Big Sis..?

In the luxurious, expensive red sofa, in the hall painted golden white with many expensive art pieces, at the gate where statues stood, sat a lady with flowing white hair, calm sea-blue eyes, white clothing, a white gown, and a shining, slim diamond bracelet on her left hand. With one hand on her lap and the other holding a book called The Silent Rain...

Seeing the lady and the book, Noir was greatly shocked... as first...

The lady should not be here, according to what he knows from Vision...

And there isn't any reason for her to be here exactly...

And the other thing is the book The Silent Rain...

Well, there is no need to be shocked just by seeing a book, but seeing the book that was written by his Other Half in his sister's hands was... let's say, shocking and... fear... of what her tastes are that she likes his books...

Hearing his footsteps, the lady, engrossed in her book, lifted her head, looked up, and saw the boy...

Her indifferent face suddenly had an indescribable smile, which would even shame the moon... (Well, I'm biased here)

Closing the book, putting it beside her on the sofa, she spread her hands...

Seeing her doing the same pose she did from his childhood, he felt embarrassed, but seeing her, he was happy too and...

What can a boy do in front of his Big Sis...

He could only run and embrace her, and that's what he did...

Noir approached her, though he did not run because he felt embarrassed, but he was walking slightly fast, as anybody could guess by observing his feet—it was like he was excited to meet her but didn't want to show it...

(Typically, a boy in puberty)

Well, why wouldn't Noir be excited, as he was meeting her after so many years...

Even before he ran... ahm, I mean even before he left his home for self-discovery, he hadn't met her for years...

Spreading her hands, the lady stood waiting...

Noir approached her, but after not meeting for so many years and not even talking, there was some... kind of distance or hesitation that had developed, which stopped him from hugging directly, which the lady noticed but didn't point out. Instead, she directly hugged him, embraced him, and filled him with her sisterly warmth... enveloping him in a scent that he remembered from his childhood, giving him a sense of security...

It was like Noir melted in her arms, even in her absence...

Even when she was not there when he needed her the most...

Even when he begged the gods for her to be there with him when he was so desperate...

Even when he begged the heavens to send his sister to save him...

Even when he begged his sister to save him, knowing she couldn't save him because... she didn't even know that he was in pain...

There was a place in his heart that could only be filled by her—his elder sister, his childhood role model, from whom he felt a... mother's warmth...

In her embrace, Noir felt...

What he had missed for years...

What he had craved for years...

What he had always wanted in his desperate times...

What he had begged for... but didn't get...

His eyes grew teary, like he was about to cry...

But no tears fell. It's not that he didn't feel strongly, and this hug wasn't enough for his stone heart to bleed with tears, but... but... he... held it in. He held the tears in his eyes... He didn't want to cry... no, he couldn't cry...

For what he wanted to protect... even... if... he... had to sell his soul...

His eyes grew more resolute, his hug got tighter, which the lady felt, his body had short tremors from his growing resoluteness, which the lady again felt...

Her hug grew even gentler, feeling his slightly shuddering body and the wet feeling on her shoulders and the even slightly wet place on her shoulder clothes... That was how sensitive she was...

After a silent hug lasting more than five minutes, they finally separated—or rather, Noir was the one who pulled away, suddenly feeling embarrassed despite his earlier resolve.

The hug had been silent because Noir was lost in his own world, savoring her warmth. Meanwhile, the lady remained quiet, simply holding him, believing that he needed it.

Taking a step back, she looked him up and down before commenting, "Hm, you've grown taller."

Noir watched her carefully, remembering how she used to do silly things like this when he was a child, just to make him laugh.

Shaking his head left and right, he smirked and said, "And you're the same. Seems like your growth has been halted since the last time I saw you."

She tilted her head playfully and replied, "Nah, I think I've grown perfectly. Though… it seems my growth has been selective to certain body parts." She glanced downward as she spoke the last part.

Noir cringed, immediately realizing what she meant. "As shameless as ever, huh, sis?"

She only grinned.

Sighing, Noir changed the topic. "Anyway, why are you here?" He was genuinely curious—there was no real reason for her to be in the capital.

She hummed thoughtfully. "Why am I here? Hm, good question. What do you think I'm here for?" She asked with a strange tone as she stepped closer.

Noir raised an eyebrow, trying to guess—

But before he could say anything, she suddenly grabbed his left ear and pulled it hard.

"Ahhhhhh! Sis—what are you doing?! Ahhh—sto... stoppp!"

She smiled sweetly, tightening her grip. "Oh? Does it hurt, baby?"

"Yes! Ahh—it hurts!" Noir winced, trying to pull away.

Her expression suddenly darkened, her eyes flashing with menace. "If such a small pinch hurts you, then tell me—why the hell did you run away from home?!"

Noir flinched. "Ahhh! I—ouchh! I didn't run away! I... I was just... self-discovering my path… you know, getting to know myself—"

She cut him off with an unimpressed look. "No, I don't know what kind of bullshit your 'path of self-discovery' is, and I'm not interested in knowing it either!" Her grip tightened even more.

"Aghhh! Sis—" Noir tried to protest, but she wasn't finished.

"First, tell me—how dare you… howww... dare... you... run away from home?! Do you even realize how much danger is out there?! Do you have any idea?!" Her voice was laced with fury, and Noir suddenly had the feeling that he wouldn't be getting out of this without a serious lecture.