Chapter 11: The Cousin

When I came back in with a tray of drinks, they were all seated on the floor around a small table. I set the tray in the middle and joined them on the ground.

Hikaru looked at me and said, "Actually, I have something important I need to tell you."

I looked at him with a puzzled expression before saying, "Erm, what is it?"

He looked down at his feet for a short while before continuing to talk, "Firstly, I want you to promise you won't be too shocked."

Hikaru looked at me and I quickly nodded, assuring him that I would keep calm.

He continued, "I told you that my brother is dead, but he isn't the only family member of mine that is dead. My mother is dead too."

Rukia's mouth fell open and Rui closed her mouth gently, reminding her to not be shocked.

"Well, my mother died when I was 6. She died in a fire..."

Hikaru seemed like he was trying very hard to find the right words to say. Something about what he just said made me feel really uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"My mother was asked by her sister to take care of her two sons. This was before my brother...died. My mother willingly helped her sister, leaving my father to take care of me and my brother. I wasn't upset or anything. After all, I understood why my mother's sister needed help to take care of her sons. She and her husband were always working overseas and could only come back once in a while to see them. To be honest, I felt sorry for my two cousins. They couldn't experience the love I felt from my parents." Hikaru smiled sadly as he explained.

He paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Every Saturday, my mother came home to see us and would tell me about my two cousins. She said the two of them were like me and my brother in many ways and that when she saw the younger brother smile, it reminded her so much of me. My mother would tell me about all the things they did and that they never went anywhere without each other. Once, she even brought back cookies that the younger brother baked."

Something about the story so far seemed awfully familiar.

"And then, one day, a fire broke out in their house. I don't really know what happened, but the next day, a few policemen came to our house and told my father that my mother was dead. I overheard their conversation about my mother being shot in the back and that her body was badly burnt by the fire, to the extent where it was almost hard to identify her body..."

Right then, I felt my stomach flip and I felt like throwing up. It couldn't be...

Hikaru stopped to look at me, and so did Rui and Rukia.

"Hey Akira, are you okay? You look really pale."

"Yea, are you sick?" Rui asked worriedly.

I was sick, but not like an illness, more like a nauseating feeling. If was as if I was smacked in the face by someone.

"Hikaru... Your... your mother...your two cousins...you're my..." I swallowed hard, "...cousin?"

My throat felt like it was burning when I said it. It's not possible... Hikaru's mother was my aunt?

Rui and Rukia stared wide-eyed at me, then at Hikaru, and then back at me again.

Hikaru was my cousin and I was the reason why my aunt died. I robbed Hikaru of his mother. All because of me...

I felt tears stream down my face and both Hikaru and Rui said at the same time, "Akira?"

I quickly wiped my tears away with the sleeve of my uniform and whispered, "I'm so sorry Hikaru. I really am. I don't know what to do to make it up to you... And I probably can't..."

Hikaru stared at me with a puzzled look, not understanding why I was so upset. The tears started to flow down my cheeks again.

"Your mother, Aine-san, was shot by the man who took my brother... and it's all my fault. She wouldn't have died if I had done something. Even after that, I just froze there... Your mother was so worried about us and shouted for us to run. She was still alive for a short while even after being shot and if I didn't freeze there, I could have ran and called for help... I... I..." I trailed off, tears flowing freely down my face.

Hikaru placed his finger on my lips to stop me.

"It's okay. I know, and I don't blame you. After all, my mother loved the two of you as if you were her own two sons. I know she would give up her life to protect me, and she would give up her life to protect the two of you as well. You're like my other brother, except I only saw you once before. Besides, it really wasn't your fault. I'll repeat it as many times it takes for you to believe me, it's not your fault." Hikaru explained.

It was only after a few minutes that I managed to calm down. I looked at the standing mirror behind Rui and saw that my eyes were red from crying.

Hikaru patted my head just like Rui always did and said, "The man who killed my mother also kidnapped your brother right? The same man who came barging into class today. Although I can't get my mother back, you still have a shot at saving your brother. So, I'm going to do what I can to help you."

He smiled a warm and gentle smile at me and I couldn't help but smile when Rui and Rukia started to smile as well.

"Haha. Look at that. If my brother were here, he would tell you to keep smiling. In class, you always wear that expressionless mask. You shouldn't hide your smile." Hikaru said.

He was trying to stifle his laughter and it looked like he was trying very hard. Rukia nodded with a silly grin before bursting out in laughter.

I was surrounded by friends and so, I willingly let the barrier that I always have built around me fall and started to laugh as well.

It felt great to laugh again.


At first, I didn't think of making Hikaru Akira's cousin. But since I thought it would make things more interesting, Hikaru joined the crew as Akira's cousin. Cute little boy character~ 3