After school ended, Nanao called out to Airi.
"Airi..."
"Yeah?" Airi replied briefly.
"Did what they said earlier hurt you?" Nanao asked, looking at her.
"No," Airi answered quickly.
Nanao let out a small sigh.
"You're lying, aren't you? They clearly insulted you earlier."
"I'm really not hurt," Airi said, forcing a smile.
"I know you're lying," Nanao said quietly.
Airi fell silent.
Her gaze became distant.
"Come with me to my house for a while..." Nanao paused before correcting herself. "Er... I mean, our house."
Airi nodded slowly.
They walked side by side toward Nanao's house without saying much.
When they arrived, Nanao opened the door.
"Dad, Mom... we're home," Nanao called.
"Welcome home, Nanao," her father said warmly before turning toward Airi. "And welcome home, Airi."
Airi stood silently at the doorway, looking down.
"Airi?" Nanao's mother asked gently. "What's wrong, dear?"
Airi remained silent, as if she didn't know how to answer.
"Her classmates bullied her," Nanao finally said.
Nanao's mother immediately turned toward her.
"Why didn't you protect her?"
Nanao fell silent for a moment. Her hands clenched into fists.
"I did protect her," she said quietly. "But their words still got to her."
Nanao's mother walked over to Airi and crouched down in front of her.
"It's okay if you're hurt," she said gently. "There's nothing wrong with crying."
Airi bit her lip.
Her shoulders began to tremble.
"I'm... used to it," Airi said quietly. "Being bullied."
Nanao's mother looked surprised.
"Used to it?"
Airi nodded slightly.
"I've always been alone."
The room fell silent.
Nanao's father finally spoke in a firm yet warm voice.
"As long as you're in this house," he said, "no one is allowed to hurt you anymore."
Airi slowly looked up at him.
"You're not alone anymore," he continued. "You have a family now."
Tears finally fell from Airi's eyes.
"Thank you..." she whispered.
Nanao smiled faintly as she looked at her.
"That's why," Nanao said, "if you're tired, tell us. Don't keep everything to yourself."
Airi wiped her tears and slowly nodded.
"How exactly did they bully you?" Nanao's mother asked worriedly. "Was it verbal or physical?"
"Both..." Airi answered quietly.
"What?" Nanao's father immediately stood up. "Tell us everything."
Airi fell silent for a moment.
Her hands clasped together, and her fingers trembled.
After taking a deep breath, she began to speak.
"They often make me do their assignments..." Airi said quietly.
"If I refuse, they make fun of me. They call me stupid... useless..."
Nanao's mother covered her mouth, her eyes beginning to tear up.
"During break time," Airi continued, "they often come over while laughing. Sometimes they pull my hair... kick me... throw their bags at me... hit me... push me to the ground... They also spread lies about me..."
Nanao lowered her head, her jaw tightening.
"I've tried running away before," Airi continued. "But they still chased me. I was scared... to the point where I could barely breathe."
The room fell silent.
"I just stayed quiet," Airi whispered. "Because if I fought back, they'd become even crueler."
Nanao's father clenched his fists.
"This has gone too far."
"I'm going to the school tomorrow," he said firmly. "This can't be allowed to continue."
Airi immediately shook her head.
"No, Dad."
Nanao's father looked at her in surprise.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to," Airi said quietly but clearly. "If you go there... they'll hate me even more. I... I don't want things to get worse."
Nanao's mother held Airi's hand.
"But you haven't done anything wrong, dear."
"I know..." Airi said with a faint smile. "I just want to live peacefully."
Nanao finally spoke.
"Dad... Mom... I promise I'll protect Airi at school."
Nanao's father stared at her for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Alright," he finally said. "But if they ever lay a hand on you again..."
He looked at Airi seriously.
"You have to tell us. Don't keep it to yourself."
Airi slowly nodded.
"Okay... Thank you."
For the first time in a long while, Airi felt a little lighter.
---
That night, Airi stood hesitantly in front of Nanao's bedroom.
She gently knocked on the door.
"Nanao..." Airi called softly before pausing.
"Er... I mean... Big Brother."
"What is it?" Nanao replied from inside.
Airi slowly entered.
"Where am I supposed to sleep?"
Nanao thought for a moment.
"Hmm... You can sleep here."
Airi immediately blushed.
"E-Eh? Here? You mean... in the same room?"
"Yeah," Nanao answered casually. "Don't worry. I'll sleep on the floor."
Airi fell silent and lowered her head.
"Is... is that okay?"
"Sure," Nanao said with a small smile. "Just think of this as your home too."
Airi held the edge of her shirt.
"Thank you... Big Brother."
Nanao took an extra pillow and blanket and laid them out on the floor.
"Sleep well. If you have a nightmare, just wake me up."
Airi nodded slowly.
"Okay..."
The lights were turned off.
For the first time in a long while, Airi fell asleep without fear.
---
The next morning, Airi woke up early.
She gently rubbed her eyes before looking down beside the bed.
Nanao was still fast asleep on the floor, his blanket slightly messy.
Airi carefully climbed down from the bed.
She crouched beside Nanao and gently woke him.
"Big Brother... wake up."
Nanao moved slightly before sitting up with a yawn.
His eyes were still half-closed.
"Hmm... what's wrong?" he asked sleepily.
Airi lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, Big Brother. You had to sleep on the floor because of me."
Nanao yawned again.
"It's fine."
Airi hesitated before speaking quietly.
"Tonight... let's switch. I'll sleep on the floor."
Nanao immediately shook his head.
"No. I'm not letting you sleep on the floor."
"Why?" Airi asked.
"You might catch a cold," Nanao answered simply.
Airi was silent for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Then... you can sleep on the bed."
Nanao immediately looked shocked.
"What?!"
Airi quickly added,
"Don't worry. We're siblings."
Nanao let out a long sigh.
"Even siblings have boundaries..."
Airi looked at him calmly.
"I trust you, Big Brother. You won't do anything weird."
Nanao's face immediately turned red.
"Why do you even think that far ahead?"
Not long after, they got ready for school.
Before leaving the house, they said goodbye to their parents.
On the way to school, the atmosphere between them felt a little awkward, but peaceful.
When they arrived at the classroom, they immediately sat at their respective desks.
Not long after, the principal entered the classroom.
"Good morning," he greeted.
"Good morning, Sir," all the students replied.
"I have two announcements," the principal continued.
"First, you're all going home early today."
"Second, please tell your parents that we'll be leaving for the study trip tonight."
The classroom immediately erupted with excited voices.
After that, the students were allowed to go home.
When they arrived at the house—
"We're home," Nanao called.
Nanao's mother looked surprised.
"Huh? You just left for school. Why are you already back?"
"The school only had an announcement today," Nanao replied.
"They said we're leaving for the study trip tonight."
"That was quick," Nanao's mother muttered.
"Why did we even have to go to school if they were only going to tell us that?"
"I don't know, Mom. The teachers are weird," Nanao replied casually.
Nanao's mother then turned toward Airi.
"Dear, do you want to go on the study trip?"
Airi lowered her head.
"I... don't want to go, Mom."
"Why?" Nanao's mother asked gently.
"It'll probably be expensive," Airi replied quietly.
"I'm afraid I'll be a burden to you and Dad."
Nanao's mother smiled warmly.
"Don't worry. Money isn't a problem."
"Besides," she continued, "if you don't go, who will Nanao go with?"
Airi fell silent for a moment.
"I'm sorry..."
Nanao's mother gently patted Airi's head.
"So you're coming with us, okay?"
Airi hesitated before giving a small nod.
"Y-Yes..."
They then headed toward the bedroom to change their clothes.
However, after taking only a few steps into the room—
"This is bad," Nanao muttered.
"If we change clothes in the same room, things are going to get even more awkward."
Without thinking twice, Nanao immediately left the room.
Airi could only watch him walk away with a small smile.