Chapter Text
Curry and rice. One of Saeko's best dishes, and possibly Ryuu's second favorite dish.
Now it sits, long gone cold, on the dented kitchen table. Saeko glances at the clock for what feels like the millionth time. Three hours since practice should have ended. Three hours since Ryuu called to say he'd be back in half an hour.
The lady who picks up when she calls to report her brother missing is calm and gentle. A lot like how their mother used to be before a cat decided to wander into the road. She had swerved to avoid it and promptly crashed into a tree, leaving the car mangled and their mother even more broken. She was killed on impact, the doctors told them. At least it was quick. At least she wasn't drinking, the police had said. Saeko didn't really care. All she knew was that her mother was dead and there would be no more Sunday morning pancakes. At least not how she liked them, Fluffy and smothered in homemade jam.
Her brother stirred in her arms, and she had clutched him so tightly he reached up to scratch at her with a chubby hand.
Saeko has hot tears rolling down her cheeks by the time she manages to answer the lady's questions. Yes, he's not answering his phones. No, nothing happened at home. Tall, buzzcut, lean muscles, scary face...
The sound of the phone beeping after she hangs up is deafening in the silence of the house. Saeko feels sick as she blinks at the curry, pork cut in large slices. Just like how Ryuu likes it.
She folds her hands over each other, possible situations running through her head. None of them are good. Maybe he was kidnapped by an organization looking for handsome baldies. Maybe there was a cat in the street.....
She shakes her head to chase the thought away.
It's almost another hour before the doorbell rings, and Saeko moves with shaky legs towards the door. It rings again.
"Coming!"
She can hear the storm raging outside, and her heart sinks. There was talk of a typhoon coming in the middle of the night, but apparently it decided to drop by early.
"Ryuu?"
Her brother is soaking wet, wrapped in a blanket and leaning heavily on a police officer for support. When he looks up at her, his eyes are red and his face is pale in a way she's never seen before.
"Oh, Ryuu." Her voice cracks in a terribly embarrassing way, but Ryuu's facial muscles don't twitch in the slightest. The police officer greets her cheerily, but his expression is serious.
"How about you go sit down somewhere, kiddo? I need to tell your sister what happened."
He nods robotically, and Saeko reaches out to grab his shoulder but he flinches.
"Sorry."
He sounds gruff, and sad. It breaks her heart.
Ryuu looks perfectly comfortable curled up on the couch, but Saeko can't stop stealing glances at him.
"As much as I understand how worried you've been, I need to tell you what happened, ma'am."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I apologize."
"Thank you. Your brother was involved in a robbery at the jewelry store just a bus stop away from here. The robber was cornered by police, and decided to take your brother hostage. He was held at knifepoint for just under an hour-"
"An hour?"
She imagines it. Grimy hands on her baby brother, a knife pressed to his throat.
"Yes. We chose to negotiate with the him instead of the taking him by force, in fear of the boy's safety. He has since been captured and is secure in our hands."
Saeko nods in understanding. She isn't quite sure what to say.
"Luckily, he sustained only minor bruising on his arm from where the man grabbed him rather tight. We've already had him looked at and nothing seems to be the problem. Physically, at least. He hasn't been very responsive, presumably from the shock."
He goes on to blabber about therapists and counseling. Saeko barely register any of it. She just wants him to leave, as much of a help he's been. She wants him to go away so she can wrap her arms around Ryuu, who's still curled up in a ball on the couch looking tiny.
He seems to take the hint, because a minute later he excuses himself. He gives Ryuu an awkward pat on the head and leaves. Saeko sees him to the door, bowing deeper than she's had to in a while.
"You need to shower bro. You're soaking wet. You can't play volleyball with a cold."
He nods, getting up slowly. Saeko pulls him into a tight hug as soon as he's up. He buries his head in the crook of her neck like he used to do as a toddler. Saeko smiles when she feels the warmth of a wet patch spreading on her sleeve. It's better than having a robot.
"I'm sorry."
It's not your fault."
"I was scared."
"I know."
She doesn't dare to pull away. Eventually it's Ryuu who wiggles out of her grasp to look at her with teary eyes.
"You've got snot on your face, tiger."
It's a nickname she hasn't used since he turned twelve.
"I was at the jewelry shop. To get you a bracelet."
She feels something twinge in her heart. Guilt and confusion.
"Y'know. Cos it's mother's day tomorrow. And you're kind of like my mom because mom isn't hear anymore. Then he came in and he was shouting. And he grabbed me, and I tried to get away but he was strong and he had a knife."
Saeko nods. She promised herself she's be strong for Ryuu but goddammit, she's only human. Tears well up in her eyes for the third time that night.
"I love you, stupid."
"Me too."