Keep Fighting

𓊈卍 𝟐𝟗 卍𓊉

"What are we supposed to tell Mikey-kun?"

Nakano's brother questions her as they walk side by side in the afternoon sun. It's only been a day since they were among Valhalla's ranks, but it feels like they only just left that abandoned arcade.

"Dunno," is all she can answer with.

She isn't sure what Baji is doing right now, but she hopes it's something useful. At this point, she isn't sure what to do on her own end. She took his friend to the hospital, and she's in Toman now. But her current obstacle is that her mission is to try and get him back.

She already helped him get into Valhalla, and that's not what Manjiro wants. The thought of telling him that they failed almost upsets her. If it weren't for that shitty threat he made.

"I'll kill you."

'He can sure as hell try.'

As much as the boy has grown on her, that's just one thing she doesn't like about him. Along with the other guys out here trying to act all big. Threatening people with death. Most people say it just to scare others, and acting all big and scary, when most of the time they can't even squash a house fly.

"Nakano-san?" Turning her head, she locks eyes with her brother. "You've been so out of it lately. Did you even hear what I said?"

'Huh? Did I zone out again?'

"Uh..." She tries to think of a valid excuse. "I must still be tired."

"I thought so," her brother says as he turns back to the path and continues walking.

Not trying to blow her cover, she decides to keep the conversation going. "Thought what."

"I asked where you went last night." He almost sounds disappointed, but she isn't sure if she wants to call it that. "I heard you leave the house at midnight."

"Oh." That has a simple enough answer. "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk."

"Okay then..."

She can hear the uncertainty in his voice. Maybe not even uncertainty, but distrust. She tries not to think about it, but it's going to linger in her mind for a while. Worrying about what her twin thinks of her is something she struggles with. He's the closest person to her, so of course she doesn't want to scare him away.

But it feels like she already has.

Nakano places a hand on his shoulder and feels him flinch. She pulls away immediately after, hiding her guilt with her usual stony expression.

"I'm fine. I just went out to relieve some tension. That's all." 

"Sorry..." Her brother just looks down at the path. "I know I shouldn't be prying."

"Hey!"

Just as the two walk past a playground, someone yells at them. Though, they're not sure if they're the ones being called. As Nakano turns her head towards the voice, she sees a boy sitting on a swing.

He looks seriously beat up. He has bandages around his head and over his right eye, and also has a lot of bruises and other patched up injuries on his face.

"C'mere!" Despite all that, he seems to be staring directly at them.

There's a creak as he leans to the side and points at the swing next to him. "Pop a squat."

'Who the hell...'

Nakano glares at him for a moment, but then it suddenly clicks. That blonde hair, and the hella beat up face.