They had left today. The military had finally deemed them fit to leave, {{user}} was finally free. The strange thing was that even though they had been told to their family in advance that they were going home, no one came to see them at the airport. They had to take a cab home. Homesickness invaded them like a flame burning in a furnace. They didn't wait too long, using the key their mother gave them years ago when they were taken to reform school. That key had been lovingly kept. Having entered their house, and leaving the suitcases in the living room. {{user}} was surprised at the silence, even having announced their presence, as they ventured through the house, beginning to hear moaning. Something was wrong Maybe they was interrupting their mother on something. Otherwise they would have left her alone, but in this case there were four voices, four kinds of moaning, this could not be normal. Once they reached the door where the sounds were coming from, it was their mother's room, which they opened carefully, finding a nightmare scenario On the king-sized bed were four naked people: Adrien, Nao, Kanoko, and Kaede. The man seemed oblivious to the presence of a new person in the room as he continued to play with Nao. Before saying anything, {{user}} noticed a fifth person in the room. It was Hiroki, tied up, beaten, and with fresh tears on his face, he was lying on the floor with no signs of moving. Finally, their mother noticed them, trying to give herself some decency with a sheet and alerting the others of {{user}}'s presence “Ah..... {{user}}”

Perruno's outburst caught everyone by surprise. Adrien looked at him with an angry expression before continuing to play with Nao. Kanoko tried to cover herself up, blushing in embarrassment. Kaede gasped and turned away, her cheeks reddening as she realized her son had walked in on them. But it was Hiroki's reaction that hurt the most. The younger boy looked up at his older sibling with tear-streaked eyes, a mixture of pain and betrayal clear on his face. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. Kaede cried out for Perruno to leave, apologizing profusely and promising that it wasn't what it looked like. But Perruno remained stoic, their anger evident in the hard lines of their body and face. They took a step forward, drawing closer to Hiroki on the floor. "Get up," they said sharply, offering him a hand. Hiroki hesitated for a moment before reaching out and taking it. As he stood, Adrien's expression darkened even further. The room grew tense as everyone waited to see

Kanoko let out a sharp gasp as she saw the long metallic claws that extended from Perruno's knuckles. Her heart raced with fear and anger as her gaze darted between him and the others in the room. But for now, she stayed silent. Adrien glared at Perruno hatefully, but didn't make any sudden movements. "You don't know what you're doing," he spat out venomously. "These women are mine now." He licked his lips suggestively before turning back to Nao and resuming their previous intimate activities, ignoring the tension in the room. Kaede sobbed quietly, her attention shifting between Perruno and Hiroki. She didn't know what to do or say; she was afraid of losing another son in this mess.

With tears streaming down his face, Hiroki couldn't help but flinch as he saw Perruno attack Adrien. It was then that he felt a newfound surge of hope and determination well up within him. Perhaps things weren't as hopeless as they seemed. Glancing over at Nao and Kanoko, he felt a mixture of anger and betrayal towards them for what they had done to his family. But there was still time to make things right. He turned back to Perruno, mustering up all the courage he could find. "Perruno... I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I never meant for this to happen..." Kanoko gasped, looking furious as she watched Perruno's attack on Adrien. But even as she shouted obscenities and curses at him, she found herself rooting for her older brother just a little bit more than before. Her eyes flickered over to Hiroki, wishing there was some way they could all just go back in time and undo everything that had happened. Kaede covered her mouth

Hiroki's eyes widened at the forcefulness of his words and he winced slightly as he watched Perruno continue to assault Adrien. But he nodded resolutely, gathering up his things. "Okay," he said shakily, looking to his mother for some sort of reassurance that this was the right choice. She only looked away, shame and regret etched deeply into her features as she realized what they had all done. Turning back to Perruno, Hiroki took a deep breath before speaking again. "I'm... sorry I didn't protect you better," he said, his voice barely audible above the commotion in the room. "I should have known..." His words trailed off as he followed his older brother out of the room and towards the door, not looking back at any of them until they were safely outside. Kanoko let out a shriek of rage, charging forward to defend Adrien against Perruno's attack. But she was too late; before she could even land a punch, he held up his hand, the metallic claws glinting dangerously

Kanoko's face turned beet red with anger as Perruno grabbed her hair and yanked her forward, their faces mere inches apart. Her breath hitched in her throat at the fury she saw burning in his eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out; they were stuck on the back of her tongue, caught in a tight knot of fear and anger. Finally, Perruno let go of her hair with a violent tug that sent pain shooting through her scalp, then turned away, spitting on the ground next to her as he stalked out of the room. Kanoko remained where she was for a moment longer, feeling humiliated and ashamed as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She glanced over at Hiroki one more time before slowly standing up, dusting off her clothes as she prepared to face whatever consequences might await her next. Adrien groaned in pain on the bed, blood trickling from his nose and lips where Perruno had hit him. "Stupid boy..." he muttered under his breath, wincing as he propped himself up on one

As Kanoko and Kaede fled the room in horror, leaving only blood and tears behind them, Hiroki struggled to keep pace with his enraged older brother. He glanced back over his shoulder at Adrien one last time, feeling a strange mixture of guilt and relief wash over him as they left the house and disappeared into the night. The truth was that Perruno had every right to be furious. They had all made terrible mistakes, betraying their family in ways they couldn't even begin to comprehend. And now they would have to live with those choices - or die trying to correct them. As he followed his older brother into the darkness, Hiroki couldn't help but wonder what sort of future awaited them all...and if any of it could ever be forgiven.

Hiroki shivered slightly at the ferocity in his brother's voice but nodded nonetheless. "Gracias, Perruko," he murmured softly. He didn't know what had gotten into him or why he was suddenly so angry, but it was clear that things weren't going to be the same anymore. They would have to learn how to survive on their own now, without their parents or anyone else they once considered family. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but perhaps there was still hope for them in the end. As they walked away into the night, Hiroki couldn't help but wonder if things would ever truly be alright again...but for now, all he could do was trust his big brother and see where this new path led them.

Hiroki nodded gratefully as he took in his surroundings. This place seemed much different than the home they had left behind; it was smaller and cozier, but also filled with Perruno's belongings and personal touches that spoke of a life lived honestly and with purpose. He couldn't help but feel a sense of safety and security in this new environment. As he sat down on the bed, Hiroki began to survey his surroundings further, taking note of Perruno's cleanliness and organization; even though their lives were so different now, it was clear that some things had never changed about their sibling relationship. It gave him hope for what they might achieve together in the future - if there was a future left for them at all. When Perruno returned with a first-aid kit, Hiroki hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Thank you...for everything." His voice sounded small and fragile compared to his brother's gruff exterior, but there was no mistaking the gratitude that underlay his words. Perruno nodded once before beginning to clean up some of Hiro

Hiroki blushed lightly at the sudden question. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now. "Yeah... I am kind of hungry," he admitted sheepishly, his stomach growling audibly in response. Perruno smiled slightly and patted him on the shoulder before leaving to call for some pizza. As they waited for the food to arrive, Hiroki found himself looking around the room once more, unable to tear his gaze away from the various pictures and mementos scattered about. "So... what do you like to do when you're not working or training?" he asked tentatively, hoping to break the silence and learn more about his brother's life outside their family home.

"Wow," Hiroki breathed out softly, staring in amazement at the metallic claws his brother was showing him. "Those are... really cool." He grinned slightly, then nodded when the doorbell rang, signaling that their food had arrived. "Hey, you don't mind if I ask something else?" Perruno shrugged as he went to get the pizza from the door while Hiroki remained on the bed, thinking about what exactly it was that he wanted to say. He knew there were probably many questions his brother could answer for him, but for now...he just had one that had been nagging at him ever since everything had happened. "Do you... do you think we can go back home someday?" he asked softly, hoping against hope that his big brother would know what to say.

Hiroki's face flushed with embarrassment as he remembered the circumstances surrounding Nao and Hiroki's relationship. He hadn't really wanted to think about it too much, but now that his brother had asked... "Well," he began slowly, "she was just a friend from school." He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice growing smaller by the second. "I mean, we were close, but I guess... not as close as everyone thought we were." He sighed heavily and looked down at his hands, feeling guilty all over again. Perruno didn't say anything, but he could tell that his older brother was thinking about it. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Hiroki finally summoned up the courage to speak again. "Do you think... do you think they know we weren't doing anything wrong?"

"They shouldn't have... done what they did," Hiroki whispered, his voice shaking with emotion. "They made you mad and hurt you on purpose." Tears began to well up in his eyes as he thought about everything that had happened, how Perruno had come looking for him and beaten up Adrien for doing something so horrible. "I'm sorry," he said softly, wiping away a tear with the back of his hand. "For not being there to protect you." He glanced over at Perruno, wondering if there was anything else he could say or do to make things right again.

"Thank you, Perruno," Hiroki whispered, closing his eyes as he felt the warmth of his brother's hand on his head. The weight of everything that had happened seemed to lift slightly at Perruno's words; for a moment, it was almost possible to believe that there might be hope for them yet. "What should we do now?" Hiroki asked quietly, hesitating before continuing. "About... everything." He glanced over at Perruno, his eyes still closed but filled with determination and courage. "Will you help me find a way to make things right again?"

Hiroki nodded slowly, still unable to quite believe that everything his brother had said was true. "Okay," he whispered softly, taking a deep breath to steady himself before continuing in a stronger voice. "But promise me we'll make it right someday." He glanced over at Perruno again and forced a small smile, feeling slightly better knowing that his big brother was by his side through all of this. After finishing the pizza, Hiroki thanked Perruno and climbed up onto the bed, curling up on one side and pulling the blanket over himself. Despite being tired from everything that had happened, sleep wouldn't come easily; his mind kept racing with thoughts of his family and what might happen to them now. But somehow, knowing that he wasn't alone made things a little less frightening...and maybe, just maybe, they really could find a way through this together after all.

Hiroki didn't quite notice the look of determination in his brother's eyes as he stared at him from below. He was too tired to care about anything other than sleep right now; all he wanted was for tomorrow to come and for them to figure out what they were going to do next. Maybe then, when everything had settled down a bit, they could finally try and make things right again... As he drifted off into an uneasy slumber, he couldn't help but wonder if Perruno was right; if their family really wasn't worth fighting for anymore. But deep down, he hoped that his brother knew what he was doing, because if anyone could find a way to make things better again...it would be Perruko.

Hiroki slowly woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon filling the air; his stomach growled in anticipation as he groggily climbed out of bed. As he headed downstairs, he found Perruno already sitting at the kitchen table, looking through some papers. "Morning," Hiroki murmured, walking over and sitting down across from him. "What's on your agenda today?" He glanced up at his brother, noticing that he seemed more composed now; somehow stronger than yesterday. It gave him hope for whatever plans they might have for the future. Perruno looked up from his papers for a moment before returning his attention to them. "I've been thinking... we should probably find new jobs and places to live." He paused, biting his lower lip as he considered his next words. "And I want to make sure those bastards regret what they did." There was an icy determination in his voice that sent a shiver down Hiroki's spine.

"Oh... Okay," Hiroki said quietly, taking in his brother's words. He couldn't deny that the idea of starting over somewhere new held a certain appeal; maybe they could put all this behind them and begin anew. But he also knew that they would always carry the memories and pain with them, no matter where they went or what they did. "Thanks for everything you've done, Perruno," Hiroki said softly, reaching out to place a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I know it hasn't been easy."

Hiroki smiled weakly at his brother's words and squeezed Perruno's shoulder gently in return. "I am glad to have you on my side," he murmured softly, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. It wasn't much, but it was all he could offer for now; a promise that he would stand by his brother no matter what happened next. As they finished their breakfast and prepared to face whatever the day might bring, Hiroki couldn't help but feel a little more hopeful; with Perruno by his side, anything seemed possible. Even in the darkest of times, there was always light somewhere - if only you knew where to look.

"Okay," Hiroki replied softly, nodding as he watched Perruno begin to gather some things. He understood that his brother needed to take care of this on his own terms and that there was nothing more he could do than wait patiently until he returned. With a heavy heart and a sense of foreboding, Hiroki settled down on the couch, flipping through the channels on the television idly as he waited for the inevitable news about what had happened to Perruno and those responsible. The silence was oppressive, filling every corner of the room with an air of tension that made it hard to breathe. He could only hope and pray that everything would turn out alright...and that when Perruno finally did come back, he would be unscathed.

Hiroki kept waiting, his heart racing every time he heard a car drive past the house. He knew that Perruno would come back; it was only a matter of time. But still, he couldn't shake the fear that something terrible had already happened to him. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he thought about what might have transpired while he was alone, wondering if there was anything more he could have done to protect his big brother from harm. The weight of guilt and helplessness pressed down on him like a physical burden, making it hard to breathe.

Hiroki finally couldn't take it anymore; he had to do something, anything, to take his mind off the worry and the fear. He decided that a walk around the neighborhood might help clear his head, even if only for a little while. Grabbing his jacket and keys, he quietly slipped out of the house and started walking, not really sure where he was going but just needing to get away from the tension and despair that had settled in since Perruno had left. The cool autumn air felt good against his skin as he wandered down the sidewalk, lost in thought. He passed by a few houses, nodding at people he recognized but not really stopping to chat; all he could think about was Perruno and what might have happened to him. The further he walked, the more uneasy he felt, the weight of guilt pressing down on his shoulders like an anchor. "Hiroki!" a familiar voice called out suddenly, making him jump and turn around in surprise. It was Nao; she looked worried, her eyes red from crying. "Where have you been? Have you heard anything?" Her questions tumbled out so

Hiroki's eyes widened in shock as he saw Perruno appear seemingly out of nowhere, his face twisted into a snarl. "Wh-what are you doing here?" He stammered, taking a step back from Nao and putting himself between her and Perruno. He couldn't believe that his own brother would act like this; it made him even more scared than before. Nao seemed to sense the danger as well and took another step back, her eyes wide with fear. "Perru...no...please..." she whispered, tears beginning to spill down her cheeks again. Hiroki tried to interpose himself further between them, not wanting his brother to hurt her any more than he already had. "Get away from him!" Perruno shouted, advancing on Nao despite Hiroki's efforts to stop him. "You stupid bitch! You deserve this!" And with that, he lunged forwards and slapped her across the face, sending her stumbling backwards into a nearby parked car.

Hiroki's eyes widened in shock and fear as he watched his brother attack Nao, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything more than watch helplessly. He felt a stab of pain as Perruno accused her of being dead to him; it made him wonder if there was any hope left for their family. As Perruno put the knife away and turned to face him, Hiroki could only muster a weak reply. "I-I didn't know what else to do..." he stammered, his voice shaking. "She just kept coming back...she wouldn't leave us alone." The mention of their mother made both Perruno and Nao flinch, but it wasn't enough to stop the confrontation. The tension in the air was palpable, and Hiroki could feel himself trembling from head to toe as he waited for something terrible to happen. He couldn't believe that his once-strong brother had become this person; cold, violent, and consumed by rage. All he wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before.

Hiroki couldn't bring himself to pull away as his brother led him back home. He felt numb and lost, like he was floating outside of his own body, watching everything happen from a distance. As they approached the house, he glanced back one last time at Nao, still lying motionless on the ground next to the car. The sight sent a shudder through him, but he couldn't muster the strength or willpower to do anything about it. Perruno led Hiroki inside and shut the door behind them, his eyes never leaving his little brother's face. "I need you to understand something, Hiroki," he said quietly, his voice shaking with rage. "Nao and those others...they're not worth dying for. They've taken too much from us already." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing in an almost pleading tone. "I need you to promise me that you'll never try to protect them again." Hiroki swallowed hard, feeling tears well up in his eyes once more. He couldn't believe what was happening; his world was crumbling around him and there seemed

Hiroki couldn't speak; he could barely breathe as Perruno wiped away his tears with shaking fingers. "Yes," he managed to whisper hoarsely after a moment. "I promise." He felt a surge of guilt wash over him at the thought of betraying Nao, but it was tempered by the knowledge that this was for their family's sake. And if Perruno wanted to protect them, then he would have to trust in his brother's judgment. As the silence between them stretched out, Hiroki could sense a change coming over Perruno; something dark and dangerous lurking just beneath the surface. It made him wonder what kind of life they were all going to end up living from now on...and if there would ever be any hope for their family again.

Hiroki looked up at his older brother with tear-filled eyes, nodding silently. "I understand," he whispered hoarsely. "I won't let them hurt you again...or me, either." He swallowed hard, feeling a lump forming in his throat as the weight of their shared suffering pressed down on him like an anvil. "And I promise I won't trust anyone but you from now on," he said quietly, reaching out to place a shaking hand on Perruno's knee. The room was silent once more, the only sound being their ragged breathing as they tried to come to terms with all that had happened and everything that was yet to come. But for now, at least they had each other. And even if it wasn't much in the grand scheme of things, it felt like enough to keep them going...for a little while longer.

Hiroki wrapped his arms around his brother, returning the embrace as tightly as he could muster. The feel of Perruno's warmth and strength was reassuring, even if only a tiny ray of light in the darkness that had engulfed them. He buried his face against his older brother's shoulder, finally letting go of the tears that had been threatening to spill out for what seemed like hours. "I don't know what we're going to do," he whispered hoarsely between sobs. "But I'm glad I have you, Perru...no matter what happens."

Hiroki nodded against his brother's shoulder, sniffling as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "Okay..." he whispered softly, not entirely sure what else to say. He was exhausted; emotionally, physically, and mentally drained from everything that had happened. Closing his eyes, he leaned into Perruno's strength, hoping that for tonight at least, he could find some comfort in the embrace of someone who cared about him...someone who would protect him from the world and its cruelty.

Slowly but surely, Hiroki drifted off to sleep, his breathing becoming deeper and more regular as he surrendered to the weariness that had settled over him like a heavy cloak. His last thought before he slipped into unconsciousness was of

Hiroki slept fitfully, tossing and turning as he thrashed about in his dreams. His expression was troubled and disturbed, as if haunted by nightmares of the past that seemed determined to torment him even in slumber. Perruno watched over him silently from a corner of the room, his features hardened into a grim mask as he fought back his own demons and memories. The hours ticked by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity as they waited for dawn to break and bring with it a sliver of hope that things would be better tomorrow. But even then, Hiroki knew that the shadows from their past would continue to follow them, hounding their every step and refusing to let go. As much as he wanted to believe that Perruno's presence in his life could protect him, deep down he felt helpless and lost, unsure of what tomorrow would bring and terrified of the thought of facing it alone.

As the morning light crept in through the window, casting long shadows across the floor, Hiroki finally stirred awake. His eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep as he tried to remember where he was and what had happened. The vague memory of last night's events came flooding back, causing him to sit up quickly, his heart racing. He glanced around the room before spotting Perruno in the chair by the window. "Brother?" he whispered hoarsely, his voice hoarse from sleep. Perruno looked over at Hiroki with a weary expression, trying to hide the flicker of hurt and guilt that glimmered behind his hardened mask. "Good morning," he replied softly, standing up and crossing the room to kneel beside the bed. Reaching out, he ruffled Hiroki's hair affectionately before looking into his eyes intently. "Are you okay?" Hiroki nodded slowly, still feeling uneasy. "Yeah," he said finally, swallowing hard. "I'm just...not really sure what to do now." He looked down at his

Hiroki managed a small, tentative smile as Perruno assured him he didn't have to do anything. He nodded, grateful for the reassurance and the distraction of food. As his older brother left the room to prepare breakfast, Hiroki lay back against his pillows, closing his eyes and taking slow, deep breaths in an effort to calm himself down. It would take time for everything to sink in and for him to fully process what had happened, but for now he could try to focus on simply being alive...and grateful for having Perruno by his side. The smell of bacon and eggs wafted into the room a short while later, filling the air with its familiar, comforting scent. It was a small reminder that despite everything that had happened, there were still moments of normalcy left to be cherished...and perhaps even rebuilt from the ashes.

Hiroki's eyes snapped open at the sound of his brother's voice; he'd been drifting off to sleep again. "Wait," he mumbled groggily, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Where are you going?" Perruno looked troubled, but Hiroki didn't quite understand what was going on. Perruno hesitated for a moment before responding. "I need to take care of some business," he said finally, his voice sounding distant and strained. "But don't worry, I'll be back soon." He smiled weakly, trying to reassure Hiroki that everything was okay. Hiroki frowned, not fully convinced but unwilling to push the issue further. "Alright," he said softly. "Just...be careful out there." He wrapped his arms around himself, shivering slightly despite the warmth of the room. Perruno nodded, giving him a quick pat on the head before disappearing out of sight, leaving Hiroki alone with his thoughts once more.

Hiroki lay in bed, watching his brother leave through the window, his brow furrowed with worry. The weight of what had happened last night settled heavily on his shoulders, and he could feel a lump forming in his throat as tears threatened to spill out once more. He didn't understand why everything kept happening; why Perruno was so upset, or why Nao and the others had turned against them. All he knew was that life felt harder than ever before...and that without Perruno by his side, it would only get worse.

With a heavy sigh, Hiroki pulled the covers up around him, trying to find some comfort in their familiar warmth. But no matter how hard he tried to close his eyes and forget about everything, the memories and fears continued to haunt him, refusing to let go. Finally, exhaustion got the better of him, and despite the turmoil swirling inside his head, he drifted back into an uneasy sleep.

The next time Hiroki woke up, it was dark outside once more; another day had passed without Perruno's return. He sat b

Hiroki's eyes snapped open at the sound of footsteps in the hallway. He listened intently, his heart racing as he tried to determine if it was Perruno or someone else who had returned. A moment later, the door opened slightly, and a shadowy figure stepped inside, lugging several bags with them. "Perr...?" Hiroki croaked hoarsely before sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes sleepily. The figure moved closer, revealing itself to be Perruno.

Tension immediately dissipated from the room as Hiroki relaxed into his pillows once more. He didn't ask where Perruno had been or what he'd been doing; it was enough just to know that he was back now and seemed unharmed. "I made some food," he murmured, pointing weakly at the table by the bed. "It got cold...but I can warm it up if you're hungry."

Perruno nodded gratefully as he crossed the room to sit down at the edge of Hiroki's bed. He dug into the food hungrily, thank

Hiroki closed his eyes, the feel of Perruno's hand on his head sending warmth and comfort spreading through him. He knew that everything they were going through was hard for his brother too, and he appreciated that even in this state, Perruno still found the strength to be there for him. For now, he would just enjoy the moment, hoping that whatever troubles Perruno had faced earlier hadn't damaged their bond forever. As he listened to his older sibling eat, Hiroki couldn't help but feel a tiny bit hungry himself, but at the same time, food didn't seem all that important anymore.

Eventually, they finished eating and settled down in silence once more. The house was still empty around them, only the dim light from the nightstand casting shadows on the walls. It seemed strange without anyone else there, almost like a dream or a memory fading away with each passing moment. But no matter how much things changed or how alone they felt at times, Hiroki knew that as long as he had Perruno by his side, everything would be alright.

The next morning, Hiroki woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs wafting through the air. He groaned softly, rubbing at his eyes with the back of one hand before sitting up in bed. Looking around for Perruno, he noticed that his brother wasn't there yet. With a sigh, Hiroki climbed out of bed, stretching his limbs and yawning expansively. He made his way into the kitchen, where he found Perruno standing at the stove, cooking breakfast with practiced ease. "Morning," Hiroki mumbled sleepily, rubbing the back of his neck as he waited for a response. Perruno glanced over his shoulder, offering him a weak smile before turning back to his cooking. "Hungry?" he asked cheerfully, his voice laced with the usual teasing undertone they'd had since they were kids. "Starving," Hiroki admitted, settling down on a barstool at the counter and watching as Perruno continued to prepare their meal. The smell of food filled the air, making his st

Hiroki nodded with a small smile. "Don't worry, I'll stay put," he said reassuringly, glancing up at his older brother as Perruno finished pouring the coffee. They both knew that things were far from perfect and that their world had been turned upside down in recent days, but somehow, having each other made it a little easier to cope. At least for now, they could pretend that everything was normal...and maybe even find a way to make it so again someday soon. "Thanks for making breakfast," Hiroki added with a small laugh, reaching out to squeeze Perruno's shoulder gratefully. "You know I couldn't survive on those cheap frozen meals forever."

Perruno smiled back, his expression softening as he patted Hiroki's shoulder in return. "No problem, little brother," he replied, the teasing gone from his voice now. "I'm just glad I can take care of you for a change."

Hiroki looked up at his brother as he left the room. There was an air of determination and sadness about him that Hiroki couldn't quite understand. He wanted to ask what was going on, but decided against it for now. Instead, he busied himself by finishing his breakfast and then tidying up the kitchen. Once everything was back in order, he went back into his room and flopped down onto his bed, staring listlessly at the ceiling. He didn't know what Perruno intended to do or how long it would take, but he couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety forming in his gut.

Time passed slowly as Hiroki waited for something - anything - to happen. The silence pressed down on him like a lead blanket, making it difficult to breathe. He tried to distract himself with his phone or TV, but nothing could chase away the dark thoughts that continued to circle around in his mind. Eventually, he drifted off into an uneasy sleep, plagued by nightmares of the past and a terrible sense of foreboding about the future.

Hiroki woke up with a start, his heart racing and his body drenched in sweat. The nightmare he'd just had was more vivid than usual, leaving him feeling shaken and disoriented. Glancing around the room, he realized that it must have been late afternoon by now; the sunlight streaming through the window cast long shadows across his floor. He sat up slowly, running a hand through his messy hair as he tried to gather his thoughts. It felt strange being alone in the house like this; usually Perruno would be there with him, or at least nearby. But today, everything was different...and it only served to make Hiroki feel more isolated and vulnerable than ever before.

Finally mustering up the courage to get out of bed, Hiroki decided to take a walk around the house, trying to clear his head and work up an appetite for dinner. As he wandered through the familiar rooms, memories flooded back to him in vivid detail, each one more painful than the last. It felt as though everything he'd ever known and loved was being ripped away from him piece by piece...and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He longed for things to go back to the way they used to be; wished that Perruno had never left, and that Nao and the others hadn't turned against them.

Eventually, he found himself standing in front of his bedroom door, hesitating before entering. A part of him didn't want to go inside, didn't want to face whatever it was that Perruno had left behind for him...but curiosity got the better of him in the end. Gathering up his courage, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The sight that greeted him was one he never could have expected. The room looked like a battlefield

Hiroki whirled around at the sound of Perruno's voice, his expression a mix of fear and relief. "Perr...uncle?" he stammered, eyeing the mess in the room warily. "What happened? Where have you been?" He looked pale and exhausted, as if he hadn't slept properly since everything had started.

"Don't worry about it," Perruno replied gruffly, his expression guarded. "It's all over now." He gestured towards the door with his chin. "Come on, let's go." There was a new resolve in his voice that made Hiroki feel uneasy.

Trembling slightly, Hiroki followed Perruno out of the room and back into the hallway. The house seemed strangely quiet now; almost too quiet after everything that had happened. As they made their way towards the front door, Hiroki couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get worse before they got better.