𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘆𝗼'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩

A week after Michi and Mikey's birthday, Take-nii took us along with him to visit them and the others but Michi had to meet the professor she introduced last time.

While waiting for her to come back, I played along with Mikey and the others. He even let us try to use the gift that Michi and Shin-nii made.

"Look out, big bro Take!" Mikey exclaimed as he flies the toy inside their house while we followed.

"Woah, that's dangerous Mikey!" Take-nii exclaimed as he barely dodged the flying toy.

"Isn't it cool!? It's a remote-controlled Concorde carbon-fiber model! The supersonic airliner!" Mikey exclaimed proudly.

"Huh?" Take-nii asked

"That model looks so cool! I want one too!" Senju exclaimed before Take-nii told her that her words are not girlish of her.

"It took us three months to finish that model." Shin-nii said

"Oi, Haruchiyo! Have you not realized that you've been teaching Senju the wrong words? Since I'm not leaving home anyone, you have to set a good example for her!" He said.

"I'm sorry, big bro Take..." I said before I separated from the others who were still playing around with the toy.

I just sat outside hugging my knees, hoping that Michi would come home early while holding my tears in. After Senju got a turn with the toy she came straight to me and called me.

"Go away" I said.

"Eh?" She asked.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore. Because of you, I'm always the one who gets yelled at! Do you understand? Why me?" I said, feeling bitter for always being blamed when she makes a mistake.

"I'm sorry Haru..." She said.

"I wish I knew how to talk back to big bro like how Mikey and Baji do...or even Michi..." I said and just ignored her until she left.

A few moments later I heard footsteps coming towards me and thinking that it was my sister again I shooed them away.

"I just came home" A monotone voice said and before I could even turn around I knew exactly who it was.

"M-Michi" I said as she put her bag down and sat down next to me. I saw the keychain I gave her hanging on her bag and the hair tie I made on her wrist.

I'm glad that she used them but it's kind of embarrassing since grandma's work is much more beautiful than I did.

"What's up? Why aren't you playing with the others?" She asked and I looked away.

I always open up to her that maybe she's going to be tired of hearing it over and over again.

"Did your brother scold you again?" She asked.

"H-How'd you know?" I asked.

"Just a gut feeling." She said.

"I just don't get why I'm always the one who gets yelled at. Senju just said the wrong type of sentence and big bro Take scolded me for not teaching her right. I did everything I could, you even helped me teach her sometimes." I ranted as she stayed silent but attentive to my complaints.

"It's not your fault nor it's Senju's either. Since she only has brothers, it's unavoidable that she picks up some boyish habits from you. That will eventually change as she grows up so don't worry about it." She said.

"Then what about big bro? I still can't understand him. Sometimes I just want to talk back and say what I feel but I know I'll get scolded even more." I said with a dejected sigh.

"In that case, you can call me any time so I can kick his face for you." She said.

"Heh?"

Michi? Who is a pacifist, said that?

"Pfft- Hahahahah! Michi, since when did you know how to joke?" I asked, shaking in laughter.

"I'm not joking though." She said and looked at the distance.

"Huh?" I asked as I looked at her with small blush painted on my cheeks.

"If you're in trouble then I'll always come to help. So don't be scared to fight for yourself, I have your back." She said and looked back at me with a softened expression and if my eyes didn't deceive me, I think she slightly smiled.

"Michi..."

"But of course, don't just recklessly run into a fight. You have to know your situation well and weigh the pros and cons. Always be fair in fighting and don't use underhanded methods." She said and I sweatdropped. I guess even if she denies it, her martial artist instinct is still showing.

"Thanks, Michi" I said with a close-eyed smile.

"Don't even mention it, it's the least I can do for the gift you gave me." She said and I turned away embarrassed.

"W-what gift?" I acted dumbly.

"You know what I'm talking about. Why are you embarrassed? You should be proud of what you made." She said.

"W-well..."

"It's my first time to receive such a gift. I'm actually...happy." She said with another light smile on her face as she looked at the gift I made dearly.

I made her happy...Then I'm glad that I asked grandma's help instead of asking her to make it for me.

"Now then, if you are done with playing with the others. How about I teach you something." She said and pulled out a book from her bag.

"The art of...war?" I asked.

"Hey Haru, wait up!" Kakucho says as I was running to the park. I was finally able to go out and play for a while. We agreed to meet at the park since Michi and Kisaki went to meet the professor again so I was here with Kakucho.

"Race you to the swing. Loser gets to buy ice cream for everyone!" I said.

"What?! You're already far ahead!" He exclaimed and I just laughed and continued to get ahead.

In the end, I was the first to arrive at the swing.

"Hahaha, you're slow, Kaku." I teased and he only pouted before sitting on the swing beside me.

We were just telling some stories when we saw a drunk guy scaring other kids that are younger than us. He was screaming about how kids are annoying and arrogant even though all they were doing was playing with their friends.

"Hey mister, you're scaring them. You should just go home." I calmly said and he glared at me while Kaku was beside me.

"H-hey Haru. I know that guy, he's dangerous. Let's just go." Kaku said.

"Ohh, I remember you. You're friends with that demon spawn, right?" He said with sarcasm as he pointed toward me.

"Demon spawn?" I asked and he chuckled.

"Why don't you ask scar-face over there, I'm sure he knows who I'm talking about." He said and pointed at Kaku.

"That was a rude thing to say." I said and looked at him with a glare but he only scoffed and drank from his can of beer.

"Kaku, who is he talking about?" I asked while he looked away and hesitantly told me about him and what happened.

"Let's just go, Haru. Michi and Tetta will arrive soon. Let's just let him be, he's strong." Kaku said

"Okay" I said and took one last glance at the drunk guy.

Little did I know, the glance I gave hurt his pride and ego even further than it already is. It was the day that I regret the most.

"HARU LOOK OUT!" Kaku exclaimed.

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