retort (with a swear word, most like), when Ema came along, promptly interrupting.

"Yusuke-kun," the girl told him, "Ukyo-san wants to talk to you."

He gave an irritated groan, walking off to wherever the elder blonde was; yelling some, "What is it, Kyo-nii - "

With a small smile, Ema turned to Rurijo, looking albeit a tad mischievous underneath that shy cover of hers, "Well, he's gone for now."

Rurijo merely blinked, gaze travelling to the smaller hand held within Ema's. There, giggling to the ponytailed girl avidly, was some kid.

Catching who Rurijo was looking at, Ema piped up and gave him a little gesture, "Oh, and this here is Wataru-kun! He's one of the Asahina siblings as well. Wataru-kun, say hello to Rurijo-san."

Seeming to just notice her now, the boy slowly approached her, and Rurijo took note of how short he was. It seriously hurt her neck to look at him.

Wataru's milk-chocolate orbs slowly wandered up to Rurijo, and, almost immediately afterwards, he jumped back, bursting into a loud, ear-splitting fit of tears.

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You know the drill ~ ! ✨