Work Text:
For as long as Tsukasa can remember, Saki was- and still is- the center of attention. It's not much since the only memories intact are the snips of life he dedicated to his little sister and her smile. Was his foggy past making him think of the bias because it's the only thing he has? Probably; therefore, Saki has not taken anything from him!
Tsukasa is sure that his parents split the love and everything in between evenly! The Tenmas care for Saki as much as him! That's an irrefutable fact!
By the time his birthday came up this year, not a tendril of his parents' being remembered. Actually- he's positive they did! They just are.. busy.
Unlike on Saki's birthday.
No, Saki's birthday is top priority. They canceled every work-related event and their son's attempt to celebrate with them. Their mom and dad personally went out of their way to take Saki to.. dunno- he wasn't invited. Eight or so hours must've been spent somewhere!
As close as their birthdays may be, that might be why they're not here! After pushing everything for Saki, the favorite, they've no choice but to work on his birthday! His sister is also out with her band mates.
All in all, an empty household is reasonable and the soulless birthday crisis is resolved!
[...]
It's cold.
Empty.
Almost sad.
Little Tsukasa, only seven years old, alone on his birthday. Once again. Back when his little sister was healthy, he was celebrated for being born on a certain day. Back then.. it was his last birthday celebrated with his family.
Again? They're gone? His internal disappointment wanted to creep onto his face.
Disheartening, one might say. Being failed because the Tenmas are at the hospital making sure Saki is okay. Doctors say it's stable, but as parents, they only want the best for her- them. Mhm, this is necessary for them.
Her condition is a rollercoaster, up, down, all over the place, going wild at top speed. She is not to blame! Tsukasa, knowing nothing but the loneliness of the room, tried setting up another gig for his little sister.
Every act played was for her. For Saki, he'd range fron a hero of class to one with an ego eighty steps up.
By the time he felt proud of his work, his birthday had gone. Further on, by the time the rest of the family came, including Saki, his big day was banished from their thoughts. No belated birthday, only the celebration of Saki returning.
It hurt seeing her get the attention he wanted on his birthday. Although he wanted it, the older brother would never take from Saki. Being in good health should be considered his gift, so he'll force it to be!
Good health comes with a bright smile, personality, pose, plus all the qualities of a star! Tenma Tsukasa is a star! In this world, he alone stands brightest.
Even if he wants something else, when his heart doesn't want to be the one babying but to be the one baby'd, he's the star his little sister needs. Her worries would be have washed away the 'unimportant' one.
If Tsukasa dug deep enough into his memory, there'd be a time he'd scowl at. Time when he felt jealousy and even hatred towards his dear sister.
"Again?" Beyond his room was his empty house. It was eleven in the night when he gave up hope that his parents would be back.
This specific star waited the entire day for the arrival of Saki and his parents. Waiting for them to jump out from the door and announce their return.
There's no light outside just like his eyes, so forever he'll remain patient.
One day, his parents are going to come home on his birthday.
One day, they'll surprise him.
One day, it won't be Tenma Tsukasa finding each and every way to brighten up the smile of someone.
One day came when he was.. the birthdays melted into an average day on the calendar. Time twisted so close and his age roped within.
Tsukasa was half-lidded and stumbling out to the kitchen when he heard his parents.
"Ya know.. Tsukasa is going to be able to leave when he's in college," his mother quipped. "Imagine all the money we can save from then on?"
"Remember when he did everything to get Saki to look at him? He's turned those outrageous fantasies to a job for him. No way he doesn'thave the money to move out because I need that bill to decrease!"
Oh.
They don't love them equally. Saki is favored.
So.. surprising. Hah, it was obvious.
Just..
Oh.
Oh.
Why?
.
Tsukasa did everything his parents ever asked plus the stuff they didn't even need to. Dishes are washed, the laundry is folded, the floors are swept, even the bathrooms he'd clean! All while integrating time dedicated to a new show made for his sister's smile.
Technically, the best lie is one you yourself falls into.
Pretending his parents loved him as much as Saki is easy enough. Not when they prove a point.
Fuck, it was obvious too!
Y'know? Some birthdays aren't worth celebrating.
Maybe lived lives too.
[...]
Isn't the show so entertaining?
Saki Tenma, the younger child of the two, has witnessed nothing of Tsukasa Tenma. Her older brother is a burning star, shining farther and farther as long as the world he became everlasting for gains another smile. Basking in his radiance, he does everything for another person's grin; that's her older brother.
Who in the world is Tsukasa Tenma? In all of the glory, the real being of that star is found. It's barely glowing, the true features are depressive. Hiding- no- escaping what he truly is.
Hideous! Faulty!
Worthless! Torn!
Insignificant! Drained..
Pitiful!
Neglected..
Useless!
Cursed! Parasite!
"What did I dedicate my life to?"
Following another birthday of emptiness was another show. Rui, the beloved director, wrote it. He wrote it with a star in mind.
[...]
"It's not enough," Tsukasa mumbled. "I'm the star.. but I'm letting that slip out of my reach."
His birthday failure of the umpteenth time bugged him. There's eyebags hid makeup skills keep covered. Needing it is only another reason to hate himself.
Nobody loves him. If they say they do, they love a certain star, not Tsukasa. What star needs extra help to shine as brightly as the competition?
Once his uselessness washes deeper in his body, he'll disappear.
Though, that's not far from now. Maybe a week or two?
Just kidding, the star is exploding now.
I mean, why else would someone find out about every wrong feature of his body? How would they write about it? Sure, the corpse the oldest son of the Tenma family goes stiff. The body is the true being.
Not that shabby star the Tenmas thought was him.
For that exploded as well.