New Year's Eve is over, and another few months have passed...

The boys voices in Kiyo's class starting to crack and grow taller, he is no exception.

But he felt a little strange about this, mostly due to the tone of voice.

When he first heard Kiyo speak in that tone, Sunny blushed a little:

"Your voice is a bit odd today, and you've grown taller..."

"Yeah, it's just age."

Sunny was born in September, of course, he hit puberty later.

But despite the physical and mental changes, the two are still close friends.

One day, remembering the day he went to Kikyo Hill, Kiyo decided to invite Sunny up there again.

"Go there again...?" - Sunny lowered his voice.

He doesn't want to?

"Ah, that's fine. I'm free today." - Sunny is radiant again.

"Then let's go, time's up."

Kiyo finished speaking, reached out, and grabbed the other's hand, leading each other up the hill.

They sat down, holding their knees, side by side. Then put their leg down.

Sunny leaned on Kiyo's shoulder and asked:

"How does it feel to live alone, Kiyo?"

Kiyo did not anticipate that he would ask such a question, but then had to answer:

"Sometimes it's very stressful. But there are times when I'm relaxed."

"Is that so..."

They were silent for a moment, then Sunny spoke again:

"I wish I could live like that."

"It's really exhausting, can you stand that?"

"I don't know, but it's not much better at home."

Sunny held his knees, frowning like he was holding back something.

"What happens?"

"Maybe...it's time for me to open up and say why I'm like this."

Kiyo froze.

"About my family. It's a bit wordy."

And Sunny began to talk softly. And really long.

"Where should I start.. Well, my family is middle-class; my dad is a police officer and my mom is a TV reporter. Because of work, they rarely come home, so both my sister and I have to take care of ourselves.

But my sister has psychological problems, so she is quite violent, arrogant and speaks very rudely. No matter how many times I mentioned it, she didn't listen, in return, I got hit by it all the time. I do everything in the house, but she does almost nothing, studies a little, then ran out. It's her fault yet she blames me.

I'm so angry I want to cry, but no one listens to me. Both parents thought that my sister was young and did not understand the story, only gently reminded. What about me? They scolded me in the face for not knowing how to teach her."

Sunny stopped, and turned away as if holding back something.

"I wish I wasn't her brother, or she was sane.

I don't trust anyone in my family and am wary of strangers. So when I first met you.. I was very shy.

However.. I always think.. everything will be okay if I can be good and become a better person.. But.. when would it happen, while things stay the same, while the pressure is on me and still spinning in my head?..."

After listening to it all, Kiyo now feels bitter and pity for Sunny. A person with such a talent, who is constantly being smothered by the people around him, even recently some people have begun to envy him. It's not fair at all.

Having finished his story, Sunny burst into tears. Painful memories kept coming to his mind, he had to endure so much.

Kiyo sat next to him, as if he wanted to cry but couldn't, so he hugged the other person tightly.

"Everything is gonna be okay, don't worry about me.."

Sunny's bitter words from before made Kiyo unable to control his emotions anymore; something that he couldn't analyze has broken into pieces inside him, making Kiyo cry too.

Kiyo also didn't expect that he had suppressed himself to this extent since he rarely cried. Ignoring that stereotype of boys must not cry, the two of them joined in such sobs.

After a long while, they sat up, wiping away their tears, Kiyo choked up and swore:

"From now on, I'll always protect you. Whoever hits you, I hit back. If there is anything wrong, just tell me."

Sunny too, nodded and said:

"Yeah, okay."

"It's probably late. Let's go home."

Kiyo took Sunny to his house, before he could say thank you, Kiyo said:

"Considering your situation.. Are you sure you can go home alone?"

The other person did not answer. Kiyo wanted to bring Sunny home himself, or even let him stay for a few days.

"You want to take me home, don't you? Well, I'll go by myself. Bye."

Sunny took the bike from Kiyo and headed straight back.

Kiyo worries about him. Because somehow Sunny's damn sister would continue to insult her own brother.

Closing the door, Kiyo thought to himself:

If I can meet her face to face, I will teach her a lesson about the humiliation his brother has to endure.

If it still doesn't make any progress..

I'll go crazy.