CK 48

Chapter 48…

He’s My Big Brother!

“…You asked me once, when I’d turned into a monster, why I started karate, didn’t you?
The reason… was my father.
My father wasn’t some great man—he was a terrible person. He didn’t work, spent all day drinking at home, and when he went out, he’d come back saying, ‘I lost at pachinko,’ and then beat my mother demanding money.
So, when I was about to start elementary school, my mom took my little sister and me and left the house.

But… I could never forget those memories. The fear I felt back then stayed with me.
Then one day, I learned about your family’s karate dojo. I thought that if I became strong, that fear would disappear.
If I became strong, I could protect my mom and sister.
That’s why I started karate.”

With those words, Shoji-nii finished his story.

I never imagined that Shoji-nii’s family had gone through so much hardship.

…But still, that just shows how kind he really is.

“Then, Shoji-nii, you’re just like me, aren’t you? You started karate because you wanted to protect someone. You’re still the same kind Shoji-nii as ever.”
“But I became… a monster. I attacked people.”

His voice was still heavy as he said that.

…I started to worry my words weren’t reaching him.

But wait—if he remembers all that, does that mean he remembers why he became a Fallen Star?

I cautiously spoke up.

“…Hey, why did you turn into a monster? It doesn’t just happen out of nowhere, right?”
“…I don’t remember.”

That answer caught me off guard. “You don’t remember?” I repeated.
Shoji-nii nodded quietly. “…Yeah.”

If this goes on, he’s going to keep blaming himself forever.

And then I’d have to tell Masato that I didn’t find out anything useful.

So I tried again, carefully.

“…Do you remember anything before you changed?
If you do, could you tell me what happened? I mean, if it’s not too hard to talk about…”

Shoji-nii kept looking out the window.
I couldn’t see his face, so I had no idea what he was feeling.

But slowly, he began to speak.

“…About a week ago, on my way home from college.
Suddenly, my father appeared in front of me.
He recognized me right away and started picking a fight. I argued back—I didn’t want him anywhere near Mom or my sister. But he lost his temper and came at me swinging.
I fought back with everything I had, determined to protect them this time.
But he was strong. He used whatever he could find as a weapon, and went straight for my neck and other weak points.
Even so, I kept fighting, and soon a crowd gathered—someone called the police. When that happened, he ran off.
At that moment, I thought to myself, ‘I’m still so weak.’
After that… things get hazy. Next thing I knew… I’d become a monster.”

When I’d last seen Shoji-nii, he’d been completely normal.

So it must have been after that day—after his father attacked him—that he became a Fallen Star.

But he doesn’t remember anything clearly.

…Then maybe—

“…Do you remember a monster covered in scales?”
“…I remember talking to someone… but not what they looked like.”
“I see… I thought maybe it was the same one that tried to force its power on me, but… you don’t remember…”

I’d been hoping it was the same case as mine, but apparently not.
As I was thinking that, Shoji-nii muttered, “Shirou, you too…?”

“Yeah. But even though I resisted, saying I didn’t want it, somehow I still got the power. Masato said I was chosen, but…”
“You really are strong. Completely different from me…”

I’d done everything I could think of.
But Shoji-nii still looked downcast, and his memories were a blur.

Frustration welled up in me, and before I knew it, I yelled, “Daaah, enough already!!” and jumped to my feet.
I walked around to the other side of the bed to face him head-on.

“I’ve always admired your strength and your kindness, Shoji-nii! I’ve always looked up to you!
No matter what happens—no matter if you turned into a monster—those days won’t just disappear!
If you ever lose control again, I’ll stop you myself! You’ll always be my big brother!
And from what you told me, you didn’t do anything wrong!
The one to blame is your father, who hurt his own family, and the bastard who preyed on your weakness and turned you into a monster! So stop blaming yourself already!”

I ended up shouting everything I’d been holding inside.

Shoji-nii looked down, silent.

…Maybe I went too far.

But then, finally, he spoke.

“…But I said awful things to you. I tried to kill you. That fact won’t go away.
…Even so, you still call me your brother?”
“I told you, didn’t I? You’ll always be my brother!
Becoming a monster once isn’t gonna break our bond!
So come on, train me again, will ya?”
“…Honestly, it feels more like you’re the one training me now.”

A faint smile finally appeared on Shoji-nii’s face.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile too.

Then I said what I’d been thinking ever since our fight.

“But Shoji-nii, that move of yours—baiting me with that kick so you could counter—was seriously smart! I could never think that fast.”
“…Thanks.
Though maybe it’s about time I fix that habit, huh?”

Shoji-nii chuckled softly.
And I laughed with him.

The quiet room filled with the sound of our gentle laughter.

After that, we just talked about everyday stuff for a while—his college life, my high school life.

Well, in my case, that mostly means talking about Masato and Yui.
Most other students kinda avoid me because of the rumors, anyway.

Before long, visiting hours were almost over, so I got ready to leave.

“Alright, Shoji-nii, I’ll come see you again.”
“You’re busy too, Shirou. You don’t have to force yourself.”
“…I’ll come if I can. Oh, but tell me when you’re discharged, okay?”
“Yeah.”

I opened the door to leave.

Before it closed, Shoji-nii called out to me.

“Shirou.”
“Yeah?”
“You’ve got good friends. Treasure them.”
“…I will.”

After answering, I stepped into the quiet hallway.

No one else was around.

…Where were Masato and Yui?

We hadn’t set a meeting place or time.
I pulled out my phone.

There was a message from Yui: ‘We’re done! Sitting in the first-floor lobby~!’

I went down to meet them, and we all left the hospital together.

After walking a bit, Masato finally spoke.

“Did you learn anything?”
“Why’s that the first thing you ask?”
“Ah… well. I couldn’t find out what caused him to fall. He said he talked to someone, but he doesn’t remember who.”
“I see. Same as us, then.”

After that, Masato fell silent.

Yui sighed softly.

“So, how was Shoji-san? You two make up?”
“Yeah, he looked better. We made up properly.”
“That’s great! Yay!”

She held out her fist, and I bumped it with mine.
While we were doing that, Masato was already walking ahead.

Yui noticed and ran after him, complaining about something.

And then, a question suddenly hit me.

I stopped walking.

Yui came back, worried.

“Shirou-kun? What’s wrong? Something on your mind?
Wait—don’t tell me you didn’t actually make up with Shoji-san!?”
“No, no, that’s not it. It’s just… should I really keep fighting alongside you two?”

“Huh?” Yui blinked.

“I mean, I learned how to fight so I could bring Shoji-nii back.
Now that he’s back to normal… do I still have the right to fight with you guys?”
“You said yourself, ‘If I fight, someone can be saved.’
You were planning to stop after saving just one person?”

Masato had come back without me noticing and cut in sharply.
Yui frowned. “Hey, tone it down a little!”

“But he’s right! I thought you’d keep fighting with us!”

Masato’s gaze met mine—steady and unshakable.
Yui looked at me, still a bit confused.

…I guess I really was part of their team now.

“…Then, from here on out, I’m counting on you guys.”
“Of course! Same here!”

Yui smiled brightly.

Masato had already started walking toward the station.

Yui chased after him, arguing again.

…Honestly, even their bickering feels kind of comforting now.

Though if I don’t hurry, they’ll leave me behind.

I jogged to catch up with them—just in time to hear Yui again.

“Come on, we came all the way out here! Let’s stop somewhere! Think of it as Shirou’s official welcome party!”
“Not necessary. We’re going home.”
“Eeh!? Shirou-kun, say something!”

Suddenly the attention was on me. I froze for a second.

“Me? Uh… I don’t really mind either way…”
“Ehh, come on!”
“Let’s go home.”
“Wait! Don’t ignore me!”

And so, the three of us headed toward the station together—

With a strange feeling inside me, like my real high school life was finally beginning.

(For the record, we did end up stopping somewhere after all.)