Akira's PoV
I am Akira Stormsword, seventeen years old, the heir to a Yakuza group led by my father, Kromer Stormsword, but none of that truly matters to me.
What matters is what I lost.
Living without my mom made me feel horrible. She disappeared from my life when I was eleven, and in exchange, she left me with the responsibility of taking care of my little sister.
I was furious when I first learned the truth, my mother had died while giving birth to her. At that time, I didn't even want to see my sister's shadow. Just looking at her reminded me of what I lost.
But the moment she learned how to walk, she started following me everywhere, trailing behind me with her puppy-dog eyes and sweet, innocent smiles. It infuriated me because she was slowly shattering the invincible walls I had built, especially to keep her out.
When I was fourteen, something inside me changed. I realized my mom would have wanted me to watch over her, to protect her. She was the last memento my mother left behind.
So since then, I loved her the same way I loved my mom. They look exactly alike, white hair and blue eyes, like reflections of the same soul.
I inherited my white hair and the blue in my right eye from my mom, while my brown left eye came from my father. As for my personality… I don't know who to blame for that.
I had just finished my martial arts training. Stella usually either joins me or watches quietly from the sidelines while I practice, but she hadn't been with me for a week now, and that worried me.
"Where's Stella?" I asked one of our maids, who stood by the door holding my change of clothes.
"She's at her quarters, young master," she said while bowing and handing me the clothes.
I didn't respond. I decided I'd talk to Stella later during dinner.
It felt like she was avoiding me. We study at the same school, yet recently she rarely came to see me.
After taking a bath and finishing my homework before dinner, my usual routine, I played video games. I'm still in high school; what do you expect?
I do well in school too. Father would literally kill me if I didn't. He lectures me about good grades at every meal. That's how serious he is.
"Young master, dinner is served," the maid said, knocking on my door.
"Okay," I replied, stepping out of my room.
The maid followed three steps behind me. They treat us like royalty, terrified we might report their behavior to Father. Our head maid is the one responsible for training them, after all.
Father and Stella were already seated when I arrived. The moment she noticed me, Stella lowered her gaze to her plate.
We began eating, and as usual, Father launched into a lecture about appearances and grades being "the most important things."
"Paps, I got perfect scores in every subject again," Stella said, beaming.
"Very good!" Dad replied proudly. "What do you want in exchange?"
She calls him Paps.
"Ahh…" she hesitated nervously. "I want to… to enter the dance club?" she finished, stammering.
"What? That's great!" Dad laughed. "I'd love to see you dance."
Stella glanced at me. I gave her my sweetest smile, and she returned it instantly.
After dinner, Father left for his office. This was my chance.
"Ella? Can I talk to you?"
She had been about to stand, but she sat back down when I spoke.
"Yes?" she answered in her soft, cute voice.
"What's wrong?" I asked directly. "Are you avoiding me?" No point beating around the bush, she's a smart kid.
"I'm not!" Her eyes widened.
"Yes, you are," I said calmly. "You don't see me at school, you don't join my practice, and you haven't talked to me for a whole week. So… what's up?"
She looked down.
"What's wrong?" I urged gently. "Tell me."
"Ahh… ahm… I—" She hesitated. "My classmate asked me if you don't find me an-annoying…"
She still wouldn't look at me.
"I mean, they're right. I always go to you, and.... and we're always together at home and at school. They said they'd find me annoying themselves…"
Her voice broke. She was about to cry.
"WHAT?!" I snapped. "Who would dare say that?!"
She started crying.
"Ella, baby.... listen to me." I knelt in front of her and pulled her into my arms.
"I would never find you annoying. Not now. Not ever. I actually missed you when you stopped coming to see me at school, and I was worried something happened to you."
"I-I'm sowy, bibo," she hiccupped.
"Next time, ask me first before believing things like that, okay?" I said softly, brushing her hair.
"Stop crying. It's not your fault. Everything's fine now."
I cooed gently, then added, "Do you want to play in my room?" trying to cheer her up.
"C-can I?"
I wiped her tears away with my thumb.
"Of course," I smiled. "You're my princess, right?"
I carried her to my room. We played together until it was her bedtime, and I tucked her in myself.
"Good night, Ella, my princess." I kissed her forehead.
"Good night, bibo."
I never regretted having her in my life.
What I regretted most was not being there during her early years, when she was still growing up and learning how to walk.
So now, I'm making up for it. By staying with her. Protecting her. Loving her.
Now and forever.
I swear it on my mother's grave.