(chapter xi)

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Yuna entered her bedroom, momentarily startled to see her twin brother sitting on her bed with a serious expression.

"Koshi, what are you—," she began, but he cut her off, his tone grave.

"Yuna, are you being bullied at school?" He asked bluntly.

Yuna studied her twin brother for a moment, a mixture of confusion and suspicion in her eyes. "What are you even going on about?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Koshi tilted his head and crossed his arms, observing, "Mom told me you made a lot of lunch today. And since you eat like a bird, the amount of lunch you made is definitely not normal."

Yuna let out a sigh, removed the towel from her neck, and walked over to her desk. She shot a glare at her brother over her shoulder, "And just because I made more lunch than usual, you assume it's because I'm being bullied?" She said with a scoff, her voice filling with indignation, "As if I'll give anyone the opportunity to belittle me."

Koshi caught her off guard with a sudden jump, letting out a loud "Aha" as he hit his palm with a fist. "You have a boyfriend—again!" he exclaimed, a wide grin on his face.

Yuna let out a weary sigh and plopped down on her chair, shaking her head. "No, not that either," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "Why couldn't you guess I had friends before a boyfriend?"

Koshi couldn't help but snort and burst into laughter at her words. He clutched his stomach and struggled to contain his amusement.

Yuna watched him, her face expressionless. It was ironic, considering that she had always emphatically stated that she didn't have friends. But now, the idea was so comically absurd that it seemed more like a joke than reality.

Koshi continued to laugh heartily as he repeated the words, "You making friends?!" Yuna couldn't help rolling her eyes, turning her chair towards her desk.

She wasn't even slightly offended, as she had not fully comprehended the situation herself. She had accepted Hajime's friendship, and Tooru had joined in, likely due to their shared history as childhood friends.

It had only been a few days since she embarked on the friendship journey, but she found no regrets in her decision. They were undoubtedly intriguing, especially since they constantly seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on her.

Her thoughts wandering to the interactions with Hajime and Tooru, she chuckled thinking about how diligently they watched over her. Despite their careful attention, they had an unexpectedly amusing manner which she secretly found enjoyable.

"Well," Yuna responded, blinking as her brother placed his hand on top of her head. Her lips curled into a soft, mild smile as he continued, "As humorous as it was to tease you, I am genuinely glad you've chosen to make friends."

Yuna felt a warm flutter of happiness within her upon hearing his sincere words, a slight feeling of upliftedness.

"Thanks, Koshi," she whispered, a hint of optimism in her voice, "I hope things continue to go well."

"It will go well if you continue to meet them halfway," he said, and she nodded, reflecting on his words thoughtfully.

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on Yuna's side when it came to forging friendships. Her natural bluntness and lack of concern for other people's feelings often led to others distancing themselves from her.

She had always relied on her brother's company, and when she found herself friendless, his friends had been there to provide a semblance of companionship. Yet, it was not the same; the void of true friendship remained.

There were moments when girls only became friends with her in a vain attempt to get closer to her brother. The stark contrast between them made him the preferred choice, and as a result, Yuna began to suppress her emotions.

If she remained quiet and secluded, she believed she could avoid the same pain she had experienced before. Leading to the main reason, she had chosen not to go to the same school as her brother was to create a sense of independence and find her own path.

She appreciated him immensely for all the sacrifices he had made through the years, and the biggest source of her frustration was people constantly highlighting the contrast between their personalities.

So, her brother's expression of happiness over her newfound friendships wasn't just a casual remark; it resonated deeply with her, a stark contrast to how it might have been received in the past. The significance of his words seemed to surpass the mere statement, reaching a level that touched upon their shared history.

Yuna thoughtfully, taking Koshi's advice into consideration. "I'll do my best to meet them halfway," she said, her eyes meeting his briefly.

Koshi gave her a smile, his hand still resting on her head. "Just be yourself, Yuna. I bet they already like you just the way you are."

"You think so?" Yuna asked, her skepticism evident in her voice.Koshi chuckled lightly, tousling her hair affectionately.

"Of course, I do. Don't underestimate the impact of being genuine."

Yuna's expression softened slightly as she let out a soft sigh. "I just... I don't want to mess things up like I have in the past."

Koshi's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "Yuna, you can't keep living in the past. You've grown, and you've learned. Those mistakes you made in the past don't define who you are now."

He crossed his arms and continued, "I blame those people from the past more than I blame you. They used you and never even attempted to get to know the real you. With the way you've been cautious, I know these friends you've made are the right ones."

He paused for a moment before adding, "Hopefully, one day I'll have the chance to meet them."

A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Yuna's lips, grateful for her brother's unwavering support. "Thanks, Koshi," she murmured. "I hope you do meet them someday."

Koshi returned her smile with a small, reassuring expression. "Just focus on yourself and your friends, okay? And remember, you have me in your corner, always."

"I know," Yuna replied, her voice soft but filled with gratitude. "I appreciate it more than you know."Koshi gave a final ruffle to her hair before standing up.

"And keep the lunch situation under control," he teased with a smirk.

Yuna rolled her eyes playfully and swatted at his hand, a light chuckle escaping her lips. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it."

Koshi chuckled and tousled her hair once more. "I always worry about you, you know that," he said, his gaze affectionate.

"I can handle myself," Yuna retorted, though her tone held little seriousness.

Koshi chuckled and shook his head. "I know you can, but let your brother dote on you every once in a while, alright?"

Yuna's expression softened further, and she couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, alright," she conceded. "I'll let you dote on me a little, for your sake."

Koshi beamed, satisfied with her response. "Good," he said, his tone jokingly authoritative. "Because I'll continue to do it whether you like it or not."

Yuna laughed and shooed him away with a mock annoyed expression. "Yeah, yeah. Get out of here, you big sap."

Koshi chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm going," he said, backing away towards the door."But don't forget what we discussed," he added with a parting wink.

"I won't," Yuna assured him, a mixture of fondness and annoyance in her voice. "Now go before you start being even more embarrassing."

Koshi chuckled once more and finally left the room, leaving Yuna to her thoughts.

She sat back in her chair, reflecting on the conversation with her brother. Koshi had always been a source of both support and amusement in her life, and his approval of her newfound friendships brought a sense of hope and validation to her.

Maybe, just maybe, this time she could make things work. With Koshi's words of encouragement echoing in her mind, she took a deep breath and turned her attention back to her desk, feeling a renewed sense of determination.