Naomi's Side Story 1: — A Blast From the Past...

[DEAR READERS: My writing style might have been changed a bit from the fewer chapters. I just wanted to tell you all - if you find any grammar or spelling errors, or just anything that doesn't sit right with you, don't hesitate to leave a comment. Thank you:D]

"Boss, did you remember to—"

"Just call me Naomi! I've told you countless times you don't have to address me as your boss!" I barked, annoyed at Rizzy as he floated beside me looking worried and probably planning on scanning my damn health again.

He floated closer to me and started scanning me again... like I just fucking predicted!

"WOULD YOU STOP?" I snapped, looking like I was about to punch a damn wall out of full-blown rage.

Instead... he continued like an IDIOT.

"You're hiding... emotions..." he said calmly.

I scoffed. "Fuck off, I ain't hiding SHIT!"

I angrily walked toward the kitchen to fetch a soda for myself, but of course, Rizzy followed me.

"Boss—"

"NAOMI!"

"S-Sorry. Naomi, you're expressing emotions that you're hiding. Do you wanna talk about your feelings?"

I didn't answer him. Instead, I flipped him off while I chugged the can of soda in almost one slurp.

"Naomi, please—"

I finally finished the can, threw it on the ground, and instantly snapped at Rizzy.

"Listen here, bud. You are my combat drone, not my goddamn robot therapist! You help me with missions when I need you, not scan my health and give useless info about me... got it?"

"But—"

"But nothing! Go on, skedaddle. You need to power up for... when I need you, I guess..."

And with that, I went to my room, slammed the door shut, making a loud BANG, and I lay in my bed, processing everything that had happened these past few days.

My thoughts were filled with every crap I could think of...

Arai... AKA the stupid fucker who fell from clumsiness!
Itsuki...
Yamaguchi... the fucker who pulled the GODDAMN TRIGGER ON MY BROTHER!

I looked around my room, my thoughts still swirling. I then laid eyes on a picture frame...
A picture of me and Itsuki together, hugging. We looked so happy, so innocent, so adorable.

The more I stared at the picture frame, the more the tears threatened to spill. The way we hugged each other, the way we looked like we were laughing... fuck, even just seeing Itsuki was too much to handle. I couldn't stare too long.
I began tearing up, sobbing even.

"N-no, Naomi... you're better than this. You don't cry over a goddamn picture, you don't—" My words got caught in my throat, and I couldn't get them out.
As much as I tried to convince myself that I was a strong girl and I didn't cry for shit, I couldn't hide the pain anymore.

The damn feeling of having lost a brother. It had been years since his passing, and I was still here, weeping like a goddamn baby who just had their cookie taken from them.

I couldn't stop thinking about the good old days. The days when he was actually alive and well...
And one of them included his birthday...

——————————————————

[MAY 14, 2074]

Itsuki was lying in his bed, reading a book and looking relaxed.

It was peaceful. For now...

The next second, his door busted open, and there I was, little young 5-year-old me, singing him a birthday song because it was his birthday! Obviously...

"Happy berfday to you, happy berfday to you, happy berfday to oniichan, happy berfday to you!"

Itsuki's eyes widened with surprise. He didn’t expect me to walk in and surprise him with a birthday song.

"HAPPY BERFDAY ONIICHAAAANNNN!!!" I screamed as I crawled into bed and hugged him.

"Ahhh... N-Naomi, what the—"

"Oniichan... I got a gift for you!"

I then yanked a crinkled craft medal in front of Itsuki's face, and he slowly took it from me.

The medal read: World's Best Oniichan! and Itsuki actually started smiling.

"You... you remembered, Naomi..." he said, his voice shaky yet happy.

I giggled and cuddled closer to him. "Of course I remembered you, silly goose! How could I forget you berfday?"

"Well... because nobody said anything this morning. I assumed everyone forgot my birthday."

"Well, I didn’t. I wanted to surprise you for you berfday."

Itsuki giggled a bit, finding it quite cute how I mispronounced 'birthday' every time.
"Naomi, you’re saying it wrong. It’s 'BIRTHDAY,' not 'BERFDAY,' tehe..."

I pouted and crossed my arms, letting out a huff. "Whatever. It’s the same!"

There was a moment of strong silence, not a single word coming out of either mine or Itsuki’s mouth.

Then Itsuki broke the silence—
"Thank you, Naomi. For remembering my birthday... heck, even surprising me, and with a gift. You’re the best sister anyone could ask for, you know that?"

"You don’t have to tell me, I know I am!" I blurted out, giggling.

Itsuki rolled his eyes. "Show-off!"

The room went silent once again. I looked around and had the evil mastermind plan every toddler has planned at least once. I smirked and stared at Itsuki.

"Oniichan."

"Yes, Imouto-chan?"

I quickly tapped on Itsuki's chest and yelled, "TAG! YOU’RE IT!" and started running out of his room with bursts of giggles and energy.

"HEY! THAT’S NOT FAIR, YOU LITTLE—"
Itsuki got out of bed and started running after me. He chased me from room to room, running around furniture trying to catch me.

"Nanananana! You can't catch me, Oniichan!" I teased, mocking Itsuki, who was out of breath and taking a break.

"You little energetic goofball... how do you have so much energy? I’m barely out of breath..."

I shrugged. "I dunno. I like running..."

"Like that answered my question!"

We both slumped onto the couch in the living room. Itsuki was still out of breath after running around the damn house trying to catch me. I scooted closer to him, eventually hugging and cuddling him. Itsuki was taken aback but hugged me back without hesitation.

"Did you like my gift, Oniichan?"

Itsuki pulled back from the hug and looked at me with a smirk. "No... I didn’t like it..."

My smile instantly turned to a frown, and I was taken aback. "W-Wha—"

"I LOVED IT, IMOUTO-CHAN! It was beautiful!" he yelled, with appreciation and love for the gift.

I pouted and acted annoyed, but couldn’t help leaving a little smile at the corner of my lips. "HEY! You made me scared..."

"Sorry, hahaha. I wanted to see your reaction," he said, laughing and unable to control himself.

"Hmph..."

"But seriously, Naomi, I haven’t had a birthday gift in a long time... your gift is actually the first one I’ve gotten in years, and it means a lot."

I couldn’t stay annoyed for long. I scooted closer to him, and he pulled me closer to him. I lay my head on his shoulder while he slowly yet gently caressed my hair.

"I love you, Oniichan," I mumbled.

"I love you too, Imouto-chan."

——————————————————

I sat on the edge of the bed, just staring at nothing. It was all silence, no sound, no nothing.
Then came the tears.

I buried my head in my hands and started bawling my eyes out like a little bitch. Something I never usually do, not even in private.

Now, a question you're all probably wondering...

Is getting revenge on your brother's killer gonna bring him back?

No, it won’t, but it'll at least let my brother's soul rest when he knows his killer got what he fucking deserved...