Alinea

Suzuki Aki's mouth gaped. He was actually expecting to be scolded by his sibling – to be told how much she resented him, but none came.

For the past three years since their parents passed away and he took over their family business, he couldn't count how many times he and Ara had argued because he couldn't be bothered taking a break from work and spend time with her. Even after he heard some news about her misconducts at school, he didn't bother because it wasn't her who was at a disadvantage.

He thought, she was just at her rebellious phase, and it'd pass after she got tired of misbehaving. After all, his sister was originally level headed and m.a.t.u.r.e. It was also the reason why he didn't take her mischief seriously.

But he was wrong. He was oh so wrong.

His neglect nearly caused him her life.

"Is something the matter?"Ara asked, and he snapped out of his reverie.

"Uhm…no," Aki answered hastily. Deep inside he was totally relieved his sister seemed to have forgiven him.

"I got you some stuffs," he declared hastily, and with more energy than he had previously. It was as if he'd suddenly drunk panacea that all traces of fatigue and depression he had earlier were gone.

He guided his sister back onto the bed, careful not to touch her bandages before turning to take the bags he brought with him.

"I know you haven't shopped for clothes lately, so oniichan got you some pretty ones," he said as he laid out different garments on the couch for her to see.

The word "some" was actually an understatement. Even if the VIP room of this hospital was big, because of the bouquets, and now clothes all over the place, the room looked cramped. He got her a lot.

"Ah, but if you don't like them, we can buy some other things," Aki added worriedly, noting his sister's expressionless face.

Ara shook her head. "They're alright," she answered. "I will wear them," she continued, and Aki was happy again.

He continued showing his sister the contents of the shopping bags he brought. When he finished, and he was sure that Ara liked them, he carefully put them back in the bags and put them away. He then dragged a stool and sat near the bed so he'd be closer to her.

"The doctor told me your latest x-rays were good. They will remove your cast later and replace it with a soft one, and then you can start your therapy."

It normally took six to twelve weeks for fractures to heal. Ara had been in a coma for a month and a week, and so today was the sixth week. They took x-rays of her fractured leg and arm along with the usual checkup, and they were all looking good. Her bones had reconnected properly.

"You will have therapy at home though. I already had one room converted with everything you need for your exercises. Your therapist will come daily every morning."

Aki already arranged for everything Ara needed to regain her impaired mobility. It was a good thing her body's cooperating well and was healing fast – a miracle as the doctor informed him earlier. The accident was terrible and the injuries she received were grave. But for some luck, as soon as she woke up from her coma, her body started repairing itself in great speed.

Aki worried about the scars too. Ara's skull had cracked due to the impact, and she had a lot that needed to be stitched. But looking at her now, aside from the stitches itself, all the other swelling was gone – not to say the cuts and bruises all over her body. The wounds dried up, scabbed and then fell off without leaving any mark. Aside from the remaining leg and arm in casts, Ara didn't look like she was in a terrible accident at all.

Suzuki Aki was glad.

He actually didn't care if she was disfigured or handicapped for life as long as she was alive. But for his sister's sake – he was truly happy that she's recovering well. With this, he could make it up to her properly without her thinking that he was just taking care of her out of guilt, and she could live normally.

He vowed he would be a proper brother this time.

"As for your school…" his voice trailed off.

The topic of her studies was something he didn't really want to concern her about – but he had to talk about it with her. Because of what happened, he didn't want her to go back to school and make her finish her studies at home with a tutor instead. He had already arranged for homeschooling for her.

"I will go back," Ara said suddenly that surprised him.

"But it'll be easier for you to study at home right?" he tried to convince her, but his sister shook her head.

If it were in the past, he wouldn't really care about what she wanted and just make her do kinds of stuff for her own good. But he didn't dare do that now even if he really wanted to. So, he tried to convince her with all his might.

"It's less than two months before your graduation. You don't have to go to school and just finish your studies at home. You can choose your study time and the pace of your lessons too," he persuaded, but Ara was determined so he sighed in defeat.

"Imouto, I don't really advice you to go back there. Your schoolmates – "

"Have no connection or right to comment as to why I can or cannot go somewhere. They aren't paying my tuition."

Hearing her words, Aki bit his lip to prevent himself from protesting further. He was worried. Even if Ara had done many ridiculous things to people at her school before, the students and teachers tolerated her because she was the smartest and one of the ric.h.e.s.t students.

But with the recent accident, even he wouldn't be able to shut people up and protect her completely. After all, the title 'almost a murderess' was something so hard to erase.

He was hesitating when he found his sister looking at him seriously in the eye.

"Do you believe I did them?" she asked softly after a while, and he looked stricken. She's talking about the bad deeds at school people talked about.

"I didn't want to believe but – "

"It's okay,"Ara interrupted him again, and he felt guilty.

He was her brother. He should believe her instead of other people. But he had sent someone to investigate at her school, and most students the person interviewed said the same things.

"I'm sorry," Aki murmured. He felt useless.

Ara shook her head. Aki was thankful that she looked calm, in spite discovering his mistrust.

"No need to apologize. After all it's my fault you couldn't believe me," she said.

With her temper, she always clashed words with her brother at home before, and said so many unreasonable, selfish, and mean things to him in the heat of the moment.

"Do you really want to go back to school?" he asked again and she nodded. He had no choice but to let her if she's really determined to do so.

He was thinking on making arrangements for her again to go back to school when he heard her call him.

"Oniichan…"

"Yes?"

"Also, lift the ban on people from my school to come visit me."

What? How she knew that, Aki wondered.

There were indeed people from her school who wanted to come, but he didn't allow them. Who knew what they'd do if he let them? It wasn't impossible for them to come and attack Ara while she was still injured. Even her so called friends looked suspicious.

"I still have to stay here for another week, right? Let them come – and no, don't spy on me brother. I can handle myself."

Aki was unhappy, worried and all the miserable things older brothers with stubborn little sisters felt. At the same time, he was curious.

"Why do you want to do these things?" he asked.

Things would be easier for Ara if she quit school. She wouldn't have to face the people who had started to openly show their disgust with her.

Ara's standing at school was like a tyrant queen bee that had finally been tossed out by her people's revolt. She would face a lot of difficulties if she returned.

"Why do you choose to suffer when you don't have to?" he asked again, and he was blinded when his little sister who hadn't really smiled at him for a long time gave him a toothy grin.

"Because if you don't put me back in the depths of hell, how can your little sister prove her innocence and pave her way back to heaven?"

Suzuki Aki wanted to protest, but shut up instead upon seeing her smile.

"Fine," he agreed grudgingly.

He lost.