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Since Sho's duel with the Jinzo heir, the brothers bond has became much more better and Sho would visit and take care of Ryo daily. Sho would help him to eat, and they would daily go on a stroll, check out their deck and build new strategies and talk about their plans to start their own league. Even though Sho knows Ryo cares for him, sometimes he wonders if his brother really loves him and wished he could confess his love for him.
Ryo got discharged a week after his graduation, and Sho choose to take a break for 2 months before he go to Pro, and decide to help his brother recover.
“Of all the ways you could spend your birthday, and you chose to help me with rehab!!” Ryo huffed as Sho helped him with the exercises the doctor gave him.
“I want to make sure you get better, Ni-san!” Sho huffed “the last thing I want is to watch you die again!”
Ryo grimaced. He felt terrible for wasting his brother’s time, but he was right…
Ryo sighed, absolutely exhausted. He knew these exercises were necessary, but they were draining sometimes.
Sho chuckled and sat on the foot of the bed. “Are you alright, Ni-san?”
“I’ll be fine!” He chuckled and sat up, grabbing a hairbrush. “Come here!”
“Huh? Why?”
“I want to brush your hair. For old times sake….”
Sho was taken aback by that. Ryo hadn’t brushed his hair since they were little, after that incident.
“S-sure…” Sho crawled along the bed and sat in front of Ryo’s crossed legs.
Ryo started to brush his hair. He was making sure to smooth it out before tackling his knots.
“So… how’re things? Are you eating well?”
“Yeah… the food in the Obelisk dorms is delicious… better than at Slifer but I miss our mom's food.”
Ryo chuckled at that. “The food in the obelisk dorms is good but I agree no food can be better than our mom's”
“What about clothes? Are you washing them?”
“Wh- yes, Ni-san, I’m doing my laundry! I’m not a gross little plague rat!”
“And what about your binder? Are you washing it the way I taught you?”
"NI-SAN!”
“What!? You need to take proper care of it so it can take care of you!”
“Oh my god”, Sho sighed, exasperated “, yes! I’m taking care of it!”
Ryo smiled “good….”
“Why are you bombarding me with questions all of a sudden, after all you aren't the talkative type.” Sho asked.
“S-sorry… I’ll stop!”
The room went awkward and silent.
Ryo kept brushing Sho’ hair.
“Ni-san… what’s going on?” Sho asked quietly.
“It’s just… I realised that I haven’t been the best brother to you….”
“T-that’s not true!” Sho stammered.
“Even now, you still defend me… you’re too kind to me, Sho….” Ryo sighed “but I know I haven’t been kind to you. Even when we were at Duel Academy together, I pushed you aside and looked down on you… when I should’ve treated you with kindness and compassion like Judai did… I can see why you love him so much….”
“Ni-san, I—“ Sho wanted to retort, but he couldn’t.
“You’re right, Ni-san what you did… hurt me… a lot… you were supposed to be my big brother, my hero, my friend, my protector, but instead, you made me feel insecure, frightened, ashamed of myself… I know you were trying to teach me to respect my opponent, but… there were better ways to do thar.”
He sobbed and hugged Ryo “B-but even so… you’re my big brother, and I love you!! And all I’ve ever wanted was for you to love me back!!”
Ryo sobbed and hugged Sho back. “I do love you, Sho And I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve done!! You’re so amazing and have come so far since your first year! I’m so sorry I hurt you!! I’m so sorry I’ve been an awful brother!!”
The two held on to each other tightly, letting it all out. Eventually, they let go and smiled. They felt so much better now.
“F-from now on, I’m going to make sure that you know I’m always there for you… and make up for lost time” Ryo smiled
“I’d like that….” Sho smiled and hugged him a little longer.
A few minutes later, Ryo returned to brushing Sho's hair, who was way more accepting of it now.
“So, how’re things with that dinosaur kid you like?”
“Kenzen-kun?” Sho blushed “um, they’re great! Really good!”
“They’re good, huh? Is there something going on between you two?”
“N-no… actually we're just friends.”
“What!? Why?!” Ryo asked, shocked.
“Well, I just don’t think I’m good enough for him… plus, he still has one year left at the academy, and I’ll be busy, and I’m just worried about holding him back, besides Rei makes him happy….”
“And you don’t make him happy?”
“W-well, he seems happy with me but—“
“Sho…” Ryo sighed, almost disappointed.
“What?!”
“Do you love him?”
“O-of course I do! I love him as a friend so much it hurts!!” Sho sobbed
“Then fight for him… the friendship will work out, not only in friendship but also in relationship, but you have to put the effort in.. you have to prove you want your friendship to last longer and want to make things work….” Ryo sighed “that’s why Asuka and I fell apart… I wasn’t putting as much into the relationship as she was, and she couldn’t take it anymore….”
He hugged his brother from behind. " I know you love him… so try to fight for it and make it work. Don’t give up yet
“A-and what about you and Asuka… she still has feelings for you….”
“H-he does…? I thought she and Judai were….”
“You think so, but no!”
Both brothers looked up in shock to see Asuka in the doorway.
“W-what? Asuka…” Ryo stammered.
“A-am I interrupting something? I can go!”
“No, no, no, come in!!” Sho blurted out, “you’re ok!”
She smiled at Ryo. “I think that’s a sign you two should try again..”
Ryo blushed and looked at Asuka who smiled kindly and sat next to him. “If you would give me a second chance, Ryo it would make me the happiest woman alive….”
“A-Asuka”
He found himself reaching out and holding the other’s hand. “I… I want a second chance… please, Ryo. I want to make this right!”
Asuka smiled and leaned in to kiss Ryo on the cheek, soft, tender and warm.
“Whoa! Am I interruptin somethin’?”
The three of them looked up and saw Kenzen in the doorway holding up a set of messy cakes with tiny dinosaurs and trucks
“Kenzen-kun come in!” Sho grinned
Kenzen came in with the cakes. “Kaiser-senpai told me your birthday was today s-so I did my best to make you some cupcakes… the icings a bit runny but I tried my best… I hope you like em….”
Sho giggled and took the cupcakes. “Kenzen-kun, that’s so sweet of you! Come here!”
He pulled Kenzen into a peck on his cheek.. How could he ever want to ruin the friendship with this Man?!
He smiled at him with loving eyes. “Ever since I graduated, I always miss you,!”
“I wouldn’t worry about that, Marufuji-senpai! We’ll just call each other often! Not every day, though, because I don’t want to burn you out!”
Sho teared up and nodded “y-yeah, every few days! And I’ll send presents and tell you everything!!”
“Yeah! And I’ll send things to you too! And have Edo, Rei-chan and Fujiwara-senpai film my duels so you can watch them!!”
“I’d love that….”
“Hey, Sho! Careful, you’re going to get icing on the sheets!!” Ryo chuckled
“Ah! Sorry!! Let’s eat ‘em up then!”
Ryo smiled “happy Birthday Sho!”
Asuka grinned and cuddled up to Ryo “happy birthday Sho-kun”
Kenzen pressed another kiss to his cheek. “Happy Birthday, Sho!”
“Thanks, guys!!”
It didn’t look like much, but to Sho, this was the best birthday ever.