Brother

            'She used to play catch with me.' Souta tossed a ball into the air, then tried to swing at it with his bat. His whole body whirled around with the force and he landed on his bottom. There was a soft plop as the ball landed beside him. He sighed.

            'She's cool, and Inu-nii-chan is awesome.' He pushed the bat away from him and grabbed the ball, throwing it up into the air and then catching it, again and again. 'They fight demons and other cool stuff. But can't they come back and play ball with me?'

            The boy felt the tears sting the back of his eyes.