Desire to monopolize

Although he is not an adult, he is still at an age where he can do such things well.

In fact, teenagers take care of themselves.

As long as there is a kettle, you can boil water.As long as the water boils, you can eat the instant noodles in the cupboard.Washing and bathing are also done as the mother did for the younger brother, so it is not very difficult.

The boy's belongings are only backpacks and textbooks, and the rest are a few worn-out clothes and shoes.Therefore, cleaning can also be completed quickly.

I think the environment that teenagers are in is tragic.

However, no sympathy emerged.

This must be because the indifferent narrative of the novel makes it impossible to see the teenager's feelings.Appropriate and neat articles embellish the twisted daily life of the family.

For fiction, this is not outstanding and rare content.I was not a book reader, not to mention this is the first time I have moved into such a deep emotion since I started this job.Why did I sink so deep into the world of fiction?

Perhaps this is also a kind of bottleneck.

A novel cannot be read as a novel.

This is the iron rule of proofreading.

"Well, if it really doesn't work, let's talk to Yoshiki-san."

"...Looking for Brother Yoshiki?"

Hearing Zhenyang's rhetorical question, I laughed softly.

Brother Yiji is the cousin who recommended me for this job.

The amount of reading I read is no different from that of ordinary people, and the person who recommended this job to me was my father's cousin who was ten years older than me.

Brother Yiji has worked in the proofreading department where I stayed for a long time.Because I was just recruiting people, I was asked if I would like to take the entrance examination, and at that time I was about to graduate from university and had not yet decided to take a job.Moreover, it was Brother Yiji who made me make up my mind to be a free man.

I think you are suitable for this job—I often think of what Brother Yiji said.

Whether it is really suitable, I am still not sure, but no matter how much time I spend reading and reading, I will not feel pain.It is easier to read articles filled with white paper than to meet people.

In this sense, this job is really suitable for me.

Yoshiki-san has been taking care of me, who is not good at socializing, since I was a child.Although sometimes overprotective, they are as important as family to me.

And in terms of work, he is still my senior, so it is really reliable at a time like this.

However, Zhenyang frowned and said "don't look for him".

"Why do you need to consult with that person. It's not necessary."

Facing Zhenyang who did not hide his unhappiness, I slightly tilted my head.

"It's necessary, it's work after all"

For some reason, Zhenyang seems to hate Brother Yiji.My friendly cousin would laugh it off if he noticed it, but I found it hard.

Whether it's Zhenyang or Yiji brother, even if the relationship is different, they are still important to me.

"Why does Zhenyang hate Yoshiki-san so much? My brother is also very kind to Zhenyang."

"That person is too close to the light"

"What's so close, we're cousins, of course."

"It has nothing to do with that"

Zhenyang said decisively and hugged me tightly.

The tight wrap around my wrist hurts me, and I can't help but contort my face.But he also felt the same amount of emotion as Zhenyang, and a sweet pain emerged from the depths of his throat.

"Just Mine"

"……Ok"

I nodded frankly and put the bracelet on Zhenyang's back.

The cheeks and neck with less flesh are a little stiff, and the hair will itch when it touches the skin.It smelled of fabric softener and sweat.It's my favorite, true yang flavor.As soon as I realized that I was hugged tightly by Jinyang, my chest was filled.

When the two of them stayed together like this, they naturally returned to their childhood.During the time spent with Jin Yang, we have many shared memories.

...Suddenly, I remembered the days when the four of us went to the park.

That was when I was in elementary school.The cherry blossoms in full bloom are extremely beautiful, and they are still deeply embedded in my eyelids.What happened that day is all my special memories.

It would be great if Zhenyang also felt that it was an important day, so I asked.

"When we were kids, we went to the nearby park to enjoy the flowers, remember? We brought a bento box and went to play with my father and stepmother, the four of us."

"Is there such a thing?"

"do not you remember?"

"Hmmm, sorry, I don't remember that at all."

Although Zhenyang's bright voice makes people feel comfortable physically and mentally, he still regrets that Zhenyang forgot about the things in the park.Because the memory of that day is very precious to me.

"Then, what about the story about Mayo crying after being bitten by a rabbit raised in elementary school?"

I miss you so much, Shinyang narrowed his eyes happily.

"Of course I can't forget this. It hurt so much."

"What about crying at the mention of ghosts and green peas?"

Regarding this point, Manyo let out a dissatisfied voice of "Huh?".

"Especially ghosts. If you accidentally see a scary program, Zhenyang will cry and hug me tightly and refuse to leave."

"Really? Well, I don't like green peas until now."

Maybe it was because I hated it enough to cry, but Shinyang scratched his nose embarrassingly.

"It's true. You said youkai are coming, and what will you do if you take me or my brother away. It seems that you are mistaken for a human trafficker."

"...Wow, I seem to be quite an idiot"

"Because Zhenyang is always crying, I told you that everyone will turn into a monster. It is not scary at all. I also made a promise that I will also become a monster to meet Zhenyang."

"Agreement?"

"Yes. Even if you become a youkai, you must always be together. If you don't say that, Mayang will turn into a slug. It's super troublesome."

I really miss it.This childhood memory made my cheeks relax.

Zhenyang now and Zhenyang when I was a child.The naughty boy who didn't know where he would go when he was out of sight, has now become a calm and calm adult.However, the nature part is still the same.

Bright loves to laugh, and has always liked me.

I like this kind of real sun the most.

"Hey, light"

I was called suddenly, and I blinked.

"Let's make another promise. That, the promise to be together forever."

"Eh?"

Zhenyang looked at me lovingly.

"Don't go far away alone. Never leave me, make a promise with me"

"What is that"

I couldn't help laughing at Jin Yang's childish wish.

But his expression was quite serious, and my heart beat suddenly.The long eyelashes in front of my eyes paralyzed my body.

"What an idiot"

I stretched out my head and touched Zhenyang's forehead.

"Even if I don't make a promise, I won't leave."

"No, just make a promise with me. This time, I will remember it firmly."

Facing Jinyang who was stubborn and refused to give in, I chuckled and gave him a kiss with overlapping lips.

"...I promise you. Is that all right?"

"Um"

Zhen Yang bared his canine teeth and smiled happily.Then he kissed me back contentedly.I really like his smiling face, thinking so again in the warm wrist.

"...It's almost time to go back to work"

It's a pity, but I still left Jin Yang's side.

But as soon as I put my hand on the window of the work room, I was stopped.

"That, light"

"What's wrong?"

Turning around, he met Shinyo's eyes with a bewildered expression.What's wrong.It's really not like Zhenyang who has always been straightforward but hesitant.

Zhen Yang slowly shifted his gaze and continued.

"This apartment"

"Um?"

I tilt my head slightly.

Zhenyang's vacillating eyes met mine.After a pause, Zhenyang suddenly came back to his senses and showed a mischievous smile.

"No, it's nothing.... I was just thinking about how beautiful the scenery is."

I was stunned for a moment when I heard Zhenyang's words.

But I also immediately laughed.You specifically stopped me, what exactly did you want to say.

"Yes"

There is my favorite Zhenyang, and a warm home.The soft sunlight and the stable street stretching out in front of you are like a cat yawning, leisurely and comfortable.

I really like the house where I live with Jin Yang.

※※※

I suddenly remembered the blooming cherry blossoms I saw that day.

When I was a child, the flowers that my family went to see together were the cherry blossoms in the nearby park.When we went out, my father held my hand, and my stepmother held Zhen Yang's hand.

Because the park was built on the way to the elementary school at that time, it was not too far away for children.The clear sky, the cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the park unfolded in front of me in a different way than before.

I still remember that summer is still far away, and even in the daytime there is still a cold wind blowing.To avoid the cold, we put on thick jackets.

Zhenyang and I were wearing sneakers and hopping on the petals of cherry blossoms buried in the ground.

The pale flowers, which are so beautiful when they open, will fade to earthy colors when they fall to the ground and are trampled on.We find it a little funny to leave tea-colored wet foot marks where we walk.

Zhenyang and I kept looking back, and then smiled at each other.

It is rare for the family to go out to play together, so we are extremely high.Maybe it's because Zhenyang's health is not very good.Even in an apartment close to home, we couldn't be happier if it was just four of us playing together.

The basket with lunch dangled in the stepmother's hand.

Since I saw the back of my stepmother making bento in the kitchen early in the morning, I roughly knew what was in it.

Eho rolls wrapped in ham and cheese, bite-sized salmon hand rolls and plum hand rolls.Chicken nuggets with bones, potato salad….Everything else is our favorite food too.Started looking forward to lunch early in the morning.

So when my stepmother noticed me standing in the kitchen doorway, she waved at me slightly and offered to bring me an omelet.

The fried eggs that are not put in the basket always feel quite special.

"Keep it a secret from Zhenyang"

He picked up the fried egg with chopsticks and handed it to my mouth with a smile.

If Zhen Yang knew about it, he would act like a baby and say that he wanted to eat it too.I nodded wordlessly, and nervously ate the fried egg that was handed to me.Chewing and looking up, I saw my stepmother smiling at me.

This is a secret between me and my stepmother.

The omelette was round and sweet, and dreamy.

As soon as we arrived at the park, my father and the others spread out blankets under the shade of the trees, while Zhenyang and I rushed to the amusement facilities.I am usually in a negative state, but even on days like this I want to play around with loud cheers.

Zhenyang and I galloped across the green grass.

Zhenyang loved to cling to me at that time, and would never leave my side no matter where I went.

Although I was taller then, my personality has not changed much from now.As a matter of course, Jinyang, who is bright and curious, is leading the way.I followed closely behind that little figure.

Once we got to the largest ride in the park, we climbed up the ladder together.

With slides, suspension bridges, and hermitage-like quadrilateral cabins scattered around, we were hanging out with a few other kids in this giant play structure.In order to prevent Zhenyang from falling and getting hurt, I hugged his small body and brought him to the high hut.

Perhaps because of worry, the stepmother looked here from the shade of the tree with an uneasy expression on her face.But since we were walking around, didn't seem to know we were on the rides.The father laughing loudly next to her reassured her not to worry, so the stepmother did not come here.

That was just right for us, and the two of us set out on an outdoor adventure.Go from hut to hut on stout logs.

Come to the hut at the top, there are only two of us there.In the hut, there is a round and small hole.

Peeping into one of the openings, I just saw the figure of my stepmother.

"Zhen Yang also came here to see"

I beckoned Zhenyang to come over.

I hugged Zhenyang in the corner of the hut and asked him to look at the hole I just looked at.Shin Yang cheered happily when he saw his parents.

"Mom! Look this way! ... Dad seems to be taking a nap"

"You can't see us from there"

I said this to the happy Jin Yang.

The entrance of the cave is too small, we can’t be seen from the outside, so it feels strange to think about it, so the two of us looked at the entrance of the cave repeatedly with Zhenyang.

When I stayed like this, the sweat from playing was dried by the spring breeze, and I felt a little cold.Zhenyang sneezed and leaned against me.Putting a small arm around my back, I started to sniff my nose.

I draped my jacket over the shivering Jinyang and searched the pockets of my trousers for the handkerchief.I was relieved to find the crumpled handkerchief.

Just as he was about to wipe Zhenyang's nose with a handkerchief, something soft touched his mouth.

Those were Zhen Yang's tiny lips.

"Brother, I like you the most!"

After finishing speaking, Zhenyang smiled shyly.

Jinyang has always been cute, but Jinyang who pours out his love with a smile on his face is especially endearing.I stroked Zhenyang's head and said with a smile that this is not okay.

"This kind of thing can't be done between brothers"

"……why?"

Perhaps because he couldn't understand what I said, Zhenyang blinked his big eyes.

Facing Zhenyang who tilted his head, I said softly.

"Kissing is something that Shinyang has to do to the person he likes. It's not the most important person, so you can't do it."

Zhenyang looked up at me more and more puzzled, and then his small mouth moved.

"But, brother likes Zhenyang, right?"

"Of course"

After answering reflexively, Zhen Yang's round face relaxed.

"Very good"

"...True Yang?"

"Mayang also likes hyung, so you can kiss him"

Zhen Yang smiled happily, leaning her small lips closer again.

The lips of Zhen Yang, who smiled and showed his tiny canine teeth, were cold and dry.

※※※

For a change of mood, I decided to work in the living room.

Plagued by that nightmare as usual, often in a state of sleep deprivation.Moreover, the distance from the proofs was not well grasped, and the work still stalled.

Even so, I can't always be in a daze.I might be able to regain my pace in another place, so I put the proofs and dictionary on the living room table.

When you are ready, you start working.Only one-fifth of the proofs are left to finish.Of course, it doesn't end after reading it once, it just means that a stage can be completed after reading it once.

Tracing the text word by word, finding misplantings and identifying incongruities in the text.

...But, I don't know whether it's a bad match or a good match, as long as I don't pay attention, I will be drawn into the world of the novel.

It is not so much the author's strength as it is my personal reason.

Trying to focus and keep the mind away from the article, but the time spent buried in work is getting longer and longer.As a matter of course, none of the false implants were found.The daily life of the main character, the younger brother, and the mother sneaked into my mind.

The rationality and reality in me seem to be slowly being eroded by carbonic acid dissolution from the edge.

—— Completely enter the world of the story, where there is only the loneliness of the protagonist.

This child took it for granted that he could not get his mother's love.

Even if he goes to school and repeats his unchanging life, no one around him will care about the taciturn boy who lacks emotional ups and downs.

The world full of laughter and laughter does not belong to oneself, but is open to others.Just like the love a mother only shows to her younger brother.Every morning, I put on the washed clothes by myself, put the textbooks and pencil case into the backpack, and embark on the road I must take every day to go to school.This is the daily life of a teenager.

The younger brother is loved.

Self is not loved.

This is an indisputable fact.

The only salvation is that the younger brother is very attached to the protagonist.The younger brother who is loved by everyone loves the boy, this is the greatest comfort.

The little brother, who is a few years apart in age, is the only warm person who is related by blood to the teenager.

Innocence, youthful arrogance, and sometimes whim, even these are endearing.

Therefore, as long as the situation allows, the protagonist will stay with his brother.In order to be with his younger brother when the mother is away, the protagonist is always around them.Although the mother will look displeased when the protagonist gets close to the younger brother, but as long as the younger brother smiles, the mother will forgive him.

The protagonist's life is centered on his younger brother.

The teenager also favors his younger brother just like his mother.

The only one who loves her family.

—After reading this, I looked up from the proof.

The more I read, the more I feel like I overlap with the protagonist, Zhen Yang and my younger brother.It is precisely because I am aware of this that I feel particularly restless.

—After reading this, I looked up from the proof.

The more I read, the more I feel like I overlap with the protagonist, Zhen Yang and my younger brother.It is precisely because of this awareness that I feel particularly restless.

However, a brisk electronic sound suddenly interrupted my thinking.

The mobile phone on the table vibrated and glowed.When I picked it up, the name and phone number were not displayed on the standby screen.

... Who is it?Tilting my head slightly, I pressed the call button.

Before he had time to ask his name, he was yelled at by a man.

"What are you thinking! 』

Maybe the radio wave is not good, mixed with rustling noise.Although disturbed by noise, but barely able to hear the content.

My body stiffened with tension, and I waited for the other person to speak.

"It's been more than half a month.How long do you plan to last?"

"dad?"

... This voice is undoubtedly my father.

The father, who had always been gentle, was extremely agitated.Did something happen without my knowledge, my mind went blank.

"Dad, calm down... What the hell happened?"

Although confused, I tried to convince him to calm down.But I didn't get a response to what I said, and my father didn't answer anything.

And, mixed with my father's voice, I heard a woman's cry.The voice was muffled and hard to hear, but it sounded like a stepmother's voice.

"Hey, Dad! What's going on? Can you hear me?"

I was getting more and more confused, calling him desperately.

However, my father still didn't answer me.I could clearly hear the voice over there, but they couldn't hear what I said. I was very anxious.

"True Yang..."

Father said the name. ——True Yang.

Zhenyang's name appeared without warning, and I stood there in a daze.Why, Zhenyang will be with his father.Right now, my father probably lives far away because of his work, why.

Before I could keep up with my thoughts, I heard the voice again.

"We also understand how you feel"

This time my father persuaded me softly.

"It's not that you're not allowed to come here again. ...But, if you don't go to school, you'll always be in the hospital, so it won't work like this.』

……Hospital?

Didn't go to school?

My father's unexpected speech made me even more confused.

Can't understand the conversation at all.Moreover, this is the first time I heard that Zhen Yang went to the hospital instead of going to school.Even though we lived together, I didn't notice his behavior at all.

Did Zhenyang go to the hospital because he was unwell?But as far as I could tell, he didn't look unwell.

"If you want to go back, you go back"

Makoto replied extremely indifferently.

Impossible to mishear.Definitely Zhen Yang's voice.Zhen Yang, who was always cheerful and bright, became so indifferent like a stranger, and I felt a chill down my spine.

"I will stay here"

"True Yang"

The weeping stepmother suddenly yelled loudly.

"Give me enough time!"You haven't eaten much during this time, have you?Didn't she lose a lot of weight?If it goes on like this, even you...」

The stepmother whimpered again.

"You have to understand, Zhenyang.It's not your fault, and it's not anyone's fault.』

The sound suddenly became very distant.

The noise is getting worse.

"That was, an accident..."

※※※

While taking the dishes to the living room, I peeked at Mayang standing in the kitchen.

Zhenyang's mood is as good as ever, and it seems that there is no special change.Lunch is hamburgers and clear soup made with various vegetables.Today I rarely take the initiative to stop work and prepare meals.

The bottleneck at work is also one of the reasons, but what is more important is that Zhenyang's matter is lingering in my mind.

After the food was set, I sat opposite Zhenyang as usual.Then, he glanced at Zhenyang who put his palms together and said "I'm starting".

"...Hey, Shinyo"

"Um?"

After cutting open the hamburger with chopsticks, Mayang looked at him.

"Recently, how is school?"

Peering at his appearance, I asked.

As casual as I can get it, but that call from my dad is still running through my head, and honestly, I care.

——What happened to that conversation?

After all, why is my father who lives so far away with Jin Yang?Did Jinyang really not go to university?What are the hospitals and accidents they are talking about.

Since then, I have been thinking about the reason alone, but I can't find a reasonable answer.I tried to call my father, stepmother, and Zhenyang, but they couldn't get through, so I still can't understand the meaning until now.

If the content of the phone call is all the truth, what is Zhenyang hiding from me...

But it's just too hard to believe.Only Zhenyang will never hide anything from me.And no matter what the reason is, Zhenyang is not someone who can still look calm after lying to me.

I looked at Zhenyang's hand and waited for his answer, while Zhenyang ate the hamburger cut into big bite size and moved his lips to chew.

As soon as he raised his head, he saw Zhenyang's cave-like eyes that could not read emotions.

"Well, it's normal."

After Zhenyang swallowed the food, he answered me without hesitation.

I asked again.

"However, you will be graduating this year, and you still have to prepare a thesis and find a job..., and, are your marks okay?"

"Catch up slowly. By the way, do I look like someone who can't graduate?"

"No, that's not what it means"

I shook my head in panic.

"So, how is your body? Are you sick or injured? Is there any pain?"

Shinyang shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn't understand what I meant.

"...Is it weird just today? Did something happen?"

Maybe it's because I'm suspicious of asking questions one after another, a wry smile appeared on Zhen Yang's face.

Although he planned to ask the answer without any trace, he couldn't do it well.Inducing inquiries is really not suitable for me.

I gave up with a soft sigh.

"Because I called"

"Telephone?"

The smile on Zhen Yang's face disappeared.

I nodded.

"Maybe it was a mistake in sending the letter. It was from Dad. And then, I heard... what Shinyo and Dad said."

"--what is that"

"So, Dad called."

"Call to Hikari? Phone? Dad?"

I was taken aback by Zhen Yang leaning out of his body in an unusually anxious manner.

"That's right... Mayang, why do you ask that? I still keep in touch occasionally. Is it so strange that Dad calls?"

"……That was not what I meant"

Although I don't have any friends who would call privately, I still call my family anyway.This kind of thing is obviously normal, but Zhenyang looks incomprehensible.

When I was thinking for a while, Zhenyang spoke.

"What did Dad say?"

"Zhenyang didn't go to school and was in the hospital all this time. Dad was very angry. Besides, Zhenyang also contradicted dad on a rare occasion."

"yes……"

In this way, the stepmother said that Zhenyang hardly ate.

However, Zhenyang is not as thin as the stepmother said.There is a good meal at home, and there should be no need to worry about this.

"Why didn't Jinyang go to school but to the hospital? Also, it's strange to meet Dad and the others without my knowledge."

Zhenyang didn't answer anything, just listened to me in silence.

The anxiety just now seemed fake, and the expression on Zhenyang's face disappeared.It was so peaceful that I didn't even know if I was listening to me or not.Even a little bit is fine, I hope he can respond to me.

"Hey, Zhenyang"

Called him impatiently.

"...What was the accident?"

Hearing my question, Zhenyang looked over with his inorganic eyes without temperature or humidity.

Jinyang's expressionless face is like a robot, sending chills down my spine. ...Is it something I don't want to be mentioned?That's the true yang side that I don't know about.

Just when I looked at Zhenyang without blinking, Zhenyang sighed softly.

His expression finally returned to temperature.Frowning, it seemed embarrassing, but it was much better than the expressionless face just now.

"In an accident," Shinyang said heavily.

"It's Yoshiki-san. I just happened to be there."

"—— liar"

I was stunned when I heard Zhenyang's words.

"What's going on. Yoshiki-san had an accident or something, I've never heard of it."

"Because Hikari is very close to Yoshimi-san. If you know the accident will be chaotic, everyone keeps silent."

"Why are you doing this..."

Jin Yang's justification made my head spin.

"It's too much to keep it secret from me alone. Besides, that's not a reason to keep it secret at all. It will be even more surprising if you find out later."

My body seemed to boil all of a sudden, and I felt black before my eyes.

Maybe, I am very angry now.However, the body is still unable to properly handle this unfamiliar emotion.Unable to vent anger externally, all emotions burst out inside.Disgusting.

"...Is Yoshiki-san alright?"

I finally asked this sentence.

As if to comfort me, Zhenyang's tone became gentle.

"Don't worry. It's an accident, but it's not that serious. It looks like you'll be discharged soon, so don't worry about it."

"do not worry about it……?"

"That's right. After a while, Yoshiki-san will contact Hikari."

I'm not angry because of this, why just don't understand.

Whether it's Jinyang who can't understand my feelings, or myself who can't express my feelings well, it makes people angry.

"enough"

Ignoring Zhenyang who couldn't talk normally, I stood up from my seat.

Go to the corridor and walk towards the entrance.Although he could feel Zhen Yang's gaze behind him, he couldn't restrain himself from rushing towards the entrance.

"Where are you going?"

"...the hospital. Of course I'm going to see Yoshimi-san."

"I don't know which hospital it is?"

Indeed.I was about to go out in a fit of anger, and I didn't even think about it.

I turned to Zhenyang and bit my lip.

"Which hospital?"

"It's okay if I tell you." Zhenyang put down the chopsticks in his hand.

"The one who said not to let Hikari come to visit the sick, but Yoshiki-san himself"

"--Eh?"

"The light is very delicate, so I don't want to worry you too much. That person is overprotective of the light."

"Brother Yiji..."

Hearing Zhenyang's unexpected speech, I could only stand still.

Zhenyang is already overprotective, and now even Brother Yiji, who was in an accident, cares about me so much, how unreliable I am.My own uselessness silenced me completely.

The relationship is not good but he often goes to the hospital. It can be seen that Zhenyang at the scene of the accident must have been hit hard.Tell me at least one thing, it hurts me.As a lover, as an older brother, I want to contribute even more at this time.

Jinyang approached me, who was depressed.

Then took my hand and held it tightly.

"I lied to you that I went to school well. I'm sorry. I didn't tell you about the accident. I'm really sorry. ... But, I hope you understand. I'm just worried about the light."

With more strength in his hand, Zhenyang continued to speak.

"Hiro may not have noticed, but your complexion is very bad during this time."

"……Eh?"

"Maybe it's because of what you said before that work is not going well..., it's a little dangerous"

Hearing Zhen Yang's words, I unconsciously tensed up.

Indeed, perhaps because work is not going well, I haven't slept soundly lately.Plus having that nightmare for days on end.I also always doze off at work, so my body is quite tired.

I didn't expect my brother to notice this before me, I'm really useless.

"Can't you take it easy?"

"No, the job I accept has a deadline. I appreciate you worrying about me though."

Hesitating a little, I lowered my head.

"...But I'm not happy at all"

I respond to Jin Yang like this.

Zhenyang is not only the person I like, but also my important family.Because of the importance, I don't want a unilateral relationship between guardian and the guardian.

"Zhen Yang is the one, it's okay if you don't go to school well"

"knew"

"Even though this kind of thing happened, I can't leave Yoshiki-san's side...but Dad and the others are also very worried."

He raised his head and looked at Zhenyang.

"Also, I'm also worried about Jinyang."

"Hmmm, I'm sorry"

This sincere voice warmed my chest.

Controversies like this are rare.We got along really well since we were kids.I think it must be because of our age difference and not being related by blood.

The quarrels so far have at best been that Zhen Yang is having trouble, and I am just waiting for him to feel better.But after growing up, this kind of thing is almost gone.

Although my body is weak, I still love my brother very much.As long as it is Zhenyang's wish, no matter how capricious he is, I still love him.

I slowly returned to hold Zhenyang's hand.Over my shoulder, I see the window connecting the living room to the balcony.The wind blows the curtains.

Outside the window is the endless blue sky.

※※※

Recently, I often think about the past.

Like a daydream, it revives vividly in my mind at every turn.As if a switch was turned on, my consciousness returned to my childhood in an instant.

I remember that incident also happened in elementary school.

The other day, before going to school, I stood in the kitchen using the little chair as a step.With a backpack on his back, he washed the dishes and chopsticks in the sink.At that time, my height was shorter than the classmates around me. If I didn’t stand on the small chair used by Zhenyang, my hands could not reach the faucet.

"elder brother……"

With the sound of bowls and chopsticks colliding and the sound of water, I didn't notice Zhenyang standing behind me for a while.

I don't know how many times I was called by Zhenyang, but I finally turned my head.

Jin Yang peered into the kitchen from the living room, standing there clutching the blanket.Seeing his twisted face in tears, I turned off the faucet in a panic.

Zhen Yang had a high fever since last night, and was bedridden this morning.The face was still red, and the fever didn't seem to have subsided.I don't know if I was worrying too much, but his breathing seemed to be disordered.

Seeing Jinyang, who is usually so lively, sick, made my heart ache.

I hastily wiped my wet hands with a rag, and walked towards Zhenyang.

"What's wrong? You still have a fever and can't get up."

"But" Zhen Yang hugged the blanket tightly.

"...There are monsters"

Hearing Zhen Yang's words, I opened my eyes wide.

"No Yokai"

"Yes. Walk here unsteadily from the window."

Zhenyang sobbed and hugged me tightly.

Holding his small body, stroking his back.

Zhen Yang refused to leave my side like a follower.Zhenyang, who had a fever, felt as if his body was on fire, and his whole body was drenched in sweat.

I have to go to school later, but I can't leave the crying Zhenyang alone.

"Where's mom?"

"Fell asleep"

It seems that he fell asleep with Zhenyang Shi.

I immediately put down my backpack, carried Zhenyang to the bedroom where I saw the monster.Zhen Yang's body is small, but it's still heavy for me.I feel especially pitiful when he clings to me timidly, and I can't bear to let him go.

On the sheets on the floor, the stepmother was sound asleep.I must be very tired after being escorted all night.

Carefully, so as not to wake her, I made my way toward the window.

"No, bro, it's here, it's here"

"It's fine"

Makoto was so frightened that he buried his face in my shoulder and refused to look up.Reassuring Zhen Yang, I opened the window as gently as possible.

...However, once confirmed