Pain On Both Sides

Haruto was helding the phone to his ear, silently sobbing, trying not to cry his heart out.

On the other end, Rensuke stood frozen, speechless, the only sound between them was Haruto's muffled sobs.

Unable to hold it any longer Haruto quickly ended the call, collapsing backwards onto his bed, burying his face in his hands and began crying out loud, the room was now filled with his agonizing cries…

A loud rapid knocking echoed through Haruto's room, waking him up from his restless sleep. He groggily opened his swollen eyes, and noticed it was early morning, still heavy with exhaustion. He sat on his bed, rubbing his face, realizing he was still in his wrinkled suit from the night before.

Another round of knocks echoed, louder and more urgent, Haruto sighed, dragging himself off the bed, his body heavy with exhaustion, With heavy steps he made his way towards the door, his steps seemed heavy and slow, he stood before the door and with a slow, tired motion turned the knob and cracked the door opened to find Rensuke standing.

Rensuke stood there seeming serious, with an intense gaze he took the sight of Haruto who's eyes were red and swollen, his hairs rough and messed up, and slumped shoulders, his expressions blank showing no hint of any emotion, his tired, half opened eyes barely meeting Rensuke's gaze.

"What are you doing here?" Haruto asked, his voice dull and lacking interest.

"So that's how you treat your family?" Rensuke asked, his tone firm.

Haruto stayed quiet, not knowing how to respond, he began rubbing his face in an attempt to gather himself, then taking a deep sigh he stepped aside to let Rensuke in.

Rensuke walked inside the apartment, his eyes scanning the mess, with his belongings scattered all over the floor.

Haruto walks in, yawning, standing next to Rensuke, placing his arm around his shoulder, leaning on him for support. "Thank you for visiting," he said with a faint smile. Rensuke's gaze remained fixed on him, his expressions serious.

Haruto smiled, seeming high, said "If you are here, then I won't let you leave without having breakfast, stay here I'm gonna make something for you" with that he attempted to straight upright trying to balance his shaking body, then began walking towards the kitchen.

As he took a few steps forward, Rensuke placed a firm hand on Haruto's shoulder stopping him in his tracks.

With a serious expression Rensuke said, "I'm here to take you home." he said calmly.

There were moments of silence in the room before Haruto let out a chuckle, his laughter echoing through the room, Rensuke remained serious, his gaze fixed on Haruto.

Haruto then stopped chuckling, turned slightly to look over from his shoulder, and said "I'm not coming back Rensuke, and if you are intending to force me then it will be no use." He said, gently removing Rensuke's hand from his shoulder and continued walking towards the kitchen.

As Haruto was walking, Rensuke grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. Before Haruto could react, a punch landed squarely on his face, Haruto crumbled to his knees, blood oozing from his mouth.

Rensuke then gripped Haruto by his hairs, forcing him to his feets, and without saying anything he delivered another punch on Haruto's abdomen, who gasped in pain, without wasting a single second Rensuke landed another punch on his face, knocking him backwards.

Haruto slammed his back into the wall, his nose and lip now bleeding.

Rensuke came and pressed his forearm hard against Haruto's neck, choking him, his eyes burning with fury, staring at Haruto who was wincing in pain struggling to make himself free.

Rensuke's rage intensifies, "Wake up!" He roars out loud, releasing Haruto's neck only to start delivering a relentless series of punches on Haruto's face and abdomen, each blow coming out from anger and frustration, leaving Haruto helpless.

"Wake up" Rensuke screams out, landing a left punch on Haruto's face.

"Wake up damnit!" He screamed out again landing a right punch on Haruto's other cheek.

"Wake up Harutooo!" He roared again, throwing a strong left punch on his face, sending Haruto crashing into the floor, his now face bloodied.

Rensuke seemed enraged, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on Haruto who was struggling to stand back on his feets, blood dripping from his wounded face.

"How many days, How many more years are you planning to waste on that girl!" Rensuke yelled out, his voice filled with fury.

"You are not just punishing yourself! you are punishing the ones who love you" He yelled out, delivering a vicious kick on Haruto's abdomen who went sprawling backwards lying on the ground face first wincing in agony.

Rensuke stormed over, grabbed Haruto by his collar, forcing him on his feet, slamming him against the wall.

"Your love for Kanna is nothing," he shouted saying, his eyes locked on Haruto, "It's absolutely nothing compared to the love your parents have for you, what's their mistake? Why are you hurting and punishing them?"

He then shoved him aside, sending him crashing on the floor.

Rensuke came and began landing a series of vicious kicks on Haruto's prone form, "Why can't you see their pain!" he screamed and kept kicking on Haruto's prone form.

"You know how much they love you," Rensuke screamed, his voice filled with fury, "They've always loved you more than anything, more than me!" He kept kicking him.

"I've never seen my father cry!" He roared, His foot slamming on Haruto's abdomen, "But because of you he cried!" Kicking his shoulder, "He cries alone at night, just for you!"

"Mother cries every night sitting alone in your room!" he shouted, his voice breaking, "If you can't give them happiness then at least stop giving them tears!"

"If you weren't my brother I'd have killed you by now!" Rensuke screams out, consumed by rage he sat on top of Haruto, holding his hand and pinning them beneath his knees, gripping Haruto's face with one hand and raising the other, poised to strike, but his hand kept hanging in the air, trembling, his eyes locked on Haruto.

Haruto was looking at Rensuke with tears in his eyes, blood from his facial wounds mingling with his tears, his expressions one of deep sorrow and pain.

Rensuke's grip on Haruto's face softened, his raised punch trembling in air before he slowly lowered it, tears welled up in his and he began crying, his tears dropping on Haruto's face.

"We are missing you Haruto." Rensuke choked out, his tone trembling with emotions. "We don't want a successful Haruto, we just want our Haruto back" With that he continued crying, his cries mingling with Haruto's silent sobs.

Rensuke quickly composed his cries, quickly wiping his tears he stood up and exited the apartment. Leaving Haruto on the floor, still lying, he continued to sob silently.