You Were Always My Knight

" I can't wait to marry my prince when I grow up and happily." The five-year-old girl says excitedly with the children's book in her hand. Her presence brought so much love and warmth.

" Ew, Kotori." A boy twice her age says in disgust." Boys have cooties." He snatched the book out of her hand and ran.

" Hey, Hideaki! Give me back my Cinderella." She stood up and chased him down the hall. Her legs were short and could not keep up with her big brother's pace. In defeat, she stood in one place and balled her eyes out.

" I am the only knight you will ever need. Prince is bad! I will always be there to protect you."

Buzz Buzz Buzz Buzz

Such a pleasant memory.

. . .

The sun blinded her eyes through the curtains. She climbed out of tiredly, brushing her hair up in a high ponytail then popped the collar on her white blouse. It's the standard uniform and went well with the pleated skirt. She sat down on the bed as she slid both of her feet in her tights

" Where did I put my backpack?" She asked herself and search the kitchen, following her traces from last night. She frowned at the sight of man's underwear on her belongings. She used tongs to remove them and threw them in the trash.

. . .

The boarding school was a few blocks away from her house. It took roughly twenty minutes to arrive at the location. Kotori was one of the first students in class. She wanted to speak with her homeroom teacher.

" You are a very outstanding student and exceed in every topic. Are you sure about dropping out of the extracurricular activities? I heard that you landed first place in all public events and others nominated you as the captain."

" Yes, I thought about it for a while. Please don't make me regret my decision and just accept my request without any suspicion." She answered.

The homeroom teacher lowered his head," Is it serious? If it's money, I can help out."

As attempting the offer was, Kotori was not a beggar. It would make her look shameless and that was enough to decline." It has nothing to do with money, I just don't want to continue with the activities. It's stressful. So please obliges to my wishes."

" I will allow it once you return these paper with your parents signature by next week."

Ding''

Upon hearing the bell ring students entered the classroom.

Kotori made walked to her seat in the backrow.

" Hey, Kotori." A female student whispered with the notes of yesterday lecture. She smiles in hopes to get closer to Kotor's brother.

" Oh, hi Ayaka."

Ayaka is her only friend. Once, Kotori was lively and bubbly her life was not always so terrible. Everyone were drawn to her like a magnet. She amazed people with her great talents from exceeding in all of her classes to sports.

She looked as her friends surrounded her with questions.

" If I have to choose my favorite sport will be softball because of my brother."

Hideaki taught her how to play softball and those hard nights. He would stay up with her all night and make her study hard. Perhaps, he was the reason to keep her going forward.

And they were inseparable…

. . .

" Ayaka, why do you even bother with her? Everyone knows that you only speaking to her because you like Kotori's brother." A student questioned.

" So what?'

Kotori could care less about what other people thought about her. A image of her brother's smiling face emerged from her thoughts, he was her source of happiness and pain.

" I was wondering if I could meet Hideaki today." Ayaka cleared her throat and spoke up. Immediately becoming flustered

" I'm sorry but not today. He is busy with college entrance exams." She was running out of lies. It put her in a awkward position." Ayaka, I think we should stop being friends. I would be best."

" What are you talking about Kotori?"

" I can't sit here and chat. I have to go"

. . .

Suzukisawi Hospital..

Patient Haru Hideaki Room Number 367

" It doesn't matter how many times I come here, it never get easier. If anything it get worse just knowing what I'll expect."

She stood in the room trembling at the sight of him as her eyes filled with tears.

"There haven't been any brain activity and unfortunately, he is struggling to breath on his own."

She could not keep it together anymore after hearing the words from the nurse's mouth. It tore her completely apart

Kotori touched his hand," God please wake up my brother, I will do anything." She lowered her head then closed her eyes." What am I thinking? This is all my fault. Maybe this is God's punishment. I should be accountable too! Why couldn't you just had took my life instead?"

It's only right to give up everything I love doing.

" Ayaka is sweet and I know you would have fell in love with her if you had the chance. I hate myself so much! I wish we never went to the amusement park and that I wasn't born as your sister then this wouldn't had happened to you."

. . .

THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT

It was the happiest day in the world.

" You two be sure to come home before it get dark."

" We will!"

Hideaki opened his wallet and for once, he was able to buy his sweet little sister something nice. There were so many concession stands and the lines were long but seeing Kotori's face was worth it.

"Look!" Kotori pointed at the Arcade and rushed towards the claw machine. She put a coin in and missed the plus toy that her sights were on.

" It's a game of strategy- Let me try."

Within minutes, her managed to pick up the toy animal.

" You did it!" She jumped up and squealed.

After a while, the two of them headed back home. Hideaki turned his head and notice that she stop in her tracks.

" Are you okay?"

" I think I lost the prize you won for me, I'm sorry.

" I will look for you. Just hurry home, I will meet you there in a few, Kotori."

The two siblings walked in the opposite direction.

"Mhm. But mother would scold me if I came home by myself."

She sprinted in the directions of her brother and searched for him everywhere. Finally, she found him across the street and she sigh in relief.

" I found it, Kotori!" He raised his hand and shouted.

She smile genuinely.

He begin to walk across the street and suddenly a black vehicle swerved.

SCREECH!

There were a puddle of blood in the street. Hideaki laid there slowly lost consciousness.

" NO, NO NO!" She screamed in anguished." HIDEAKI OPEN YOUR EYES!"