Chapter 6: My Little Sister

The first day of school had finally ended, and I was completely drained. I didn't even want to think about it anymore. It wasn't a physical kind of exhaustion but a mental one, the kind that made my head feel heavy and my patience thin. Ugh, how long do I have to attend school? I thought, sighing as I slumped into my seat.

After class, Jin and I were heading straight to training. It was the perfect way to release the tension that had been building up inside me since this morning. We had told Sir Steve that there was no need to pick us up—I wanted to try different commuting services like buses and trains. Even though the Major had adopted us, both Jin and I didn't want to take it for granted. We had survived on our own before, and we weren't about to let comfort dull our instincts.

We were currently on a bus, the gentle rocking making me slightly drowsy. The training center was just 15 minutes away from R.S High School. I stared out the window, mesmerized by the towering buildings that stretched toward the sky. Humanity really is incredible… I thought, watching the cityscape blur past.

But my focus shifted when I glanced at Jin. He was still deep in thought, his brows slightly furrowed, his gaze unfocused. Ever since we left school, something had been bothering him. No, even before that—since he bumped into Brent.

I wanted to ask, but knowing Jin, he'd just brush it off like it was nothing. Should I push him? Or just wait until he tells me himself? I sighed and leaned back in my seat, deciding to let it go for now.

-

We arrived at the training ground and quickly changed into our training uniforms—a pair of black cargo pants with a garterized waist for flexibility and a black sweatshirt. The fabric was sturdy yet lightweight, allowing us to move freely.

As we stepped outside, the familiar scent of sweat and metal filled the air. The training ground was already alive with activity. Some men were lifting weights, their muscles tensed as they pushed their limits. Others were engaged in intense sparring matches, their movements precise and controlled. A few jogged around the perimeter, their steady rhythm blending with the sounds of clashing fists and grunts of exertion.

Since Jin and I were the only new trainees, the Chief was the one personally in charge of us. Sometimes, the veteran guards would step in, showing us different fighting techniques. They were strict but patient, correcting our stances and movements with sharp eyes.

I took a deep breath and stretched my arms. Time to shake off today's stress.

 "Listen here, Ren. When facing an enemy, focus on their movements, but never forget that it's just as important to be aware of your surroundings. A sudden attack from behind could lead to your defeat," the Chief instructed, his sharp gaze locked onto me.

Before I could fully process his words, he lunged. His left fist shot toward me, and I instinctively raised both hands to block it. A small smirk crossed his face. The moment he saw my hands occupied, he swiftly pivoted and delivered a powerful kick to my side. Pain shot through me as I lost balance and fell hard onto the ground.

But he didn't stop there. Without mercy, he attacked again while I was still down. I rolled to the side just in time to evade his strike, but it wasn't enough. He was too fast. Before I could recover, he caught me—his strong grip wrapping around my neck as if he were holding a knife to my throat.

"Game over," he said, his voice calm but firm.

I let out a frustrated breath. So much for using this training session to release stress. The Chief was relentless.

I turned my gaze toward Jin, remembering how he also struggled against Chief, he barely managed to dodge his blows. Neither of us stood a chance.

I sat down on the floor during our break, catching my breath as I grabbed my tumbler and took a sip of water. My muscles ached from the intense training, but more than that, my pride stung. The Chief completely overpowered me.

Just as I was lost in thought, I felt a presence behind me. Before I could turn around, a familiar hand landed gently on my head. It was Jin. He ruffled my hair slightly, his touch comforting in its own quiet way.

"Tell me if you're having a difficult time," he said, his voice soft yet firm. He smiled at me, but there was something behind his eyes—something unreadable.

I stared at him for a moment, feeling a pang in my chest. No, you tell me when you're having a difficult time, I thought, remembering the way he looked earlier on the bus—distant, lost in deep thought.

I wanted to ask. I really did. But knowing Jin, he'd just brush it off with that same reassuring smile.

-

We finally made it home, exhaustion settling into my bones. I was about to head to my room when Jin suddenly spoke up.

"Ren," he called, his tone unusually serious.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to him. His expression made it clear—he wanted to talk.

We sat down in the living room, the air between us thick with silence. It was so quiet that I could hear the faint ticking of the wall clock. The stillness was almost deafening, stretching between us like an invisible weight.

Then, finally, Jin broke it.

"Ren, don't keep it to yourself when you're having a hard time, okay?"

I had been expecting this after what he said earlier, but it still caught me off guard. I frowned slightly. It's not like I showed any signs of struggling. Is this guy's instinct top-tier or something? I wondered. Was it his gut feeling telling him something was wrong?

"Okay," I replied simply. Then, after a brief pause, I added, "Tell me if you're having a hard time too."

Jin blinked, visibly taken aback. For a moment, he just stared at me, as if realizing that I wasn't the little girl he used to take care of anymore.

"…Is there something wrong, Jin?" I asked, watching him carefully.

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Then, as if to shake off the moment, he smirked. "Of course not. Who do you think I am?"

Liar.

I could tell. He was hiding something.

Dinner was warm and comforting, prepared with care by Ms. Amy. Jin and I ate quietly, the day's exhaustion settling heavily on our shoulders. After finishing, we thanked her and went our separate ways—Jin to his room and me to mine.

After a refreshing shower, I changed into my pajamas and collapsed onto my bed, sinking into the soft mattress. My muscles ached from training, and my mind felt drained from everything that happened today. School, training, Brent, Jin… I sighed, rubbing my eyes.

I hope I don't have to go to school tomorrow. The thought drifted in my mind as I pulled my blanket up to my chin.

With that, I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, sleep took over.

-

Heavy breathing… sweating… tossing and turning…

"No matter where you go, even if you survive those injuries… I will hunt you down!"

A voice, dripping with rage, echoed through the darkness.

Javier.

His figure loomed before me, eyes burning with fury, fists clenched.

"No… please listen… Javier—" I tried to speak, but my words were cut off by a sharp kick to my stomach. The impact sent me crashing to the ground, my breath knocked out of me. Before I could even recover, another blow landed—his fists raining down like a relentless storm.

Pain.

I curled up, trying to shield myself, but it was useless. He was too strong. Too angry.

Then, my gaze shifted past him.

Sylvia.

She stood there, arms crossed, watching my suffering with a satisfied smirk. Her golden curls framed her face perfectly, her eyes filled with twisted delight.

And then—

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Her laughter erupted, sharp and deafening, echoing endlessly in my ears. It grew louder, more distorted, until it felt like it was consuming me whole.

My vision blurred. My body ached.

And then—

"Ugh… ahhh!"

I screamed and jolted awake, my body drenched in sweat. My chest heaved as I gasped for air, the echoes of Sylvia's laughter still ringing in my ears.

Without thinking, I pulled my knees to my chest, curling up as I trembled. My heart pounded against my ribs, my hands clenched into fists, but no tears came.

Just fear.

A cold, suffocating fear that gripped me so tightly it felt impossible to shake off.

I forced myself to glance at the clock on my nightstand.

11:30 PM.

Still the middle of the night. Too early to be awake, too late to push the nightmare aside like it never happened.

The soft but hurried sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing closer with each second. My breath was still uneven when the door swung open, revealing Jin.

"Wh-what happened?! I heard you screaming!" he said, his voice filled with urgency as he rushed toward me.

Before I could even answer, he pulled me into a tight embrace. The warmth of his arms surrounded me, grounding me, but I could feel the tension in his body. His jaw was clenched, his grip firm yet gentle.

"It's okay. I'm here," he murmured, his voice laced with quiet anger—not at me, but at whatever haunted me in my sleep. My mind, clouded with fatigue, struggled to hold onto any lingering thoughts. With a slow, deep breath, I surrendered to the warmth of my bed, closed my eyes, and drifted into sleep.

Jin, who had just tucked Ren in, remained by her bedside for a while, silently watching over her. His gaze softened, but his mind was restless.

Then, a memory flickered in his mind—a scene from six years ago.

—

Mr. and Mrs. Dmitri stood at the edge of their poor village, the setting sun casting long shadows behind them. They were leaving again, just as they always did after spending a month here. For years, they had come and gone, dedicating themselves to volunteer work, never staying permanently but always returning.

Before departing, Mrs. Dmitri knelt in front of the three of us—Jin, Javier, and Sylvia—Her eyes, filled with a kindness I had rarely seen in outsiders, lingered on us as if memorizing our faces.

"Well then, kids! Be good, okay?" Mr. Dmitri said with a cheerful grin, ruffling Javier's hair before stepping back.

The car was already waiting for them, the engine humming softly in the quiet afternoon. Mrs. Dmitri gave them one last warm glance, while the driver stood by, ready to open the door.

"We'll bring Reina with us on our next visit," Mr. Dmitri added, his tone light and casual.

Sylvia's eyes lit up with excitement upon hearing that. She had always wanted another girl to play with—someone who could finally do girly things with her. Javier and I never fit that role, and now, the thought of having a little sister-like figure thrilled her.

But what surprised me even more was Javier. The ever-serious, cold Javier... was blushing. His usual composed expression cracked, revealing something I had never seen before—genuine excitement.

"That kid wanted to meet you guys so much," Mr. Dmitri said with a chuckle. "It'll be her eleventh birthday on July 7. We asked her what she wanted, and you know what she said? She wants to meet you kids. She's even been thinking about what gifts to bring for all of you. HAHAHA!"

Sylvia gasped, placing her hands over her chest as if she had just heard the sweetest thing in the world. "B-but... it's her birthday. We should be the ones preparing gifts for her," she said, determined.

Javier nodded in agreement, his hands clenched into fists. He really looked... motivated.

Mrs. Dmitri pulled the three of us into a warm embrace, her scent familiar and comforting. After a moment, she finally stood, brushing off her skirt as she prepared to leave. "See you soon, kids," she said with a gentle smile before stepping back, releasing us.

Normally, Sylvia would cry whenever they had to go home. She would clutch at Mrs. Dmitri's dress and beg her to stay just a little longer. But this time, she didn't. Instead, she stood still, her brows furrowed in deep thought. Then, without warning, she clenched her fists and took off running.

Javier and I exchanged a glance before instinctively chasing after her. We followed her straight into her house, where she stopped in front of a wooden shelf and pulled out a small, well-kept box. When she turned around, we saw what she was holding—her mother's crochet kit.

"I will prepare a gift for Reina," she declared, her grip tightening around the box, her eyes burning with determination.

—

Jin remained seated at Ren's bedside, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at her sleeping face. The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast soft shadows on her features—her delicate yet hardened expression, the way her slightly wavy dark blue hair framed her face.

"Reina..." he murmured, barely above a whisper. His brows furrowed as conflicting thoughts swirled in his mind. "There's no way... isn't it?"

His fingers curled slightly, tension settling in his chest.

"But... I can't help but think that she resembles you a lot, even though we never met her." His voice was almost shaky, laced with doubt yet filled with an unshakable instinct.

His gaze softened as he exhaled. "Ren... I was surprised when the Major told me you remembered your name...what a coincidence that you have the same name."

But deep inside, he wasn't sure if it was really just a coincidence.

Brushing away his thoughts, Jin let out a quiet sigh before a gentle smile formed on his lips. Leaning slightly closer, he whispered, "Good night, my little sister."

With one last glance at her peaceful yet weary face, he reached for the switch, and the room fell into darkness.

The last thing Ren felt before slipping into deep sleep was the faint warmth of Jin's hand as he carefully tucked the blanket around her, his fingers brushing softly against her forehead

Then, the door clicked shut, leaving only the sound of her steady breathing in the quiet night.