What Mum Asked Me
'Protect your sister.'
Those were the last words before mum fell asleep forever. It was the day when I buried my feeling for her. I hid my emotion under the mature demeanor I learnt from the girl's manga, how to pretend I was alright. I began playing the role 'Grown Up' brother for her. She worked so hard for me from the early morning. What I could do was going to school everyday and made her feel contented with our daily life. I studied hard and didn't show my sister that I missed our parents. I knew she would be broken if I hinted that I missed them, so I buried my emotion deeply to the bottom of my mind.
The girl's manga told me a lot of things how to attract girls' attention. I learnt how to thread my fingers through my hair and shake my head or wink at them. I learnt how to praise them. It was easy. Observe what they put on and don't miss a tiny change. Soon I got two eager girl friends. Kana and Ayane. I simply enjoyed the talk with them on the bus on our way back home.
'I study hard and I will be a great man. I won't allow anyone to make Hina unhappy.' I shouted in my mind and glanced back when I thought my dad said,
'You are a little knight for your sister, Nagi. The storm will run away from you. I believe in you.'
The shadow of my father was invisible, but the voice remained for a while. Then a teardrop ran down on my cheek.