Keep Fighting

𓊈卍 𝟒𝟔 卍𓊉

Nakano didn't sleep a wink.

After taking her bath, she finished bandaging up her wounds, and was in her sleeping bag by midnight. For six hours, she stared at the ceiling, completely stiff and unable to cease the storm in her mind.

When the sun rose, she did as well. She cleaned the house out of anxiety, and made her mother breakfast for when she returned home from her nightshift. She just took the food and went straight to her room. Her mother completely ignored her greeting and didn't even acknowledge her effort, but what was she even expecting? She wouldn't know.

After that, her mom left for work again at ten in the morning. By then, Nakano had made her mother's lunch, and her brother some brunch in case he woke up. By the time she was finished, her mother was gone again, and Takemichi still wasn't awake.

Around noon, Chifuyu and the Mizo mid group showed up to check on Takemichi. She told them she had some errands to run, and asked if they could look after her brother.

They agreed without a moment of hesitation. The mixed feelings she had in that moment is something that'll stick with her for a while. Relief that her twin had loyal friends that will always stay by his side, and also jealousy, because Nakano never did when she was growing up.

But also a sense of normality, when none of them expressed fear towards her. She thought they of all people would cower in her presence, but they no longer do. It's like they were talking to their friend's twin sister rather than Satan himself this time.

And now, here she is, on the same street she fought the Black Dragons on. First step in the mission, get close to at least one of the Shiba siblings. If she's lucky, she'll meet both.

Nakano scans the scene to make sure there's no one around. Once she's confident the coast is clear, she touches the ground, and walks towards Shiba residence.

She approaches the door and knocks on it. There's a moment of silence, until she hears light footsteps. There's a pause, before the lock clicks and the door opens. The person who opens the door has half their body hidden behind it, but Nakano already knows it's the female Shiba sibling.

Yuzuha's brown eyes widen momentarily, telling her that she's surprised to see her. "Nakano? What are you doing here?"

The auburn eyed Hanagaki musters up the softest and most convincing voice she can. "I wanted to  talk to you after yesterday. May I come in?"

Yuzuha appears to be skeptical at first, but eventually opens the door wider to let her in.

Nakano walks into the house, and at first glance, it's normal looking. It's an average modern house. However, she does notice a couple dents in the wall here and there, but she pretends she sees nothing out of the ordinary.

"You came to talk about Taiju, didn't you."

Nakano turns back to Yuzuha, who has her head hung and arms crossed. Not in an angry manner, but more of an anxious one.

"I don't need to talk about him when I already know what he is and what he's doing to you. I just wanted to come by and make sure you were safe."

Yuzuha is quiet when she leaves Nakano and heads to the living room. "He's not home right now. I don't know when he's coming back though, so you should leave."

Nakano follows her, not giving in so easily. "How many other people know about this besides the five of us who were there yesterday."

Yuzuha sighs and slumps onto the couch, and Nakano just stands next to it. "Just us."

"So, you didn't talk about this much with your friends."

The brown haired girl slightly shakes her head. "I don't have many friends. Didn't want other people getting roped up in this mess. And you shouldn't either. So go. Home."