Chapter 22: Broken

"Wow! A doggie!", Reika exclaimed.

Reika then runs towards it and starts petting it. The doggo licks Reika in turn, snuggling as well.

"Woah, bro! Where did you get that dog?", Yoel asked.

"On the street.", Roy answered.

Basho then runs towards Reika, grabs her, and takes her away from the dog, fearing the germs and bacteria that the dog brings. Especially if it has rabies.

"Rei, don't touch it. We don't know where it's been through. They might have rabies.", Basho said.

Reika gasps and then looks at her hands with a terrifying glare on both of them. As if Reika is seeing blood on her hands.

"Let's go, Rei. We'll need to clean you up.", Odaka said as he grabs her little arm then went to the kitchen sink.

"What were you thinking bringing in a street dog, Roy?", Basho asked angrily.

"Don't worry, I already set up an appointment with a local vet.", Roy answered differently.

"That's not the answer I was looking for?!", Basho replied.

"Yeah, why do you want to have a pet all of a sudden? This is so unlike you.", Yoel asked as well.

"I may not own a dog before, but I know it's going to be hard to take care of one. Are you even prepared to do just that?", Victor questions Roy.

"Why does it have to be a dog? Can it be something else? Like a bird? Or a hamster? Plus, I don't think we have the necessary stuff to take care of a dog. You shouldn't just bring a dog willy-nilly at home.", Gabriel wished to have another pet.

"Maybe we could give it away to someone who's much more experience and has the necessary items to take of a dog. We aren't exactly experienced enough to take care of one. We're basically taking care of animal life here, not a toy.", Itsumi suggested.

"Enough!!", Roy shouted.

This causes everyone to quiet down, making everyone uncomfortable. Scared even. They haven't seen their oldest brother like this before, furious and stressed.

"We're keeping them. And that's final.", Roy declared.

"Roy, I don't thi-"

Basho is interrupted by Roy's fiery aura. Roy suddenly burst into flames, making him literally on fire. Roy gives them all a death-threatening glare, sick and tired of the day he has gone through. The dog gets scared of Roy that it starts slowly walking away from him, shivering even. Roy notices this and instantly regrets what he's doing. Roy calms down a bit and the fiery aura disappears. Roy looks at all of his brothers' terrified faces...and also sees Reika's scared expression, who is back from cleaning her hands.

Realizing what he has done, Roy dashes towards his room, closing and locking his door as well. Roy then takes off his uniforms hastily and sits on his bed. Roy is breathing heavily, tears start to run down his face. Roy wipes off his tears immediately.

"No! Stop!", Roy softly screamed.

Roy forcefully stops himself from crying, remembering the actions he has done throughout this day.

"I shouldn't cry. I don't deserve to...", Roy muttered to himself.

Roy blames himself. Roy thinks that he doesn't deserve any kindness for what he has done. Bullying Yua, insulting and pushing himself away from his friends, and now this, giving his family a death-threatening glare as if they're his enemies.

"I don't deserve it...", Roy whispered to himself.

Roy then lays down on his bed, still excessively breathing but not trying to cry. Feeling guilty because he let his anger loose. Roy is ashamed of himself and feels like he deserves to suffer like this.

A couple of minutes passed by...

Roy is still there in his room, laying on his bed. Silent and not moving. Only reflecting on what happened today. Suddenly, Roy senses someone approaching his door. Roy looks over it to see a green vine emerges in the lock of the door. Then.

CLICK!

It unlocks. Then the door slowly opens. On the other side of the door is...

"Onii-chan? It's Reika. May I come in?", Reika asked politely.

"Sure, Rei...", Roy agreed.

Roy lets her little sister in, breathing in and out once more to puff up his chest and look strong in front of Reika. Reika heads inside and closes the door gently.

Reika then starts walking towards her big brother. After that, Reika sits on his bed, cuddling her big brother and trying to comfort Roy.

"They're worried about you. Me too. I can see that you're acting weird lately, onii-chan.", Reika pointed out.

"It's just that I'm new to the city, Rei.", Roy made up an excuse.

Reika is about to say something else but decides to stay quiet. Reika then sees Roy's teary eyes. Noticing that Reika is looking at him, Roy looks away and tries to wipe his tears while not making it obvious that he's crying.

"Are you crying?", Reika asked.

"...No...", Roy answered.

Roy continues to look away, trying not to look pathetic to his little sister. Reika gets even worried. Reika had never seen Roy like this before, even finding it weird that Roy is hiding his sadness away from her. Reika doesn't understand why Roy does this and tries to comfort him. Reika then remembers the first time she cried.

"Uncle told me before, that it's ok to cry and... I believe so too.", Reika said.

"He told you that, Rei?..", Roy asked.

"Yes, and I realized...the moment after I cried I felt a little better. Especially when someone is hugging you.", Reika answered.

Reika hugs Roy, gently hugging her onii-chan. Even if her arms are small, Roy can still feel the warmth in them. Roy's eyes start to tear up but he tries to forcefully stop himself from crying, holding his tears back like a strong damn. However…

"It's ok, onii-chan. I'll still love you even if you're crying.", Reika comforted Roy.

Hearing those words from someone else means so much to Roy. Reika doesn't understand and even comprehend how valuable her words are to her onii-chan. Knowing this, the damn soon breaks and the water flows through.

Roy starts bawling his eyes out and breathing randomly. Tears flow out his eyes and Roy starts letting his pain out. Seeing this, Reika hugs him even tighter. Roy grabs Reika and puts her on his chest, wrapping his arms firmly around her as well. Roy's letting out a quiet shout, not wanting to let his brothers hear it. Roy needs this. Knowing that someone really does care for him by showing that they really care for him even in times when Roy's weak like this one.

A few minutes later...

Roy finally stopped crying and not because he's forcing himself to. The real reason for that is Roy's actually feels a lot better now. Roy removes Reika from him and puts her on the side of his bed. Roy sits up properly and then pats Reika on her head.

"Thanks, Rei. I really needed that...", Roy thanked her.

Reika smiles and hugs Roy once again. Roy hugs back and they soon separate. After that, Roy stands up and takes a deep breath. Roy looks at his door and walks towards it. Placing his hands on the doorknob and twisting it open. Roy heads outside to apologize to his brothers for what he's done earlier.

Roy doesn't see them downstairs. Fortunately, Roy hears something in Odaka's room. Roy senses that all of his brothers are there. Roy heads towards it and opens the door. to see all of them crowding in the bathroom. Reika follows Roy and sees that all of her other older brothers are in Odaka's bathroom. Itsumi and Gabriel, who are standing around, notice him.

"Oh! Heya, Roy!", Gab said.

"It seems like you're calm down now.", Itsumi pointed.

Roy nods at them and approaches the bathroom to see Odaka, Basho, Victor, and Yoel washing the stray dog. All of them look at Roy, who is shocked to see all of this.

"Yeah... We all decided to...keep him... They're a boy by the way.", Yoel broke the silence.

Roy looks away for a moment. Remembering the situation earlier. Roy sighs and looks at all of them again.

"I'm sorry...for threatening all of you earlier...", Roy apologizes.

Itsumi wraps his arm around Roy's back, smiling that Roy apologizing to them.

"Glad to have mutual feelings.", Itsumi replied.

Roy is confused by this.

"What he meant was, that we also got worried about you. I mean, this is the first time seeing our cool and calm brother snap. Can you blame us?", Victor explained.

"I would too, I guess...", Roy said in response.

"Yeah! You were very scary, onii-chan.", Reika said behind him.

Reika then hugs Roy's left leg. Roy pats her in response. They all continue washing the dog.

"Since we're keeping him, what should we name him?", Yoel asked.

Everybody stops then starts thinking.

"How about...Toby?", Itsumi suggested.

"Nah! That sounds cliche...", but was immediately rejected by Gabriel.

"Hmmm...", Odaka thinks.

"Something in your mind, Odaka?", Roy asked.

"Well, I was thinking that we should name him...Samuel.", Odaka answered.

"Samuel sounds neat!", Reika exclaimed.

Roy pats her again, loving her energetic response.

"Samuel got my vote as well.", Roy said.

"If there are any objections say aye.", Victor responded.

"..."

"Motion carried. Your name is now Samuel, doggo!", Yoel said as he pets him.

Samuel barks with happiness. Everyone can see that he's happy.

"So, who's the owner of Samuel?", Victor asked again.

"All of us. We own him as a whole. Though I'll probably be the one who's going to take care of him the most since I brought him here.", Roy replied.

"Oh no, you don't. We'll be helping as well. All of us. I don't want you to start with that "I work best alone" schtick. I hate that part of you, Roy.", Basho said.

"Thanks?...", Roy confusingly thanked Basho.

"You're welcome! You should know that you're aren't alone in this house. You can ask us for help, you know?", Basho replied.

"I know...", Roy said in response.

"Speaking of which...I'm sorry.", Basho apologized randomly.

Roy is caught off guard by this but then realizes what Basho is talking about. Roy doesn't say anything to let Basho continue.

"I... I'm sorry that I didn't trust you, Roy. I thought you were doing ninja stuff behind our backs but...I guess I was wrong...", Basho added.

Reika reacts to what Basho said. Both Roy and Reika look at each other for a moment. Roy looks back at Basho.

"It's ok, Basho. I already forgave you.", Roy accepted his apology.

"But if he poops, you're cleaning it.", Roy added.

"Hahaha... Sure, I'll do the dirty work. But if he pees, you'll be needing some detergents.", Basho talks back.

Everybody laughs at this. Roy chuckles as well and then he remembers that he has to do a mission tonight. This means Roy has to see...her… Varari Kage. Roy then starts thinking of many ways to apologize to her but at the moment... He's blank.