CHAPTER 2

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Just like the other normal kids, I go to school every day except for me, I rather like to stay at home alone in my room. I attend a school southeast from my house. It's not really far and we can walk there in like 10 minutes. I usually wake up early and have a really quick breakfast every morning.

What am I trying to say is, I don't want to face my father!

Unlike my little sister. She goes to different school and doesn't need to worry about family relationship since she is loved by her parents.

My father is actually a very grim person and I experienced a trauma because of him.

In the classroom, I will frequently be greeted by a particular person. About that person, I will tell you the story.

"Yo Aragaki!"

This boy's name is Amakawa Rosuke. My 'best friend'- that is what I heard from him. I never acknowledged him as best friend yet he claimed it.

"Yo" I replied.

This energetic boy always be by my side during school period even though I act coldly to him. In fact, everybody in the school doesn't like me except him.

'How do I get rid of him?'

That is a question still lingering in my head. I have tried many ways to do so yet it failed.

"Let's go to the game center!" he said.

"What? Again?"

There are few things I'm fed up and his idea is one of them. We often go to the game center after school which now makes that place our hanging spot.

"Please, I need to get my revenge! And in order to achieve that, I need you!"

"What the heck? How does it related to me?"

Yes, seriously, how? And what is this 'revenge' are you talking about?

"You just need to stay beside me and by that way, I will gain a tremendous amount of power!"

Nonsense! But he forced me to. I had to go or else I would be dragged by him.

"Alright, alright. I'll go. Now get the hell off my sight"

"Hoho…. you are really my best friend!"

Shut up and go to your seat already dammit.

This boy again, I tell you, is ANNOYING!

"..."

The bell had rang and my math teacher came in. We greeted each other and started the class.

"Ok, silent class. I'm going to return your last examination paper. As always the top scorer is Aragaki!" the teacher announced it in front of the class.

There's hardly any shocked voice. It seemed that all my classmates had used to it, hearing me getting the top score. If you guys are asking 'why the hell this damn arrogant brat got the highest score?',it actually hurts me a little. I'm a good student, to be precise a genius.

The first time I scored the highest, everyone seemed to be attracted to me. They talked to me and praised me but I ignored them. 'The worst classmate ever' - that is what they considered me as.

Except this particular boy, he keeps talking to me although I never reply anything to him. Yes, he's Amakawa Rosuke.

After school, as planned, Amakawa and I went to the game center on the street.

"Say, what do you mean by getting your revenge?"

….

I can hear the wind is blowing.

Strange, no answer.

I turned around and realized Amakawa had gone. For real, he had gone!

What the hell?

"Arghh! I lost again!" then suddenly I heard a scream.

"That voice, definitely it's Amakwa's..."

I saw him in the game center crouching his both hands on his head like a sore loser.

"Hehe, you are still no match for my greatness!" a girl said, with her ego showing off.

This girl wore really strange clothes, a purple sleeveless clothes with a mini skirt. And her breast is too big for a kid. Just like a fake one. Yea, it's definitely a fake breast.

Noticing me, Amakawa rushed and begged.

"Please Aragaki, avenge me!"

"Hey, get off me!"

What had actually happened? I think we arrived at the game center before even a minute had passed and it felt like a whole tournament had been held.

He's still clinging onto me, limiting my sole movement.

Then the girl came and said,

"Another 100 years, come and face me again, kuku"

I was slowly looking at the girl. I felt I really need to teach her something, something valuable that she won't forget.

This girl, did really piss me off. No second thought!

I kicked Amakawa off and faced her.

"Oi, girl. Let's fight." I challenged her.

"Huh, avenging for your friend? Hehe…"

"Nah, it's just for my satisfaction to see your losing face. And don't get me wrong, this loser is not my friend."

Through such crude speech, I was hoping to convince her.

Why, why people always recognize Amakawa as my friend? No, seriously, anymore words you say, will deafen my ears.

"Haha…, whatever. Let's begin"

We put a coin into the game machine and had a fighting video game fight.

TAP PUM PAMMM!

K.O

YOU WIN.

…..

WHAT? All I can say is EASY. I beat her in less than 30 seconds.

Her eyes were rounded, as her mouth dumbfounded upon looking at the result.

"Impossible… how can I lose to such brat?!"

"Hey, don't call me brat. Besides, a lost is a lost."

"Grrrr, again!"

"Nah, you will lose no matter how many we repeat this fight." I said it proudly.

"I'm not satisfied! Entertain me! Again, again!" she pouted, hoping for the best.

What's with this girl? Is she already broken?

"Hah? Who do you think am I? We just met not even half an hour ago. You are a stranger to me and yet you ask me to entertain you?"

No matter how you look, this girl is really troublesome. She was making that frustrating face for a quite a while now.

Sigh.

"If you want to play so much, go play with her"

I pointed my finger toward a girl who is playing the same game. The girl was wearing a spectacle and T-shirt of some muscleman. Her hair was red. I had seen her winning the game in more than 30 fights in a streak.

"Eh~? You are so boring~ You can't even entertain a girl!"

Does that concern me?

"Quit complaining and just go fight her! I think she's on the same level as me"

"Oh, ok then. I'll beat her and confront you once again!"

She declared that while making a weird pose.

What are you doing? Screw that!

"No, keep it to yourself."

I swear I will never come to this game center ever again neither I will meet her.

"Haha, Aragaki I know you have such as talent to beat that weird girl!." suddenly Amakawa had spoken.

"You know she's weird and yet you deal with her?"

"Isn't it fun to befriend with such as cheerful girl? Haha…"

Ha? One cheerful friend is enough as a hell for me. And now you are saying this?

"Ughh, I can't stand it anymore! I'm going home!" I quickly grabbed my bag and left.

We went our separate ways at a certain point.

"Alright Aragaki, see you tomorrow! Thanks for accompanying me this evening"

He waved his hand as he left. I replied with the same line as usual.

"I hope you will be thrown down to hell and can never get up."

Even though after hearing the curse many times, he still managed to smile and talked to me on the next day. Terribly, I did mean it!

And he didn't care.

As always I entered my house without saying anything but I noticed Ayase standing in front of me and she said

"Welcome home" while smiling.

Huh? What is happening? Apocalypse?

"Ah-" I couldn't say a thing.

I never expect her to do that kind of thing to me. I mean, I have been so mean to her like ignoring her, using rough word to her and many other terrible stuff.

…

"I'm back?"

Then I quickly went to my room and changed my clothes.

…

Um, it's so quiet. My parents must be late today. I need to cook something for dinner or else I'll starve staying all night long to play the games.

At the kitchen, I saw Ayase was watching the television. I paused for a while and think.

Maybe I should ask her sometimes? Because lately, whenever my parents is late, I just cook whatever I like neglecting Ayase's opinion.

So, I asked.

"Ayase, what do you want to eat tonight?"

"Omelet rice!" she replied.

What? Did I mishear? Omelet rice? We just enjoyed the meal yesterday and I don't really like that kind of food.

Then, somehow this triggered my thinking. Why does I always order omelet rice while at the café yet I dislike it….

"Hmm..."

Just a possibility…

But…

What if I wanted to see that maid? Hoshino Kirara?

No, no. Impossible! Yea, she is surely cute but she is an annoying girl. I despise annoyance!

Unconsciously, I finished making omelet rice.

….

Well, better than nothing.

I served it to Ayase. The atmosphere while having dinner is surely so much quiet without mom asking any questions and I don't really have any conversation to make up with Ayase.

….

Oh, there will a new anime will start airing at 10 tonight. Maybe I should give it a try and gather some ideas from the anime to make my new novel.

As I sit on the sofa, Ayase joined me.

What is she thinking, do you-

Wait, calm down. It's just an anime airing on the television. Thank God.

…..

It's so quiet, only the sound of the television can be heard.

After I think on what to do. I decided to ask Ayase some question during this opportunity to discover her true feeling.

"Say Ayase, are you really okay with me?"

"Hm, what does onii-chan mean by that?"

"Well, I have been so harsh on you, ignoring you and after all, I envious you. You get the love from both mom and dad."

Yes, I hardly get it, because of my father, everyone in my life are caught in. For the first time, I only hated father but I felt like it was contagious. The result of that, I don't care any of other people.

"That's not it, I actually want onii-chan to look at me, love me. You were a nice person before and are still one. I just don't want to be separated from onii-chan." she explained.

Then, she hugged me after saying those lines. Simple but full of meanings. I gently stroked her silky hair until she fell asleep.

I never knew that she wanted us to be like that.

Am I the only selfish person?

…..

Not good…. my eyes… it's closing.

"Oh no… I need to watch... the…. anime."

Zzzz

Soon I also fell asleep.

….

What the hell are you doing at school!

What's with this result?!

I'm very disappointed at you!

Don't face me until you get the best result!

Bang! He slapped me.

…..

I woke up from my sleep.

Ugh, what a terrifying nightmare….

I looked around, it was so dark except in the kitchen as a lamp was switched on.

"4 o'clock eh?" I whispered after looking at the watch.

It's still early for school. Maybe I should go take a morning walk and see the sunrise.

I tried to stand up but

"Huh, Ayase?"

"Umm.. uhm.."

Ayase was sleeping beside me and she sounded like she was having a nice dream.

…..

Must be nice to be her…

I realized that a blanket was covering us, like someone put it purposely to prevent us from catching a cold.

Well, I don't want to mention who did this. I already know that.

I took my sweater in my room and left the house quietly.

Cold! It's very cold outside! Maybe I should go back. Ahh!

But, it's hardly for me to take a walk during a time like this. I might just use this chance to refresh my mind.

I gasped the cold air slowly.

Haa! So peaceful!

The condition during this time weren't actually bad. Thus, I decided to go to the nearby park.

Unlike a certain person, this park didn't mean anything to me, just a plain park. No memory, no act, no character, no setting, merely nothing.

But that void had been slowly vanish as I met a girl. This is a little memory I made and later on I forgot about it.

While I was sitting on a bench and drinking the water that I bought from a vending machine, I saw a girl desperately practicing on running. She was absolutely using all her strengths to run but she was slow. Very slow compared to her current condition.

What the hell is she doing? Is she really running?

Though, deep inside her, I can tell she has very high determination. It feels like, she's trying to send someone a message.

But who is it for –Don't care.

After a few minutes of running, she took a rest on a bench next to mine.

She has a short yellow-browned hair and a very cute face. Everything other than that are normal. She probably has the age same as Ayase's.

Like I said, she had a high determination and that alone caught my interest.

"Hey girl, what were you doing?" I greeted her.

"Hah? You saw that by yourself. You should have known already. I was running!"

Oh, she noticed me and she looked like she's having a bad time.

However, what's with this type of reply? A karma only for me? Well, never mind, I'm actually prepared to receive one.

"Hey, do you want to have a race?"

"What are talking about? You came out of nowhere and asked me such as an obvious question and then you ask me for a race?"

Oy, not from nowhere! I was sitting on the bench next to yours all the time!

"Yea, or are you afraid of losing?"

"E-eh?"

Nice reaction.

"How about we make a bet? Whoever lose will have to fulfill winner's one request." I said.

Ahah! This provocation really had some unique power. She seemed to have fallen for it.

"Sounds interesting. Bring it on!"

And she accepted it without thinking.

How naïve. I'm older than you, you know. Out of that, I'm a male.

Well, it's not like I have the confidence in my athletic ability.

Ready!

Set!

Go!

Bum! The race had started. We ran on a street for about 150 meters.

My heart! It's beating really fast. It has been awhile since I last encounter this kind of feeling because I've hardly do any exercise in the past two years.

*Pant*pant* I was breathing heavily while looking at my back.

...

Wha…?

Are you kidding me? You are slow little girl!

She was far away from me. I don't feel like it's a real race, it's like 'who walks the fastest' type of match.

Because I was the first one who reached the end of the street.

…...

I stopped and watched her running. Although she already knew that she had lost, she kept on running.

"Huhuhuh, why you!" she tried to speak.

She's having a hard time breathing and seemed like she was really worn out already. She put her hand on her knee and bowed, desperately gasping for the air.

"Hmph! You won this time! I'll train harder and make you admit your defeat next time! So, what's your request?" she asked.

Seeing her with high spirit and determination, I felt I had lost to her in some other ways. She just like she did it for someone else, someone even more important than herself.

"No, you won."

I gave up my victory.

"What? Are you pitying me?"

"It's not like that, I have seen enough. I don't know what you are trying to achieve but you really have won."

"I- I don't get it. What are you talking about?"

Still denying it, eh?

I breathed in some air and asked.

"Say, what makes you try so hard?"

"….."

She was frozen for a few seconds and sweat even more. After a few moments, she opened her mouth.

"I-I don't really know what you are talking about…."

She's trying her best to avoid my question.

I don't care! I need to know the answer! It might be the real key for my life, my real purpose of living, one way on how to restart my life.

"Just say it!" I insisted.

That must have startled her. Although I did that, this is all for my sake.

"Oh, you noticed me, hehe.." she laughed wryly.

Then, she continued.

"—You really are a sharp guy..."

"—Actually, I have a onii-chan…"

She suddenly stopped

"Then?"

She gasped some air.

"You see, I really love him. Yea, sounds like I have a brother complex. But lately, he seems to be far and far away from me. I want to be together with him, but I feel like he is leaving me behind. He is a good runner, always tease me for running too slow."

She regained her courage and proudly said

"—That's why I practice running everyday so that one day I can catch up with my onii-chan!"

"I see." I simply replied.

…..

Sibling eh?

Ayase..

At the same time, suddenly Ayase's face popped up in my mind. Her cute face, her smile, her attitude. Everything about her from 2 years ago had been reminiscing in my head.

"Well, whatever. So, what is your request?"

"Eh?"

"I said you have won, didn't I? So tell me your request. I will do anything as long as it's possible."

"But-"

"Just tell me "

"…"

She hesitated

"Um, ok then. I need a life counseling!"

"What?"

"Don't you hear it? A life counseling"

"Oh ok.."

Why out of many requests, it is a life counseling? Furthermore, from a stranger like me? It must be a joke! Although the request is ridiculous, I need to fulfill it in order to keep my promise.

"So, what is it?"

"My problem is what I have stated earlier. I need your opinion. What if my brother does really get apart from me later on? What should I do?"

Kinda hard to answer that.

Hm...

"Easy, hate him"

Yea! I have showed you that life is easy! I know, I know. You guys must be thinking that my head is somehow broken. To tell the truth, that's the only thing that come out from my mind.

"That's what I actually afraid of." *sob*sob*

Oh, god. She's starting to cry.

I need to do something quick! Arghh! Screw me!

"Ah.. umm, no, no, don't cry. Say, do you still love your brother?"

"Yep" she said while wiping her tears.

"If you really afraid of hating her, then make something that will beat some sense into your future self."

"What do you mean? Is there any good method to do so?"

My brain was working at high speed and produced a random idea.

"Like recording your current true feeling in a device? Also, you can do the 'ask my future self for a life counseling' thing."

"Oh... I see. That might be a great idea. I will surely try it out!"

Oh really? I can only look it as a childish method. The only method that people full of fantasy would do.

But that idea just come out of nowhere, it's a miracle if it can somehow solve her problem.

"I see. That's great" I wiped my sweat.

"Thank you, umm..- what is your name? I'm Kousaka Kirino."

"Secret." I simply replied.

"Haaa….?"

"I said, it's secret."

"Ah, really?! GOODBYE THEN!"

Hah! She must be really irritated. I like that.

"Goodbye."

We bid our farewell and went separate ways. Suddenly, I remembered something and shouted

"Hey girl!"

"Ah?"

"If possible, befriend with my little sister. That's my request for the real win!"

"Wha-what? Then, tell me what's her name is?"

I just remained silent, continued walking forward and waved my hand. After that, we never meet each other again.

With an intended joke suppose to be a joke...