Trial 2.7: The Unbreakable Older Brother

Sora: A... Aoki...?

Sora couldn't believe his eyes; he was in his dreamland. A world of his own and yet... His bedridden and sick sister is standing right before him. 

The sister he wanted to complete the "Trials" for. 

Aoki: What are you doing...? 

After hearing his sister's words, he went speechless. He looks down onto the ground with embarrassment and shame.  

Aoki: Brother... Please remember... Remember our moments together... What I said... And our promise...! 

Flickers of the past pressed into his mind, unbidden and unstoppable.

He starts to remember the same night, when his foster mother slapped him on the face during dinner. After that dinner, he was about to walk back into his room, but just then, he felt a small tug at his sleeve. A soft voice spoke:

???: Brother... Are you... Okay...? 

It was Aoki, the same little sister, who was praised and cared for unlike his foster brother. 

Aoki: I'm sorry... About just now...

His sister looks like she is about to tear up. Looking at his sad sister, he pats her head gently.

Sora: It's not your fault. Sorry to have you see that. 

Sora looks down insecurely with shame. 

Sora: Your brother... Is pathetic. Don't be like him, okay? Continue working hard and--

Aoki: You are wrong!

She slaps the hand Sora was patting her head with away.

Aoki: My brother isn't pathetic; he's kind and hardworking. He's... The best brother I could ever ask for...

Sora glances away.

Sora: Well... Erm...

Aoki: You don't have to listen to them. To me, you will always be...

...My Unbreakable* Brother.

Sora's breath stopped in his throat as a slight warmth rose in his chest. For a moment, the weight on Sora’s chest lifted. It felt like her words mended the cracks in his heart, even if only a little.

Aoki grinned and pulled something from her pocket, a small, colorful pack of gummies.

Aoki: I… I want to share this with you. But only if you promise me one thing.

She held out her pinkie.

Aoki: Promise me you won’t let other people’s words tell you who you are. You’re my big brother. And you’re my unbreakable hero.

Sora stared at her, at her tiny hand, trembling but determined. For the first time in forever, he smiled.

No one had ever shared something with him, not in this way. Not because they wanted to.

Sora: Yeah. I promise.

Both of them pinkie promised each other before eating the gummies together. 

 --As Sora recalled this moment, the burning lights around the stage felt more... Warm. But at the same time, Sora also felt... Disappointed with himself. 

He lowered his head further.

Sora: But that promise... I broke it... I let the words of our parents... And the bullies in middle school define me... I don't... Deserve this...

Aoki: I know...

She pauses for a while.

Aoki: However, it's not too late. Everyone deserves a second chance, isn't it?

Aoki is right.

I always thought I was alone, but I'm not. 

I'm gonna show her that I value this promise by passing this Trial...!

Sora starts screaming, but with confidence in them. He starts to tug forward, trying to forcefully break the treads that are binding his body. 

Sora (Puppeteer): D... Don't listen to her.

The puppeteer starts to panic.

Sora (Puppeteer): Y... You are a burden...

Sora felt the strings sting into his skin, deep cuts and blood dripping out of them. But that didn't stop him from trying to break himself free. 

Sora: Maybe that's how dad and mum view me... But I'm not...!!!

He forcefully tugs forward, successfully snapping the strings tied to both of his arms.

Sora (puppeteer): Y... You are a failure...

Sora starts pulling himself forward. Walking with strong and steady steps.  

Sora: Maybe that's what my parents, teachers, and classmates view me... But I'M NOT!!!

Sora successfully tears the string that bound his legs.

The puppeteer couldn't believe it. How can one guy immediately stand up for himself even after he was shattered? 

Sora (puppeteer): Y... You are unloved...!

The puppeteer pulls the only string that's left, the string tied on Sora's heart.

However, Sora didn't budge. He grabbed the remaining thread firmly.

Sora: Maybe it's true that no one around me loves me, but...

Sora pulls the thread forward with all his remaining strength, snapping it and completely freeing himself from the puppeteer. 

Sora: There's someone in the world, one person, who truly cares for me...!!!!!

The giant puppeteer falls onto the stage, his face crashing into all the wood. Cracks start to form on the puppeteer's face.

Sora (puppeteer): Just... If you are not a puppet... Then what are you?

Sora stands free, feeling stronger in self-worth.

Sora: I'm Sora... I'm... The unbreakable older brother.

Sora gripped his fist and glanced at his wounds before continuing. 

Sora: I'm not a puppet. My worth and future... They are mine to choose.

The puppeteer let out a soft chuckle, but this time with some sadness in it. 

"I... I see..."

The puppeteer and the stage start faded into light and slowly disappeared.

Sora turns his head towards his sister, who is also fading into light, but she is not completely gone. 

Sora: Aoki... Thank you. The words, they tried to bind me, they have the power only because I chose to believe them... 

Before continuing, he exhales, not in relief, but release.

Sora: Thanks for... Seeing me... When I couldn't see myself. 

Aoki widens her eyes, before letting out a huge, bright grin. 

Aoki: Let's eat together later, okay...? I want some gummies.

Sora let out the same smile, similar to his first one.

Sora: ... Sure... I'll buy some. 

As she faded, Aoki held up her hand. Their pinkies linked one last time before the light took her away.

???: Congratulations, you've passed Trial 2.

The Trial master announced as the whole room fades into white. 

Sora stood alone. He didn't feel victorious, and he still has fears and doubts. But overall--He felt lighter. 

Sora: Even if the world tries breaking me again... I'll rebuild myself again. 

Sora mutters to himself, before observing his surroundings and locating the stairs going upwards. 

Sora: The final trial, huh...? It's going to be more difficult than this and the previous one. But...

Sora looks up confidently and walks up the stairs.

Sora: I won't fall as easily as the previous two.

--After Sora reaches the top, he sees nothing but white.

Calm, quiet, no whispers, no pain. 

Except for something that shapes like a person's back. 

The person is wearing a purple suit and purple long pants. He has a purple cap as well. It's... Familiar.

Just then, the figure turns towards him--

???: Oh, Sora. You are here.

It was Fuwa, Sora's imaginary friend, and also the creator of Wonderland. Sora's eyes widen in shock, as he was the last person he would expect to see, especially on the floor where the final "Trial" will be held. 

Fuwa appears to be smiling, the same smile he made when Sora first appeared in this Dreamland. 

Too gently, too knowingly. 

Fuwa: It has been a while... Ready for what comes next?  

*Author's notes: I wanted to use the Japanese word 無敵 (muteki), but I feel that the words Invincible and matchless are a bit weird in this context, so I landed on "Unbreakable".