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In all senses of the word, Tobe Rai was a hero. Brought from the ashes of a broken family and less than zero of a shot at success, the blue haired girl had clawed and scraped her way to the top. Maybe an underdog, or just an opportunist.
Her peers liked to dig for information on her past life, or make wild theories about what she came from— a gang perhaps, where she learned to fight with a quick hand and quicker tongue. Some days it was just a run of the mill orphanage that they were sure she ran with an iron fist. “No doubt about it!, our Tobe is tough!” Moto would crow.
While she would go along with these tales, the truth was that Rai couldn’t face her past, not yet, maybe not ever.
All she knew was that somewhere out there was the end of the red string seemingly tied to her wrist; looping towns, maybe cities— strung in dizzying yarn patterns across roads and parks. It was dirty and worn, nearly broken and thinned in places— but Rai knew, out there, that string looped around one of the only people who knew the real her.
Or at least he used to. Who am I now?
—-
“How are you planning on marketing yourself someday?”
Rai glanced at the boy next to her. Hitoshi had slipped the muzzle off finally, being so sure he would get reprimanded for it.
She punched his shoulder. “No one’s gonna shout at you. Trial run, remember?” The duo had struck a deal with the director, with help from Hara; it was still waiting to be fully approved but Rai had high hopes.
Hitoshi shrugged her off. “Yeah, yeah. Answer my question. Surely you won't go the Midnight route?”
Tapping a finger to her chin, Rai pretended to think about it until the younger boy scowled.
“Come on, idiot. I’m trying to help you.”
The two were huddled in the library near the computers, as Sundays usually found them. Rai had expressed days prior not knowing what kind of hero she’d like to be; flashy, limelight? Surely not underground, she thought.
She blew out a breath. “Hm. No, you’re right. It works for Midnight but I would do better in a more tactical light.”
“Well, you have your costume figured out, what about a name?”
At that, Rai paused. She had no clue. “This is all too hard,” she groaned. “Come on, let’s go see if Hara will let us in early for lunch.”
Hitoshi rolled his eyes. “Your greed sickens me.”
“Oh yeah? Well your lack of greed sickens me. Put a pep in your step!”
A glint in the purple haired boy’s eyes was the only warning Rai had before Hitoshi was pushing past her and skidding into the elevator, hitting the buttons so fast that the doors began to close in her face.
“Bastard!” She made for the stairs. Almost hitting a boy with a spiked tail on her rampage to beat Hitoshi to the cafeteria.
Just barely had she touched down when the elevator dinged open and a smug Hitoshi waltzed out.
“I won.”
Rai shoved him bodily back in the elevator and attempted to bring him back a floor up. “Did not! I was here first, you heathen.”
The tapping of a foot behind the pair broke their scuffle.
“And what might we have here?”
Rai hopped up. “Oh, hey Hara.”
“I think you broke my nose…” Hitoshi grumbled behind her.
“Oh hush, you’re fine.”
The older woman chuckled. “Lunch is just starting, get in there you two.”
With a mocking salute Hitoshi and Rai streamed into the line of kids waiting for food. At last, she thought hungrily.
“Hey, Shinsou, where’s your mask?” Mitsuo, the shorter boy shoved in between them. He cocked an eyebrow. “Did you break it or something? Are we safe?” He mock gasped.
“Piss off, Mitsuo,” Hitoshi growled. It seemed he had had it up to there with social interaction for the day. Maybe the week.
Thankfully the pair was saved from any further interaction with Mitsuo by a tray sliding in front of him, serving as a good distraction.
Hitoshi cocked an eye at her when they finally got their food and sat down.
“You’re gonna have to figure out this hero stuff eventually, you know?”
She heaved a sigh as she picked up her fork. A puff of blue smoke escaped her. “I know, I know. Lucky for me I have a brilliant assistant around to help me.” She winked.
If his eyes could roll back any further they would be on the floor. “You’re gonna have to work without me eventually, you know. How ever will you survive?”
“Woe is me,” Rai spoke around the meatball in her mouth. “A life without Hitoshi, how drab, how pointless…”
He fixed her with a thoughtful stare. “It’s hard to believe you’re gonna be a hero for real pretty soon.”
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Hitoshi scowled. “You know what I meant. You’re gonna be running with the big leagues in just a couple years.” He glanced at his plate. “Maybe we both will.”
She smiled softly, sobering up. “You’re right. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I bet you could’ve.”
“Nah,” Rai shook her head. “This place would’ve been hell without my partner in crime.” She gave a sharper grin now. “All those nights I got to beat you up on the roof were great practice for the real deal.”
At this, Hitoshi smiled back. “Yeah, just like that other time you tripped down the stairs at Senjo’s. Great practice in balance.”
She snorted and stole a meatball off his plate.
“Hey!”
—
Rai could almost laugh. The memory of how she used to live was so far off of those crazy stories. Long nights were spent training on the rooftop, or scrolling the computers, or playing games… all side by side with her… could she even call him her brother anymore?
God, Hitoshi, what happened?
She knew it was her fault. Those voice notes, texts, missed calls— those didn’t go unnoticed.
She never could get him out of her mind. The brother she had failed, like her parents failed her. The cycle repeats itself, how cliche.
How utterly cliche.
She buried her face in her hands. This was all a mess, and she had no one to blame but herself.
What a stupid sister.