Chapter 12 ~ Sisterly Love

(Part 1)

(Riko's POV)

Riko stood next to the door and listened to Akira play the piano. She wanted to talk to her little sister ever since she went on a date with Aomine, but she hadn't had the chance.

Akira never shut herself into the piano room, unless she had something important to think about.

Every time she locked herself in, she'd always play the same piece again and again and again, in the same frustrating way, making Riko's ears bleed, until she eventually fell asleep on the keys.

But this time it wasn't like that. The melody Akira was playing reminded Riko of old summer days. Of how the summer breeze slightly moved the leaves of the trees and how the sun rays went through them. The sound of the cicadas and the warmth of the sun against her skin.

It reminded her of their summers, when they were young and careless, free of anxienty and responsibilities.

'How nostalgic' she thought and a faint smile formed on her lips.

She sat and listened to the melody for a little while, until she finally decided it was time to interrupt her sister.

She opened the door soundlessly and looked at Akira.

She was bent over the piano, her whole body moving along with her fingers.

Her eyes were shut tightly and tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Her lips were moving slowly and a silent whisper could be heard.

She was singing.

Riko couldn't understand what she was saying, but her voice was hoarse from the crying sobs.

Riko's heart broke at the sight.

What could have happened to make her cry?

She looked shocked, as her little sister cried, her melody covering the sound of her crying and singing.

Riko had never seen her cry before, apart from when she was little.

She knew Akira was a strong person, but right now, all she could see was a hurt and fragile girl.

She rushed behind Akira, ready to hug her and shake her off her crying but she stopped right before her hands touched Akira's back.

'Maybe she doesn't want me to be here...It seems like its a personal moment with herself' she thought, looking at her sister who was pouring her soul into that nostalgic piece.

She started moving backwards, trying not to disturb her, but the playing stopped before Riko had reached the door.

"Ne-chan?" sounded Akira with a hoarse voice, revealing her crying.

Riko turned and look at her with a smile.

"Akira! Sorry I was leaving..." she muttered, scratching the back of her head.

"Have you been here long?" she asked, with a pained smile.

"Long enough" whispered Riko and started moving towards her sister, only to girdle her into a tight hug.

After a long pause Akira broke the hug and looked Riko in the eyes.

"I'm alright, Ne-chan" she said, with a grateful smile on her lips.

Here she was again. The strong person she knew. That breakdown, it was to get it all out, to free herself of all the stress and sadness.

Riko smiled at her little sister and suddenly she realised how proud of her she was.

"I'm here if you want to talk about it" whispered Riko, hugging her once more.

(Part 2)

(Akira's POV)

"I'd say that's sweet, but it's Aomine we're talking about" said Riko with an amused but confused expression.

"You don't know him like I do, ne-chan!" complained Akira, in a childish manner.

After Riko caught her crying, Akira led her sister to her room, to talk.

It was unusually messy, with clothes and books, thrown on the floor. The window was still shut, despite the time being noon and her bed was unmade with more clothes and books thrown on it.

Her sister looked confused as to why it looked this messy, but after Akira told her about her decision to give up on piano and about her date with Aomine, she looked like she understood.

"I also fought with Kagami..." admitted Akira with a dissatisfied expression.

"Fought? What happened?" asked Riko, her eyes now filled with more confusion.

Akira felt like she was becoming a burden to her sister. No one had ever seen her cry!

And ever since yesterday both her sister and Kagami did. It felt weird having been exposed to people like that.

She didn't want her sister to feel sorry for her and she thought that maybe she was becoming a burden, only talking about her problems and not helping Riko much.

Despite the way she felt though, she told her everything about the fight and about her tangled feelings.

"For god's shake! I can't tell who's worse here..." admitted Riko, raising her eyebrows at her sister who was now looking at her impatiently.

"I mean...You looked like you wanted to be left alone! Even I could see that...The only one who couldn't see that was Aomine! The way you acte-" Riko started explaining but Akira interrupted her.

"He was the only one I truly wanted to see..." shouted Akira, enthusiasm suddenly bursting out of her.

It was true.

When she was anxious about the competition and everyone else looked at her worried, Aomine was the only one who talked to her normally, even when he saw her right after the competition.

He remained himself and didn't change his behaviour because she looked stressed and tired.

She didn't want to be left alone...she just wanted people to help her through, by behaving like they normally would.

But no one remained the same. They all started worrying about her, making difficult for Akira to be around them. That's why she wanted to be left alone.

Aomine was the only one she wanted to be with.

His texts were the only things that kept her from completely losing it.

He was the only one who was really there for her, helping her get through her stress.

"Then that's it Akira! You said it yourself..." shouted Riko.

Akira couldn't believe her sister's words.

Even though she disapproved of her relationship with Aomine, now she actually told her to be with him.

Akira didn't speak. She just looked at Riko with a surprised look.

"It's what you said...what you want" repeated Riko, looking at her sister with a smirk.

'It is' thought Akira and stood up from her bed.

Her heart was filled with both enthusiasm and pain, but at least she knew.

She was one step closer to finding herself.

(Part 3)

(Riko's POV)

Riko was now laying on Akira's bed. Her messy room was something she rarely saw, but she could understand that with so much stress, tidying your room isn't a priority.

After Akira finally admitted she was in love with Aomine, her phone ranged and she went downstairs, leaving her all alone in her room.

It was Kagami, who had come to apologise to her.

Akira had told her that she still cared for Kagami and that she wasn't ready to break up with him, but Riko couldn't help but wonder what she'd do now.

That poor guy was so madly in love with Akira and she was about to break his heart.

Her heart broke from the thought but then she realised that that's how Akira had always been.

They had always been so different Akira and Riko.

Akira had always been a heart breaker, with boys always running behind her, while Riko hardly had a boyfriend. Their father would always scold Akira when she got a new boyfriend and he'd threaten the poor boys, telling them not to lay a hand on his daughter.

That's when Riko started covering for Akira, when she returned home late from her dates.

Also, Akira had always been a rebel, talking back to their father when he tried to make her take sports, while she did what he told her.

Not that Riko regretted starting sports, it's just that Akira always had her own free will and she always knew what she wanted.

She still wondered how Akira managed to balance both piano and sports in her life. With a father like theirs, it was almost impossible not to like sports in this family. Akira though, managed to be a pianist who still loved and was decent at sports.

The fact that Akira accepted to become Seirin's team manager, had made her really happy, since she realised that her little sister was willing to sacrifice joining the music club for her shake.

Riko was really flattered, considering the fact that Akira always did what she wanted without caring much about helping others, when it came to choices about herself.

But she also felt a bit guilty, stopping her from joining the club she actually wanted to.

A smile formed on Riko's lips, realising how much she too, adored her little sister, and what she'd do to keep her out of trouble and harm.

She was truly proud of her. Proud of her personality and her choices.

She only now realised that she wasn't a little rebellious girl anymore, but a strong woman.