Morning broke with the first light of dawn, illuminating the world anew.
In a bustling city, a young boy stood at the entrance of a renowned hospital with his phone in hand, a dark expression clouding his face.
“What do you mean, work is that important? Do you even realize that Nokishio’s illness has flared up again? All she wants is for you to be by her side. How many years has it been since you last came home?”
“Yes, you earn money to pay for Nokishio’s treatment. That’s not the issue, but you haven’t been home in three years. Is it that difficult to come back just once?”
A furious shout shattered the hospital’s quiet. The boy’s face was a mask of anger.
“Humph… I don’t have a father like him, nor a mother like you. Other than the living expenses you send each month, we never even see your shadows. What kind of parents are you?”
Tears streamed down his cheeks as the boy’s face grew haggard.
“Is there any point in saying this now? If you had considered my feelings and Nokishio’s from the start, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Since you abandoned us, you should never have had us in the first place.”
“Fine, do as you please! Over the years, I’ve kept track of every penny of living expenses you’ve sent. I’ll repay it all someday. And may you find happiness with your own families.”
With a sarcastic laugh, the boy slammed the phone down and slumped helplessly onto the cold ground, weeping.
At the age of six, his parents divorced without a second thought. Neither did he want custody of himself or his sister. Apart from the monthly allowance, they only saw each other through phone calls.
Ironically, shortly after the divorce, both parents started new families. Nokiyoru and his sister might already be orphans if not for the law. They already felt like orphans.
Nokiyoru never forgot his resentment towards his parents. They claimed to earn money for his sister’s treatment, but that was just an excuse. Beyond the fixed monthly allowance, they never showed their faces. What kind of parents were they?
If it weren’t for their grandfather, who cared for them and left behind some savings after his death, Nokiyoru and his sister might have ended up as beggars.
Moreover, his sister had a congenital heart defect that made her much weaker than ordinary people since birth. Even walking was a challenge. Any exertion or breathlessness caused severe chest pain, often leading to fainting spells.
From a young age, Nokiyoru and his sister relied on each other. After their grandfather’s death, his sister became his only family.
Shaking off his troubling thoughts, Nokiyoru wiped his reddened eyes, trying to appear normal, and entered the hospital room smilingly.
Inside the room, a pale young girl lay on a pristine white bed.
Her long black hair reached her waist, her eyebrows arched delicately, and her petite nose breathed steadily. Her slightly parted cherry lips revealed a hint of vulnerability. Her fair, slender arms and delicate fingers enhanced her stunning appearance despite her pale complexion.
Sitting quietly, Nokiyoru gently caressed her sleeping face with a loving smile as the girl slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes sparkled with life and energy. She blinked and turned her head slightly, smiling sweetly. “Brother, you’re back.”
“Yes, what happened this time? Why did you faint suddenly?” Nokiyoru gently ruffled her hair, a hint of reproach in his voice.
“Nothing…” The girl giggled, then pouted playfully. “Brother, I want to go home.”
“Alright, I’ll handle the discharge procedures. We’ll go home soon.” Nokiyoru tapped her nose affectionately before leaving the room.
A few minutes later, on the bustling street…
A young boy carried a girl on his back, creating a vibrant scene against the city backdrop.
“Kara Nokishio, you seem to have gained weight again!”
“No way, just a tiny bit more than last time.” The girl pouted, lightly knocking on the boy’s head in mock anger.
“It’s good to gain weight, good to gain weight.” Nokiyoru carried her securely, fearing she might fall.
“Brother, they still won’t come back, will they?” The girl asked sadly after a moment of silence, resting despondently on his back.
“Nokishio, they have things to do. Let’s go home. I’ll cook something delicious for you tonight.” Nokiyoru’s face stiffened, his eyes filled with resentment.
“Okay, I love your cooking the most.” The girl beamed, full of energy but clearly forcing herself to stay cheerful.
“Let’s go home…” Nokiyoru quickened his pace, heading towards their unique home.
“Yes… let’s go home.” The girl echoed.
Suddenly, she turned her head, astonished. “Brother, wait, look at what’s being sold over there!”
“Fruit.” Nokiyoru turned to see a fruit stand.
“No, it looks like a Devil Fruit! Let’s go check it out.” The girl wriggled excitedly on his back.
“Alright!”
“This really looks like a Devil Fruit.” Nokiyoru stared at the oddly shaped, intricately patterned fruit in surprise, thinking how creative people were with fruit these days.
“Brother, let’s buy one!” The girl looked at him expectantly.
“It’s not real, and we don’t know if it’s safe. What if it’s chemically treated?”
“Hey, young man, this isn’t chemically treated. It’s a regular fruit, just crafted to look like this. It’s actually an apple,” explained the vendor.
“Alright, we’ll buy one.”
That evening, under the starry sky…
A shooting star streaked across the heavens.
“Nokishio, come down for dinner.” In the living room, Nokiyoru set the table with a simple meal of three dishes and a soup.
“Coming!” A crisp voice echoed from upstairs.
The girl bounced down the stairs with a series of thumps, panting slightly. She was wearing an oversized pyjama shirt and radiating joy as she reached the table.
“I’ve told you many times not to rush or run. Look at you, panting after just one trip down the stairs.” Nokiyoru sighed, grabbing a towel to wipe her sweat gently.
“It smells so good. Brother, you’re amazing.” Ignoring his concern, the girl grabbed her chopsticks and started eating.
“Slow down; no one’s going to take it from you.” Nokiyoru chuckled, sitting beside her and watching her eat with a loving smile.
“Brother, after dinner, can we watch TV together?” The girl mumbled with her mouth full.
“Tonight? But I have to go to work later.” Nokiyoru hesitated. He had promised himself to repay the money, and he meant it.
“Come on, you’ve hardly spent time with me lately.” The girl pouted, looking unhappy.
“Silly girl.” Nokiyoru gently wiped her mouth, smiling. “Alright, tonight I’ll spend time with our little princess.”
“Thank you, brother.” The girl beamed, her face lighting up like a crescent moon. She picked up her bowl and continued eating happily.
A few minutes later, in a room filled with cartoon posters and plush toys, a young boy and girl sat engrossed in the TV show.
“They’ve updated it already?”
“Yes, Ace is dead. That awful Akainu.” The girl pouted, pointing angrily at the screen showing Akainu piercing Ace’s chest.
“It’s a pity. Ace was a good person. I didn’t expect him to die.” Nokiyoru stroked his chin, unfazed. To him, anime was just anime.
“Luffy is so pitiful, completely devastated. If I were there, I’d beat Akainu and those villains to a pulp.” The girl raised her fists.
“Ha ha… silly girl.” Nokiyoru ruffled her hair, speechless.
“Speaking of which, I’ve almost forgotten these storylines. Time flies. This anime accompanied us through our childhood. But I still prefer Naruto.”
“No, One Piece is better.”
“Okay, okay, One Piece is better.”
“Hmph…” The girl raised her head proudly.
“Oh, we bought a Devil Fruit, didn’t we? Let’s try it.”
“You really believe that? The vendor said it’s just an apple.” Nokiyoru rolled his eyes.
“Brother…” The girl pouted, looking pitiful.
“Alright…” Nokiyoru always fulfilled his sister’s wishes unconditionally.
He stood up, fetched the Devil Fruit from the kitchen, and they sat by the TV again.
“I’ll try it first…” The girl reached for the fruit, but Nokiyoru’s hand stopped her, earning a teary-eyed look from her.
“I’ll eat it first. If it’s safe, you can eat it.” Nokiyoru insisted, fearing the fruit might be harmful.
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing.” The girl huffed but didn’t argue. She knew her brother’s concern and complied to avoid his sternness.
Nokiyoru took a bite of the fruit, and instantly, a foul taste filled his mouth. The unbearable flavour nearly knocked him out.
It was too disgusting, worse than anything he’d ever tasted. Nokiyoru felt like hitting his head against the wall.
“How is it… is it good?” The girl looked at him with wide eyes, curious.
“Gag… gag…” Nokiyoru threw the fruit away, retching, his intestines twisting in regret, cold sweat covering his forehead.
“Brother… look…” The girl exclaimed, pointing at the fruit that had turned into glowing particles and disappeared.
“This…” Nokiyoru was stunned.
At that moment, the TV playing One Piece suddenly emitted a terrifying suction force. A large black hole appeared, rapidly expanding and swallowing everything.
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