Chapter 10: Family Visit; Idol and Pursuit (1/2)
The next day, after school is over, Nao comes over and says,
”Let's get going.”
We head to a train station nearby and wait for our train to arrive. Nao then asks me if I am hungry. She then proceeds to buy station-special food with a look of excitement on her face. This is the very first time I see her making such an expression.
We take an express train, and Nao eats her food on the train. Once we reach the desired station, we get off the train and ride a bus. On the way there, Nao begins to tell me about her past,
”When we were younger I passed the exam of a magnet school for a national university. When I went to tell my brother about it, he encouraged me and spoke of how he was going to make his debut in music soon.
But in the end, I never got to go to school. Our mother, one day, began speaking of a school that my brother and I should be transferred to. My brother couldn't accept it and started retorting her. In the end, our mother got on her knees and bowed to us, begging us to go to the school, claiming that it would help our family's financial situation. After that, my brother couldn't say anything else, and so both of us transferred to the school.
The place looked like a school outside, and I got to make new friends easily. At the end of the day, I was made to take a physical exam of sorts. Even though the two of us were in the same school, we never got to meet each other. Whenever I wanted to look for him, my friends would prevent me from doing so. And so, I was unaware that my brother had become an experimental subject for scientists.
My brother had the special ability to manipulate vibrations in the air at will. He was discovered when he used his power on a live stage to make his guitar make various sounds. Scientists believed that his ability could be used to jam communications, or even jack the airwaves; In the end, I managed to meet my brother after one year, but it was too late by then. He was no longer the brother I knew. He couldn't even recognize me, his little sister, anymore. I had enough of it all and ran away from that sorry excuse of a school.
Afterward, I met the only person I can place my trust in...”
They were sold for money? By their own mother, no less? This is not what I was expecting. Why did she do it? HOW could she do it? How could someone sell her children for money? Forget it, it's the past. What matters right now is who is the guy she met. Before I could ask her about it, she says,
”We've arrived.”
We go over to a huge building. Once we're inside, Nao goes over to the reception and says,
”I'm Nao Tomori. I've come to see my brother.”
The reception then responds,
”He's in room 12, go ahead.”
Nao then asks,
”Can I take him outside?”
To which the reception replies,
”As long as it's within our grounds it's fine.”
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We get to room 12. After knocking on the door lightly twice, Nao slides the door open. What enters my sight is a brown haired guy shouting as he shreds his futon to pieces. Feathers are lying all over the place.
”The painkillers have worn off again...”, Nao lightly mutters, as she approaches the bed and presses a button.
”What is he doing?” , I ask.
”Composing. He thinks he is playing the guitar. The grunting is the main melody line.”, she replies
A nurse gets to the room after a while and injects the guy with painkillers. She then removes the shredded futon and gets a new one. Once everything is settled, Nao asks her brother,
”Would you like to go outside? The time of the day the scenery looks the best.”
The guy just sits on his bed, staring at nothing, his eyes looking lifeless.
------
She sure wasn't kidding when she said the scenery is beautiful. It's dusk at the moment, so the color of the sky fits perfectly with the boundary between the sea and sky. We're standing on a cliff filled with greenery, air gently blowing on us.
”How did you get your brother to such a place?” , I ask her, curious about how she could afford such a place.
”It was all thanks to the person I could place my trust in.”, she replies.
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Once I'm home, I'm met with Ayumi standing there, with a pout on her face. She's clearly displeased with something. Knowing her, I tell her,
”I didn't expect the student council to take so much of my time.”
”Oh, you're a part of the student council? It's my first time hearing of this!”, she flips moods like a switch.
As she goes back to cooking whatever it was, I begin to think of today's happenings. Based on what Nao said, there is a high chance that Ayumi could have special abilities of her own. If I am to be captured, Ayumi will end up just like Nao...
”It's done!”, exclaims Ayumi as she places a plate of curry in front of me.