"I know that because of that incident, I have guilt towards you, but the truth is not like that!"

I wanted to tell Juxi that I didn't ignore him because I disliked him.

He waved his hand, dismissing my apology with a casual gesture.

"It's not like that, no!"

The following words roared out like a cathartic release.

Years of being forgotten and harboring resentment were unleashed in that moment!

But his outburst was extremely brief, coming and going swiftly. His sudden calm after turning red with anger startled me.

After a two-minute stare-down with Juxi, his anger finally subsided, and he apologized to me.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to explode like that, actually..."

Juxi slowly walked past me, each step seeming weak and unsteady, as if his strength had been drained.

As he climbed to the second floor, he didn't stop at his own room but continued on towards mine.

Finally, after hesitating in front of my room for a while, he extended his thin hand and turned the doorknob.

"Do you know? I haven't been in this room for six years, even before you came..."

Not anymore... What did he mean by that?

He said it with a hint of sadness and laziness.

"This used to be my late mother's room. She said...um!"

His frail body, which hadn't left the house for a long time, was almost collapsing. Juxi hobbled to the window and continued speaking.

"My mom said that she could find peace as long as she could see her favorite sea from here. She said that the view of the sea changed in many different ways."

"..."

At this moment, I couldn't contain my inner impulse, but Juxi's words were confusing, making it hard to discern what was in his heart.

All I could understand was that he had a secret, something he didn't want to reveal to me or even to our father.

"I know Dad and Mom arranged for you to stay in this room. But, ha-ha...you really resemble my mother. However, both of you miscalculated. My mother's true favorite wasn't anything blue, what a bunch of fools! Ha-ha-ha..."

He even burst into arrogant laughter, as if mocking us as utterly foolish.

Smack!

Without hesitation, I ignored his fragile body and struck him hard on the face.

"No, it's not like that! I'm not imitating your mother. I always liked blue, even before, I've always liked it. It's just that you're being too presumptuous, do you understand?!"

"...You!"

Juxi, losing his balance, instantly slumped down at the edge of the balcony. With his weakened limbs, he had no strength left to stand up from the ground.

In a half-dazed state, tears began to fill his eyes.

"Why...I just wanted...huh? What was I even trying to do?"

(Juxi's perspective)

Using the last of my strength, I wiped away the blood from the corner of my mouth before passing out.

In my dream, I repeatedly woke up, each time seeing my gentle mother smiling at me, but each time realizing it was just a dream.

The heartwarming scenes played like a carousel, making my head spin, and finally...

A heartwarming scene was frozen on the ruins of a burning building.

"Xi, you must survive!"

My mother used her last moment to hug me and jumped out of the window, protecting me from the fire that consumed the entire building. I was not even three years old at the time.

I was held in my mother's arms as we fell from the second floor, with my mother's back taking the impact. The rescue team later said that many of her organs were shattered upon impact and she couldn't be saved when we arrived at the hospital.

Meanwhile, besides a few minor scratches, I miraculously survived with no major injuries.

"Is that so...is that why you hated me, living in your mother's room?"

"No, on the contrary, you are the only reason I survived."

"Huh?!"

I became his sole reason for living. Could this be a confession?

His voice choked up, tears streaming down his face.

"Because you lived in that room, it remained unchanged. It made me feel like my mother was still with me...so..."

Juxi's words carried a bitterness that I couldn't understand, but he didn't want to uncover the lie he was deceiving himself with.

"I...I can't accept that reality. I don't want to!"

He angrily pounded the floor, his hands now bloody and mangled. I quickly stopped him.

"What are you doing?!"

While comforting him, I held his arms in mine, preventing him from further harm.

Finally, I managed to restrain his other hand as well.

"Stop...it..."

I was out of breath, taken aback by his unexpected strength. It took all my efforts to subdue him.

"Why are you doing all these pointless things?! What matters is the present!"

"...Yeah."

At some point, Juxi had passed out again, causing me even more worry.

After cutting his untrimmed bangs with the scissors on my dressing table, I noticed how dark the circles under Juxi's eyes were. Apparently, he hadn't slept all night.

"He really is a messy person. Well, I might as well go all out!"

I steadied him, then sat on the chair next to my dressing table and used an old cloth that I was planning to discard as a makeshift apron.

With swift movements, I cleanly trimmed away any excess hair on his head.

Other than his slightly dirty face, everything else looked decent. His features were handsome, his eyebrows fine and his eyes well-defined. It could be said that he met the standard of a good-looking guy.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I didn't expect this guy to look quite good. He's definitely an above-average handsome guy."

But that's still not enough!

His dirty clothes must be changed. Before changing them, it would be best to put him in the bathtub!

Now I was in a dilemma. If I were to take off his clothes, wouldn't I become a pervert?

Wait a minute, we don't have any blood relation, so wouldn't it be more like helping a sibling? It shouldn't be a big deal, right?

"As long as he wears my swimsuit."

I took out the white one-piece swimsuit I used at school from the closet. With this, it should be fine...I hope...

"OK, remember to thank me properly afterwards for all the effort I put into cleaning you up so well!" I warned him, relieved.

"Just remember not to cause me so much trouble again in the future, or I might beat you up before you even have a chance!" From now on, I'll take on your pain for you!

Exhausted, I managed to lift Juxi and place him next to the bathtub with all my strength. Then, I covered his eyes with a black eye mask to forget about the sorrow and helplessness in reality.

Although we are siblings... there is a clear distinction between males and females.

Anyway, since mom and dad are gone, it's my responsibility as the older sister to correct my little brother and make him a normal person, right?

Our bathtub is tiled and about five times the size of an average family's, so there's plenty of room for both of us.

"Alright, you just relax and soak in the bathtub at home. I'll be back soon to help you start anew."

Those two scoundrels really know how to shirk responsibilities. When I become an adult, I'm moving out of this house!

So, I tossed Juxi, wrapped in a towel, into the pool like a fish waiting to be slaughtered.

Serves him right! It's not all my fault from the beginning. After all, I made a great sacrifice when my first kiss was taken away.

So, let's consider leaving him in the bathtub as an act of redemption.

"Oh... it seems like we're missing some necessary products. How about just these few?"

Fifteen minutes later...

Jacket or down coat?

Sweater or thermal clothing?

Long johns... it seems like there's nothing extra.

In the dazzling men's clothing store, I couldn't make up my mind.

"What should I do...?"

Finally, even the store manager couldn't stand it anymore and called over a salesperson to help.

"Hello, are you planning to buy clothes for a male?"

A tall, blue-uniformed female salesperson approached me with a recommendation.

"Ah...?"

Buying clothes for a male? What kind of talk is this? But... it makes sense. I am buying clothes for a male, right? It's not like I'm going to wear them!

"Yes, I am buying clothes for a male. What do you have that can make him more masculine?"

I need this kind of attire to change his lack of confidence. Otherwise...

In my imagination: In the dark night, a person hides in a dim alley with an evil smile, hoping for a young girl to take the bait. And in the end... ahh, this is something that could actually happen.

Wait, wait a minute! Think carefully about your own afterthoughts. There's no way that would happen.

It's unbearable!

No matter what, continuing to be weak and evasive won't lead to good results.

"You think this outfit is good? It's the best combination from the most popular brand right now!"

"Well, just go with this..."

Oh my god, I casually agreed, am I going to be seen as someone who's easy to satisfy?

But wait, I'm intentionally showing off my cool and confident self, that's the life I'm pursuing!

"So, I absolutely cannot let that brat ruin my territory... Store manager! I want a set that's even more expensive than this, one that truly embodies the spirit of a real man!"

Suddenly, my blood boiled and I scared the salesperson and the store manager out of their wits.

"Eh! Are you serious?"

Is the store manager about to bring out their ultimate treasure?

"Let me ask you one last time, are you really going to buy this dress?"

"Um... well, around 300,000 yen would be fine, if it's that one!"

Finally, after reluctantly giving up on other clothes, I managed to get this dress. It cost me almost half of my pocket money, but luckily I can earn some extra cash working at the café.

"Is... is that so?"

It's the store manager and her colleagues who look shocked now. It's just a new outfit, why are they so surprised?