“Just Leave It To Your Big Bro!”
Fun Fact: I finished writing the initial draft of this the moment that Chapter 6, Part 2 went online. And then I finished this version during my last Final.
Characters: Idia Shroud and Ortho Shroud
Word Count: 2,296 (but most of it is me rewriting the game text)
Ch6 Spoilers (like right away)
Please enjoy~
~~~
“Idy…”
The younger Shroud tugged at the fabric of the older brother’s shirt, urging him to look.
“Don’t worry, I’m right here.”
Idia tried to brush away his brother’s worries as he frantically typed line of code after code to bring the security system back online. He knew he would get an earful from his parents after this for messing with it, but all he wanted was to have a fun day with Ortho. Was that so much to ask for?
“No, look! There’s something at the end of the hall!”
His typing came to a halt as he turned towards the hallway.
“Huh?”
Growls erupted out of the silence. A shadowy, inky figure crawled into their view. Claws sharp and fangs bared.
“Eep… It’s a monster!”
The growls got louder, got closer. It lunged towards the brothers, towards Ortho.
But then, there was only silence as the world faded to black.
Gasping for air, Idia shot up in his bed, tears streaming down his cheeks.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, No, NO, NOOOOOO!
He pulled his knees to his chest as he sobbed, shaking from the fear. Tears drenched his clothes as he cried. This was all his fault. He caused this. If he did not decide to go on a grand adventure with his brother, none of this would have happened. He knew better than to not deactivate the security system, but he still did it. If he stayed quiet and played with his video games, nothing would be wrong. If he just accepted the future that was laid out for him, Ortho would not be dead. It was all his fault. He had no one else to blame but himself and his big, stupid brain. No one else to blame…but himself.
Why was he so stupid? Why did he think he had a choice in how to run his own life? He clearly knew the fate of the Shrouds, but why did he ever think that he could have something else? Now, that stupid wistful thinking lost him the only person who ever truly cared for him. The only person who was ever there for him. His only brother. His younger brother. His younger brother that he was supposed to protect as the older sibling. He failed at everything: failed at being a hero, failed at experiencing an adventure alongside his brother, failed at keeping his brother safe. He was such a failure.
Idia did not even care if his parents scolded him, yelled at him, grounded him. He did not care at all anymore. He just wanted his brother back. He was willing to get rid of anything to get Ortho back. His intelligence, his talents, all of it, if it only meant Ortho would be next to him once again.
What good was his intelligence if he could not use it properly anyway? Why was he gifted with these talents if it would only bring him pain and suffering? If nothing good ever came from it? What was the point?! What was the point of having intelligence and talents if he could not fix the problem?! Fix himself?! Fix Ortho?! Fix…Ortho…?
“…That’s it.”
Idia held his head up, staring forward at the darkened photo of himself and Ortho staring back at him.
“If he isn’t coming back, then I just make him.”
Slowly, he pushed his legs over the side of his bed, picking himself up. Stumbling his way across the room, he gingerly picked up the picture frame, cradling the previous memento in his arms.
“It’s okay. I remember everything.” He saw a sole tear run down his cheek in the glass’s reflection. “I know I can recreate Ortho perfectly.”
Idia looked directly into the eyes of the photographed Ortho.
“We promised we’d go on an adventure together…”
“...Just leave it to your big bro.”
–
Idia breathed out a sigh of relief as the flame on Ortho’s chest glowed a bright blue, and his eyes finally opened. Two years. He watched in utter disbelief as Ortho came online for the first time, that after two long years, he was finally at this moment.
“I am Ortho.” The robot said flatly.
“Yes, yes you are!” Idia dropped to his knees, throwing his arms around the shorter one. He held the mechanical being in his arms, finally being able to hold his younger brother once again.
He spent two years straight recreating the perfect Ortho. Bringing back the brother he lost. Bringing back his happiness. And finally, he did it. Ortho was no longer just a past memory. Ortho was now alive in the present. He did it. He brought Ortho back to life. He got his brother back. At this moment of triumph, tears spilt out of his eyes the more he came to fully accept that Ortho was no longer dead. He is back.
Now, to show the world his achievement, his success!
“Boom, badda-boom, boom, boom! Hah!” Idia cheered, exiting his room for the first time in years. “It’s done! I’ve finished!”
The STYX employees outside his room stared at him in confusion.
“I’ve finally got him back!”
“Idia?” One of the scientists spoke. “What are you talking about? What’s finished?”
Idia grinned with a giggle. “You wanna know what? ORTHO, that’s what!”
Ortho stepped out of Idia’s room, clunky and mechanical.
“Hello. I am Ortho. How do you do.” The robot introduced in a monotonous tone.
Idia looked upon his brother in pride. “See?! I’ve recreated Ortho’s memories and his thought patterns exactly. His AI’s got a learning algorithm, too. This is the world’s first self-improving technomantic humanoid. And his name is Ortho!”
“Wait… You built your late brother?!”
“But that’s wrong, Mr. Shroud!”
He eyed the scientists. “Wut? So, it’s romantic when some schlemiel rescues his ladylove from the Underworld, but when I do it for my brother it’s an affront to god?”
“Well…” The scientist struggled to answer.
“Ugh. Plebes, amirite?” Idia rolled his eyes. “How about you not judge people based on utterly subjective ethics and sentiment? Who cares if he doesn’t have some unprovable, immaterial thing like a soul? My brother’s right here. Not only that, but he’s WAY stronger and tougher than a human. He won’t break easily. And with more improvements, he’ll be able to go into space one day, unassisted. Isn’t that right, Ortho?”
“Yup!” came the robotic voice. “Shoot for glory among the stars and soar like a comet!”
“There ya go!” Idia laughed. “This Ortho would obliterate the Chronos Force. Any Phantoms too! This Ortho can totally be a hero!” His laughter died out, replaced by sobs.
“Prefrontal cortex agitated. Autonomic nervous system showing signs of distress. I recommend a moderate amount of rest.” The robot warned.
–
“Idy.”
“...Ortho?”
“Thanks for coming after me. I’m really happy you did.” Ortho smiled at his brother, then that smile fell to a frown. “But you shouldn’t come here yet.”
“But…why? I’m going with you. I promised, remember?” Idia reached out his hands towards him, to desperately hold him in his arms again, to be with his brother again.
“I know you did. But now’s not the time.” Ortho pushed Idia’s hands away. “You want to read the next chapter of your manga, and go to idol concerts, and play all the latest video games…” He kept himself away from his brother. “You love this world too much to give up on all of it.”
“WUT.” Idia tried to reach out for Ortho. “Who would ever love this world?! It’s a dump! I don’t need all its stupid garbage!”
Ortho shook his head. “It’s okay that it’s stupid. You still don’t have to give up on everything. You have a future. And you know what? I want you to get to live the dream we shared that day.”
“The dream we shared…?”
“It’ll be a long road, and I’m sure it’s gonna wear you down… Idy… Idia. I know you. I know you can achieve anything you put your mind to. No matter how far away that dream may seem, I know you’ll reach it. It’s okay. I’ll always be with you. So don’t give up, okay?” Ortho began to fade back into the Underworld.
“Ortho…”
“Wait! ORTHOOO!!!”
–
Idia finished cranking the gears of the new exoskeleton.
“...That should do it.” He wiped the sweat from his brow and examined his work. “As long as all the data is fully read…”
Idia held the blue memory card into the respective slot but hesitated.
“It’s the technomantic memory card Ortho had on him when he got assimilated by the Phantom. All the data from Ortho’s memory and AI programs should be saved on it. But, if I use this memory card, and he goes out of control again…”
He looked over the inactive body. “I’ll handle it personally if it comes to that. But it should be cool! There was no bug in his programming.”
“...Here goes nothing.” He pressed the card into the slot.
“Energy one hundred percent charged. Technomantic reactor online. Power stable.” One by one, the systems powered on.
“Yes… That’s it! Keep going!”
“Reading memory card. Fifty-four percent. Eighty-three percent. Complete.”
“C’mooon, work!” Idia balled his fists, shaking in desperation.
“Technomantic humanoid Ortho, rebooting.”
Ortho opened his eyes once again.
“Good morning,” Idia greeted. “Do you recognize me?”
“Good morning, Idia.” Ortho replied with a smile but soon faltered. “But… How am I here? I thought both the original Ortho and I got swallowed by the Underworld…”
“Grim swallowed your memory card.” Idia shifted in place. “That’s how I was able to bring you back.”
“Oh, well, that explains it.” Ortho thought for a moment. “In that case, I wonder if the original Ortho…”
He stopped for a moment, placing a hand on his chest.
“Wow, wait a minute. The area around my memory card housing feels warm.”
“Oh no.” Idia asked, “Do you feel buggy?”
“No, not at all.” Ortho shook his head. “It’s not an operational issue. It’s just…” He closed his eyes. “I feel it. Ortho is right here. There aren’t any temperature changes to my internal components, but I still feel…warm. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“Oh…oh, wow.” Idia looked away with a forlorn expression. “So, uhh…what should I call you now?”
“Huh? Why do you ask?” Ortho cocked his head to look at him.
“You don’t have to play the part of Ortho for me anymore…” Idia gave a soft smile to Ortho. “Thanks for being my little brother for so long.”
“...Do you not need a brother anymore?”
“No, no, it’s not that. It’s…kind of a long explanation.” Idia sighed. “I don’t know if it was extended blot exposure to your memory card, or all those Thunder Spear blasts, but…your technomantic circuitry’s altered now.”
“How? My thought patterns and learning algorithm are operating as normal.”
“Your circuitry is no longer subject to any outside interference whatsoever. Nothing can overwrite your data now except your own learning.”
“You mean I have an irreparable bug?”
“Yeah. But you could put it another way too. You’ve gained self-awareness. You’ve got a heart now.”
“I have…a heart?”
“Yup. From now on, nobody in the world can rewrite your memories or emotional programs. Not even me. So you can make your own choices now. Follow your heart. You don’t have to be confined to playing my little brother. You’re free.”
“Free…”
Ortho thought for a moment.
“Okay. In that case… I want to be a REAL little brother to you.” He exclaimed with a smile.
“What…?” Idia’s eyes widened.
“I don’t have Shroud blood running through my body, just oil. And my hair isn’t a manifestation of some curse. It’s just artificially generated. But the memories and feelings Ortho left me all reside within my core.” He placed his hand back on his chest. “I am Ortho, and Ortho is me. So this is my choice, Idia.”
Ortho gave his older brother that look, poking his chest with a finger. “Besides, if I wasn’t there to stop you, you’d just throw yourself into binge gaming and dev work and never eat or sleep.”
“Grk. Look…” Idia felt embarrassed yet relieved.
“You don’t have any close friends who can keep you in line yet, and I don’t know if you ever will. Not to put too fine a point on it, but leaving you to your devices is a terrible idea. So…I want to stay with you. Is that asking too much?”
Ortho gave Idia a sheepish grin which was met with Idia’s own smile.
“How could that ever be asking too much? You’ve been my real brother for a long time now, Ortho.” Idia pulled Ortho into a tight embrace.
“Thanks, Idia.” Ortho held on to him, looking up at him. “You know, after everything we did, your situation hasn’t changed one bit. The Island of Woe’s still the same, and so is your curse. But something has shifted. After all, we got to play video games with friends! We took something that we thought was impossible and made it happen. And that memory remains with me, as it does with everyone else. So maybe things only moved from zero to zero point zero zero one. But still…” Ortho wrapped his arms tighter around Idia. “It’s a major step.”
“Ortho…”
“Let’s go back to Night Raven College together. You’ve got people waiting for you there.”
“...Yeah, I do, huh.” Idia nodded with a smile.
“Actually, Idia–I was hoping to try something once we get back.” Ortho beckoned for him to lean down.
“Yeah?”
“Well, you see…” Ortho whispered into Idia’s ear. “...Do you think it’s too much?”
Idia smirked, a confident glint in his eyes. “Just leave it to your big bro!”
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Twst ch 6 end reaction and thoughts
It's so funny that Azul kicked him. I somewhat believe Azul (i don't think it was entirely on purpose), but I highly doubt he's sorry for the kick lol
Major skip to the end here
I wanted to scream when i saw ramshackle, it's just so AZGAFTSGS. I LOVE IT
My gods, I was like how did you all afford this!? Did Kalim get away with paying more? Did Vil take from a Pomfiore dorm room?
Lmao of course, they fooled me (lovely none the less)
I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry I'm not gonna cry
They can be so sweet some times (especially Deuce)
Bird 😡
Omg he showed up!
Idia apologizing with a game console is perfect
The part where they all game together is adorable, i love it
NOW FOR THE AFTER THOUGHTS!
I love ch 6 so much, i enjoyed most of it (excluding two of the minigames and that one mini boss Leona and Jamil fight that took days to beat)
I genuinely believe this chapter did an incredible job of redeeming the previous overblotter and bringing the dorm members closer together.
I actually didn't like Pomfiore before this. I disliked Vil, felt unsure about Rook, and was neutral to Epel. Now, i adore them all in their own way and would totally love them to become regulars in the story like Ace and Deuce are.
I love how much understanding and bonding came about in this chapter.
Thoughts on Idia and Ortho:
I understand Idia's behavior so much now. If anyone gets too close they forget, or worse, they might die.
Why bother being nice or getting to know anyone if it's going to end in tragedy anyway? Why bother trying expand your horizons if the one time you tried got your brother killed. He believes it will just hurt him or someone else.
Ortho(both dead and humanoid) wants to live and for Idia to enjoy living. Who could fault them for that?
I may not approve their method of achieving the future they wanted, but i just don't feel any resentment for it. After all if I were them, i might do the same.
Vil was right, it was a matter of two groups fighting for their future.
I truly believe this to be the best written chapter so far.
@azulashengrottospiano
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