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Imagine living a life where everybody hates you.

Ryota is a teenage boy, who had a life where everybody hated him. Parents, Siblings, Relatives. Everybody.

He started attending Syouka High School last year, and he has yet to find any friends.

His family was rich because of their clothing business which spread to all parts of the world. Ryota's mother passed away at his birth and his father married another woman.

His stepmother disliked him, because he resembled his late mother.

"Make sure to take care of your sister on your way to school, Ryota. Not like he needs care from a person as useless as you", said Ryota's stepmom.

He nodded at that and headed out.

His stepmother has always been like this so this attitude wasn't much surprise to him.

Ryota's step-sister, Kinojo, had already gone ahead of him, making him run up to her.

She didn't treat him like this at the start.

At first, it was nice, he helped his step-sister in every way possible. From bullies or for education purposes. But as time passed, she started seeing him less as a brother.

She talked to him less and less. She didn't want to have a conversation with her brother, giving short answers like 'okay, 'yes.

He had confronted her about it but she had replied,

" I feel uncomfortable around you. You don't feel like a brother to me"

It made Ryota's heartbreak, but he respected her wishes.

Ryota ran to his step-sister, who had gone far ahead of him.

"Why are you so slow? And your supposed to protect me"

Her rude attitude was something Ryota got after she confronted her about her behaviour.

"S-sorry"

Nevertheless, he always tries to be the perfect brother.

They came close to the school and Kinojo stopped walking.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be seen with you near the school"

"Y-yeah right. I am sorry"

She went ahead of him, leaving him behind staring at the ground.

' I am sorry for being a good-for-nothing brother. But give me some more time, I'll try to make it up for you.'

He had collected enough pocket money for them to buy a ticket to her favourite movie, Avengers Infinity War.

It was front row tickets and he had to spend almost all his pocket money to buy it.

Ryota thought that she would be extremely pleased.

' You're the best brother I ever had'

He wanted to hear those words from her mouth for the first time.

He came to her class and sat down quietly near the window.

Seijou, the most popular guy in the whole school, was crowded with girls as usual. His step-sister was there as well. She had been dating him for a year now.

"Seijou, your hair is so nice"

"Your so handsome"

He was showered with compliments and was the most treasured boy at school. Perfect grades and is an athlete. Who wouldn't want to be him?

====================================

Lunch came and as usual, Ryota went to the cafeteria. His stepmother refuses to make him a meal. The cafeteria food was not good but it was fulfilling for him.

He opened his backpack and saw a pink lunchbox in there.

"Oh right my sister"

Before he left the house, he had seen her lunch on the table.

He saw her looking at her backpack and finding out that her lunchbox wasn't there. He approached her table, which was the most crowded one because of Seijou.

"Hey. I got your lunchbox", he said as he approached them.

She snatched it from his hands.

"Go away please"

He left the place at once.

"Thank you for me", he whispered to himself.

He sat down alone in the corner. He never got any invitations from people to eat with them.

He ate his food silently while looking at his sister's table. Seeing her face with a smile made him happy. If this is what it takes for her to be happy, he would gladly oblige.

=======================

He came home and removed his shoes.

"Where is your sister? Didn't I tell you to make sure she gets home", his stepmother yelled at her.

He got on his knees and bowed at her.

He knew the consequences of not showing respect. His stepmother would report him to his father or even hit him.

He had scars to prove it.

"I am sorry ma'am. I'll go look for her at once"

He ran outside and went on a search for her. He ran to the park, the school but he couldn't find her. He couldn't forgive himself if she had been lost.

He searched for her in every possible place but she wasn't there.

Finally, holding back tears, he came home.

'How useless of a brother am I? Not being there when he needs help', he thought.

He came back and saw her shoes on the floor.

His face lit up and he made his way to her room.

"Where were you? I was so worried"

She was lying on her bed and surfing through her phone.

"God, you are so creepy. Seijou dropped me off. And please leave me alone."

Remembering his tickets and slowly got them out of his pocket.

"Do you want to go and watch a movie with me tomorrow morning?"

She snatched the tickets from his hand.

" With you, I would-... Oh my God it's the Avenger's movie, and front row tickets as well"

He nodded his head and smiled.

" So, us two tomorrow?"

"Yeah, whatever", said Kinojo, too interested in the tickets.

He left her room and started jumping up and down in his room.

Ryota was so happy since he was going to go to the movies with his sister. He opened his closet and got some clothes ready.

He had a few clothes since his stepmother refused to buy him new ones.

He could barely sleep that night.

=======================================

The next day, he wore a sea blue T-shirt and jeans, along with a pair of old deck shoes.

It was all he had but he hoped it was the best.

He knocked on Kinojo's door but didn't get any answer.

He saw her shoes missing and decided that she had gone ahead of him.

Ryota didn't care. He was going to watch a movie with his sister. That was all that mattered to him.

He ran to the Cinema and saw her waiting in line.

As he was about to call her out, he saw another boy beside him.

"What's Seijou doing here?".

He approached her and waved.

"Hey! What are you two doing here?"

She groaned with frustration.

" So that we can watch the movie together."

Ryota's heart shattered to pieces.

"D-don't you want to go with me? I'll buy you popcorn if you want..... anything you want. We can spend some quality brother-sister time. What do you say?"

Kinojo gave him a look of disbelief.

"As if I would go with you. Seijou here is my real oni and boyfriend"

They went inside leaving Ryota staring at the door.

'I have been replaced again. Just like always. Someone better than me.'

Ryota had a childhood friend named Uta who made his life enjoyable. They always spent time together and Ryota had a crush on her.

However, as time went on and they came to high school, she spent less time with her, just like his sister.

She stopped visiting him or walking home with him. He waited and waited for her but she didn't come.

One day he decided to confess to her about his feelings.

"I only see you as a friend. No! Not even as a friend. I don't even want to be involved with you. You are disgusting. Leave me alone. I love Seijou."

His heart was broken. Seijou had managed to steal the girl she liked.

A rain started, along with thunder clapping in the distance.

He had an umbrella with him and he waited an hour for her so that he could take his sister with him.

'I can still show that I am useful'

However, that wasn't what happened.

She took the umbrella from him and left with Seijou, leaving him in the rain.

Seijou turned back and gave him a smirk of triumph.

"Seijou is my real brother"

================================

He slowly walked home, his tears mixed with the rain.

"God, I just want to be the perfect brother for my sister.", he said shakingly.

"W-what should I do to be her ideal brother"

He came home, dripping water.

"You think you can come into my house any way you want because your father married that wh*re", her stepmom yelled.

He wanted to shout at her "Don't call her that" but he didn't want to make things worse.

'I am sorry for being a worthless brother and a son, mom. I know you are disappointed in me. But please don't give up on me. You're the only one I have'

He went to his room and changed.

He didn't have enough money to buy dinner because he spent it all on the tickets.

Ryota went to bed, the darkness welcoming him.

"I wish, maybe I could have someone who I could talk to. Someone who would not hate me", he said softly.

================================== (Switching POVs. THIRD PER TO FIRST PER)

I woke up with the sun rays poking right into my eyes.

"Let me sleep some more", I mumbled, turning to the other side.

I felt something soft on my face.

"Ah what a soft pillow"

"You can touch me?"

I opened my eyes and saw a girl who looked white as light, looking at me.

"AHH!"

I got back, surprised.

"W-who are you? What are you doing in my room? Are you a burglar?"

She straightened up.

"You can see me and hear me as well. How is this possible"

Behind her, white feathery wings came out.

"W-w-wings?! Y-you have wings?"

She suddenly slapped me on the face.

"You pervert!"

I shook my head. "N-no you got it wrong. I was sleeping and s-..."

"Why was I assigned to you? I can't believe you're useless as well as a pervert."

"I-I am sorry"

She sat down at the table and sighed.

"I am guessing you have a lot of questions. 5 Questions go."

"Uh...um who are you?"

"My name is Mei and I am your guardian angel. That's all the questions"

"B-but didn't you say-.."

Suddenly, my stepmother barged into my room.

"What are you doing still in your pyjamas? You are useless. Mei, I have prepared you your breakfast, come downstairs"

With that she left, closing the door.

"How didn't she notice-..."

"Humans are easy to manipulate. They think that I am your classmate who has decided to have a sleepover at your house.

That must be a hard task to accomplish, considering none of my classmates would even want to be friends with me, much less a sleepover.

Mei snapped her fingers and suddenly, she wore our school uniform.

"I'll be going then."

With that she left, leaving me staring at the closed door.

=================================(3rd POV)

By the time Ryota left the house, they had gone far ahead.

He maintained space between them to avoid people from school, noticing that he was coming with her.

Ryota didn't have the chance to have breakfast as her stepmother refused to give him even the leftovers. He had a little over 20 dollars, which was his allowance for the whole month.

He had already made a plan to not eat for one day or two, to save as much money as possible.

Thinking that he could rely on the leftovers, he thought he could survive. However, his stepmom had caught on to what he was doing and decided to throw away everything.

As usual, he sat down near the window and took a book out to read.

Mei sat down with his stepsister, who was aseat with Seijou. Everybody in the school seemed to see her as a student who hadbeen with them since the beginning.

Going on to the second period, people went to their club activities. Ryotabelonged to the literature club. You couldn't call it a club because he was theonly member of it.

The previous club president left him with it. It was extremely lively at thattime but slowly as soon as the president left, people started leaving it.

They found it boring and unentertaining. Ryota tried his very best to keep theother members but all of them left.

Due to the lack of members, the school decided to give the large room to someother club whereas he got a small classroom which was no longer in use becauseof its state.

There was no heating or air conditioning in the room, which was troublesome inthe winter.

He sat down by himself in the clubroom and took out some flyers to give out.

Ryota went outside and gave people the flyers, telling them to join the club.

After about 30 minutes, he sat down exhausted. He managed to only give out 5flyers.

While he was reading, someone opened the door and he got up in delight.

"Welcome!"

"Excuse me, where can I find the swimming club."

"Oh right. Go down the hallway and turn to the right"

The door shut and once again it was silent.

He sat down with a sigh.

The swimming club was one of the most popular clubs in the entire school. Thisis mainly due to its president, Seijou.

Most of the girls join it to swoon over his well-built body and charms.

It was an entirely different universe that Ryota didn't belong to.

The door opened again and without looking up from the book he said, "Theswimming club is in down the hallway and to the right."

"Last time I checked this wasn't the direction's club."

Mei stood there looking around the class.

"Oh, Mei. Do you want to join the literature club?"

"Don't joke with me. I just want to see Seijou."

"Do you like him?"

She suddenly got flustered and started stammering. " W-what are you t-talkingabout?"

'Of course, she likes him.'

Even though this was expected, Ryota felt his chest tightened. Another personstolen from you, his heart seems to say.

"He is already dating my step-sister. What's the reason for falling in love withhim when you know that he wouldn't accept your feelings?

She scoffed and turned to leave.

"Love isn't something you can control. It's a guilty pleasure"

He touched her hand and stopped her.

Of course

"W-wait. Um...-"

Ryota took an application form for the club and gave it to her.

"I know I am being persistent but you can always join my club."

She snatched it and closed the door

Mei opened a bin and was about to throw it away when she saw his flyers. It wasall done by hand and just by looking at it, she could tell that he haddedicated a lot of his time making it.

Mei knew that he didn't have much money, which was the reason that he didalmost 500 flyers by hand.

But here it was, his hard work in the trash rotting.

Mei didn't hate Ryota at all. She was afraid of the people whom she had to protectbefore. Her previous owner did many hurtful things to people and even cursedher. Once he died, Mei was sent to the higher-ups and was blamed and abused.

"You useless, worthless angel. You couldn't even save a life."

They abused her so much that she promised to himself to never trust a managain.

Mei saw Ryota as her previous owner. He too was just like Ryota, always bulliedand blamed. This was the main reason he started killing people. But seeing alot of Ryota's hard work made her have second thoughts.

"Maybe I was too harsh towards him", she muttered.

===================================

Ryota made his way to the cafeteria and sat down alone. He took a drink fromthe vending machine and started drinking it.

Taking out his homework, he decided to finish it.

Someone bumped into his shoulder, sending his pen flying away, underneath tothe table where Seijou was.

Ryota gulped slowly and approached them.

"Um..."

They ignored him and continued talking as if he didn't exist.

Mei was the only one who looked at him. Ryota blushed when their eyes met andquickly broke contact.

"Um...My fell pen down can you h-.."

"HUH?", Seijou's rude and harsh voice hit Ryota hard as a brick.

"Could you help me get my pen? It's over.."

Seijou got the pen and held it out to Ryota.

"That's mine alright. Thank you s-.."

Seijou then dropped it down and crushed it with feet. All that was left of itwas the ink stains on the floor.

Ryota didn't know what to say. He wanted to play it cool and decided to say,

"I can always use a pencil."

Suddenly, Seijou got up and threw a can of juice at him. Instinctively, he putup his hands to block it and it fell.

Due to the collision, the can burst, covering Ryota with orange juice.

"You think you can make fun of me?"

Ryota was dumbfounded. Not only was this embarrassing, but the whole school hadwitnessed it.

'Sorry Kinojo, I humiliated you once again.'

He slowly turned back and left, taking his stuff with him, ignoring thelaughter that spread across.

'Kinojo wouldn't want me here. She hates me more than ever now.'

Ryota entered his safe spot. The club room.

He took some tissues and wiped the liquid from his skin. His clothes had stainson them, nothing permanent.

"I left my drink there". He groaned in frustration.

Ryota had been in a hurry to leave that he had forgotten his lunch.

Sitting down, he started reading a book when the door opened.

"Ryota?"

He got up quickly and greeted her.

"What brings you here?"

She gave him a paper. Opening it, Ryota found the club application that he hadgiven her before.

"I hope this club isn't boring like all the other ones."

Ryota beamed at her in delight and quickly bowed at her, "I'll make sure ofit."

She continued, "Seijou is not a bad guy. He just has a little too muchpride. I didn't mean to call you a pervert and useless. You just caught me in abad mood."

Without waiting for his reply, she left.

Ryota fist bumped into the air at his accomplishment.

=====================================

"What do you say we go shopping after school?."

Ryota overheard Seijou and his group talking. It was common for them to havesuch shopping trips. Seijou was the heir of the popular clothing company, SGClothes. Not only was it the top clothing company, but it was also their family'srival.

Ryota had heard his father speak their family name and realized that Seijou wastheir son. Kinojo had no clue about this even though Ryota had tried to warnher a dozen times.

Ryota wanted to threaten Seijou to not break his stepsister's heart. Hecouldn't. He was afraid to stand up against him.

With the guilt overwhelming him, he decided the best way to make it up to heris to make her happy. He stopped talking badly about Seijou and did his best tobe supportive of them.

He was powerless.

However, he swore on his soul that if he broke her heart, he would kill himwith his own hands.

"I heard there was that new store that opened."

"Right? Let's go. I heard they offer discounts for first-time customers."

Mei saw Ryota going home alone and decided to ask his step-sister if he couldtag along with them.

"No!"

"Eh? Why?"

"He ruins everything he does. You saw what happened today at lunch?"

"The more the merrier.", said Seijou who heard their conversation.

"Your so cool Seijou, inviting a total loner like him.", The other girlsswarmed over him.

====================

"Hey, You!"

Seijou's luxurious car stopped next to Ryota and he seemed surprised as to whySeijou was talking to him.

"Get in the trunk"

The back opened, revealing a small space that he could barely fit in.

"What am I going to do? All the seats are occupied and I would prefer if youcould have walked but deciding against your pathetic physical abilities, thiswas the only option I had."

Ryota wanted to decline and go home. However, he decided against it,considering that Seijou would be mad and his step-sister would be disappointedin him.

He nodded his head and got onto the trunk. One thing Ryota learned is that luxuriouscars have really small trunks.

'Since the car costs about a million, they wouldn't care to pay enough for thetrunk.'

He brought his legs to his chest as darkness covered him.

Ryota heard muffled conversations from the other side as they laughed andjoked. It was extremely uncomfortable being in the back but he was grateful toeven ride.

He dozed off slowly as they drove away. Since it was a 30-minute drive, theysoon forgot all about Ryota in the back. When the stop came, they left the car,leaving him in.

Ryota woke up sweating from the heat.

He couldn't hear anyone from the other side anymore. He knocked on the seat butnobody answered.

"Could you open the back please?"

Finding his cries unanswered, Ryota panicked and quickly took out his phone. Itwas an old button phone that he had found many years before in the trash.

He had only his home and stepsister's number.

It rang once, twice, thrice, and soon it went to voicemail.

His stepsister wasn't picking it up.

"HELP!"

His cries weren't heard.

He pushed and banged on the door but it wouldn't budge. It was obvious thatthey had locked the car and went away.

"Guess this is where I die."

He closed his eyes and accepted his fate. Light radiated on his closed eyes.

"Glad I was able to reach heaven"

"I-I am so sorry."

"Mei?"

=======================================

"I left you there. You could have died".

Mei was crying her eyes out and Ryota didn't know how to comfort her.

"It's alright. There was no harm done."

She shook her head.

"You don't understand. It's a guardian angel's priority to protect theirassigned one. And yet, I-I-I left you."

Her wings suddenly came out of her back and his clothes changed to a light whitecolor. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the sky.

"There's the loner. Where were you?"

He scratched the back of his head. "I was talking to Mei before and she hadto...-"

"Mei? Who's Mei?"

"She had Black Hair and gold eyes."

"What are you talking about? We didn't have anyone named Mei in our school asfar as I could remember. I think it's his imaginary girlfriend he's talkingabout."

They went laughing off, leaving Ryota alone.

Mei had left after the incident and Ryota couldn't help but feel like it washis fault.

'If only I was stronger.'

============================

3 weeks had passed since the incident. Mei hadn't returned since then andnobody in the school seemed to remember her.

As usual, he sat down alone in his chair. It was raining cats and dogs and thethunder roared like there was no tomorrow. He was holding a reading material inhand.

"Nothing hits better than reading a book on a rainy day.", he said to himself

The door opened and a girl entered.

Closing it behind her back she slid down the door and sobbed, the lightningdulling down the voice.

"Are you okay?". Ryota approached the girl.

"Kinojo?"

"Oni?"

Ryota took a step back when he heard this. It was several years since she hadcalled him that.

"I-I can't even call you that, considering the way I have treated you."

"Tell me what happened."

"I bet you can say 'I told you so'"

She muttered things out loud as if someone had possessed her.

Ryota hugged her and soothed her hair to calm her down.

"Talk to me please."

"Seijou... h-he-.... he used me. You warned me before, but I treated you sohorribly. I am so sorry."

Her crying like this made Ryota see her as the small girl she was when theyfirst met.

"My oni left me. He said that he would never leave me alone."

"I'll never leave you. I'll protect you for life"

Ryota helped her get up. I took her hand and went to find Seijou.

Ryota was going to end it once and for all.

Leading the way for Kinojo, he busted into the cafeteria and ran toward Seijou.

Taking him by the collar, he threw him to the wall. Seijou moaned with pain andgot up, only to be punched by Ryota.

Holding Seijou against the wall, Ryota glared at him with hate and anger.

"What did you do to her?"

Seijou smiled through his blood-stained mouth.

"That B*tch was an innocent one and I really enjoyed my time with her."

He then looked at Kinojo and winked at her. "You look like a wh*re in bed.Moaning at every touch."

Kinojo let out a silent sob at his words.

Ryota punched him again. "I am talking to you. Answer my question or I'll endyour life here."

"I stole all your company's designs and sent them to mine. Now your daddy'slittle company is being sued for theft."

His laughter filled the room as Ryota grit his teeth in anger.

"It was an easy job if you ask me. I just had to sweet talk my way to her andshe opened up in a matter of seconds."

Soon, the whole room was filled with whispers.

"She slept with him? What a slut."

"I bet she sleeps with every guy she sees"

Ryota punched his face multiple times and soon his face was barely visible fromthe blood.

He took him by the collar once more and whispered to his ear.

"Guess you won't be hurting anyone with your pretty face for a time."

Taking Kinojo's hand, he dragged her out of the scene. After they were back inthe club room, Kinojo broke down.

"I-I s-swear I didn't...I wasn't like that.....I am not a bad girl. He's-he's..-"

Ryota took her in an embrace.

"I believe you. I promise that I won't judge you no matter what others thinkof you. Your brother will be right with you."

"W-why? I treated you so harshly. I hurt your feelings and yet you're here."

Ryota shook his head. "Because I am your brother, silly. We take care of eachother."

This made her cry even harder.

"I'm sorry if I said something bad.", Ryota immediately said out of fear.

She shook her head. "I-..."

"Ryota and Kinojo, please report to the principal's office."

====================================

As soon as they entered the room, they were met with the furious glares oftheir parents.

It had been a long time since Ryota saw his biological dad since he alwaysgoes on business trips and never is home.

"You wretched woman, I'll kill you".

Ryota's father charged towards Kinojo who was kept back by his stepmother.

"Honey, please not here."

"Because of you, my whole company is going to have a bad reputation. You littleslut, you had to sleep with that wretched boy."

Kinojo cried at the hurtful words her father spewed.

"I-I didn't-.."

Ryota was about to drop in when his father unleashed his fury on him.

"And you! Do you think you could go and beat up the heir of that trash companyjust because you're my son? You arrogant fool."

He slapped him in the face and Ryota showed no sign of defending himself.

"Well...,"

The principal, who had been quiet the whole time spoke up.

"Ryota, you are suspended from the school for a week as a result of youractions. As requested by your father, Kinojo is taking the day off today."

The car ride home was a silent one. The tension between the family was suffocating and the regular calls from the company weren't improving thesituation.

Kinojo seemed to have stopped herself from crying and was now lookingemotionally out the window. He wanted to comfort her but felt as if it wasn'tthe right time.

They got home and his father left immediately after dropping them. His stepmother was furious at both of them and gave them a lecture on how young peopleshould behave.

"I can't believe I gave birth to such a slut."

Kinojo made no attempt to defend herself. She stood there lifelessly as if she was a puppet.

We headed to our rooms and Kinojo shut herself in.

Going back to his room, Ryota saw someone he never expected to see.

"Mei?"

Her golden eyes shown in the darkness and her wings occupied half of the room.

"Looks like you're in a bit of a pickle."

Ryota approached Mei, his hot breath hitting her smooth and soft skin.

'W-what are you doing?". She was extremely flustered and blushed. Her eyes seemed to look anywhere but him.

"Liar!"

"What?"

"You told me you liked Seijou. You didn't. It was the easiest way to escape my questions."

She took a step back and backed towards the wall. "Are you in your right mind?"

"You like me don't you?"

She scoffed at this. "As if I would like you."

He pinned her against the wall and brought his lips closer to her.

"What if I kiss you right now? Would you have the same reaction?"

Mei seems to be at a loss of words and seems to be in a stammering mess.

"I hate people who lie. You out of all people should know that, Mei."

Mei reached out to touch Ryota. However, he swatted her hand away.

"Don't touch me. Because of you, my sister is suffering."

"W-what am I supposed to do? Us beings can't interfere with the future.", she said with tears pooling in her eyes.

"Even if that's true, I feel like I was betrayed. Let's not talk anymore."

"Please Ryota I-.."

"Get out!"

She silenced immediately.

"As you wish."

With a flashing white light, she disappeared, leaving Ryota in his dark room.

"Cling"

The sound of breaking glass caught Ryota's attention.

'That's from Kinojo's room'

He knocked on her sister's door, but he got no answer.

Opening the door slowly, he was welcomed by the dim light of the moon shining through the window.

Silent sobs ran through the room as his sister, curled up to a ball, hugging a pillow.

Next to her nightstand, a glass that had shattered on impact lay.

Kinojo's phone beeped and Ryota couldn't help but take a look.

'Breaking News. Popular clothing company, Jino Textiles, has been accused of theft from yet another popular company called SG Clothes.'

'It is said that the accused company had stolen many designs and manufactured them as their own.'

The comments underneath were more horrible than the headlines themselves.

UnpopularJake: I heard the president's daughter was the root cause of this problem.

PotentialityMatters07: From the information I got, she seduced SG's heir and tried to steal their designs, but looks like it backfired.

Daladiesluvme: God, what a slut she must be.

David909: Baby text me and we can have some fun 567-987-098 ;)

"...."

Ryota lay down next to her and hugged her from behind.

"........"

"Remember when you used to sneak into my room at night? You would crawl underneath my cover and wake me up."

He sighed. "I know you're hurting but I think it would be better if you talked to me."

"......."

'Guess I'll give it time.'

==========================

"No food to you today. You should reflect on your actions and this is your punishment."

"...."

With that, she left for work.

Ryota opened the fridge and saw no leftovers, except some vegetables.

'I could make this work'

He cut down some vegetables and fried some bacon. Ryota had often lived alone when her family went on vacation. He was always left by himself most of the time. At this period, he taught himself how to cook.

It took him many failed attempts to do so. Sometimes he would cut himself or overcook the meal. However, now he could be considered a professional.

After some hours later, the meal was prepared. A classic, Egg and bacon with bread.

"Kinojo, I made breakfast."

His stepsister was sitting on the sofa, emotionlessly reading her phone.

Ryota peeked in to see what was up.

"I can't believe I had a friend like you."

"I'm blocking you"

"Hey don't look at that.". Ryota took the phone from her hand and put it on the table.

"Please eat something, if you don't, you will get sick."

She didn't answer but continued to stare emotionlessly at the wall.

Ryota brought the food to her and started feeding, her mouth opened as he fed her.

Her phone pinged again and he put it on silent.

'How cruel the world is.'

=========================

Just like that a week passed by. Ryota's suspension ended and Kinojo became more expressionless.

"Hey, do you want to go to school?"

She shook her head.

"I promise that I will beat whoever makes fun of you."

"..."

He sighed. "I cooked some food in the fridge. Make sure you eat it."

With a pat on her head, Ryota left for school.

As he passed by, people around them made their way to him.

'I guess the scene I made that day gave a different impression of me.'

Returning home after a long school day, Ryota opened the door to the welcomingsilence.

He saw a note on the counter and read it.

"I had enough of you stupid kids ruining my life. I am leaving."

'She left us?'

"Kinojo?"

His voice echoed among the walls. All of the belongings of their parents had disappeared.

He opened the door to Kinojo's room and was met with a horrifying sight.

Kinojo was hanging on the sealing, lifelessly. Blood trickled down from the tight grip of the rope.

"No. No.No"

Ryota took several steps back and fell down.

"No. This is just a nightmare, right? This isn't the truth."

"No, it's not"

"Mei?"

Mei appeared behind Ryota. Her eyes were red and puffy.

"Please tell me a way I can fix this."

"You can't. To get a life, you should give one."

Without hesitation, Ryota gave her his hand.

"I am willing. If I was a better and stronger brother, I could have stopped all of this."

She looked down.

"It was my problem as well. I could have told you but I couldn't."

"No its not. I was unreasonable at that time. I was selfish enough to blame you for your mistakes."

Even though it was the truth, it left Mei a very sour aftertaste.

She kissed his cheek and smiled.

Golden light covered the room as Ryota's background shifted and disappeared.

His whole vision got dizzy and he closed his eyes to avoid the dizziness.

"Ryota?"

He opened his eyes and saw his stepsister, well and alive.

'How am I still alive? I thought...'

"I thought I died", Kinojo said.

"Check your phone!"

'What? Why?"

"Just check it!"

She quickly got out and saw that the date had changed to 5 days before. No headlines or news of the theft were mentioned.

"How is this possible? Oni, what did you do?"

Ryota pinched her arm. "OW! OW!"

"Why did you kill yourself? Are you stupid? You had me worried.", he said between tears.

"Oni, don't cry. I am alive.", said Kinojo as she comforted him.

"Seijou"

"Mei", Ryota called out.

"Who's Mei?", Kinojo asked, confused as to what she was talking about.

Ryota stepped back. "I should take care of something"

He closed his eyes and opened them back.

He was now in a different room. A luxurious one.

"I am so tired of....What are you doing here? What are you doing in my room?"

"We meet again, Seijou."

Ryota charged towards Seijou, his foot leaving behind gold light.

His punch sent him flying into the wardrobe.

"A human like you shouldn't be born."

Every defense that Seijou put up, didn't faze him. His eyes glowed in golden light as he dragged out Seijou's soul from his body.

"No stop. Please.". Seijou shouted for help as he felt his lifeforce buzzed out of him.

Almost using all of Ryota's strength to remove his soul, he collapsed inexhaustibly.

"No. What have you done?", his soul shouted. His life force tried to enter into his body but he went right through.

"You're a ghost now. An aimless soul going on the world. You would be able to harm anyone I love anymore."

He closed his eyes and Seijou's screams and pleas slowly faded away.

Ryota was back home and he felt his strength fade away.

"Oni, your-your fading."

"Everything has a price, Kinojo."

She hugged him and cried. "Please I don't want you to go. Please."

"Knowing Mei, I guess you wouldn't remember me after I am gone."

"N-no. I don't w-want to forget you, Oni."

He hugged her tighter, not being able to control his own tears. "Make sure you eat well. Never think of trying to kill yourself again, no matter how hard things are. I will always be watching you. Find a good man and have many nice annoying babies like you. I am just rabbling at this point. You probably think I am a weak and gross guy now. What am I even saying when you wouldn't remember any of it."

She shook her head crying even harder.

"No! My one is the strongest person I know. I won't forget it. I wouldn't. I wouldn't"

Ryota felt his last bit of strength fading away.

"I love you, little sis."

"No! Please"

With that he faded into thin hair, his scent leaving the final goodbye.

"Why are you crying Kinojo", her mother rushed towards her.

"I don't know. I don't....remember. I feel like I lost someone important."

Kinojo touched her tears and wiped them off.

'I never cry easily, but why did I now, for no reason?'

"You silly girl, get ready to go to school."

Kinojo ran out to the door but stopped to turn around.

A smile made its way to her face as she made her way downstairs.

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