Hoshino POV:
It was around 5:00 by the time I returned home. I expected to be welcomed back with a tense atmosphere, considering Mom and I had just gotten into a fight this morning. But the moment I opened the front door, I was greeted by the sound of light humming from the kitchen.
A cold sweat ran down my back.
There was a chance that maybe Mom just forgot about everything and moved on… but that wasn't the Mom I knew.
I quietly moved further into the house, shrouding my presence as I slowly entered the kitchen. There Mom was, stirring a pot while humming a light, almost pleased melody. She didn't turn around, nor did she greet me. She just continued humming.
I continued to study her movements intently, but no matter how hard I looked, nothing seemed off.
I guess… she got over it?
I still couldn't shake off this ominous feeling that had settled in my chest, but with no other signs, I was forced to move on.
Still shrouding my presence, I made my way up the stairs and into my room. Once I finished changing, as if on time, the door to my room opened… normally.
Of course, it couldn't have been anyone but Lily. Yet, the fact that she didn't barge into my room like she usually did rang the alarm bells in my head.
Lily didn't say anything. Her head was hung low, which cast a bleak shadow over her face. She reached out and clung to my sleeve as she slowly trod towards me. I didn't move. Once she got close enough, she pressed her head against my chest.
That told me everything I needed to know.
...Something happened while I wasn't home.
I lifted up one hand and gently stroked the back of her head. Lily didn't wrap her arms around me. She just stayed completely still. I didn't force her to say anything, either.
After a moment, she raised her arms and wrapped them around my waist. There was no strength in her grip. It was as if the slightest bit of force could knock her away.
My eyes narrowed.
...What the hell happened?
She let out one sniffle, then whimpered meekly. "Big Brother…"
My breath involuntarily hitched as memories from the past surged in my mind, stunning me for a split second.
Big Brother.
Just how long had it been since she said that out loud? And to my face no less? It had to have been at least three years.
It was nostalgic… but also painful. However, I didn't have time to focus on that; my sister's needs came first.
I bit the inside of my mouth.
Next, I pressed her head against my chest.
"What happened?" I asked softly.
Her hands gripped my shirt with a desperation that refused to let go. "I-I think… Mom and Dad are fighting."
They're fighting?
Lily was home sleeping while I was out, so she had to have overheard them. They always did yell quite loudly.
...But there was a problem.
If Mom and Dad are fighting, then the atmosphere downstairs wouldn't have been as chipper as it was when I entered.
But…
I glanced down at Lily. Her whole body was trembling as she struggled to suppress her tears.
...There's no way Lily would react like this if they weren't.
Nothing made sense. Mom's good mood, Lily's fear, and Dad were nowhere to be found. I just couldn't wrap my head around it.
But at the same time, I didn't need to. I could figure everything out later. Right now—I needed to be her Older Brother.
"Hey," I said, still stroking her head, "It's going to be okay. If you're scared about them getting a divorce, then stop being stupid. That isn't going to happen."
Lily flinched and slowly looked up at me, tears welling in the corner of her eyes.
"R-really?"
I gave her an annoyed sigh, but a reassuring smile at the same time.
"Yes, really. I don't know if they're actually fighting or not, but when I got home, Mom was humming while cooking dinner." I paused, letting her slowly form her own answer.
Her grip on my shirt loosened ever so slightly as a glimmer of something akin to hope flickered in her eyes.
"She wouldn't be humming if they were fighting…"
I nodded. "Yeah. You know how it is. After they fight, it's completely silent. So, you don't have to worry too hard."
It was a reasonable conclusion, but I knew it wasn't the truth. Still, if it meant alleviating Lily's anxiety, then that was fine.
Lily sniffled one last time before slowly pulling herself away from me. She wiped the corners of her eyes on her own, then flashed me a bright smile.
"Thank you, my dear Older Brother. I feel better now!"
I rolled my eyes and lightly pushed her away at the same time.
"Is that so? Great! I'm so happy for you!" I exclaimed without a single expression.
Lily frowned. "What do you mean, great–"
Before she could finish, however, I grabbed her by the shoulders and began nudging her towards the door.
"If you're feeling better now, then get lost!"
"What?!"
Lily's hands shot forward—but it was already too late. I gave her a light shove before she could grab the doorframe. Still, Lily stumbled, catching her balance as she crashed into the wall, causing a loud slam to echo through the hall.
She rubbed her head as she gave me a fierce glare. "What is wrong with you?!"
My face went flat. "Don't play dumb with me. I didn't push you that hard. You purposefully crashed into the wall harder to make me feel bad."
Lily froze, a guilty expression creeping onto her face.
"Fine," she sighed, leaning against the wall. "You caught me."
"Yeah, I know," I said flatly. "Now leave me alone, I'm tired."
Lily pushed herself off the wall with an annoyed groan. "Ugh, okay. I'll leave you alone for a bit."
As she was going into her room, she stopped for a brief moment and tilted her head to the side in a way that I wouldn't be able to see her face.
"…Thank you," she muttered softly.
She didn't wait for my reply before quietly closing the door.
I remained still at my doorframe, soaking in the silence. Once I was sure Lily had moved on, I let out a heavy breath.
That's good. I'm happy she's feeling better now...
I glanced in the direction of my parents' room.
But she won't stay ignorant forever. Lily is already growing up. Which means…
If Dad wasn't downstairs, then there was only one place he could be—his room.
I have to figure out what's going on before she does.
I bit the inside of my mouth—then pushed myself forward.
Not because I can fix this. I'm still just a kid.
I stretched my hand toward the doorknob.
I know I can't solve my parents' problems. I know that I can't change anything. But...
I twisted it, a quiet *click* settling in my ears.
If it comes to being her Older Brother, then I won't permit myself to run away.
I slowly pushed the door open and entered the room.
Dad was lying in bed, unmoving as he stared absently at the ceiling. Even as I approached closer to him, he continued to stare at the ceiling, lost in the white void.
The room was neither hot nor cold, almost like it was just an empty husk of space. The curtains were wide open, but the sky was cloudy, nothing but dull grey seeping through the windows.
I put on a small smile and parted my lips. I felt the words as they travelled from my chest and out of my mouth.
"Hi, Old Man. You look great today."