Alice's Idol. Sugawara's Brother Appears?

Alice "So, what do you know?"

Shiori "Not much probably. I know that they're very illegal."

She says while crossing her arms.

Alice "Well not entirely. They just have to get sanctioned before they can perform proper hero work."

Shiori "Yeah but it's a butt load of paperwork and you have to meet all these requirements and so on. Bleh."

She sticks her tongue out as Alice smirks a bit.

Alice "I see you're well versed in the topic. Why would that be?"

Shiori is surprised, realizing she's not doing a very good job about keeping her cover.

Shiori "Oh, well, yeah, I've read a few things here or there."

Alice "Let me guess, you're more into the vigilantes, aren't you?"

She asks excitedly. Shiori sighs in relief a bit.

Shiori "Yeah, that's why."

Alice "I knew it! You're just like me in that way! Don't get me wrong, the sanctioned heroes are perfectly fine but the vigilantes are just soo much cooler."

Shiori "Oh yeah? Why is that?"

Alice "Because they're like outlaws who fight for their own form of justice! They fight because they know they're needed, not because they're wanted."

She says passionately. Shiori is a bit surprised by her passion and takes it to heart a bit. Alice then smiles enthusiastically.

Alice "But of course you know my favorite. Fullsky is just the best!"

She pumps her fist as Shiori smiles.

Alice "It's hard to tell from the rough footage I've seen online but the way she moves and how she's always there for people when they need her. I just can't help but love her."

Alice blushes a bit as Shiori watches her intently. Alice thinks back to her past as she continues.

Alice "I used to be a shut in. Always stuck in my room playing games and never talking to anyone until I saw her. I watched her protect people and help those without the power who couldn't help themselves."

Alice sits low in her chair in her dark room with bags under her eyes as she comes across a video of Fullsky stopping a robbery and saving people. Her eyes begin to light up as she watches.

Alice "She helped me come out of my shell and realize that I too want to help people. I may not have any powers but I will work hard to become a great hero like her, my idol, Fullsky."

She says passionately with a soft look on her face before getting a surprised look that quickly changes to concern.

Alice "Ah, Shiori? Are you okay?"

She asks as tears roll down Shiori's cheeks. She snaps out of her gaze and realizes that she is crying. She quickly begins wiping the tears away while looking away.

Shiori "Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I just… It makes me so happy you found someone who motivates you like that."

She says with a smile while sniffling a bit. Alice calms down and smiles while rubbing the back of her head.

Alice "Yeahhh sorry for getting so deep like that. I just.. Don't really have anyone to talk to about it."

She says with a slightly embarrassed smile. Shiori smiles back.

Shiori "Well feel free to talk to me about that any time."

Alice smiles softly while nodding.

Alice "Okay."

They look at each other for a moment before Alice chuckles a bit.

Alice "Can we talk about Watchdog for a sec then? I mean, he's probably a mega cutie under that mask but he's gotta do something about his fighting style. He's such a brute who just punches things. He's got pizzazz like Fullsky does, it's really bringing her look down."

Shiori "I know, right?"

They laugh together as Hikigaya crushes his drink cup in his hand in cartoonish anger.

Hikigaya "Bringing down her look, huh?.."

He grumbles angrily as Ryuji chuckles and Haru pats him on the back.

Haru "There, there. You'll be okay."

Eventually, Mormo hops on the counter and looks around at the snacks before coming to an empty bag of chips. He grumbles before turning to Suiyoubi.

Mormo "Oi, dark heart! We're kinda running low on snacks here. How is a little guy like me supposed to party with no chips?"

He asks Suiyoubi who looks at him and smiles before hugging him tightly.

Suiyoubi "Aw! You are just a little guy, aren't you?"

She asks happily as Mormo struggles in her grasp. 

Mormo "Oi! Airhead, didn't you hear me?! We're running out of the goods!"

Suiyoubi stops and looks at the snacks, also noticing they're running low.

Suiyoubi "You're right, we are pretty low."

Sugawara "Don't worry, we can go get more."

Chizuru "Yay! Night time adventure!"

She says excitedly. Kitaro makes a disapproving face as he plays his game.

Kitaro "Do we all have to go? I'm kinda in the middle of something."

Touma "How are you doing that with your hands?.."

He asks softly as Kitaro performs wild moves on the game he is playing. The others stare at him and sweat before Shiori speaks up.

Shiori "We'll split into two groups."

Shiori, Lucy, Chizuru, Hikigaya, Haru and Sugawara all head out of the large apartment building while giggling and talking when, before they can even get 10 meters from the front, Sugawara stops. He looks frightened as he sweats. The others stop and look at him, confused by his reaction.

Hikigaya "Sugawara?"

Chizuru "What's wrong?"

Haru looks at him with a concerned look before slowly turning around and noticing a young adult man standing a bit aways from them. He stares at the man for a moment before the young man speaks.

Young Man "Sugwara. What are you doing?"

He asks coldly as the others notice too. Sugawara stares with frightened eyes as the man stares only at Sugawara. Seeing his frightened look, the others begin to get defensive over Sugawara.

Chizuru "Hey, I'm not sure what's going on but-"

Young Man "I asked you a question, Sugawara. What are you doing?"

He cuts her off, completely ignoring her. They can feel the tension rising in the air as Sugawara lowers his head.

Sugawara "I'm… hanging out with friends…"

He says softly. The others are surprised that he actually responded to the man's question. The young man's eyes squint a bit behind his sharp glasses. 

Young Man "Friends? That's what you're busy with?"

Sugawara holds himself tighter before speaking.

Sugawara "Brother, please…"

He begs softly as the group is surprised. Haru's eyes widen as he is more familiar with Sugawara's family situation.

Haru "That's his big brother…"

He says softly to himself as Sugawara continues.

Sugawara "Ichiro, I promise I'm still keeping up with my schooling and work. It's not-"

Ichiro "No, you're not."

He says sharply as Sugawara jumps a bit. Ichiro stares at Sugawara intimidatingly before speaking more.

Ichiro "I've seen your grades and the trivial projects you've been working on. A waste of your time."

Sugawara begins to hold himself tighter as he feels the anxiety rising within himself. Lucy notices and decides to speak up.

Lucy "Hey, it may not be my business but if I could-"

Ichiro finally turns his piercing gaze to Lucy causing her to hesitate for a moment. He then stares down the rest of the group before returning his gaze to Sugawara.

Ichiro "These are really your so-called friends? You're an Ito. You are to be focusing on your studies and building your career to take your place on the Ito Board like our parents, like me. Not wasting your time with these nobodies."

They get offended looks on their faces, especially Lucy. 

Lucy "Excuse me?"

She begins to step toward Ichiro.

Lucy "Who do you think you are-"

Before she could finish, Haru lifts his hand in front of Lucy, stopping her. She looks at him surprised and sees Haru staring intently at Sugawara.

Ichiro "You are obviously incapable of managing your time by yourself. It's no wonder father sent me for you. You are not ready. Come on, we are returning home."

Sugawara looks up in shock and worry.

Sugawara 'Returning home?.. I have to… leave me friends..?'

He looks back at the group who all have worried looks on their faces, unsure what to do as Ichiro turns and begins to walk away, expecting Sugawara to follow. Sugawara sweats and begins to shake.

Sugawara 'People who care about me…'

He thinks back to when he bumped into Haru the second time they met then the night they carved their names into the post and Hikigaya's words. He thinks of the many adventures and moments they've had together from him being heartbroken on Valentine's to Haru kissing him in the tent on that camping trip.

Sugawara 'In one moment it'll all go away… just like that?..'

He begins to tear up as he turns to follow Ichiro.

Sugawara 'I'll never see them again…'

He lifts his foot to step but hesitates. He shakes before putting his foot back down and standing for a moment before lifting it once again but this time slamming it back down on the ground.

Sugawara "NO!"

He shouts. The group is surprised with smiles starting to come across their faces as Ichiro pauses. 

Ichiro "No?"

He asks as he turns to look at Sugawara. Sugawara shakes and hangs his head low and clenches his fists before looking at Ichiro intensely.

Sugawara "I said no! I'm not going back with you! I'm never going back to that awful place!"

He shouts as he thinks back to his childhood.

Sugawara "You and father and mother always looked down on me. Not once was I ever treated with any kind of care. I didn't have any friends, I didn't even have any family! I was raised to be a thoughtless drone, programmed to do as I was told but I refuse!"

He thinks about his parents always commanding him to study specific things and do specific things all to lead to the future they had already decided for him. He thinks about all the times he was locked away in his room because unless it was a part of his curriculum, he wasn't allowed to experience it.

Sugawara "No one in my entire life cared about me! It's as if I was born to be some tool for them to use whenever it was convenient for them and now that I've finally found real friends, found people who actually care about me, you want to take that all away?"

He shouts as tears fall down his face. Ichiro watches Sugawara not with a look of anger or frustration but with focused eyes as if trying to analyze every word he says. Sugawara's face looks emotional but determined.

Sugawara "I won't let that happen. I am not going back with you no matter what you say."