A Brother's Sacrifice

I was in the washroom. The mirror in front of me kept me occupied. My reflection was staring at me intently, as I did with it.

The sound of tap water coming out of the faucet further keeps me focus in my reflected self. I could see that I was leaning on the blue wall with my arms crossed. I was still and waiting.

The averageness of my face was kind of attractive and also unattractive. But that is a subjective topic here. Not every girl would be drawn in by the mediocrity that my face is emitting, nevertheless, there might be some exceptions.

You never know in this vast world. Fricking handsome bastards have the opposite effect though. That's why I dislike them.

Abruptly, the noise of water exiting through to the sink stopped and it interrupted the conflict that I was having in my head. A new reflected figure emerged in the mirror and blocked mine from my sight. A girl who was wiping her face with a dry towel had her hair swaying like a pendulum with little movement. As she finished, she put the now wet towel in its place.

"Much better."

I called out to the girl as she took a glimpse at me and reverted to look at the mirror again, glowering at me

"Don't get me wrong Reika. Your sobbing face was also cute."

As much as I thought she would be astonished at my comment, she just lightly sighed with a hint of a smile that I could see, judging from her reflection.

"That's because you have a twisted mind Brother. It is no surprise to me that you have such weird fetish."

"I did not mean it in a s.e.x.u.a.l way though Reika. Could it be that you are not as innocent as I thought you would be?" I confronted her with a smug expression.

She did a 180° turn. Her line of sight started from the reflected me to the real me. Her mouth formed a light sneer as she stared at me.

"I am already m.a.t.u.r.e Brother. M.a.t.u.r.e enough to see through that screwed up mind of yours."

"Is that so? But according to me, you are still on the level of a child. The ability to comprehend this 'screwed up' mind of mine is beyond your range of maturity. Give up on even trying to understand it."

She sulked as she looked at me jokingly.

"Can't argue with you there. But I did not think that you would self loathe in front of me. What is that? A new way to comfort people?"

I straightened my arm as it was in a crossed arm position.

"Depends on the person and the circ.u.mstance."

She let her head hung low as she heard the content of my reply.

"...Does this count?"

The atmosphere was depressing. I approached her neither too slow nor too fast. I hovered my hands over her as I stopped right in front of the figure which was leaking a sad aura. Then I proceeded to head pat her...

"Ouch!"

.....or not.

"Of course not," I answered her

She was holding her forehead in torment. She had a disdainful look which she thrust at me. Obviously, she would do that because I flicked my finger on her forehead, causing her pain.

"Bro-!"

"Shhhh..."

I blocked her mouth with my hand as I signalled her with my other hand to keep quiet.

"Don't wake Mom or Dad up."

She nodded then I removed my hand from her face. The second I did, she did.....the thing that I hated the most.

"-------------HUU-!!!!!!!!!!"

A kick to my balls. This time she was blocking my mouth with her hand and signalling with her other hand to shush me. Behind her hand signal, I could see her lips curved.....I guess revenge is really sweet for her...but this REALLY HUUUUUURRRRRRRTTTTTSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After she waited for me to get my bearings, I informed her,

"If you have got this much energy,...mind telling me what's happened?"

I was panting when I said that. Haaa...the pain was making me really tired now. But I tried to be as calm as possible to deal with Reika's matter. She gazed at me for a few seconds before she replied to me.

"...Wait for me in my room, I'm going to tell you..."

"Where are you going?"

"Just wait for me there!"

"Okay okay. Don't yell. Our parents are going to be disturbed." I exited the washroom first then I proceeded to open the door to Reika's room. When was the last time I went into this room? Was it when I helped her about her date with her boyfriend?

Anyway, I looked around and only the bed was a mess. Hmmm, that means that a problem occurred when she was on the bed....

.....Is she on her period?....

...Let's leave it at that. I sat on the messy bed. At least some time to rest myself has been given to me. Then I proceeded to lay myself on her bed, making me more comfortable.

*Sigh*

.......

After a few minutes, the door opened, revealing Reika with her cute pyjamas on. And she was holding something on her hand.

A cloth? But wrapped inside the cloth was another content. I don't know what it is though.

"Hey, where were you? And what is that on your hand?" I sat up as I saw her entering the room.

"Take your shirt off"

"Oh my~? Wait a minute, I'm not mentally prepared~" I jokingly said that to her.

She walked near me, got on the bed while still holding on what's her hand, and went behind. She put the cloth down and glared at me.

"Take your shirt off."

"...Why? It's not hot here."

She then forced me to remove my shirt. This was really dangerous for me because of my injuries, so I quickly stopped her and heeded to her order.

"I get it! Don't be so fierce."

There was nothing I could do, that I could think of, to not follow her order. I obediently removed my shirt, unveiling my n.a.k.e.d upper body.

I heard her murmur, "As I thought" when she scanned my body.

"How did you get these injuries?"

"I fell."

She analysed me as we locked eyes into each other. She was behind me so I had to turn my head. Then she squinted her eyes as she continued to stare into my eyes. After a few seconds, I nonchalantly averted my sight away from hers, looking straight in front of me.

"AAAAAH----At least tell me when you are doing it!!!!"

"Shhhhh."

"Hey, don't start using the 'do not disturb our parents' excuse every time you physically harm me."

"I'm just learning from you because as you said, I am a 'child' compared to you. Besides, I'm not hurting you, I'm aiding you."

"....You have won this battle."

I made a defeated face as I endured the agony I was going through. She applied the cloth to my injuries. The sensation that I felt gave away the content's identity.

It was ice wrapped around the cloth. I wonder how she noticed though. Maybe because of my panting when I was talking?

The thing is, I am kind of glad that she noticed it. I really am.....

"So, what is the reason that made you bawl out tears from those eyes of yours?"

She was hesitant as to whether she should tell me or not.

"Come on, I can even solve your problem." I tempted her to open her mouth.

".....It concerns Murasaki, I mean, my...boyfriend. He.....scolded and slapped me."

"Should I call in every delinquent to beat him up at school? No. I will personally-OUCH! That hurts!!"

She used the ice pressing method again to stop me in my tracks. From this point on, it's not like I cared about Mom or Dad to be interrupted from their sleep.

"You are being scary Brother. Hear me out fully. I have not yet completed my talk. Just...shut up and listen."

I nodded with a calm expression which was directed at no one in particular. I was gazing in front of me but I was listening carefully for the situation that she was going to tell.

My rage towards Imai Murasaki was blazing violently inside of me, it's not like this was the first time but in this instance, it was different.

"Umm.....Where do I start? I guess..... Okay. Murasaki,... I mean Imai, is really popular, especially with girls. So it is no surprise that he has many female friends, or should I say, female admirers and supporters. I expected this because of his charismatic attitude and handsome face but I still feel...insecure. This insecurity of mine further increased yesterday ---

--- I saw a girl with Imai being clingy with him. He was going along with it because he thinks it is normal and has no problem with it. Flirtily and cheerfully were combined in his talking, as always. But I don't know, I felt like...they should be separated. My body acted on its own. I went and confronted that girl to not be sticky with him. The chain of events further escalated into a little verbal fight with her. In the process, I lost my cool and badmouthed her by calling her a s.l.u.t. Then Imai angrily.....slapped me because I insulted her....."

She paused as she kept the ice wrapped cloth on my shoulder. Her clenching hands made the cloth pressurize my injuries, but I put up with the increasing pain. The wavering voice that came out continued. I kept looking forward, hearing her anguished voice.

"I don't know why..... I couldn't endure them being together...Am I really that bad?.....Imai really hates me now....."

I grabbed ahold of her trembling clenching hand, which was grabbing the cloth. I could hear sobbing noise from behind me. I know Imai is not good for her but.....if Reika will be happy with him then...

"Reika.....Imai does not hate you, but has lost his trust in you."

She clutched her hands even harder, making the infliction of pain in my body greater.

"It is not bad to feel possessive towards your boyfriend but too much possessiveness will make you insecure. The fact that you are even insecure towards him means that you do not believe in him that much, do you?"

She sniffed once as she was listening to me.

"You too are popular with the boys at our school. Does Imai ever question you about his insecurities?"

".....No..." She weakly responded to me.

"It is because he has trust in you."

I turned my head slowly behind, looking at her teary face while still holding her shivering hand.

"Do you have this much little trust in your first love?"

I looked at her pitifully. She could not stare at me directly so she looked down at her messy bed.

"...I can't help it.....He has so many of those girls who want to be near him. I am...jealous..."

"Jealous? What is the reason for such emotion?"

".....It is frustrating that...someone might take my place..."

My hands acted on its own. I grabbed both her cheeks lifted it in such a way that she is fixating her eyes with mine.

"Listen! If you think that someone will take your place, then I guarantee you that it will never happen! Someone as beautiful as you, and someone as good as you, I am sure that no such girl exist! But even if Imai ditches you, then he is the most stupid and horrible person in the whole world!"

She cried momentarily as the tears fleetingly got wiped by her embrace to her big brother. My c.h.e.s.t had a throbbing pain which was soothed away by my little sister's hug.

My body felt a wet feeling around the part where Reika's face was buried, clearly because of the salty water exiting her eyes.

I waited for her to let out all of the frustrations that she had on her. As she stopped crying, she distanced her from me and gained her comportment.

".....B-.....What should I do.....Brother? I.....want to be back with Imai."

I equipped my soft voice and guided her into what must she do to restore the relationship with her boyfriend.

"Firstly, apologise to Imai. Let your true feelings be known to him. Secondly, do the same thing with that girl. And finally, place your trust in Imai. It is pointless to have this kind of relationship where your belief in him is not strong. Are you ready to be together with him?"

"...Yes..."

"With more confidence Reika."

"...You meanie."

"Why?!?"

She proceeded to hug me again unexpectedly.

"Thank you...Brother."

This time I let out a noise as the stinging pain did not let me enjoy this moment.

"Ack!"

"I-I'm sorry. I'll take care of it."

She applied the ice to my hip next as I endured the agony that it brought me. Her flushed face from all the crying she did was blatant to me. Regardless, I stayed quiet and let her aid me. After a few minutes, she announced,

"It should help a little now. You must take a good rest, no video games."

"I get it. Now, can I leave?"

She lightly smiled from behind as I requested her for my release. She then started to ruffle violently through my blond hair as I tell her to stop. She paused for a moment then gently expressed her gratitude.

"Thank you again, Brother."

"It is no problem but Reika, can you now stop ruffling my hair. It's like you are being the elder sibling here."

"Why? You hate it?"

"It's not like I hate it but you are pretending to be the older one here."

"Just because you were born 1 minute before me is not enough to confirm your authority as the elder sibling."

"You were born on the 1st of August and me on the 31st of July. Isn't that proof enough?"

"That's not fair. You were born just before midnight, whereas I was the late one."

"Just give up on that authority Reika. You being the little sister has already been decided as fate."

She pouted with a 'Muu' murmuring sound as she looked at me win this battle. I then decided that it was time to go to bed.

"I'm going to go Reika. Good night." I said as I stood up from her bed. She did not say anything until I reached for the door.

"Good night...Brother. Thank y...."

My mouth formed a crescent moon shape as I heard the fading last words of Reika.

"In fact, it is me who should say that..."

...My last words to her for today. I then moved out of the room, taking the path of entering mine. My body was really tired. Accommodating with that pain was stressful but, it was worth it.

I obeyed to Reika's order, that is no late games and take a rest. But I don't why, why.....This day, I had mixed feelings about Reika, and about that Imai.

The fatigue did not let me think any further as it knocked me out by the magic of sleep.