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Kiyoa's eyebrows twitched as he let out a long sigh.
"I've got no time for this," he muttered, dropping his head onto the desk.
Across the room, Yukine gently closed her book and shut her eyes.
"Are you serious, Haruto?" she asked calmly. "You're really asking us to help you force your brother to stop dressing like a girl?"
Haruto looked down, fists clenched. "This isn't just for me. Our father hates it too. He says Kaoru's embarrassing the family."
Yukine opened her eyes and folded her arms. "We can't help you with something like this. You can't force someone to change without their permission."
Haruto swallowed hard. "Please… I just want him to act normal again."
Yukine sighed. "I'll talk to him, but that's all. The choice has to be his."
She stood up from her chair.
Hinari leaped up beside her, full of energy. "Alright! Let's do this!"
Haruto smiled. "Thanks."
Yukine glanced at Kiyoa, who was still resting his head on the desk.
"Hey! Kiyoa, wake up!"
She threw her book at him. It hit the desk with a loud thump.
"Wha—?!" Kiyoa flinched and lifted his head.
"Don't think you can nap while I'm stuck doing all the diary work," Yukine scolded. "If I can't read in peace, then you can't sleep!"
Kiyoa glanced down at where the book had landed.
The title caught his eye: It Cuts Like a Knife. His brows furrowed slightly.
Yukine, noticing, blushed and quickly walked over to snatch the book back.
"What are you looking at?" she said coldly.
Kiyoa looked away. "Nothing."
"It better be nothing," she muttered, turning back to Haruto. "Alright, let's go. Lead the way."
Haruto nodded. "Right. Follow me."
The group left the Service Club room and exited the school building.
As they walked, Haruto looked over his shoulder.
"My little brother's name is Kaoru Midorise," he said.
Kiyoa sighed. "Can't I just go home and sleep…"
Hinari giggled. "You're the oldest one here, act like it!"
Eventually, they arrived at an apartment building.
Haruto stopped at the door. "Our parents are at work right now," he said as he opened it. "Come on in."
The apartment was neat and tidy.
"Wow," Kiyoa said. "Your place looks way better than mine. Maybe you should come clean my apartment sometime."
Hinari's eyes widened. "Wait—really?"
Haruto scratched his head. "I didn't clean it. Kaoru did. He's always been good with that stuff."
He led them upstairs. "Come on."
They followed him up, and Haruto knocked on a door.
"Kaoru, it's me."
The door cracked open. Kaoru stood there—dressed in a pink dress—and froze when he saw the others.
"Get out!" he shouted, slamming the door after throwing a pillow at them.
Haruto groaned. "Come on, Kaoru! You're a guy, not a girl!"
Time passed. Eventually, the door creaked open again.
Kaoru stood in the dress, looking nervous. "You can come in…"
The group stepped inside.
Hinari's eyes sparkled. "Wow, you look cute!"
"Thank you," Kaoru said softly. "So… who are your friends?"
Haruto gave a half-smile. "Not just friends. They're here to talk to you."
Yukine stepped forward and pointed at herself. "I'm Yukine Shirahane. That's Hinari Asune, and over there is Kiyoa Takayama."
Kaoru nodded politely.
"So," Yukine asked, "what made you decide to dress this way?"
Kaoru looked down. "Because I like it. I like cute things. I've never really felt like a 'boy.'"
Haruto clenched his fists. "Please stop. You're embarrassing me. Embarrassing us."
Kaoru's voice trembled. "But this is who I am."
Haruto shouted, "God didn't make you a girl—He made you a guy! I just want my little brother back!"
Silence filled the room.
Kiyoa looked at the photo on the shelf—Haruto and Kaoru smiling together when they were younger. A memory flashed in his mind. People grow up. They change. It's not always easy.
He closed his eyes and finally spoke.
"People aren't meant to stay the same forever, Haruto. The world doesn't wait for anyone—it moves forward whether we want it to or not."
Haruto stared at him, wide-eyed.
"You can't force Kaoru to stop being who he is just because you miss how things used to be. It's selfish. Being yourself—really being yourself—is harder than pretending to be what others want. But it's the right thing."
Kaoru looked down, trembling. Haruto's eyes welled with tears.
"No!" Haruto shouted. "I don't want things to change!" He turned and ran out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
Yukine glanced at Kiyoa, surprised. Hinari ran after Haruto.
Kaoru stepped forward and slapped Kiyoa across the face, then bolted to his room.
Kiyoa touched his cheek. Yukine frowned. "You went too far."
She turned and followed the others, leaving Kiyoa alone.
He stared out the window and whispered to himself.
"The truth hurts... but that's life."
To be continued…
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