The responsibility

It was the end of another school day. Aki and Nagisa had arrived at the station.

Everything had been more normal than she had expected. "Kuroki-kun didn't approach us today..."

"He asked me in the classroom if I was leaving with you today. I said yes and he didn't speak to me since."

Nagisa smiled. "He must have understood."

"Understood?" Aki furrowed his brows.

"About not pressuring you. You know what you want."

"I know, I know..." The boy made a faint attempt to smile. "But I think it's a bit early to believe that."

Nagisa clasped her hands together. "Perhaps, but it would be good. It's like Ayako-chan said, he needs to grow up."

"Yeah, he does need." Aki looked at the entrance of the station. "It's time."

"Uh-huh!" She nodded. "Bye, boyfriend!"

"Bye, girlfriend!"

"See you tomorrow." With her bag behind her, Nagisa started to walk backward. "I'll miss you."

Aki was surprised to hear that. "M-Me too."

She widened her smile.

The boy watched her with a dumb face, but then he realized. "T-The street!"

"Huh?" Nagisa looked back, seeing a truck passing by. Then she looked at him again, still smiling, but her brow furrowed. "I know."

"Ah... eheheeeh..." With a nervous laugh, Aki waved to her and entered the station.

He almost missed the train. The wagon was full, as was usual at that time, which forced him to be on his feet, holding onto one of the stanchions.

When the vehicle began to move, his smartphone rang with a message. It was not the most convenient time, but Aki was almost sure who the person was. He put his bag between his legs and took the device to check.

I just forgot to ask

Now that everyone knows about us, wouldn't it be better for us to sit together in the classroom?

Nagisa's suggestion did not surprise Aki. It was what a couple should do, though there were some obstacles to deal with. He replied, typing letter by letter with his thumb.

We have to communicate a teacher to do the reprogramming of the desks

Who are you going to change places with?

The answer came faster than he expected.

It's you who will change places

There's a person who doesn't want to sit next to me anymore, so I thought about it

Aki read the message several times. He was sure she was having problems because of him, although this time something good happened because of it. But there was another issue to deal with.

Takuma will change places as well

He wrote the message but hesitated to send it. Nagisa saw the humiliating scenes, now she would be at its epicenter. He feared for the answer in raising this subject.

He pressed the button.

However, Aki did not know if Nagisa was aware of Takuma. To leave her blind would be a selfish and irresponsible attitude. Unforgivable.

The boy waited anxiously, this time the answer took a time to come.

I'll be close

She was aware, worse, that was the answer he feared. Her support was comforting, but it also meant she would become even more involved in his problems. Aki felt this mixture of emotions and could not translate into a message.

Ok

The hand holding the smartphone trembled. He felt guilty and weak, always weak.

It's gonna be fine

Aki sighed as he read the last message.

Leaving the station, he had to walk a little longer until he could reach the modest condominium where he lived. Not even a decent view of the city he could have, since the apartment was on the first floors.

But home is home. He opened the door, announcing, "I just came."

"Welcome," said his mother, who was watching television. She was a woman with few marks of age, who proudly sported a bulky orange hair. "You again came early?"

Aki took off his shoes. "Yes, I'm coming early. I think it's going to be like this for a while, maybe..."

She was suspicious. "You aren't having problems again at school, are you?"

"I'm not." Aki headed to his room.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"No!"

The bedroom was small, for now it was still proportional to him. His clothes were in a dresser, which he sometimes used as a desk as well, a chest containing his school supplies and a closet.

His magical place.

As he opened the sliding door, his bed was revealed. Above it were shelves where he kept some toys, but what occupied them most were the figurines of monsters, from the most famous to the obscure ones, including those from the West. The walls, even the closet ceiling, were lined with movie posters of the creatures. Due to the lack of space, in some cases it was necessary to partially overlap one poster with another.

After leaving the school bag on the chest, Aki lay down on the bed and closed the door, making everything dark. He lit a lamp.

Above him, beneath the first shelf, was a large poster of an imposing sea serpent, towering over a ship. This had been one of the best films his father participated. However, none of this was in the boy's mind, nor the monster, nor the movie, nor his father.

It was like his mother had said, he had come home early. It was like this before, but there was not this satisfaction he was feeling, this value.

In there, just his breathing as company, he could reflect. So many things had been going on in the past few weeks. There were many fears and worries, yes, but the wind of change distracted him from them.

And in it swayed strands of white hair, under the light they looked like silver. A starry sky, which he could not reach, but he could imagine its warmth.

"Nagisa Momoe..." He spoke, emptying his mind, embracing the emerging emotions.

With a sudden noise the door opened violently, followed by a female voice, "HIIIIIIHOOOOOOO!"

Aki jumped on his bed. "AHH! SISTER?!"

And it would be not different. The young woman had very short blond hair and scarlet eyes, if it were not for the age difference, they could be confused as twins. "Again hiding in there?"

Still surprised, the boy answered with a question, "Why aren't you in college?"

She made a face of dismay. "The teacher said that he would miss class because of medical exams. So it was transferred to Sunday, can you believe..." Then she smiled again. "But tell me, who is Nagisa Momoe?"

Aki froze. "W-Who?!"

"That's what I'm asking."

"Hmmm..." He looked away and smiled. "Nobody?"

She folded her arms and closed her eyes. "You're red."

He put his hands to his face. "Am I?"

"Uh-huh..."

He soon replied, "It's just... you keep coming up with these strange questions..."

The sister concluded, "So it's a boy."

"What?!"

"Nagisa can be a boy's name," she explained, "that's why you're like this. But your dear sister understands! This is an age where we can experiment different things..."

Aki exalted, "She's not a boy!"

The sister raised an eyebrow. "So our 'nobody' is a girl... hmmm..."

Sulking, the boy turned on the bed, his back to her.

"I'm so happy! I've waited so long for my little brother to grow up and fall in love!" She could not contain her excitement. "Look! Look! I can give you some cool tips for you to approach and talk to her."

"I don't need," he said, still annoyed.

She was not very convinced, "Brother, I know you're not exactly shy, but you're lacking... finesse. I'm not only thinking about you, I won't want to find out later that you scared her."

This time he turned. "I REALLY don't need."

She was confused. "How so?"

Aki sighed and gritted his teeth before saying, "She... She's already my girlfriend." Then he smiled, a proud smile. "I think I have that finesse already."

"Ah..." She was disappointed. "So I can't help you... You grew up so fast I didn't even realize..." Then she opened her eyes wide. "Hang on! How did you get a girlfriend?"

Aki left the bed and began to push her. "Please, get out of my room. It's a girl, it's my girlfriend and everything is fine, no need to worry."

"What don't we need to worry about?" The mother came to the door. "Why those screams?"

"Aki has a girlfriend," the sister replied.

It had all happened suddenly, it was too late. The boy put his hands on his head. "Damn it..."

"What?" The mother came in. "My Aki? A girlfriend?"

The sister confirmed, "Yes and he's like that, nervous with me."

Aki scratched his head frantically. "Of course I'll!"

The mother asked him. "And how long?"

"Yeah, I want to know too," said the sister.

"Not much," the boy replied, his head down, "that's why I hadn't spoken to you all yet."

"Son, why are you sad?" The mother looked more closely at his face. "I'm happy for you, just a little surprised."

The sister nodded. "All of us are."

"I know. I know." He looked at her. "You don't have to remind me."

She returned to speak, "Stop this drama, just because it's your first girlfriend."

The mother chided her, "Don't talk as if he should follow you as an example."

"Don't start!" The sister rolled her eyes as she left the room. "I still have time to find a man to marry and make you happy."

"It would be good if you began soon." After the harsh words, the orange-haired woman turned her attention to her son, smiling.

Not that it had made Aki more comfortable. "Humm... do you want to know anything else?"

"Her name."

"Sure... hehe..." he replied, rather hesitantly, "Nagisa... Momoe."

The mother's expression grew more serene, satisfied, "You should introduce her to us."

He nodded. "I'll see that."

"You should also talk to your father."

He nodded again, this time in silence, pressing his lips together.

Alone, Aki walked down the corridor to the door of his parents' room, in fact more than that. When he opened it, he came across a dark environment and a familiar smell of oil.

A thin, bald man, with hair that had lost its youthful colors, was working at his desk. A articulated magnifying glass with lamps illuminated a pendulum clock, those that were placed on a wall, of which the man was screwing with a screwdriver. However, when he noticed the presence, he stopped and turned his chair. "Son?"

"Hi father," said Aki, "sorry to bother you, but I need to tell you something."

With shaking hands, the man put on his glasses. "I had heard something. Were you arguing with your sister?"

"Not, it's fine. She was celebrating because... well..." The boy took a deep breath. "I have a girlfriend now."

The father frowned, leaving it wrinkled more than it already was, then smiled. "Congratulations..."

Aki lowered his head, smiling. "Thank you."

"That means the deal with that boy is paying off. Keep your friendship with him."

He stopped smiling and glanced at his father.

The man continued, "What's her name? Is she from school?"

Aki tried to smile again, raising his head. "Nagisa Momoe and she's a new student in my class."

"New student... hmmm..." The father straightened up in his chair. "You need to introduce her to us."

"Mom already said that."

The father was a bit more serious. "And it's the right thing to do if this is a serious relationship."

Aki affirmed. "Yes, it is."

The old man nodded. "Then you have my blessing. Make her happy and be responsible. That's what her family will expect from you."

"I won't forget that." The boy turned to leave. "Thanks again, father."

"Aki."

It had been a mistake because the conversation was not over. "Yes?"

"Are you still drawing in that notebook?"

The sudden question made Aki not look at him, shaking his head in response.

The father stood erect in his chair and lifted his chin. "Does not my son have the voice to tell a lie?"

Aki closed his eyes and tensed, waiting for what he would hear. "I'm just drawing a little."

The man ran his hand through what was left of his hair and sighed before he began to speak, "We've already talked about it. In my time, it was possible to work with it without any study. Today, at a minimum you need to be a college graduate and there is no guarantee whatsoever."

The boy just nodded.

"And see where I'm now."

This time, he did not resist and manifested, "But you are proud of the films you worked."

The man shook his head slowly, with a look of disappointment. "I... am, but it's far from being a virtue, it's more a selfish stubbornness."

"How?" Aki argued, "you have built a legacy, your name is in so many works..."

"It's just small words, together with so many others, that glow for a few seconds in empty rooms." He looked at a spot in the void. "When I was young I believed in that, but everything changed when I had you and your sister. You're the true legacy and my regret is that I started building it too late."

"Father..."

He removed his glasses from his tense face, breathing deeply, his lips trembling as much as his hands. "I pray that I will have enough health to continue working until I pay for your sister's college and yours too."

Even Aki began to tremble, feeling a burden growing on him.

The father said firmly, "You will study hard, my son, and you will find a job to form a family. Do not make my mistakes. You need to understand, now you have a girlfriend and she would appreciate that attitude."

Aki replied without hesitation, "That's not what she thinks."

So much that the father went silent for a moment and then he nodded, not for agreeing to his son, but for what he was about to say, "She's young. Time will tell." He put his glasses down and turned his chair back to work.

This was a sign that the discussion ended. Silently, with fists clenched, Aki left the room.

Seeing through the magnifying glass, the old man used the screwdriver to move the hands of the clock while whispering, "Time will tell..."

／人◕‿‿◕人＼

The elevator opened the door and two girls came out.

"What a nice view," said Sasa, looking at the city beyond the parapet.

"Are you sure?" Mami frowned. "There're only buildings."

"It must be because you're already used to it." The short girl came closer to her companion. "Mami-senpai, what is it? You look worried."

"Worried?" The blonde tried to smile. "I must be anxious. I don't know if you'll feel comfortable in my home."

"Come on?!" Sasa raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Do you think I'll regret coming with you? Never!"

They reached the door. Before opening it, though, Mami said, "Well, there's the fact that I mentioned just now, that I'll have to introduce you."

Sasa brought her hand to her chest. "Your kouhai won't disappoint, I assure you. They'll be even impressed by my politeness."

"They?" Mami held the doorknob.

"Oh..." Sasa felt she had taken a hasty conclusion, but then she shrugged and smiled again. "If it's just one person, it's even easier."

"Of course..." She opened the door.

As she stepped in, Sasa became more astonished. "Whoa... Your apartment is nicely decorated."

Despite the compliments, Mami did not smile. "You think? It's already a little old..."

"Yes! I was almost forgetting to take off my shoes because of this," said the other girl, "you have a good taste, as expected from my senpai."

"This taste is not only mine, but thanks." Mami gestured to one direction. "Let's go to the living room, I've prepared some things for us."

"Yay!" Sasa followed her. "And when you said 'us', it's not just you and me, right?" When she arrived in the room, she soon saw another girl, with long white hair and another school uniform, coming down the corridor.

"Hiiiii!" Nagisa nodded.

Sasa's eyes widened. "Hi..."

Mami said to the visitor, smiling, "I'd like to introduce Nagisa Momoe."

"Mami didn't tell me much about you," said Nagisa, "but a friend of hers is more than... welcome..."

Sasa trembled, her breath held and the veins around her neck were bulging out.

Something that Mami noticed. "Sasa-san? You all right?"

"Hi?" She breathed again and began to calm down. "Y-Yes. I'm just surprised, I was expecting someone more... old. Is she your sister?"

It was Nagisa who answered. "We don't share the same family name."

"Ah yes..." Sasa, with a sly look, then whispered to Mami. "By chance are you hiding that she's your daughter?"

The blonde replied in the same tone. "Don't you think I'm a too young to have a daughter at that age?"

"You never told me your age."

Mami's eyes widened and she almost jumped at what she had heard.

"Kufufufu..." Sasa put a few fingers in front of her mouth. "That was supposed to be a compliment, Mami-senpai. Understood? It means your youthful beauty will last for a long time."

Seeing the situation that this conversation was, Nagisa decided to reveal, "I'm her niece."

Sasa nodded. "So that's it."

"My! My!" Mami closed her eyes and partially covered her face. "This is the Sasa-san I know. For a moment I thought you're scared."

"I said I was surprised." Sasa stared at Nagisa. "Maybe... because I'm in another environment, different from the school I've known for so long."

The white-haired girl spoke, "Could you tell me something about Shirome?"

"I already told you," Mami replied, "there's not much else to say." Then she nodded. "Right, Sasa-san?"

"Yeah..." The girl winked. "Whoever enters there learns that is nothing special, just a school."

Mami instructed, "Please, leave your bag on the couch and feel comfortable while I prepare the table."

"Can I use the bathroom?" Sasa asked.

"Of course! Bebe can show you where it is."

Nagisa tilted her head aside and blinked.

"Owww..." Mami covered her mouth.

Sasa was confused.

"Bebe is an affectionate nickname I gave to Nagisa, but I shouldn't use it in front of strangers." The blonde grew more nervous. "N-Not that you're a stranger to me, but..."

Sasa gestured, smiling. "I understood. It's all right."

Nagisa said, "You can call me Bebe if you want."

She replied, "I'm Sasa Yuuki, but you can call me Sasa."

This made Mami put her hands on her head. "Oh no... I forgot to introduce you properly."

"Fufu... A kouhai can learn from her senpai's mistakes as well."

Mami forced a smile and joined hands. "Okay. So hmmm... Bebe, could you show the bathroom, yes?"

"Sure, come with me."

While Mami went to the kitchen, Nagisa led Sasa down the corridor to the bathroom. However, when she was about to show the door, she discovered that the visitor was interested in another.

Sasa examined through an opening. "Is this her room? Can I take a peek?"

Nagisa shrugged. "Hmmm... Yes?"

Opening the door, Sasa found an environment dominated by flower motifs and yellowish tones. "My senpai is very girly... This apartment is incredible!"

"Yes," Nagisa agreed, "my room is more modest, but I have nothing to complain about."

"So you live with her."

The visitor's statement had not sounded with surprise, but serious. Nagisa remembered that Mami would have good reasons not to talk about it with her new friend. "It's recent..."

"I'm jealous of you," Sasa said as she ran her hand over the bed sheet.

"Hehe..." Nagisa calmed down, it did not look like she was going to go deeper into the subject. However, she noticed that the other girl wore gloves. This reminded her of stories of spies, hitmen and thieves. She tried shaking her head, as if this would help remove those fantasies. She should not think about it from a friend of Mami, even more because she had a delicious smell of cheddar cheese.

"Bebe! Can you help me with this?"

Hearing Mami's voice, Sasa commented as she left the room, "What is that? Did she prepare something big for us to eat?"

"More or less... hehe..." Nagisa replied nervously as she watched the other girl go to the bathroom.

A short time later, Sasa returned to the living room and found Mami and Nagisa already seated at the triangular glass table. On it were several cakes and pies, plus tea, coffee and juice.

The girl raised her eyebrows. "All this for me?"

Mami smiled, somewhat shy, "Well, when I have to wait for a pie or cake in the oven or the freezer, I think, 'With that time left, why don't I make something else since I have the ingredients?' and it goes on..."

Nagisa pointed out, "That cheesecake I made. I had help, but only a little bit."

"So you prepared all this? Nothing bought?" Sasa sat down on the cushion that was available.

Mami just shook her head to deny.

Turning away her bluish eyes, the girl said, "So I'll feel bad for abusing such hospitality."

"Don't feel that way," said the blonde, "it's not that I don't do it any other day."

They began to delight with what was on the table.

During this, Nagisa commented, "Each of us has a different uniform..."

"Indeed," Mami agreed.

"But only this year," said Sasa, "next I'll be in high school. I dunno if it would be like that at Mitakihara's school."

"Next year we'll find out." Mami took a sip of tea.

Nagisa was surprised. "So you know."

The blonde frowned. "I saw it on the news. You should be more attentive to what happens around you."

"Oh..." Even if it were a soft voice, Nagisa felt the blow of reprimand.

Sasa nodded, "They're building a high school... Do you intend to go back, Mami-senpai?"

She replied promptly. "No, I'm great in Shirome."

"Hmmm..." Sasa closed her eyes and smiled.

Nagisa took a piece of a cake with her fork, but did not eat it, felt she had to deal with a doubt before, "You know, I found this strange..."

"Strange?" Sasa tensed.

"Mami made friends with a middle schooler, but she doesn't say anything about her classmates."

The blonde came with a serious look at Sasa.

It was time to lie with a truth. "It must be because she's a transfer student. Her classmates had already studied there before and must have entered high school with their cliques already formed, so it's difficult for her."

Nagisa nodded at Sasa's answer.

"I'm getting addicted to this pie. So creamy!" The visitor changed the subject. "With that chocolate topping and biscuits, I thought it would be very sweet, but it's bitter, with a sweet touch only in the end."

Mami was flattered. "This is a German pie. Actually, it's German only in name, it's a Brazilian recipe. It has that bitter taste because of the brandy."

Sasa stopped before bringing a piece to her mouth. "Eh? Brandy?"

"Sometimes I use rum. I put some in the chocolate syrup, also in the milk that I used to bathe the biscuits."

"Hmmm..." Sasa smiled, full of naughty. "So my senpai wants to get me drunk, what is her perverse mind reserving for me?"

Mami shook her head. "Now! I put so little..."

"Fufuhahaha!" Sasa noticed that Nagisa had her eyes fixed on her. "What's now?"

"N-Nothing." She looked away. "Your gloves have attracted my attention... I think..."

"I have a bad case of cold hands," Sasa said, "I believe I can even freeze some things with them."

Nagisa was impressed. "Is that a kind of magic?"

Sasa raised an eyebrow, then smiled and replied, "No, my magic is another."

Mami was curious. "And what would be?"

"It's obvious!" She opened her arms. "Be the best kouhai for the best senpai!"

Nagisa leaned her body toward Mami. "But I'm the best kouhai."

"How could that be?" Sasa narrowed her eyes.

Mami looked at both of them. "Please! You two aren't going to start a fight about this, are you?"

"Nah, I'm only using logic," said the girl with light brown hair, looking at Nagisa, "how can she be your kouhai if she doesn't even study at the same school? Except she's referring to something else."

Mami also looked at Nagisa, concerned about what she was going to say.

But the girl didn't think much to say, "I'm the home's kouhai!"

"Home's kouhai?" Sasa grinned.

Mami lowered her head, ashamed.

"Cool!"

However, that changed when she heard Sasa.

"Then the school's best kouhai joins with the home's best kouhai for the sake of Mami-senpai!"

Seeing the two exchanging winks and showing their tongues, the blonde was surprised, "You... got along so well..."

The sun had already set when Sasa was satisfied. "Owww... I think I'll pass a couple of days without eating."

"You didn't have to try each of my cakes," Mami stated.

"It was necessary, because I believe, no matter how much you deny, that you have prepared each of them thinking of me." Sasa wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Meanwhile, Nagisa noticed that Mami had been a little flushed.

"Well," Sasa continued, "I have a question for you."

Mami composed herself. "What would it be?"

"I've been talking to our Bebe and she told me she has a bedroom for her."

"Yes..." Mami glanced at Nagisa.

The girl smiled and looked away.

"But your apartment has only two bedrooms."

Mami immediately returned her attention to the visitor.

"I saw the pictures of your parents." Sasa looked around. "Are they traveling?"

Silence.

Sasa saw Mami open her mouth and almost nod, but then the blonde stopped and shook her head, with a face that she was disapproving of something.

Finally, she spoke, "They passed away a few years ago."

Sasa was stunned. "But how... Are you telling me that no adult lives here?"

Mami took a deep breath and explained, "The landlord had a close relationship with my parents. In a judicial settlement with my other relatives, it was decided that he would be my guardian. The idea was that my routine should change as little as possible." She lifted her head and sighed. "As if that was possible... but I agreed, I had my reasons..."

Sasa adjusted her gloves. "I see..."

"He visited me often, but seeing that I could handle the household chores and the money he gave me, he stopped. I have complete freedom now." Mami felt her hand being touched.

"And I'm so happy about it. You're a great, strong person," Nagisa declared.

"Yeah... I'm a lucky kouhai to have you," Sasa commented, with a lost gaze, then she rose. "Time to go."

"Please, don't go," Mami pleaded, "I'm sorry if this bothered you. Don't feel guilty, I should have told you before."

"There's nothing to apologize." Sasa reached for her bag. "Actually, it's late and we have homework to do, right?"

Nagisa grimaced. "We all have."

Mami got up and followed Sasa to the door. "Don't you want me to call a cab?"

"I'm big enough to take care of myself." The short girl put on her shoes.

The blonde smiled. "Are you sure?"

Sasa narrowed her gaze and pointed at her. "Hey... don't try to copy me. I'm a very, very bad girl."

With her leaving the apartment, Nagisa approached. "Bye Sasa-chan, it was nice to meet you."

"Keep being the home's best kouhai!" exclaimed Sasa, "watch out for the competition! Fufu."

"And will I see the school's best kouhai tomorrow?" Mami asked.

Sasa raised her shoulders to the point where they touched the split ends of her hair. "I guess so..."

Mami bowed. "Have a good night, Sasa-san."

"For both of you as well."

The door closed slowly, and Sasa waited until she could no longer see the pair of gentle yellow eyes.

Only then did she go to the elevator and call it. The day had been rather warm and the breeze of the evening had a pleasant coolness.

However, Sasa had a serious expression as she stepped into the elevator. When the doors closed, it was already of anger.

Trembling and gritting her teeth, she raised her voice, "Kyuubey, you cretin..." Then she jumped furiously. "Cretin! Cretin! Cretin! Cretin! AHHHH!"

She punched the button to get the elevator go down and continued to complain, "You told me that Mami Tomoe acted alone! But she has another magical girl living under her roof!" She began to flail her arms uncontrollably. "I can't do a full brainwash without the other one notice. Damned furball! AHHHH!"

Then she calmed down, putting her hand on her face and breathing through her mouth. "Ahh... But the other girl must be a newbie... ah... and I had the element of surprise. If I killed Mami, the other would be in shock, easy peasy."

The elevator stopped and the door opened for a family with a child.

Sasa smiled and bowed slightly to them as she left. "Hi!"

The family returned the gesture and entered the elevator.

When she was alone again, Sasa straightened her uniform, again serious. "I would brainwash any witness. They would say they saw a man, a thief or pervert, whatever. I could do that."

Already on the street, she stopped. "Yeah, I could do that..."

At the back of her mouth lingered a sweet taste.

She lowered her head and sighed. She licked her lips and spoke to herself, "Sasa, you big idiot..." She then decided to remove the glove from her left hand.

On the middle finger was a metallic ring with runes and a pale blue gem which at the time was polluted.

"I need to purify again..." She put the glove back on and looked up, at the lit window of the apartment where she had been, and disappeared into the night.

Next chapter: Cursed path