*Standard disclaimers*
The Other Brother
Take (June 1999)
/You're nothing like your brother. /
That's right…I'm not. I'm not as calm and collected…not as perfect…not as aloof.
/Why can't you be more like him?/
But I'm not…I'm not him.
/Your brother always did so well in this./
But that was him…not me. Why can't anyone see that? I'm not Minamino Shuuichi…I'm *Hatanaka* Shuuichi.
/Are you upset about that?/
Upset? I suppose…I am. It's not easy being the younger brother of the 'perfect student'…people tend to have high expectations…
/Can you blame them? They're only human./
No…I guess not. But…I'm so tired…
/Tired?/
I'm tired of living in my brother's shadow…of the standards…of the constant comparisons…
/Are you jealous of him?/
At one time I was, but now…no. He can't change the way his is, just like I can't change the way I am. We're different, with different interests and abilities. Oniisan wouldn't be Oniisan if he gave it less than his all. He can't help it if his reputation makes other's blind to everything else…anyone else…
/Well then…what do you want?/
I want…to be judged for myself…and not be held up to my brother's image.
I want to be known as Hatanaka Shuuichi…not as Minamino Shuuichi's younger brother.
I want my accomplishments to speak for themselves.
/What do you want?/
I want them to see me.
~Owari~
****
Author's Notes: This little fic was inspired by two conversations; one with a classmate, and another with my otouto. He's going to all the schools I've gone to, so getting he's been getting that occasional "You're _____' brother?" bit. I wasn't sure how he felt about this, so we sat down for a long talk, and here's the result.
The Other Brother
Take (June 1999)
/You're nothing like your brother. /
That's right…I'm not. I'm not as calm and collected…not as perfect…not as aloof.
/Why can't you be more like him?/
But I'm not…I'm not him.
/Your brother always did so well in this./
But that was him…not me. Why can't anyone see that? I'm not Minamino Shuuichi…I'm *Hatanaka* Shuuichi.
/Are you upset about that?/
Upset? I suppose…I am. It's not easy being the younger brother of the 'perfect student'…people tend to have high expectations…
/Can you blame them? They're only human./
No…I guess not. But…I'm so tired…
/Tired?/
I'm tired of living in my brother's shadow…of the standards…of the constant comparisons…
/Are you jealous of him?/
At one time I was, but now…no. He can't change the way his is, just like I can't change the way I am. We're different, with different interests and abilities. Oniisan wouldn't be Oniisan if he gave it less than his all. He can't help it if his reputation makes other's blind to everything else…anyone else…
/Well then…what do you want?/
I want…to be judged for myself…and not be held up to my brother's image.
I want to be known as Hatanaka Shuuichi…not as Minamino Shuuichi's younger brother.
I want my accomplishments to speak for themselves.
/What do you want?/
I want them to see me.
~Owari~
****
Author's Notes: This little fic was inspired by two conversations; one with a classmate, and another with my otouto. He's going to all the schools I've gone to, so getting he's been getting that occasional "You're _____' brother?" bit. I wasn't sure how he felt about this, so we sat down for a long talk, and here's the result.