Worth

Part 1 - The titanic misunderstanding 

Ah, Chipon, oh great Chipon, the island of the rising bird, the only country in the world that borders Asia with Latin America, its long island with varied climates makes it a dream place for a holiday, you want desert views with colourful flowers, visit the north, if you want to know the bohemian life together with the city where you live in the future travel to the central area, if you want beautiful natural landscapes where the rain and snow never stop falling, beautifying the different temples of the Chiponians, then the south of the island is your destination, contact us at Modoruvita Travel Agencies. 

Someone changed the TV channel. 

On TV there is now a commercial offering a full meal for 1000 yen (local Chiponese currency), and another offer of fresh sushi at 5000 yen for 50 pieces of assorted sushi. 

They are changing the TV channel again. 

We regret to inform you that a girl has disappeared again, this time from a school in the Rio prefecture, adding to the 33 missing cases we have had this year. 

-Oh dear, it's time, Hikaru (16 years old) will be late for class. 

Someone was calling me. 

-What's all the fuss, what's going on? 

I scrubbed my face, then stretched and picked up my phone to check the time. 

-Damn, I fell asleep just today, when I finally got up the courage to propose to Akari. 

Hikaru! 

-Yes mum, I'm going to take a shower. 

I undress on the way as I run full speed to the bathroom, open the door and find my older sister Emi (19) naked occupying the toilet. 

-Emi... 

She stares at me for a second, at some point her face turns red, she covers her breasts with her hands. 

-Hikaru, you're a pervert! 

-I...I...I'm...sorry, but it's urgent. 

Without waiting for her to finish, I got into the shower embarrassed, closed the curtain and turned on the hot water. 

I felt hard between my leg. 

-Mmm... 

I slowly lowered my head a little to look at myself, praying to the gods that it wasn't what I thought it was. 

-Don't tell me... My titan... Bloody traitor!!! 

-My apology is not what you think, please don't believe.... 

-Shut up, not another word, take this you pervert! 

Emi flushed the toilet, making ultra hot water come out of the shower that would burn me all over. 

-Ahhh!!! I'm burning like shrimp in a frying pan, sister this was not necessary. 

-You got what you deserved, coming to spy on your sister and having her come to you.... 

I heard a door slam, then a bang, my sister was leaning against the door I had closed. 

Hikaru got a rise out of seeing me naked, he really has these feelings for me... Just thinking about it makes my face turn red, no, no, he's not only at that age but he also wants to...  

I finish showering quickly, already dressed in my high school uniform, I put on my scarf and my favourite black jacket. 

I think it's time to introduce myself, my name is Hikaru Nishimura, I live in the city of Arekkaido Point, one of the southernmost cities of Chipon, here there is snow almost all year round, if there is no snow, it's raining, and the summer season is the only time we enjoy good temperatures, even so, it's a big city that has one of the best public schools with prestige, the sakura flake academy. 

I have totally wild black hair, no matter how much I comb it, it's always messy, I'm quite short, I'm only 1.65 cm tall, and my eyes match the colour of my hair, black. 

Today is an important day, I'm getting the courage to propose to my Goddess. 

Akari (16) is walking quietly through the streets, she is distracted by a cat that jumped straight into a mound of snow causing it to get buried, she laughs sweetly as she helps the kitten. 

-You look like a friend of mine who always has wavy hair. He sneezes. 

-Is someone talking about me? 

I quickly get dressed, still unable to forget my encounter with my sister in the bathroom. 

I'm sure she's going to kill me at some point, I'd better fix it on the way back. 

-Hurry up Hikaru, you are already late, and I don't want to be called back for your tardiness. 

As you can see she is my stepmother her name is Camila Nishimura (45) (Surname before she married Fernandez), she is strict, but she has been a good mother, since our biological mother left my father, my sister and me when I was 9 years old for a much younger man. 

I also have 2 older half-brothers Sun who is 27 and works in the city of Tokyraiso in the central region as a butler for an adinera family and Arisa she is 21, she works as a model for an agency, she actually travels a lot around the country so she is hardly ever home. 

I grabbed my backpack, grabbed a slice of bread, and was about to leave, when Emi spoke to me. 

-Where are you going so fast Hikaru, I'll walk with you. 

This is bad, she has a malicious face, she must still be angry about the toilet. 

We left the house while we walked together to each other's destination, we were walking for a while without saying anything to each other, the cold and the winter landscape didn't make the trip more pleasant, it was uncomfortable, in fact, we were almost at the fork where we separated. 

-Emi... 

-Listen Hikaru, I know it was an accident, but it took me by surprise, I didn't have to act like that, I apologise for the toilet chain. 

I was surprised, I didn't think she was going to apologise to me when I was the one to blame, I looked at her face and noticed that she was blushing. 

-I looked at her face and noticed that she was blushing. 

-Yes, Emi you don't have to apologize, I'm the one to blame, I shouldn't have come in without knocking, but I was late and you know I'm going today? 

-All right, let's just leave it as an accident, but control your morning erections, look at you coming to get excited with your sister. 

-Sister, don't be like that.... 

She waved me to shut up, then held out her hand to me. 

-Let it all be in the past, Hikaru. 

-Thank you Emi. 

I shook her hand, but as soon as I got closer she grabbed my hand, pulled me towards her, grabbed my neck with her arm and pulled my hair tightly. 

-Brother pervert, don't think things were going to be that simple. 

-Sister, please stop, I've already apologized, what more do you want? 

-Nothing I just wanted to bother you. 

Emi is quite attractive, she is as they would say as if she had an angel's face, with a nice curvy body where her front and hips stand out, basically she got her mom's genes, blonde with black eyes, but she has a problem, her unfeminine attitude, in fact, is the reason why her boyfriends always leave her, in my opinion her exes are idiots who don't know what they are missing. 

-Changing the subject, Hikaru, are you ready to propose to Akari? 

-Yes, I think so, no, I am. 

I told him with my chest out. 

-That's my little brother, remember to be yourself, even if I make you nervous say what you want honestly, from the bottom of your heart, and if she's dumb enough to reject you, don't worry, you proved you have courage, plus your sexy sister will be there to cheer you up, we've seen it work. 

-Don't play with that, it still embarrasses me, but thanks you're the best Emi, I value your advice. 

She blushed a little, she gave me back a friendly smile. 

-I think it's perfect then, come on, give me your fist, I have to go to work now. 

I gave her my fist and we said goodbye. 

-Have a good day sister. 

We parted, but when we were still a bit close, I said, "Don't forget, you'll always have me. 

-Don't forget, you will always have your sister when you need help. 

Emi honestly has been a great help in my life, when mum left us dad had a hard time, then the first two years he was a bit absent, then I started to stay alone in a dark place, but it was Emi who managed to get me out of the hole I was in, she was mother and sister at the same time. 

-Emi, thank you for always being there for me, I love you so much sister! 

Emi didn't wait for my words, a couple of tears came to her eyes, she made a goodbye gesture with her hand. 

I love you too, you pervert, go and bring my daughter-in-law home. 

Part 2 - Introductions  

Sakura Copo School, one of the best public schools in the whole southern part of Cyprus, has even managed to rival the best public schools in the whole country, how they achieve their success, with an expert teaching staff, with a diverse curriculum, to take advantage of the best qualities of the students, and they are in luck, because the Sakura Copo Academy has space for 4 new students who have not yet enrolled, it is today parents... 

-But who has the car radio so loud, hey, teacher Matsuo (34)? 

The tall and strong teacher gets out of the car, almost all the girls of the school are in love with this teacher, he thinks he is a handsome guy, but he is a good person at heart. 

-You're late, Hikaru, you're late, you should hurry up. 

-You're telling me, professor, you should have already arrived before me. 

-That's true, it's just that I stayed up late drinking like my girlfriend. 

-You shouldn't say that to me, do you want to show off? 

-No, not at all... maybe a little, Hikaru, life is short, make the most of it, go and play with a little girl, I assure you that you won't regret it. 

-I doubt that's the advice you should be giving your students, pervert teacher. 

-You're right, it's just that it's easy to talk to you, but how is your sister Emi, she's been missed around here since she graduated. 

-Don't ever go near her in your life, you professional cougar. 

-Hey, don't look so disgusted, let's do this. 

The professor takes out a cigarette and starts smoking. 

-With this now you'll get there before me, so you won't be late for class. 

-What? I'd rather you didn't use me as an excuse to avoid your responsibilities. 

I got out of there, I entered the school calmly, after all, teacher Matsuo is helping me, I would really like him better if he didn't always ask about Emi. I put my things in my locker and went to the classroom. 

When I was about to get to my classroom a group of boys were playing with a ball, one of the boys collided with me, but luckily neither of us fell down. 

-Sorry .... Tsk... be more careful you idiot. 

I was going to answer him, but it wasn't worth it, the asshole you see there is the captain of the basketball team, my best friend Bernardo Kirin (17) or that's what I thought, a year ago he fell in love with a classmate called Yui Akimoto, to Kirin's surprise she proposed to him, but unfortunately I found out that he was unfaithful. 

One day I left my science book behind so I went back to look for it, when I got to my classroom Yui Akimorto was very close kissing on the teacher's table with a classmate from another classroom, even Yui had her shirt open revealing her bra, it was possible that they had even gone further, but I didn't stay to find out, I told Kirin about it and the wretch hit me in the face, he insulted me and I still remember what he said to me. 

-You're jealous, you must be in love with Yui, that's why you can't stand her being with me, what a good friend you turned out to be, but who could like a scrawny dwarf like you, from now on I don't want to see you again. 

After that he hit me again and we never spoke to each other again, at least I think it was for the best, I knew what kind of person he was. 

-You came to insult Hikaru when you're the one to blame. 

-It had to be the busty weirdo. 

The girl who's defending me is Asuna Kimigawa (16), the one considered the weirdo of the room, she's the president of the paranormal club, she's cute in her own way, she dyed her hair blue to look like her favourite manga character, she's a good friend, although I know she likes me, unfortunately for her I fell in love with Akari, and she knows it, in fact, if it wasn't for her paranormal addiction I'm sure she would have a line of suitors, but the only topic she talks about is ghosts. 

-That comment was out of line Kirin, mess with me all you want, but I'm not going to let you treat Asuna like that. 

Kirin grabbed me by the collar and pushed me into the wall. 

-I'd like to know how you're going to pull it off Bakaru (pun meaning Fool). 

If I hit him I'll get in trouble.  

-Ber stop bothering Hikaru, these attitudes of yours are the same because I threw you away as a boyfriend. 

-Yui, it's not what you think... let me explain. 

Kirin jumped at me. 

-Explain what, you disgust me. 

Talking about the demon that is peeping through the door, Yui Akimoto (16) the madonna of my salon, a woman who broke the canons of beauty, although she looks sweet with her extremely cared white skin, inside she is a bitch, she coaxes any man to use them for her whims and when she gets tired of them she throws them away, besides her face is perfect adorned by that only mole that she has on her left cheek makes her look beautiful and tender, apparently now she dyed her hair violet. 

Even though he's helping me now, I still think there's a trap in all this, but I'm not going to be ungrateful. 

-Thank you Akimoto for your help and thank you Asuna for defending me. 

-Don't thank me, I know you'd do the same for me Hikaru. 

Yui started to strut, she stuck to me, leaving me, because of her height, face to face with her bulging cleavage, obviously I ended up blushing. 

-How unfair Hikaru, why don't you call me by my name like Asuna. 

-Akimoto, excuse me, you're too close, your sen.... 

-A, you want to meet them, I can introduce them to you if you want. 

-No thanks Akimoto. 

I quickly slipped away and entered the living room. 

Even being bold didn't work, Hikaru you'll fall into my nets, and I'm going to make you pay for getting in my way. 

Part 3 - A big sister 

Quickly finding my seat, I dropped down relieved, since when did Akimoto get interested in me, this could be bad usually when he approaches a man like this it's because he wants something from him. 

Also, because I think I'm forgetting something important.  

-Good morning Hikaru. 

-Akari!!! -Good morning. 

This "normal" looking girl next to me is Akari Gōsutohāto (16), this girl with red hair, square glasses and freckles on the side of her nose is the one who stole my heart. 

-I guess you fell asleep as usual. 

-Yeah, you know me well, not even my mobile phone alarm woke me up, if it wasn't for mum I'd still be in bed. 

She started laughing, her smile always makes me stare at her with pleasure. 

-Hikaru, I have something on my face. 

-Nothing, I was just remembering something. 

I have to be more careful every time she smiles it's as if my brain turns off, unfortunately she smiles very little and Akimoto is to blame for that. 

Akari when she came to school 3 years ago was the sensation of our class, she looked much more fantastic than she does now, but Akimoto as she stopped being the centre of everyone's attention, he started to tease her all the time, even creating false rumours of her going from man to man, but what a joke, after that there was a bet between them that I'm not really aware of, but the result of the bet is Akari's current look. 

-I guessed it, I know you would never gawk at my face, I know I'm ugly. 

Those words kind of hurt me, not even put me in a bad mood. 

-Akari, don't ever say that again, to me... you're... 

-Hikaru you don't need to lie to make me happy, let it go, it's enough for me that we're friends. 

I look away from Hikaru's gaze, it hurts me that he thinks that way about her, although for the first time the word friend made me sad, I guess if that's the way he sees me it's not worth it for me to declare myself. 

I felt for a moment that the whole place lost its colour, I stopped looking at her, I took my things out of my backpack, and I opened the book of the language subject, to revise a little. 

-What is this? 

In the middle of the book was a card with my sister's handwriting on it. 

Remember to be brave, be true to your feelings, in your backpack I left an extra bento in case things go well with your sexy sister Emi. 

The card also had a picture of Emi's face with cat ears and whiskers. 

All the colour came rushing back.   

Emi thanks for giving me courage, come on don't leave things like that, behave like a man, just say it and that's it.    

Because of the energy rush, I got up from my seat, and what came out of my mouth I shouted. 

-Akari, I really think you're beautiful, so stop saying such hurtful things to me!!!! 

Akari's pretty face turned as red as her hair. 

-What are you saying, Hikaru.... 

The whole class started talking. 

Some said things like I was confessing, others were laughing. 

Asuna: It's not fair 

Yui Akimoto: What I thought I already took care of that brat? 

Another thing that happened but I didn't realise was that someone had actually been happy about what I said, apart from Akari. 

-Yui Akimoto: We don't need all this fuss, so sit down. 

Professor Matsuo was entering the classroom bringing order, but as he was walking with his briefcase on his back with his other hand he was giving me a thumbs up as a sign of approval. 

-Hikaru, you sit down too. 

I sat down all embarrassed for having shouted in front of the class something so embarrassing, I returned the teacher's signal with my thumb. 

-Hi...karu. 

Akari called out to me from the seat next to me, when I turned to see her, it was the most beautiful image I've ever seen of her, her face was still embarrassed, she had a little bit of tears in her eyes, but a smile that I haven't seen since I came to this school. 

-Thank you. 

I didn't say anything, I just smiled back. 

Well children there will be your books on page 242. 

-Teacher, what happened to the list? 

Since I'm late, I'll pass the list at the end of the class, now as I said page 242, today we'll study the theory of romanticism. 

I spoke softly to Akari 

-Akari, I have something else to tell you. 

-I'm listening. 

-You look like if we have lunch on the rooftop today. 

-On the rooftop, but it's so cold. 

-Can we at least go for a while, I want to tell you... something important. 

How hard it was for me to say that last one, if it was so hard for me, how can I tell her that I love her.  

Akari fixed her hair a little. 

-Yes... You're a little weird today. 

-Weird how? 

-I don't know, but I think I like it. 

-I'm glad then. 

-You know, I ran into something on my way to class today, wanna guess what it is? 

What a weird question, I hope it's not some ex-boyfriend I have with that I would lose what little confidence I have now, no wait Akari likes dogs.  

-Mmm... maybe, I think I have a dog. 

-Wrong, but you were close. 

-So what did you find? 

The teacher was writing something on the blackboard, but we weren't paying attention. 

Look at you flirting in my class Hikaru, normally I'd stop you, but there's love.... 

-A kitten with a wild hair like you. 

Akari gently ruffled my hair. 

The morning classes were already over, I asked Akari to go ahead of me, I needed to go to the bathroom to freshen up a bit, I'm so nervous about what I'm going to do that I'm sweating like there's no tomorrow, I took off a layer of clothes so I wouldn't sweat so much, I wiped off the sweat, washed my face and looked at myself in the mirror. 

My insecurities started to creep in, I'm ugly, she won't want someone like me, I'm an idiot, I'm.... 

-Come on, you can do it, don't freeze, don't listen to your insecurities, your sister trusts you, I don't trust me. 

I slapped my face twice. 

Here we go 

When I turned around I bumped into Kirin, she was looking at me with the same hateful face as always. 

-I don't have time to deal with you Kirin. 

-Nishimura. 

-What do you want? 

-Have... I wish you luck. 

I didn't know how to answer him, in fact, it wasn't necessary, as soon as he spoke to me he turned around and went into a bathroom. 

-And what's wrong with him, it doesn't matter I guess. 

I came out of the bathrooms, when I went to the stairs that lead to the rooftop, I met Asuna, who was apparently waiting for me. 

-Hikaru, do you want to join the paranormal club? 

-Asuna for the umpteenth time, no, I'm not joining your club. 

Asuna puffed out her cheeks, sometimes she tends to act more immature than usual. 

-Don't be mean, we need help, Baki retired from the club and if we don't get someone else we won't have the minimum amount to keep the room going, besides think about it, we could be talking about paranormal events every day.   

As much as I love the subject of the paranormal, I wouldn't want to talk about them every day, but how do I get him to understand this.  

-Wait, why did Baki retire, you were childhood friends if I remember correctly. 

When I looked at Asuna's face there was sadness, no doubt something happened between the two of them. 

-Baki... he confused things a bit that's all, but in the end he told us that he didn't want to follow a bunch of freaks obsessed with ghosts. 

Don't tell me that Baki proposed to him, if so I can understand his anger, but telling that to his best friend is even cruel, I guess Baki must hate me too, in the end I'm the one to blame for his rejection, I'll try to fix things later between them. 

-I'm sure it must be a misunderstanding, you'll see how he'll get back to her. 

-I really hope so Hikaru.... but if we don't have one more member by Friday, they will close the club, you don't want to see me sad do you Hikaru? 

-That's cheating Asuana, let's do this, if you don't get anyone by Friday I'll join the club, just temporarily until you have one more member. 

Asuna rushes over to give me a hug, she's sincerely happy, but for me it's just getting late. 

She squeezes tighter to me, putting me in an awkward situation as she is taller than me. 

-Asuna... how do I tell you... your chest is crushing my head... 

When I was about to finish speaking I felt a drop fall on my forehead. 

-Calm down, he'll come back.   

Or so I hope if that's what I really think, it could be the end of their friendship. 

I wiped Asuna's tears.  

-Asuna, I have to leave you for now, I have to.... 

-Don't you want to have lunch together? 

I took Asuna from the men. 

-I have something important to do now, but I promise we'll have lunch together another day. 

-Really? -Really? 

-Yes, really. 

-Okay, then I'll go to lunch at the club, I'll see you in class. 

Baki was the only one who used to join her for lunch, and the ones from the club don't usually have lunch there, I guess she'll be alone, sorry Asuna, but I can't be with you today, I promise I'll make up for it.