Chapter 75: At the Ends of the Sin

The images and memories were blurry, but the emotions that Haru felt that day was so clear that it almost seemed tangible to him.

He remembered Saito inviting him over outside for hiking in a foggy early evening along with the puppy that was gifted to Haru on his first birthday they celebrated in the Hayashi family. They commemorated and celebrated on the day that it was Hiroto's birthday, not Haru's.

It only made it clear to him that he's a replacement and nothing more.

He doesn't even have a value if his face and attitude isn't nearly similar to Hiroto's.

Haru felt like he's less than a shadow.

This was underlined to him throughout his days in the Hayashi family and he thought that this would never bother him.

The harassment that Saito chose that day was to threaten him with the puppy that Haru adored. In that despicable household, Haru found refuge with the puppy.

"I just wonder… what would our parents' reaction be if they knew that you threw the puppy and let it die?" Saito grinned and then, he burst into laughter, as if it was funny. "They might think you're being ungrateful to them, you know! They could kick you out of the house for that."

Haru's eyes were teary and his heart was beating against his chest. "N-No… Please, not the puppy… Brother, I'm begging you," Haru couldn't do anything but kneel, clutching on Saito's pants. "Give him back to me, please!"

"Did you already give this little one a name?"

Haru began sobbing when he saw the puppy whimpering and struggling on Saito's grip. "H-He's getting hurt!" Haru yelled, reaching out his arms. "Let go of him!"

Saito pushed Haru away by kicking him off and getting closer to the cliff. He kept on taunting him until Haru lost all his sanity and pushed his brother off the edge. Saito hit his head against a rock as he dropped on the water along with the puppy.

Haru's blood rushed up and spiked as he saw the scene.

There's no land near the sea where they both fell, so Haru didn't know how he could get there. He could save neither his puppy nor his elder brother.

The first beat of his heart was utter fear and dread, imagining the shock and anger of Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi.

"What should I do? What should I do?" Haru muttered like a chant as he ran off with his feet and fear leading him.