Hello everyone! Today my school decided to close campus due to snow. Instead of catching up on homework, I decided to lounge around my room and write this chapter. Haha. I should be doing work xD Thank you for reading!

Syusuke stood in front of the two guys that had the guts to try and pick up his precious little sister. Syusuke witnessed the whole event of these two sleaze balls trying to take his sister away. When they ran off, he managed to cut them off outside the Zoo gates. Within a couple seconds, both were lying on the floor in agonizing pain. They had no time to even think what just happened to them. As Syusuke wiped the dirt off his knuckles, the guy with the beanie, now fallen off, gasped. "You asshole…w-why?"

"Anyone who dare messes with my family deserves to suffer." Syusuke simply glared at him. The two guys picked each other up and limped off.

"Now I have to find Rina again." Syusuke frowned to himself walking back into the zoo in search of his sister to continue "chaperoning" his sister. There was no way Syusuke was going to that happened to Rina ever again. That day he swore to always protect his little sister.

"It all started when Yuuta and I were in 2nd grade. My family and I lived in Chiba before we moved here to Tokyo. Everyday I would play with Onii-san, Yuuta, and Ko-niisan too! I remember Onee-san picking me a lot for playing with the boys. I couldn't help it, I was glued to being with Yuuta and all Yuuta wanted to do was play with Onii-san." I started to giggle at various memories of all of us playing in the park.

"It sounded like you had a fun childhood." Ootori commented, a part of him fearing for what was coming next in the story.

"I had such a happy and fun childhood until that happened…." I trailed off.

"What happened?"

"….." I could only stare at Ootori, only realizing that I'm relaying my deepest darkest secret to a guy I had only met yesterday. If I wanted to continue a bond with him, it would only be right if he knew.

"If you really don't want to tell me, it's fine." Ootori reached to hold my hand but retreated them once he realized what he was doing.

"No, I want to." I made the decision to tell him the story. "One day we were playing the park. We were playing hide-n-go- seek. It was Onii-san's turn to find us so we were all separated. I was always the one that loses first so I'd thought of hiding in a more secret place. I decided to go hide in the woods. I thought it was the perfect spot, that way I know I wouldn't be the first to be called out. I didn't realize how big the forest was by myself. I always had Yuuta or Onii-san with me so it didn't seem all that scary to me. " I clenched my fists, recalling that nightmare.

"I somehow found myself lost in the woods. It was already getting dark and I couldn't find my way back to the playground. My brothers were probably looking for me like crazy but I was the stupid one to go off into the woods by myself. When I was wandering around a man approached me. He told me that he would help me back to the playground. I was naïve enough to believe him. He grabbed my hand and started walking down the path. Instead of the park, he led me to a clearing. The man pushed me down to the ground and started to touch me everywhere." I started to feel tears swell up around my eyes. It was so painful thinking about that nightmare. I vividly remember everything that had happened at that moment. I remember his course hands running up and down my tiny legs. I could almost feel his alcohol breath breathing down my skin. "He kept telling me to be quiet or else he'll never take me back to my family. When he touched my private area I screamed. But when I screamed he slapped me hard across my face. I remember crying and begging for my brothers to save me. My wish came true. Next thing I knew, the man fell off of me. Onii-san finally found me and kicked the man's face. Ko-niisan and Yuuta arrived shortly after with the police. Onii-san was my savior. If he didn't show up when he did, the man probably would have raped me. But that near-raped experience scarred me to be what I am today. Every time a man touches me, I'm always reminded of that painful memory." I finally finished my story. I was scared to look up at Ootori's face. This was the first time I've told someone my painful memory. I was honestly scared that he would reject me for whatever reason he could hold. He probably finds me disgusting with my phobia of men. There were plenty of beautiful and normal girls he could date. I'm not one of them.

"I'm sorry that you had to experience that." He started to speak. "Thank you for telling me your story. I'm happy you told me. You were willing to tell me a personal fact about yourself, which would only mean that you have started to trust me a little. I can't reverse what happened to you, but I want to help you. I know we only just met, but I want to continue being by your side and show you that there is still good in the world." Ootori looked at me with such sincere eyes, it made me want to cry even harder. And that's what I did. I started to cry uncontrollably. The people in the restaurant looked at us like we were crazy but I didn't care. No one has even been this kind to me.

Ootori leaned in to give me a comforting hug but I instantly pulled away from his touch by force of reflex. Instead, he reached out his hand to pat my head in a loving manner. The way he pet me was similar to how Syusuke touches me but still different. There was a different kind of love attached to his touch. I couldn't quite place my finger on it but all I know, it felt nice.

"It's comforting to be around you. I feel like I'm with Onii-san." I giggled wiping away the last of my tears. Ootori laughed along with me a little sad that I'm comparing him to my brother but it's a step closer.

"I'm glad you're becoming comfortable around me." He smiled.

After we finished our meal and made out way back to the station. It was the worst time to get into the station. Rush hour was going and everyone was crowding into the train. Like most, we were left standing, packed like sardines. It felt uncomfortable, especially with all these men around within touching distance from me. Ootori sensed my uneasiness and backed me to the door. He set his hands above my head, careful not to touch me. I noticed it suddenly became easier for me to breath. Ootori was using his body as a shield for me against everyone else in the car. I saw the slightly discomfort in his eyes when someone accidently bumped into him.

"You didn't have to do this…" I shyly remarked.

"I want to." He smiled. Right after he said that, someone bumped into him a little too hard and Ootori's body collided with mine. Such intense contact was too much for me. I let out a small scream and pushed him away. Suddenly all eyes were on us. I could hear everyone whispering how Ootori was a pervert that attempted to grope me. Ootori looked embarrassed but kept a stern face and continued being my shield. I felt bad for making him out to be the bad guy. Even in embarrassment, he continues to protect me. I reach up and wrapped my arms around his torso. I pushed my face into his chest to hide my embarrassment for this bold action.

"Gomen ne, you're not a pervert. I was just surprised." I apologized. I hoped that if I hugged him, the people in the train wouldn't think that he was a pervert. It worked. The older ladies smiled at how brave we were as a couple showing affection in public.

"It's okay…I kind of like this." He said bring one arm around me and the other holding on the wall to keep the two of us stable.

"Can I say something?" I asked, feeling my face becoming redder by the second.

"You can say anything." He commented.

"I really like touching you…" I whispered just audible enough for him to hear. I looked up to see him blushing looking at a different direction. He's just as shy as I am. "Maybe I'm the one becoming a pervert" I thought to myself.