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Ryoga paced around the room. He had practiced everything he wanted to say but he still couldn’t help but be anxious. Should he start preparing a backup plan if the conversation goes south? There isn’t enough time, is there? But what if—
“Onii-sama!”
There she is, arriving out of nowhere like she usually does.
“Reika!” he welcomed her with his arms spread out.
She smiled and hugged him tight with as much energy as she could muster. “Sophia said you had something important you wanted to talk about?”
“R-right” Ryoga hugged her back and awkwardly tried to move away “Sit down here, okay?”
The two siblings took their seats as Ryoga tried to turn his thoughts into words while Reika gazed at him.
“Ahem. You know I love you, right, Reika?”
Reika almost felt insulted by the obvious statement “Well of course, Onii-sama! And I love you too! More than anything in the world!” she responded proudly
“For the longest time, we only had each other” Ryoga put his hands together hoping it would help him focus. “I did the best I could to give you a good childhood. But I was still a child myself and… I didn’t always know what to do.”
“Yes but…” Reika tilted her head “That’s alright, is it not? We got through it and we can be happy together, right?”
“We can but… I don’t think that’s right.” His head dropping solemnly “I asked Sophia to transfer me to a different branch.”
“What?!” Reika jumped out of her seat. “What are you—why are you—what is the meaning of this?!”
“Calm down, Reika—”
“I won’t calm down!” she yelled. “After all we’ve been through you want to leave me alone? How can you—how can you do that?!”
Ryoga stood up and took her shaking hand. “I’m not leaving you alone, Reika.”
She looked at him with upset confusion.
“Things have changed lately. We’re not alone anymore. We’ve made truly good friends and the man we were forced to serve under is no more.”
“So now you can finally leave?” her voice shaked “Leave so someone else can look after your useless sister?”
“Don’t say that, Reika.” Ryoga replied firmly “You’ve grown into a wise and strong woman. Wiser and stronger than I could ever hope to be. And I’m very very proud of you.”
“You…” a tear rolled down Reika’s cheek “You are?”
“Of course I am!” he smiled “And that is why I want you to make it on your own now. I want you to learn about the world, about friendship, about true love. I want my little sister to get even stronger. I want you to see that there is more to life than what you can see next to me.”
“But…” Reika sniffed “I don’t want to leave you…”
“I’m not leaving forever, Reika.” he put his hand on her shoulder “Just for a while. I’ll be back when we’re both ready for it, okay? Trust me, this will be good for the both of us.”
“I…” she looked down on the floor, trying to control herself
“Okay, Onii-sama. I… I think we can try that.” she said, trying to look aloof to the whole thing.
“There’s the Reika I know.” Ryoga beamed with joy “I believe in you.”
Reika looked back up at him. “Thank you… I believe in you too, Onii-sama.”
The siblings gave each other another loving hug, but for the first time in a while, this one felt… warmer somehow? Strange feeling… but it feels good.
“Right then… I’ll be off now.” Ryoga crossed his arms, trying to be cool “Don’t do anything that would anger me while I’m gone.”
“Of course” Reika chuckled “I wouldn’t dream of it, Onii-sama.”
“Oh right, one more thing.” he remembered “Do you… think you could try calling me Ryoga from now on?”
“Hm? Of course, Ryoga.” Reika stopped for a second and laughed “Ryoga. Ryo-ga. Feels kinda weird, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Ryoga nodded. “But it feels kinda good too, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I think so, Oni…ahem, Ryoga.”
Reika and Ryoga smiled at each other before going their separate ways for the first time in their lives.
“I love you, Ryoga.”
“I love you too, Reika.”