Hōyō Family Apartment (Any non-family members please ask to join)

Despite his brother's attempts, Shūshuku knew the truth; his brother only cared for Ai, really. It was in his eyes; he wouldn't stay away from Ai, and wanted to protect her. Never once until the end of the conversation did he say words about protecting his older brother, or even staying with his older brother. He knew how it was; his brother didn't like him, and didn't care if he was around. His left eye jerked for a minute, having a sort of a spasm for a short moment; he continued onwards. "Go check on her, why doncha," he said, tossing his brother aside. He waited for his brother to lose interest in him, so he could move out of the room, and go into his own. His face got enflamed as he sat on his bed; he looked pricked off as he would back on his mattress.

Tenshi wasn't his brother, so he didn't know what he was thinking or what was going on, but something seemed slightly different there in the conversation. The room got a little bit tense, out of nowhere. He wanted to add one more thing as he was told to just go check on her. "And Shushuku.. I would hope in the future, all three of us could stay together. And you know.. the whole reason I signed us up for this mission tomorrow was for you. I figured that if we got anything out of it, that it would help you the more than me or Ai. She can't wield any weapons, and I've got a sword. And sorry for not saying family earlier.. our conversation was more towards Ai, so it just didn't flow out like that. ..I'll go check on her." He figured that was the best he could say to ease any tension, but something still felt weird. He walked over and lightly knocked on the door. "You okay in there, Ai?"

Ai heard her ani-san ask her if she was ok after he knocked on the door and the water finished draining so she opened and walked out "Im ok ani-san, you can take your shower now" she smiled at her big brother and peeked over at shushuku. she was wearing her night clothes which was a little pink shirt and some thin shorts about knee-length

He ignored his brother's words; they were all an attempt to please him. The two would never be peaceful, after his brother's protective attitude with their sister. His brother was a threat to his plans. He closed his door, and locked; he needed some time alone to think. He was close --- really close to his goal. His brother just had to come home when he did; he still felt bitterness because of that.

Tenshi didn't hear any form of response from his brother. Smiling at his sister, he grabbed some clothes, and went in to take a quick shower, rinsing himself within a few minutes and then getting out. After drying off and getting dressed, he'd take a seat on the toilet with the lid down, to think for a minute.

Ai wondered why her nii-san was going strahigt to bed without saying good night or anything so she went and innocently knocked on his door "..are you ok nii-san?" she waited for him to answer her as she looked up at the door

He didn't move off the bed, fake-coughing for the occasion, and responding to her. "Ah, yes, sorry, Ai... I'm just not feeling good. Sleep dreams, love you..." he said, sighing after he finished talking to her. It made him sad, the things that happened today; it made him feel hated inside by his brother.

Tenshi felt odd. It was a weird feeling.. inside him, something felt like it broke. Suddenly their home felt very tense to him, as if he'd done something and he was trying to hide it. It was as if they had some swirling vortex in their living room, and he was trying to say it wasn't there. Just that obvious of a problem, to him at least. He felt bad for some reason. It bothered him, more and more. Unable to figure it out at all, he stared at the floor.

Ai heard her big brother answer her but she knocked one more time quietly "No hugs nii-san?" she waited for him

He looked inside himself; he couldn't bear to make her cry. He got up, walking towards the door; he'd unlock it, and open the door, reaching his arms out to lift her up as he hugged her. Tears of woe filled his closed eyes as he hugged her, wiping them off him with his arms as he hugged her. "I love you, Ai... now go get some rest, I don't want you to get sick." He said, finishing the conversation few moments after it began. After kissing her forehead, he let her down, and went back inside his bedroom, closing the door; he didn't lock it though. He laid down on his bed, staying ontop all the sheets and blankets. He let out a few more tears in secrecy, it sending him off to a night of woe. The nightmare was over, and he was going back to his favorite dreams.

Tenshi walked out of the bathroom as his brother's door closed for the second time. Going over to Ai, he'd lift her up and carry her to her room and lay her down under her covers, tucking her in and smiling. "Good night Ai, get some rest." After that he would walk out and close her door quietly after a little goodnight hug, and then go over to the center table in the living room. It had a few frames on it, inside were pictures that Ai had drawn of all of them. He remembered that one day she had gotten a hold on the crayons, and made all of them for them. Picking up the frame in the center, it was a, slightly poorly-drawn picture of himself, his older brother, and Ai all standing together. Taking it gently out from the frame, he would walk over to his brothers room. It would be obvious due to the difference in weight and the footsteps it wasn't his sister, and his brother wasn't stupid. Tenshi leaned down and slipped the picture through the crack at the bottom of the door between it and the floor. It would go into the room a few feet, creating a small breeze for itself as it rested gently, making a scratchy, sliding sound before stopping completely. Tenshi's shadow disappeared as he walked to the couch where he slept, laying down, staring at the cieling.

Ai fell asleep shrotly after her ani-san closed her door

He was already asleep, and paying no mind to what happened in the room when the picture went into his room. The picture would have to wait until tomorrow; he dreamed of what today should've been, and what his younger brother should've done today. He dreamed of his hopes, and dreams coming true. It was bliss in his dreams.

Tenshi eventually closed his eyes in deep thought, that deep thought escaping into a dream, and his conscious falling into a deep silence. He was finally asleep after having stared for at least an hour in thought at the ceiling. Wondering.. if he had done something to his brother.

*sleeping*

Shūshuku woke up before the other two, shouting: "Get your butts, up!" He rubbed his eyes, walking forward to find a picture on the floor; it wasn't any masterpiece, but it was still a family teacher. He remembered that Ai had drawn this picture; it made him smile. He didn't forgive his brother, though, as he knew this picture didn't get here on its own; his brother had to have slipped this under to try and cool things down. However, he did respect the idea; he would calm down a bit, but still held anger at his brother. He walked out the bedroom, walking over to Ai's bedroom door, knocking on it; a tear could be seen on the floor in-front of his room. He cried again. "Ai, you awake, sis?" He questioned, knocking on her door.

Tenshi woke up as his brother yelled for them. As Tenshi arose from the couch and changed into some other clothes, he'd go for his sword as well while his brother got their sister. "Good morning, Shushuku." He'd try to start it off normal.

ai woke up as her nii-san knocked on the door and she yawned getting out of bed and going for her clothes "im up nii-san! good morning!" she giggled a little already having energy

He nodded as she was confirmed to be awake; he muttered as his brother called his name, not in the mood to talk. He went to his own room, and was going to take a small shower as a substitute for not taking one last night.

[Skip for me a bit]

Tenshi let his brother be and threw his clothes on quickly before Ai came out. He'd walk over and quietly knock on her door. "Want anything for breakfast, Ai?" He would ask his brother too after she answered, but he figured he could just make him some anyway and if he didn't want it he didn't have to eat it.

ai changed out of her night clothes and got dressed opening her door as her ani-san asked her if she wanted something for breakfast "i'm ok ani-san thank you" ai smiled and gave her ani-san a good morning hug

Tenshi returned the hug from her as she came out and answered him. He himself didn't have much of an appetite either, so he just nodded. "Okay, let me know if you want anything before we go." He would go and get his short-sword, hanging it at his waist. "I'm gonna go throw a few practice swings. You want to come with me for a few minutes, Ai?" He'd wait for her to answer before leaving, writing a note for his brother.

ai nodded when her ani-san offered to take her with him while he practised because she didnt get to see him do it when he did so she nodded and smiled "ok ani-san!"

Tenshi slipped the note under his brothers door. It was explaining he was taking Ai out for a minute, and to meet them outside when he was ready. Then he went over to the door and opened it, waiting for Ai.

Ai walked over to the door and went out since her ani-san was holding it for her [exit