This sentence carries a heavy silence with it. For several minutes the two of them stare at each other. Najun can barely breathe properly, but he doesn’t let it show.

  Najun: “What are you talking about?”

  Naki: “I know that you did it. You don’t need to lie.”

  Najun: “I’m not lying. Why would I kill my little sister?”

  Naki: “I don’t know. You tell me. Why did you kill your little half-sister?”

  Najun: “I’m telling you I had nothing to do with her death. How dare you accuse me of something like that.”

  Najun places his hand on his forehead and pretends to be disappointed in his brother.

  Najun: “[How the hell does he know? Did he figure it out himself or did someone else… No, no one but me should know. No one can know about it.]”

  Naki: “Are you thinking up more excuses right now? Should I give you some time?”

  Najun looks at him annoyed. He has to play his role perfectly and must not allow himself a single mistake.

  Najun: “Stop it. You’re really starting to scare me. I’d better get the doctor and ask if he messed something up during your treatment.”

  He stands up and walks to the door when he hears the sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

  Naki: “Open that door even one centimeter and I’ll smash you.”

  Najun: “Where did you get that sword from?”

  Naki: “Synchrosteel, remember?”

  Najun slowly turns around. He goes back to his place. He never would have managed to leave the room to escape from Naki, and he knows that very well.

  Naki: “Keep talking. Why did you kill her?”

  Najun: “I did nothing wrong. I’m innocent. Whoever put that idea into your head wants to tear us apart or is trying to manipulate you.”

  Naki: “Well maybe you’re right, but something inside me says it was you. I don’t want to believe it, really. But my gut feeling can’t be changed.”

  Najun: “That means someone whispered that into your ear. Who was it?”

  Naki: “Why? So you can kill that person too?”

  Najun: “No. I just want to know… It was Hina, right? The two of you are very close and talk a lot. Maybe she told you some of her ridiculous theories about our family. Is that it?”

  Naki doesn’t answer. He listens to what Najun wants to say next. Almost as if Naki had known that Najun would blame Hina.

  Najun doesn’t know his brother like this. He is normally the open, stubborn and naive Naki. Even though he is of course not stupid, he has never been like some interrogator type or someone who could psychologically pressure others.

  Najun: “Who does she even think she is? She’s trying to destroy our family. We need to tell Father immediately so it doesn’t lead to more unpleasant situations like this.”

  Naki: “I never said who put that flea in my head. Why are you so convinced it was her?”

  Najun: “No idea. Gut feelings seem to count a lot for us, so it must be that.”

  Naki: “No, I don’t call something like that a gut feeling. That’s more like nervousness and desperation.”

  Najun: “Damn it! Why do you believe some stupid secretary more than your own brother? What’s wrong with you that you think like that?”

  Najun pauses. His eyes are wide open and his teeth grind heavily against each other. Even though his words sound harsh, he still remains relatively calm toward Naki. He automatically has respect for Naki.

  Najun: “Do you two have something going on… That must be it. My brother is blinded by love and that snake is taking full advantage of it. Don’t worry brother, I will—”

  Suddenly the blade touches Najun’s throat. He stretches his neck upward.

  Naki: “Your choice of words is quite bold. One more bad word about Hina and your throat will be completely colored red.”

  Najun: “So I’m right?”

  The blade brushes his throat. Now it lightly presses against Najun’s chest. His big brother seems to really mean it.

  Najun: “Alright. I’ll stop sharing my ridiculous theories about our family with you.”

  Naki: “Good. Besides, you’re not really my brother anymore. I don’t want to be related to even more heartless, psychopathic people.”

  The words stab directly into Najun’s soul. Even though Naki is right with every word, Najun desperately wants to believe that he is the victim and completely innocent. It even works to some extent.

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  Najun: “I didn’t do anything.”

  A few tears run down his cheeks. These feelings are real. They are so real that even Naki steps out of his current cold character and even smiles slightly.

  Naki: “Why did you do it? Just tell me. Please.”

  Najun sighs. He understands that only the truth can still help him.

  Najun: “Yes, I did it. I thought I would be helping. I thought it was the right thing to do.”

  Now Naki sighs as well.

  Naki: “You finally admitted it. I never thought she told me the truth.”

  A skeptical glance pierces Naki’s face from the side. Najun is more and more convinced that Hina told him something, but the other question is how would she know what supposedly happened. He wonders whether she observed him or followed him back then.

  Naki: “I had a lot of time to think. Even while I was unconscious I could think about exactly that. It made more and more sense. Quite frightening if you ask me.”

  Najun: “And? Go on. What now.”

  Naki: “What do you mean?”

  Najun: “Who are you going to tell? Will you blackmail me? What kind of monster am I? Has my chance of being accepted in this family expired?”

  Naki: “Interesting that you only worry about what will happen to you. Don’t you think about Shinoa even once? You took a glorious future and maybe a happy life away from her.”

  Najun: “I was about to mention her. I just think more about the future that matters.”

  Naki: “So yours. I had hoped this conversation could straighten the situation out again, but I guess I’ll be disappointed by you once more. Then there’s only one option left.”

  Najun: “Which…”

  Najun is ripped from his chair and lies on the floor. Above him is his big brother, about to ram his sword into his chest. Barely, Najun turns away. The katana grazes Najun’s back.

  Najun: “What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”

  Naki: “I’m crazy? You murdered our sister. You deserve nothing else but a blade in your throat.”

  Naki starts a second attempt. Najun now completely rolls away. He immediately stands up and runs to the door. Before he can grab the handle, he is encircled by a long black band. It looks like a flying snake with no end.

  Najun: “[I will never be able to beat Naki. Escape is the only option but even that I can’t manage.]”

  Najun spreads his legs and tries to analyze Naki’s movements. He clenches his hands into fists and sharpens his senses as much as possible.

  Najun: “[Focus. Focus. Feel his movements. Read the flow of his energy.]”

  Najun “sees” Naki clearly. As if he were using his Birth-Protection.

  Next he feels a painful cut on his left arm. Slowly he opens his eyes and discovers a slash wound on his left arm, just under his armpit. The cut is so deep that one wrong movement could cause it to fall off.

  Najun: “Ahhhhhh! Shit! Why couldn’t I see you? How fast can someone even be?”

  The black snake transforms into a normal man.

  Naki: “I have to admit you are definitely stronger than before. The sister murder and the tribunal must have hardened you a bit. Or did you experience something else? Here in the hospital?”

  That’s actually true. Najun’s experience in the hospital has at least made him much more cautious and tactical. It’s as if his body flipped a switch that makes everything unnecessary around him invisible.

  Naki: “We’ll skip the last words I guess. See you soon or something.”

  He swings his sword toward Najun’s neck. Just before he cuts off his head, he stops. His hand trembles and his gaze clearly shows that he doesn’t want to do it. He doesn’t want to kill his little brother, whom he has always protected and loved.

  Najun: “[I have to use this chance.]”

  Najun grabs Naki’s shoulder with his right hand. Out of nowhere he unleashes tremendous physical strength with which he hurls Naki back into his bed. Both are more than surprised by this moment.

  Najun: “Where is this strength coming from?”

  Naki: “Wow did you train? How much can you lift?”

  Naki jumps up and rushes toward Najun with tremendous speed. Najun grabs the blade with his bare hand. Although he cuts himself, he holds the katana and Naki in the air. He takes the sword from Naki and throws it away. Next he delivers a kick to Naki, but his physical strength doesn’t seem to be enough to overpower his big brother.

  Naki: “Don’t think that with this new strength you’re suddenly an MVP. It takes more than pure muscle strength.”

  Najun’s newly discovered physical strength is the result of the Reboot experiment by Dr. Bunny. He had already told him that he could not safely restore his magical abilities, but he could still modify and optimize his body. It is still in the early stages, but over time the body should develop into a true warrior’s body.

  They start a small close-combat fight. Najun can only fight with his right arm, but he holds up relatively well. Nevertheless, he is quickly overpowered by his brother and thrown to the ground again. He must be very careful not to worsen the cut on his left arm.

  Naki: “Why are you forcing me to do something like this? My katana will strike you down. It will spare you from the shame that awaits you if you continue to live.”

  Najun: “Do you think I wanted this? I thought I would receive honor. Shame, you say? You think the probably worst act of my life that I did for our family will only bring shame? You have no idea what you’re talking about!”

  Naki: “Yes, I do know. You’re not the only one who does terrible things for our family. You’re not the only victim!”

  Najun: “But I am the biggest victim! You don’t know what it’s like to be the useless child of a successful man. Without a combat ability or talent for fighting or politics I had to walk through this world. Alone! Completely alone!”

  He stands up and approaches his brother. He grabs him by the collar and gives him a light headbutt.

  Najun: “Our mother is gone. Our father only loves under certain conditions. Conditions you have always fulfilled. Just because Father praised me once or twice doesn’t mean the years full of despair and loneliness simply disappear. I’m sorry that I’m a bit selfish when it comes to love, respect, fame and praise. I’m just a stupid little child. Like every one of us! Shinoa was one too and she betrayed us! It was simply a necessary sacrifice!”

  With watery eyes Naki looks at Najun. He gives up his fighting stance. Slowly he wraps his arms around Najun. Without a word or continuing to fight, both begin to cry. They cry loudly and sob like breathless children.

  Najun: “I’m complicated. What I did is terrible but it has happened. I can’t undo it. Maybe I don’t even really regret it…”

  Naki: “Stop talking. This conversation and this fight should not take place here. In a foreign place without other people. Even if I don’t want to, we will postpone this conversation. You’re right, I don’t understand you. I wanted to understand you and was convinced that I did, but you opened my eyes. I am privileged and spoiled.”

  Najun: “Yes, you are…”

  They continue crying for several more minutes until they promise to set this topic aside for now. They leave the room and ask Dr. Bunny to treat Najun’s left arm.

  Dr. Bunny: “How did that happen?”

  Naki: “Normal fun fight between brothers.”

  Dr. Bunny: “That looked more like a bloody battle. Someone with three Births against one with only one Birth-Protection is really unfair.”

  Naki: “I know that of course.”

  While treating him, Naki sits down with the two of them.

  Naki: “Since we have time, I can also start telling you about the journey.”

  Dr. Bunny: “What journey?”

  Naki: “The journey to this sick hospital.”