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alicemitch09writes · 2 years

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growing pains (three little foxes universe)

when you’re the youngest, sometimes it was easy to get away with anything. yes, almost anything. well, mostly.

then again, being the youngest gave kaoru a lot of leeway to do whatever. it’s not like he’s doing anything wrong, they’re all just things he pleases.

however, time and time again, he would get reprimanded if what he asked for was too much. more often than not, the person who’d reprimand him was his big sister - (y/n).

his mother was too gentle. his uncle was too carefree. and his other older sister - mika, believed in the philosophy of letting kids enjoy their youth.

but not his big sister (y/n).

nope.

she was not only the strictest person in their family, she was the strictest person IN HIS LIFE.

she may be five years older than him, but her strictness could be unfair sometimes. he was lucky to get away with most of the stuff in his life, if he were to meet her conditions.

it annoys him sometimes that she treats him like a child, as though he couldn’t handle whatever. each and every time he sees an opportunity, she was there to block him.

“nee-san, you’re so annoying!” he tells her, because she was holding his hand as they were crossing the street. age: 6.

“ah, no nee-san, i want to do it!” he calls after her, because he wanted to cut the vegetables for dinner. but she told him off and he never did. age: 8

“nee-san, stop it!” he screeches, face read, because she was cleaning his face IN FRONT OF HIS ONII-SANS! age: 12

“what would you know about love, nee-san? you’ve never even had a boyfriend! let alone, someone who likes you! knowing how boring, plain, and robotic you are, it’s no wonder nobody wants to date you!” he yelled at her, red in the face. age: 13.

for each time she blocks him, she receives his irate, rash words. yet, she remains firm on her ground, letting him say his piece until he’s wrung dry. afterwards, she’d ask him if he was done, then he’d stomp off angrily.

“kaoru, can you please call your sister and tell her it’s dinner time?”

“okay mom!”

climbing up the stairs, he heads straight for the door across his. just as he was about to knock though, he hears sniffles. immediately, his hands freeze inches away from the door.

he hears it again - the sniffles, but this time there was a thud.

kaoru found himself frozen in place, not knowing exactly what to do. his first instinct was to rush to his mom and uncle, to tell them about it. but he can’t. his feet were glued to the ground, body unable to do anything at the sound of sniffles.

and then came a sob.

he jolted on the spot at the sound of it - a sound that quickly muffled, as though the person didn’t want her sobs to be heard.

but kaoru heard it.

a heartbreaking sob followed by light thuds. although muffled, he was sure to make out a scream being held in by sheer force.

with mika away, the only person who was left, who was on the other side of the door, was big sister (y/n).

not wanting to stay any longer, he rushes down to tell his mother that his sister was busy studying, clasping his shaking hands behind his back.

during dinner, as he listens to the adults converse about trivial things, his gaze falls on the empty seat next to his uncle.

a moment later, his big sister appears at the dinner table - expression indifferent, per usual. as though she didn’t have a breakdown earlier. like kaoru wasn’t there to hear it.

big sister (y/n) was a lot of things.

she was, and he reiterates, the strictest person he’s ever met. heck, she’s stricter than his own teachers!

she was also ridiculously smart - always managing to get amazing scores for as long as he can remembers, coming home with papers with O marks, being in an honor’s class, or even having teachers mention her to him at times. she offered to tutor him, mika, the miya twins, or anyone who asked for free!

he’s heard it a lot, but she was super reliable. may it be house work, school work, or club work, she was ready to give a hand. whenever her uncle needed help, she was the first to volunteer. without being asked, she would cook breakfast and dinner. most of the time, she prepares lunches for him and mika, too!

despite how intimidating she looks, she was so incredibly gentle. proof of this was how she easily cares for their family. sure, he had both his uncle and mother, but she just as easily takes them into account and complies with chores.

sometimes, he even forgets that mika was actually the oldest sibling and not her!

for all her amazing feats, kaoru can’t help but wonder just how much his big sister has done in her life for everyone around her.

there was one thing he hated about his sister, though.

she was secretive.

hiding in the face of indifference, never shall she disclose matters of the heart. or more like, she’ll give the bare minimum before shifting the subject off.

when the (l/n) siblings come to mind, it was very easy to start off with mika, the pretty, sociable, sweet girl-next-door. she was also a school heartthrob, a soccer player, and part of the student council.

kaoru, was the youngest. the only boy who loves soccer, a gentleman, sort of naive, and funny boy-next-door.

and then there was (y/n). the smart one.

that was it.

he didn’t mind at first, being a naive little boy.

however, when his friends came over and big sister (y/n) just happened to pass by, the conversation went:

“akio, you like kaoru’s nee-san!?”

“e-eh-!!!!”

kaoru blinked. “huh, really.”

“you don’t mind, kaoru!?”

“...um, it’s just nee-san.”

“nah, if you were to choose, i’d rather you chose kaoru’s nee-chan!”

“yeah! she’s pretty!”

“right? right?”

“compared to his nee-san, well...no offense, kaoru, but she’s just...okay.”

as he returned to the game, the young boy was unaware of his nose scrunching at his friends’ remark.

similar conversations followed through the years, kaoru never once thinking about it much until he considered the details of them, realizing just how overlooked big sister (y/n) was.

yet his big sister would always have this look of complete indifference on her face.

not once has she ever spoken about it, neither has she spoken about what people think about her. however, she knows. she knows a lot of things, just that she never chooses to talk about it.

she’s known for a while.

he never realized just how much words can actually impact someone, never realized as well just how much his big sister endured.

truth be told, he had to admire just how patient she was. reckless words - mostly innocent, were thrown her way almost on a daily spanning for years. at some point in his life, the words people were saying to his sister started to get to him.

with the patience of a saint, kaoru really had to wonder...especially when it came to him.

looking back, was he really that much of a brat growing up? just how much of a burden was he to his big sister (y/n)?

to him, his big sister (y/n) was practically invincible - she was smart, ruthless, intimidating, yet at the same time kind, responsible, reliable, and considerate.

one time, when he broke the neighbor’s claypot because he was practicing his soccer moves, instead of him doing the apologizing, it was his sister. she bowed to the neighbors and promised to replace it. a day later, she went off to tambe with her uncle and returned with the promised pot.

another time, he found some chocolate inside his bag. earlier that day, he had complained during breakfast that he was scared of his japanese and math exams. while his big sister gave him an indifferent look, because she was tutoring him for the past few days, the rest of his family were assuring him.

when he complained about calculator breaking, over a study session with his sister, she wordlessly gave him hers. she never asked for it back since.

over a heaping serving of chicken stir fry she had successfully made for the first time, everyone had a hearty meal - including him. the next day, when he opened his bentou, he found chicken stir fry.

without even having to say anything, his big sister definitely could tell what he wanted before he could say it himself.

even with the many times he’s annoyed her, the times he got mad at her nagging, or the accidental slip of his mouth, his big sister would always be there for him.

and yet, what has he ever done for her?

sure, he quickly picked himself to learn how to cook straight after she cut herself. each and every time she came home and over dinner, she’d give her honest feedback about how oily the serving was or it was too much that osamu would help her finish it. nevertheless, she would compliment his cooking. kaoru felt even more determined to cook.

there was also him working on his grades, just so his sister could have something less to worry about. seeing as she was a club manager, already, plus she was going to be a third year soon, he really needed to give her something less to worry about.

one time, he overheard her talking with both their uncle and mother, sharing how she really wanted to study outside the prefecture but was worried about leaving them behind.

university was fast approaching.

never had he thought of losing his sister that fast, after having her by their side for so long.

she loved the family, she really did.

but there was a bigger world out there, and family shouldn’t keep her from seeing it. those were his uncle’s words.

quietly, kaoru slipped back to his room and cried. then, he worked even harder with his academics and soccer. he didn’t want to disappoint or worry his big sister (y/n).

it’s funny, because big sister mika had been gone for a while now and despite the video calls, the fact that she wasn’t there didn’t really bother him.

his big sister (y/n) on the other hand? man, that would hurt so much.

now that he realizes it, maybe all he’s ever done was take his big sister (y/n) for granted.

after telling suna rintarou off about how he didn’t like her for his sister, something inside him told him that he was doing the right thing. he was protecting her is all! and yet, when big brother reiki had to talk to him, gently telling him off about the way he talked to his big sister’s first boyfriend, there was guilt.

in kaoru’s defense, of his two sisters, big sister (y/n) was probably the hardest for people to love and the most sensitive to it. nobody could ever understand her, could ever deserve his big sister. nobody but big brother atsumu, who was her best friend.

reiki’s words woke him from his overprotectiveness, however, putting it into words that: “you’re clearly underestimating your own sister if you think like that. you’re potentially saying you don’t trust her own judgement to choose who she believes is right for her. sure, you’re looking out for her, but you also have to trust her, kaoru.”

and that got him.

finally doing the one thing he owes his big sister, which was protecting her heart, yet doing it selfishly in the process.

the next time his sister and her boyfriend came to hyogo, kaoru was beside himself the whole time as he wanted to apologize to him. big brother osamu told him that the two were recovering from a fight, something kaoru felt was partly his fault, making things even worst for him.

reiki’s words rang in his head over and over, big sister mika’s, too, after hearing from reiki what happened.

honestly, he felt like the shittiest brother in the world for what happened.

after seeing how happy his big sister truly was next to suna, how relaxed she was the whole time, and how big and bright she smiled - something he hasn’t seen in a long while, something that she has long been deserved, how could he not feel so shitty?

“kaoru?”

he looked up, meeting the same shade of (e/c).

“a-ah, nee-san?”

“are you alright?”

no. but he didn’t want to tell her that, ashamed at his own guilt. so instead, he lowers his head.

he hears her sigh, followed by an arm snaking around his frame for a side hug. he was so tall now, even taller than his big sister, but this hug made him feel...small.

“you know you can tell me anything, right?”

“...it...” he breaks into a sigh, leaning against her. “...it just feels like i owe you an apology.”

“an apology?”

he nods. “one long overdue.”

her eyes widen, her hold tightening.

“i...” he swallows thickly. “i’ve been a terrible brother to you, nee-san. you’ve done so much for us, given us so much, too, yet ask so little in return. but mostly importantly,” he swallows again, feeling and hearing his beating heart. “i...i...”

as though reading his thoughts, she leaned against him, feeling the material of his sweater press against her cheek. “i forgive you, kaoru.”

his eyes shoot wide open. “but nee-san-”

“shh, you don’t have to say anymore. nee-san will always forgive you.”

“b-but,” he stammers. “i’ve said horrible things to suna-san! i basically drove him to nearly breaking up with you! i would’ve robbed you of your one happiness you so utterly deserve! h-how-”

“and did you feel bad about yourself?”

“what?”

she turns her head, (e/c) meeting his very own. “have you thought over your actions?”

“wha- i- yes?”

“and did you talk with rin, already?”

“o-of course! b-but i wanted to talk to you, first!”

“then you’re forgiven.”

“nee-san!”

suddenly, he feels like he was 6 again, frustrated as the light before them flashed green, a striped crosswalk before them.

she shakes, a rare mischievous look on her face. “now you know what it’s like to be at the receiving end of annoyance. kaoru, you’ve suffered enough already. and you were looking out for me. thank you for that. but please, trust me with this, okay?”

he could see his stoic big sister holding out her hand, patiently, staring down at his stubborn, puffy face.

even now, his big sister (y/n) hasn’t changed one bit.

“...okay, nee-san. i’ll talk to suna-san after this, i promise you that.” he adds the last part instantly, causing his sister’s eyes to shine.

“that means a lot to me, kaoru. thank you.”

little him takes his big sister’s hand and together, they cross.

“where’s your dad?” a friend once asked him.

for as long as he can remember, kaoru has never once asked nor considered asking that question. he shrugs as a response, much to the confusion of his other friends.

“so...you’ve never met him?”

“i was a baby when he and my mom separated,” he reasons, twirling the bottle in handle.

one of them hisses, face apologetic. “sorry, man.”

“it’s fine.” truly it was. he takes a careful sip.

“oh, right, you have your uncle, right?”

“yeah.”

“and you’re okay with not knowing your dad, like ever?” as soon as the question was asked, someone next to him smacks them. probably to tell them off, the question veering towards insensitive.

realizing this, his friend was just about to take it back, only to stop at kaoru’s smile.

“no need,” shoulders slacking, he leans back against the sand, eyes to the stars. “like you said, i have my uncle. also...” a smile splits his face. “i have my big sister (y/n).”

#alicemitch09 writes #lol #just an excuse to write on kaoru #or an excuse to write a brother i was mine was #im honestly very tired with how my younger brother seems to not care that he's beenusing me this whole time and i let him bc brothers #that #or im just an easy person for my brother #i don't even think he respects me #i honestly felt like crying thinking about this and writing it up #three little foxes #(un)loving miya atsumu deleted scene #or side-story

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