The story continues
Carmine will have her own part in this story. Here she'll reflect her memories prior to Juliana becoming an exchange student.
Carmine was more than halfway done feeding Kieran pieces of banana and water. All she thought about in between each bite and sip was her hope to have her little Kiki all better, both physically and mentally. Ever since the siblings got back from their school trip, she noticed a dramatic change within Kieran. She remembered one time where he got physical with her. She remembered it all too well.
Flashback:
2 months after the school trip…
At Blueberry Academy, Carmine looked all over Central Plaza inside the school Terarium for Kieran. A student approached her. It was her close friend, Amarys, a steel type trainer and member of the BB Elite Four.
"Hello Carmine," Amarys greeted her. "Your facial expression heavily suggests concern." Amarys sensed her emotions.
"Hi Amarys," Carmine greeted back. "You're right, I am. It's Kieran. Have you seen him anywhere?"
Amarys shook her head no. "Negative. Kieran's recent whereabouts are unknown to me." Although Amarys seems reserved, she does care deeply about her friends. "We shall look for him together."
"Thank you." Carmine smiled a bit.
The girls walked around the plaza, asking some of the students if they had seen Carmine's younger brother anywhere. Every student they've asked answered no. Eventually, the pair spotted Kieran entering in the plaza from the polar biome, looking all stoic. Carmine was shocked, considering Kieran couldn't stand freezing cold temperatures. She was even more shocked that he wasn't even wearing his winter uniform, just his red league club shirt, jacket, yellow bag, shorts, and shoes. She was already a little put off by the fact he styled his hair differently by putting it up in a spiky ponytail. To her, it looked edgy and rebellious.
The girls went down to meet up with him. "Kiki, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you! Did you just come in from the polar biome?" Carmine asked.
"Yeah. What of it?" Kieran answered coldly and annoyed.
"What were you doing over there without your winter outfit?!" Carmine exclaimed. "You could've gotten sick!"
"Shut it, Sis." Kieran hushed her. "I was just training over there. I can't get stronger if I don't. Besides, the cold keeps my mind sharp."
Carmine looked in his eyes and got a little more concerned than she was. Kieran's eyes looked dull and were covered in dark circles. "You look exhausted. Have you been sleeping?"
Kieran scoffed at her. "I'm not gonna get stronger by slacking off! Heck! I'm wasting time talking to you! I need to go." He started to walk away. But Carmine wasn't about to let him get away and grabbed his left arm. That ticked him off big time. "HEY! LET GO OF ME!"
Amarys flinched at the shouting. Even though Carmine told her about Kieran's recent change, it was her first time seeing it herself. As if that wasn't intense enough, Kieran's shouting also caught the attention of the other students, including the remaining Elite Three. Fairy type trainer, Lacey, and Fire type trainer, Crispin, watched from above top while Dragon type trainer, Drayton, watched from entrance of the polar biome below.
"Kiki, what's gotten into you?!" Carmine was desperate for answers.
Kieran got angrier with an eye twitch. "I said… LET. GO. OF. ME."
"How could you talk to your sister like that?" Carmine asked, very emotionally hurt. "I'm worried about you. This obsession with getting stronger? It's not doing you any good!"
Kieran disagreed. "Actually, I'd say it's working in my favor." He smirked sinisterly. "I did beat Drayton after all."
"That's not the point!" Carmine cried. "Don't you see it's wearing you down inside and out?! It's like you poisoned yourself! It's very toxic!"
The BB league Champion frowned at his sis. "All I'm seeing is an unsupportive sister. I thought you were on my side."
Carmine almost broke down at that moment. "Kieran! I do support you! But not like this! Your behavior's really unacceptable! What would Juliana-"
That did for Kieran. He used his right hand and furiously shoved his sister down to the floor with the latter letting out a painful scream.
AAAAAAAAAAAGH!
Everyone inside Central Plaza gasped in shock.
"Carmine!" Amarys was just as shocked and horrified. She ran to her fallen friend's side.
Carmine's heart was racing. Her breath shuddered. Never in her life had she been pushed away like that. She was almost unresponsive, she could still feel that moment in her bones.
Silence filled the air. No one had ever witnessed anything like that. The remaining Elite Three didn't know what to think. Lacey covered her mouth, still shocked at what she just saw. Crispin's jaw dropped and so did his frying pan. Drayton just stood there, taking everything in. He was at a loss for words. Seconds after, there was chatter and whispers amongst the students.
"Didja see that?"
"He just pushed his sis to the ground."
"I never knew he had it in him."
"That took guts."
Amarys propped Carmine up and checked for injuries, luckily she didn't seem to have any. To be on the safe side, Amarys asked, "Are you okay?"
But before Carmine could answer…
An ominous shadow casted over the frightened teenage girl. Carmine looked up…
To find Kieran…
Angrily, furiously, ferociously, staring down at her with a
COLD…
DEAD…
GLARE.
"DON'T. EVER. BRING UP JULIANA."
That was his final warning.
He turned and walked away. Leaving his sister on the ground.
Carmine's eyes started to water. She felt choking sobs coming out of her mouth. Amarys helped her friend get up on her feet and hugged her with all the comfort she could muster, feeling sad for her. Carmine hugged her back, and let out all the tears from her eyes, sobbing loudly. "How could he do this to me?!"
"Shh… It's gonna be okay." Amarys whispered. "C'mon. Let's go." And suggested they leave the Terarium. Taking up on her offer, the pair sadly walked away.
Amarys took Carmine back to her dorm room. Carmine couldn't stop crying into tissues while sitting on her bed. Her eyes were practically turning red, and her sleeves were stained with tears. She was hurt, physically, mentally, and emotionally by her own brother. She was heartbroken and near inconsolable. Amarys, at the moment felt like the best thing to do right now is be there for her friend. The girl of steel sat on Carmine's bed and rubbed her back occasionally to soothe her. Amarys also couldn't believe one of Carmine's beloved family members treated her so horribly. While she didn't know Kieran as well as Carmine did, she knew he was a shy but sweet kid. However, that same sweet kid went away and was unsure whether he'd return or not.
After ten minutes of sobbing her heart out, Carmine sniffled and calmed down a bit. She wiped her eyes with a tissue and finally spoke up. "Hey Amarys?"
"Yes?" Amarys asked.
Carmine smiled, albeit a sad one. "Thanks for being here for me."
Amarys smiled back at her. "You're welcome."
A thought came into her head. "Would it be alright if I could be alone for a bit? Not that your company isn't appreciated, but I need to collect my thoughts." Carmine requested.
Amarys nodded. "Understood. I will be in the League Club if you need me."
"Thanks." Carmine expressed her gratitude.
"Feel better." Amarys wished her well.
"I will." Carmine waved bye as Amarys took her leave and closed the door behind her.
Once she was alone, Carmine wasted no time taking a couple of deep breaths before getting up from her bed and walking over to her desk. She grabbed the picture frame in front of her and went back to her bed. She looked into the picture with intense care.
In the front portion of the photograph were two young kids smiling. The kids were slightly younger versions of herself and Kieran wearing blue and white jinbei outfits respectively. It was also when Kieran wore his hair down. Carmine wore a Munkidori mask on the side of her face, while Kieran wore an Ogerpon mask. Carmine smiled for a moment looking at them, especially at her little brother. The photo Carmine was looking at was a photo from their time at the Festival of Masks.
"Oh Kiki…" Carmine sighed in sadness. "What happened to you? You used to be so sweet and gentle…" She was left wondering and worried about her beloved little brother and his future.
Her Rotom phone dinged. Carmine picked it up and saw a text from Amarys.
Amarys:
Hey Carmine.
Crispin's making us dinner in the League Club room. Would you like to join us?
Touched by the invitation, Carmine texted her back.
Carmine:
Sure! Meet you there!
Amarys:
Crispin tried to invite Kieran, but he said no.
Carmine was saddened by the last text, but she did think it was a thoughtful gesture. She got up from her bed and went out of her room to meet up with the Elite Four.
That's one half of Carmine's memories. The other half will continue in the next chapter.