Everyone looked directly toward him. Including Big Brother Fukuro.
Big Brother smiled faintly. "HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN FIGHTING, RISSHU?!"
Risshu looked at the skylight above. The sun had risen slightly higher. He remained silent for a mont before deciding.
"...Maybe about ten minutes, Big Brother!" he answered.
In the middle of the fight, Big Brother smiled broadly. "So, it has been that long, huh..." he muttered.
Touji attacked again. While he was in mid-air, Big Brother’s fist had already co down upon him. The strike hit his head directly.
Touji fell instantly. He slamd into the hard concrete floor. Touji tried to rise again, but was pinned down by Big Brother who was above him, holding both of his hands. Touji tried to resist.
Big Brother growled, shouting loudly. "ENOUGH, MY LITTLE BROTHER TOUJI! THE SPARRING IS OVER!"
***
Everything felt hollow. There was no space for to get out.
’Dark. This is different from when I dream.’
I huddled, trying to get out. But it was impossible. I could not do it. Drowsiness overca my eyes.
’Where is this? Am I in the afterlife?’
No. It seed the afterlife was not like this. The afterlife should have a form. A definite form between heaven and hell. But this, it was just like a mass of darkness.
At the far end, I saw a place. A place bounded by an uncertain circle, like a barrier. That place was filled with heavy falling snow. High mountains were buried beneath it. And there was nothing but loneliness there.
’What is this feeling? Cold? Like sothing very familiar. But what?’
The more I tried to rember it, the more my chest felt painful. I huddled even tighter. I pressed my closed eyes harder. I wanted to get out.
"TOUJI!" he shouted, the voice felt familiar.
’What voice is that—?’
"TOUJI!" he shouted once more.
’This voice... This voice belongs to—!’
"TOUJI!" he shouted. I regained consciousness.
I saw in front of that Big Brother was already cradling in his arms. His face was slightly pale.
I looked around. Many people had already gathered there, standing tall. So of them looked at with tilted heads, feeling pity. And among them, there was also one person who was different. Looking at with his arms crossed. Risshu.
I woke up, sitting. I held my head. This ti it felt painful.
I looked at Big Brother beside . "...What happened, Big Brother? Did I pass out in the middle of the fight?" I asked.
Big Brother stroked the back of his neck. "Um... I don’t know. I’m also confused how to say it. My Little Brother Touji, you were like—"
"Controlled by sothing. You went back to being like that ti, Touji," interrupted one of the people from the crowd in front of .
That person stepped forward, revealing himself. Risshu.
His arms were still crossed. His gaze this ti grew even sharper.
My head tilted slightly. I looked at him in confusion. ’What does he an— Ah..."
I realized it. This was the sa thing as when he stared at in fear a few days after the sparring.
He stared sharply at for a mont before a long sigh escaped him.
"...If you don’t try to control it, you will forever be a monster, Touji. Maybe later it will be worse than this," he stated.
He turned around. "Sohow you can be controlled by sothing as terrifying as that. Just thinking about it scares ," he said, then returned to the ranks behind.
I remained silent. What he said was true. This would definitely be worse if I didn’t find a way to control it. I looked at the palm of my hand. It felt cold. I rose to my feet. Big Brother followed after.
The people who had gathered returned to the training area after Big Brother ordered them to.
I turned toward Big Brother. I bowed, trying to apologize. But before I could do so, he held my shoulder. Looking at with a friendly smile.
"Don’t be like that, My Little Brother Touji. Don’t apologize just for a trivial matter. Besides, I enjoyed it!" he stated.
I smiled faintly. My gaze lowered slightly. "Thank yo—"
"But, when I saw your fight earlier. Aside from before you were controlled by sothing, you almost matched the level of a Half-Sword Master...," he stated. His fingers held his chin. His eyes looked elsewhere before looking back at . "Maybe you can rise to the level of Half-Sword Master up to Sword Master quickly. What usually takes eight years, might be cut in half. About four years, My Little Brother Touji."
I remained silent. My eyes widened before I looked at him from the corner of my eye. What he said was like giving candy to a small child. It made so happy that I was speechless.
Big Brother was startled. "Oh, right...! I have to get there imdiately!"
I looked at him in confusion.
He suddenly called the people to gather. He told to step down afterward. After everyone had gathered, he announced a sudden announcent.
"ALRIGHT, ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS! FOR TODAY’S TRAINING, THAT IS ENOUGH! I HAVE URGENT BUSINESS!" he shouted.
So of them complained after hearing that announcent, not wanting to disband quickly. And so of them were the opposite, happy about it. I watched them, before looking at Big Brother back on top of the arena. If asked whether I was happy or not, the answer was in the middle. Because I also had important business.
"ALRIGHT ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS! EVERYONE DISPERSE!" he shouted, causing everyone to scatter.
They all headed toward one place, the large door in front. I followed after.
Arriving there, we gathered. The one we were waiting for was obvious—Big Brother Fukuro.
He walked slowly toward the large door in front. Reaching the front, he paused for a mont while smiling broadly. He inhaled the surrounding air using his mouth. Both of his cheeks puffed up like a blown balloon.
His hand touched the door handle in front. He tightened his grip. And he pulled it with strength.
"HAAAH!"
With one powerful pull, the door imdiately opened.
I was slightly stunned seeing it. ’Turns out Big Brother is that strong.’
He looked at All his Little Brothers behind him. He smiled faintly.
"ALRIGHT ALL MY LITTLE BROTHERS! SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ETING!" he shouted.
His footsteps began to echo on the red carpet, which stretched long in the vast corridor.
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