𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Part 22: No, You Don't

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______________________________

HAMADA RESIDENCE

21:30

Minato had his head resting on Aishito's lap, the latter insisted him to do so since he looked so discouraged since noon- it's the least I can do, she said. Hence, the siblings sat there together in silence, Aishito brushed back her big brother's curly hair in a futile attempt to straighten them. Minato was staring at a random part of the ceiling when he started talking.

"Look, Aishito..." Minato finally looked at her, carefully sorting out his words. "I have my own reasons. And because of that, I completely disagree with your decission to participate in the upcoming Final Selection."

It took more than enough will-power for Aishito not to yank a fistful of Minato's hair at this point.

Huffing a slow breath, Aishito replied- "Uh-huh, I totally understand that." Was that sarcasm that she implied in her sentence? Great.

"You do?" Minato eyed her suspiciously.

An angry smile is all she could give to her big brother, "I totally understand that you, my beloved big brother, never trust me the way I thought you would. Correct?"

With her face shaded from light, only shadows looming onto her childish features- it almost looked like she was this close to choke the air out of Minato in swift seconds.

But, as an expert of being unfazed, Minato didn't even blink at her strict words.

"I'm worried about you. Good grief, was it so wrong for me to protect my own little sister? You're the only siblings I have left after-" Minato stopped talking, the soul of his words clenched every part of his throat and he couldn't continue.

Aishito was expecting that, but it jolted her awake too- no wonder it bothered him so much. Their past was still haunting them, but wasn't that particular past is the sole thing Aishito wanted to become a demon slayer in the first place?

Shouldn't Minato become more understanding if that's the case?

Aishito pursed her lips first, "... You have to trust me in pursuing this path, Onii-san. I can protect myself now. You heard what Shinazugawa-sensei told us earlier, right? He said that I'm ready for the Final Selection-"

Minato immediately rose from his position, his voice shot a volume higher. "That's what he thinks, what if you- freeze out of fear while you're in that goddamn forest? Final selection is not a child's plaything, Aishito... you could've gotten killed if you let your guard down even just a second."

Aishito could feel herself sinking, it was a rare occasion for Minato to speak like that.

No, that's not it- Onii-san only spoke this way when he was thinking about her...

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Aishito retorted with a scowl, "Not a child's plaything, huh? Don't you think I'd knew about that without you telling? And Onii-san, do you think I'd enter the Final Selection... effortlessly without the intention to get outta there alive and breathing?"