Every morning, Satsuki Kiryuin wakes up from nightmares, watches her sister snoring in the bed next to her and throws her a pillow in order to shut her mouth. Every time is a wasted attempt, and she ends up getting up to wake their younger sister Nui for middle school.

But, most importantly, every morning Satsuki Kiryuin wakes up from nightmares, prepares herself for school and goes downstairs to greet her mother —a mother who never, ever would do horrible things to her—, and kiss her cheek before leaving and face another sunny day.

And just like always Ryuko runs after her, seeing how she always slept in late. "Why didn't you wake me up?! You always wake Nui up!" She whines, out of breath.

Satsuki's pace didn't falter. "Nui is a first year in middle school. She hasn't quite adjusted to the change in pace. You on the other hand should know by now." She replies snidely.

"Well excuuuuse me Miss Student Council President for not being as prissy as you!" Ryuko snorts. There was obvious resentment in her voice. Something was bothering her, Satsuki could tell.

"Hey, I didn't mean-"

"Ryuko-chan! Satsuki-chan!" A familiar, bubbly voice calls.

It was Mako Mankanshoku. Ryuko's exuberant and not so right in the head best friend. They had been friends since kindergarden and inseparable since then. The girl's overzealous ways did contrast Ryuko's boyish personality amusingly.

"Hey!" Ryuko calls to her. Satsuki turns around. "I'm gonna go on ahead with Mako, kay? See you at lunch?" She asked, using her puppy dog eyes.

"Sure." Satsuki responds with a wry smile. She turned back around and continued walking.

When it was lunch time, Ryuko did come to Satsuki's third year classroom, bringing her lunch with her. The two sisters sat in the back of the class huddled close so that the other students couldn't hear them. Satsuki was reading a book that she had been assigned for her english class, while Ryuko played with her PSP that she had snuck in. (Which was against school rules, but she knew that.)

"You're going to get that taken away, imouto." Satsuki scorns, not looking up from her book.

Ryuko snorts. "Yeah, by who?"

A hand confiscated the handheld game roughly. "By me." the voice that belonged to the hand responds.

"Ira Gamagoori. Awesome." Ryuko mumbles sarcastically, folding her arms. She should have known better than to bring it in here. Where all of Satsuki's high and mighty friends were. She rolled her eyes. "Can I have my game back?" She holds out her hand expectantly.

"You know the rules, Kiryuin. No personal electronics during school hours." Gamagori deadpans.

"Just because I know them doesn't mean I'm gonna follow 'em." Ryuko said challengingly, getting up.

"Ryuko..." Satsuki warned.

"No, stop doing that! I get it I'm your younger sister! Stop acting like I'm Nui's age! That shit is annoying!" Ryuko lashed out, glaring at her.

"Well it's not a picnic in the park cleaning up after you, getting you out of trouble and god knows what you get yourself into on a daily basis!" Satsuki shouted back. The room had quieted down, and everyone was paying attention to their quarrel.

"I am not a child! Don't treat me like one!" Ryuko insisted, stomping her foot. Her face was red and her fists were clenched.

"You're acting like one right now!" Satsuki was equally as red. She pointed an accusatory finger to Ryuko. "It's your fault Dad left! If you weren't such a disappointment, maybe he would have stayed!"

Gasps rung out from everywhere in the room. Realization washed over Satsuki as it dawned on her how much what she just said might have hurt Ryuko. There was a look of pure horror on the younger girl's face."Ryu-"

Ryuko was out the door before Satsuki could even finish.

Satsuki didn't hesitate to follow after her. "Ryuko! Wait!" She called after her. She ran after her, ran as fast as she could. But Ryuko was faster. And by the time Satsuki had caught up with her, she was in the girl's bathroom, locked in a stall.

"Imouto, please." Satsuki pleaded, knocking on the stall.

"Fuck you." Ryuko responded, angrily.

"That would be incest, wouldn't it?" Satsuki tried to joke, but it was clear Ryuko was in no joking mood. Satsuki sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to say that. I was just angry."

The stall door slammed open. "Why would you say that?! Why would you ever think that it was okay to say something like that?!" Ryuko shouted, tears started to fall from her eyes. "I know I'm not the star child like you and Nui! I know I can't be as good as you in school stuff and her in sports stuff! I hear it enough!"

Satsuki stood stunned as she watched her sister stand before her, shaking with heavy sobs. "H-Hear it enough?" She asked.

"Mom never tells you huh? Of course not, because you're her favorite. She thinks I'm a disgrace. She says I don't deserve to be a Kiryuin. She said," Ryuko hiccuped, "She said Nui should have been born in my place! Nui! And she's adopted, Satsuki! Adopted!" Fresh tears made their way down her face.

"Oh god, Ryuko, I-I-I had no idea..." Satsuki reached out for her sister and held her, rubbing her back. Much like she used to when she would come crying to her when they were kids. She wondered if those instances were the times that their mother had told her those horrible things.

"And now you think I'm worthless too! You! Of all people! But then again, you're the golden child! You're perfect in every way! You never get in trouble, or get bad grades! Mom adores you!" Ryuko wrenched herself away from her in anger.

Satsuki's own anger flared up again. "I am not perfect! I am not perfect at all! Do you know how hard it is to have the entire Kiryuin name riding on your shoulders? Huh?! While you're slacking off, I'm up till four in the morning studying for advanced classes! I have no social life! I have nothing else in my future except representing this family! Being a first born child is nothing compared to being second born! I literally have to set the example you're supposed to follow! How do you think that makes me feel?!"

This time it was Ryuko who was taken aback. "W-What?"

"I have nightmares, Ryuko. Nightmares of an alternate world that you wouldn't even be able to begin to comprehend. I haven't slept in months. And yet, every morning, I get up, I wake Nui up, and I make sure you don't fall on your face." Satsuki clenched her jaw.

"I'm sorry that what I said upset you." She said after a long pause. "And you're not worthless. You're a Kiryuin. And Kiryuins aren't worthless."

Ryuko sniffled. "R-Really?"

Satsuki nodded firmly. "It appears Mother has been putting things in your head. Look, I'm not telling you to continue to be the lazy slacker you are, but what I'm saying is, just, don't listen to her okay? Even if she wants you to follow after me. Please, just, do your own thing, okay?"

Ryuko nodded, sighing. "Okay."

The two sisters hugged, and then went back to class.

Ryuko never felt bad about herself again.