Chapter 4: The Cracks in the Mirror
A House of Hidden Conflicts
The smell of pickles and dried spices lingered in the storage room.
Renji sat cross-legged on the floor, watching his grandmother sort through her hidden stash—jars of pickles, handwritten recipes, and sweets she refused to share with anyone but him.
"This is our little secret," she said, smiling as she handed him a small piece of jaggery.
Renji accepted it with a nod.
Everyone in the family knew about this room, but no one questioned her. It was an unspoken rule.
His grandmother sighed, sitting down beside him. "Your brother is too arrogant these days. Always talking about how he'll be great. Hah! Let's see what happens when life slaps him around."
Renji smirked but said nothing.
She always favored him over Riku. And while Riku never openly complained, Renji knew it irritated him.
"Why does she like you more?" Shin's voice whispered in his mind.
"Because I don't argue with her," Renji thought back.
"Or maybe because she sees you as more... controllable."
Renji stiffened.
Shin's presence had been growing stronger. He wasn't just an occasional whisper anymore—he was a shadow that hovered over Renji's thoughts, nudging him, questioning him, studying him.
And sometimes… Renji caught himself agreeing with him.
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The Family That Never Saw Eye to Eye
Downstairs, voices rose in irritation.
His mother and aunt were arguing—again.
"You keep hoarding money like we're about to go bankrupt!" his aunt snapped. "What are you even saving for?!"
His mother, calm but firm, shot back, "I'm thinking about the kids' future. Maybe if you spent less on useless things, you wouldn't always be complaining about money!"
Renji hated these fights. He stayed silent, never taking sides, because he knew—the moment he did, the cracks in the family would deepen.
His uncle, arms crossed, muttered, "Tch. You two argue like damn politicians. Just eat and shut up."
Despite his rough exterior and burned hands, his uncle treated the kids fairly. He was foul-mouthed, temperamental, and scarred—but he never treated anyone differently.
Except, maybe, himself.
Renji knew that deep down, his uncle regretted his past.
"Weakness disgusts him," Shin whispered.
Renji's fingers clenched slightly. Was Shin talking about their uncle… or about Renji himself?
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The Brothers Who Walked Different Paths
After dinner, Renji stepped outside, breathing in the night air. The streets were quiet, but he wasn't alone.
His childhood friend, Takashi, stood by the convenience store, a plastic bag in his hands.
Takashi—the eldest of two brothers—was the same age as Renji. But unlike him, Takashi had no time to waste.
His father's recent death had left his family in financial ruin. Now, he worked odd jobs while trying to pass the government exams.
"Yo," Renji greeted.
Takashi nodded, exhausted. "Just finished work. Heading home now."
"You study today?"
"Yeah. A few hours before work."
Renji hesitated. "You ever think about… quitting?"
Takashi gave him a look. "You think I have that luxury?"
Renji fell silent.
"He doesn't have the privilege to be like you," Shin murmured.
For once, Renji agreed.
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The Game That Wasn't His to Win
Back home, Riku stood in the living room, arms crossed.
"One more game," he said, setting up the chessboard.
Renji sighed. "Again?"
"You won last time. I want to see if it was a fluke."
Renji sat down. The game began.
And just like before—
He won.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Riku's frustration was visible, but he didn't explode. He just stared at the board, hands gripping the edge of the table.
"How?" His voice was low. "You never put in effort. You never cared about getting better. So how the hell did this happen?"
Renji had no answer.
Because he didn't remember thinking through his moves.
His hands had simply… moved on their own.
As if someone else had played for him.
"Good," Shin's voice whispered. "You're learning to trust me."
For the first time, Renji's heart felt cold.
Because for a moment—just a moment—
It didn't feel like his victory at all.
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End of Chapter 4