[ CH 2 | Pt 2 ] daughter, brother; and the PAST

It had been one of those everlong school days. The sun was beating so radiantly through class 3B’s window that not even the daydreamers at the back of the class could truly join their fantasy world.

All the student’s minds were present, but they were far from focused on the lecture. Instead, their eyes were fully fixed on that desk.

Those two weeks seemed like they had been an eon; the two weeks since Minori Higuchi disappeared from class.

Shinjuku Eikan Academy was a private school that housed what was said to be the future of the business world. That continued to be the case until the parents of grubby socialites began to influence the ethics and foundation of the school in favor of propping up their own children; but such is fate.

The precursor to this would be around that time. Around the time Minori Higuchi disappeared:

TWO WEEKS EARLIER | TWELVE YEARS AGO

It was a regular day for Eikan Academy. As always, Minori Higuchi would be dropped off to class in a black limousine. She’d exit, plainly look around, and in an instant a handful of her so-called friends and other classmates would flock around her.

The perks of being beautiful and well off.

“Ay, Minori! How's it going today? I was kind of wondering if you wanted to hang out with me and a couple of friends after school…?” That precocious young man named Aoto had made it his mission every few days to approach Minori in the mornings.

He was a bit of a masochist.

“Obari-san, Simply put, you know I cannot do that. On top of the fact that I have no interest in you that way—even as a human being…,” she rattled off robotically and carelessly as the crowd around her began to snicker and guffaw. “Aren’t your grades slipping, Obari-san…, midterms are around the corner; you should really focus in, the careless school days are over.”

There was almost some concern in her voice there.

“Aww, I guess you're right.., b-but I convinced your brother to let me in on that ball your family is having tonight…! So I guess I’ll see you then—hey we might even get to dance a bit…!” He began to walk away before anyone could hear the tailend of his response.

But the damage was done.

“Eeeeh?!” The crowd exclaimed. “I didn’t even get invited; so how did that slacker worm his way in…, what's up with that!”

“Your brother is on a trip, Minori…!” Another added.

Still; Minori’s face had not changed expression. They say within that silence is a million scenarios racking through her brain; she always chooses the royal road, the golden path.

Her path took her to that hallway. Nearing the end of Lunch, and just before the fifth class of the day began, she confronted him; her elder brother, Kinjiro.

“Liam, what possessed you to do such a thing.” Minori asked her elder stepbrother forthrightly. She stood aside the lockers to face him on the other side.

The young man had a towering presence. The British born gentleman kept his feelings close to the chest just as much as his sister.

And yet, some would say he was more world-weary than the seemingly innocent star student.

“It was a matter of loyalty…; Heh, you should understand clearly that Aoto is your loyal dog…woof-woof.” The young man said calmly, with a bit of a wry smile on his face. “And call me Kinjiro, Minori, we’re siblings…, it's been four years now.”

“Ok, Liam. And what do you mean by loyal dog…, what did he tell you?” She inquired more forcefully.

“Oh, a small conversation we had. It's just that at a certain point in your traumatic past, you started treating your childhood friend as just an afterthought. Just what's up with that? Huh?” Kinjiro pulled his hands from his pockets and began cracking his knuckles.

“And after all that time he’s still stuck by you, what gives? Just what makes you so special—besides the obvious, your personality is quite dull—and unforgiving!” He added with a chuckle.

“If that's the case, then why did you invite him; Liam?” Minori responded again, now walking forward to meet him. His eyes twitched at the mention of his native name before returning to a smile.

“I’m only trying to help you; you need to realize that by the time you are in your third year, there’s not going to be anyone around you to make you feel good for simply existing. Father is protective; and all those—those fakers? They aren’t going to last. You are going to need a real friend- heh, a real idiot; that's right just like yourself.”

She was standing parallel to him now, refusing to look at him, and yet her face was…oh, it was simply as cold and plain as usual.

With his hand hitting on her shoulder, Kinjiro bent down slightly to look her in the eye.

“After all,” The man squinted his eyes for effect. “You’re a husk of a human being; you can’t fake it for long.”

*Crash!*

“Ahh….!”

A man's terrible whimper gave out.

Minori had used her pull discipline to rock Kinjiro’s body towards the lockers with a hitch of great force. A few dents were left in the wall.

She walked up to her stepbrother, who now sat against the floor. Minori, breathing heavily, bent down to meet him.

“Let's get this straight, Liam. People change when bad things happen; just because I changed doesn't make me any less human. You know nothing about me beyond these four years and something you heard; let’s keep it that way. Don't interfere with my personal life; and I won't with yours.”

“I’ll…I’ll kill you for this…!”

*Ring!* The next class period was soon to begin.

“Good luck” She responded before walking away.

People change when bad things happen…Minori thought to herself.

People change when bad things happen…!

The school day ended like any other.

“Did you enjoy your classes, dear child?” The chauffeur asked the young girl.

“Skip the formalities, Duncan, I don’t care if we’re being watched.”

Heh. I love this brat. Thought the driver.

“Have you decided what you’re going to wear tonight, Minori-san?” The gentleman tried to get some response from her that could start a conversation. As usual, this was to no avail.

The Higuchi’s ball would be held at one of their brilliant event locations in the city. All manner of individuals were invited; from musicians, to directors, socialites and other eccentrics.

The event was held in celebration of the family’s patriarch, and his new position, and new venture in his career.

He was to become the CFO of a very illustrious company; KonStant Media.

His name was Higuchi; Masaru Higuchi.

And so they arrived; Minori and Kinjiro. Kinjiro was wearing a white tuxedo and a sharp red shirt. Meanwhile Minori wore a simple yet elegant white sheath dress; her long hair kept simple and pulled back to reveal her face.

Every once in a while; as stepsiblings who are pretending to be siblings in public do, Kinjiro would knock her on the forehead and snicker at her big protruding dome. No response was made in kind.

As they walked further into the crowd, there he was: Aoto Obari.

“H-hey! You finally made it! Kinjiro, I gotta thank you for letting them know I was on the list…really appreciate it haha!” After looking up to meet his eyes, he bowed overgraciously about three times.

“No worries…! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to help my father with some important business. You two—I believe you should get reacquainted; now that we are beyond the parameters of that hell of an academy…” He smiled smarmily at Aoto, then condescending at Minori, before walking off to his…whatever it was.

Suddenly, there was silence. The chatter of the crowd had come into focus as the ambient backdrop to fill the void. Yet, as much as they looked around and listened, all while avoiding each other; not much interesting was there to be heard.

Right before Minori was about to walk away, Aoto spoke:

“So…, Minori, ever since we started at Eikan High, I’ve been wondering something.”

“Yeah? Well keep wondering…” She continued to walk away.

No it's not anything weird. It’s just—why is it you didn’t join the music club? You were a really talented singer when we were kids!”

She stopped in her tracks.

“How dare you ask that.” She responded.

Confused, and a bit taken aback that she even responded, he began to awkwardly chuckle and fumble around. “Haha, well I don’t— I don’t really know what you mean?”

“You should know just about more than anyone the reason.”

“Oh—I should? Heh, ohh right! I think.” Aoto worked his way up to realization.

“I’m sorry if this is a sensitive topic..but was it because of when you lost your mother…?” He said while looking down.

“Huh? Minori?”

And before he knew it she was gone.