Hidden Love

How Things Are

"You lost your right as my mother. Right now,you're not my mother." I could hear her mourns getting louder. She's not my mother. I never had a mother. But... 

 "You're Miou's mother."

 Something clicked in me,if you were to ruin my life then why give birth to me in the first place? All those painful memories and lonely nights, I wish I never had them. I wish I never existed,but then why...

 'Sora,no one can grow without pain. You did well.' 

 'Hey big guy,no matter what others say,you're my son.'

 Why won't these tears stop? 

'Sou!'

 It's really ironic...

 "Do you know how many times I thought of joining dad?"

 'Don't...y-you ever say th-that shit again...you'r...e...perfect th-the w-way you are...you fucking shithead...' 

 "But I never did,right?"

 Because I had them...they taught me that I'm enough. I don't need to go through further lengths to destroy who I am...I was slowly healing... 

 'Then go do it.' 

 With you by my side.

 "Because I grew up with wonderful people who appreciated me for who I am,even though you never got to see me grow. You still have a chance to see Miou grow...so don't let her think she's never enough...a-and...tr-treat her well...don't shout too much at her...t-te-tell h-her..nghh th-that...her brother...loves her..."

 "I...I'm sorry,I'm s-sorry...a-and...th-thank y-you..." Someone came running downstairs,don't tell me that dumbass was actually eavesdropping.

 "O-onii-chan...I! I'll come visit every month! A-and I..." 

 "You don't have to." I stood up and patted her head.

"NO! I never k-knew...but just because,you can't blame mom either! S-she would visit the beach every week and talk about a young boy. Then she would-"

"It's really fine. Tachibana-san..." Maybe just this once...

People can't grow without pain huh? But what happens if you receive too much pain?

"So...ra..."

They break.

"Thank you...for taking care of Miou...and for leaving me...mom." I glanced at the stairway to see Akira smiling down at me. I grinned back,somehow whenever I look at her,all the chains binding me...suddenly evaporates.

"I-i mean...I wouldn't have met Akira and th-the others...Aghhh! M-my point is-" She jumped on me,squeezing me tight. Crying to her heart's content,I softly patted her back with one arm and welcomed Miou on the other. 

I can't forgive you.

"Sora...my baby sora..."

I can't forgive myself.

"Onii-chan."

But...

'Sora!'

"Yeah...I...h-here..."

I want to.

-------

"Man that was tough." Akira handed me my cup and sat down on the couch. 

"Family drama." I took a sip of the malt and placed it back. She slapped my arm.

"Shut up,at least you guys made up." Staring down at her cup, I couldn't help but think ; how many times did she wanted to have a new start? Being the person she was,she noticed how I was trapped in my thoughts.

"It can't be fixed you know. My dad I mean, he just straight out went to bars after mom died and shit became bad. You can't pick up spilled milk. So just buy another fucking carton god damn it." I laughed at her joke as she took a big gulp.

"H-hey! You'll choke if you drinking it all like that." Making me worried with every action you do. You also make my worries go away.

"Hic..."

"Wait...what did you put in your drink?" 

"Ehhh? Whaaaat? I just pour~ed the can on the left?" I knew for sure,whatever was in that can isn't juice or milk. I quickly dashed to the kitchen and there I found my answer. 

Akira...how dumb can you be?

"This is beer bitch! What are you,a blind bat?!?" I roared at the drunk Akira. She's a minor. This is her first year in high school. Yet...she's drunk. She made me my favorite malt yet she had the audacity to not read the description of the can and pour it in her cup?!? 

Just how-

"SORAAAA~" Ahhh! I rushed back to her side,she was about to fall off the couch so I scooped her up.

"Shhh,you're gonna wake the others. I'll send you back to Haru-nii." I walked towards the door. Oh please don't kill me Haru-nii. 

"Uwahaha~.Sora's doing a pwiii~zess carryy!" But before I could even reach the door, she pulled me close to her and I fell forward. 

"That hurts,dumb...ass." I could see her clearly,it was night time,but her face was pale and as beautiful as the pearls,her eyes were of a lost lamb. Her sleek black hair was carpeting her perfect,pretty face...since when...did my chest started feeling these? 

It was like various chemicals mixed together,forming unknown reactions of different colors and explosions. 

"Shwithead...who are wu calling dumb huh?!? Wou're the damb one!" She started pounding my chest,I realized the position we were in. Shit. I'm so shameless. I quickly sat back up and took a deep breath in.

"A-akira. I think y-you drank something b-bad.S-st-stay here. I'll go get Haru-"

"Nuh! Baka Shora!" She jumped onto me like a cat. Seriously, someone help me!

"You phwaking..."

Then,something I never expected happen.

Onii-chan - Older brother, used frequently by women to address men who are their superior in age. Onii-chan may be used with or without actual blood ties between two parties.
San - A title of respect added to a name. It can be used with both male and female names, and with either surnames or given names. It can also be attached to the name of occupations and titles.