“Big Brother… I can’t be saved anymore.”
Rin said it without the slightest burden.
Her clear, empty eyes stared straight ahead, as if the frail body being devoured by death wasn’t her own.
“The friend I mentioned earlier is an incredible doctor. For the past few years, she’s done everything she possibly could to treat me. I’m truly grateful to her.”
Rin let out a short breath and leaned her thin back against the wooden edge.
“But from the despair in her eyes yesterday, I knew this illness has no cure. Just like Mother back then. If even you couldn’t save her at that time, Big Brother, then you definitely won’t be able to save me now.”
Her pale fingertips moved slowly, stroking a piece of fabric on her lap in a steady rhythm.
“So rather than burdening you and Big Brother Michikatsu, it’s better if I just stay quiet, right?”
“It’s not like that, Rin…”
Yoriichi shook his head quickly.
His shoulders stiffened, rejecting every word that had just left his sister’s lips.
*No… something’s wrong, Rin… something’s wrong with you…*
“Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged everything for the clan.”
Rin ignored his denial.
She continued speaking in a calm, orderly manner, as if reciting a daily report in the assembly hall.
“The Tsugikuni family has endured for hundreds of years. Even though we’re at our lowest point right now, we still have several loyal followers. I’ve tested their loyalty many times.”
She paused for a moment to catch her increasingly labored breath, her chest rising and falling with difficulty.
“After I’m gone, they will work together to help Big Brother Michikatsu through these difficult times. They won’t trouble you at all, nor will they burden Big Brother Michikatsu…”
“No!”
Yoriichi cut her off, almost shouting. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
His mind fell into chaos, rejecting the absolute calmness his dying sister displayed.
“Rin! That’s not what I want to hear! I want to say…”
This wasn’t right.
None of this was right.
How could an ordinary human look at their own death with eyes as cold as ice?
Yoriichi lunged forward, dropping both knees onto the cold tatami floor.
His hands gripped her frail shoulders tightly, forcing her to look straight at him.
“Rin, look at me! You’re going to die! You’re going to die soon! Don’t you understand what that means?!”
Rin was momentarily stunned by the panic flashing in her brother’s eyes.
But a second later, the corners of her lips lifted into a faint, hollow smile.
“Yes, I understand perfectly, Big Brother Yoriichi.”
“Then why… why are you so calm?!”
“Because everyone dies in the end. It’s not that big of a deal. I’m just leaving a little earlier than the others.”
Rin’s pale hand moved slowly, gently patting the back of Yoriichi’s trembling hand that still clutched her shoulder.
“You don’t need to worry about me. As the daughter of this family, I’ve fulfilled all my duties. When I meet Father and Mother later, I believe they’ll be proud of me.”
His grip slowly loosened, losing all strength until he collapsed into a sitting position on the cold floor.
*No… this isn’t her…*
The Rin he remembered wasn’t someone who surrendered to fate with the empty expression of a wooden doll.
The real Rin was a lively little girl who cried loudly when hurt, laughed freely when happy, and always defied their father’s orders just to see him.
If the girl in front of him was truly Rin, she would have hugged him tightly right now, sobbing in fear.
Not talking about death as casually as tomorrow’s weather.
“Big Brother Yoriichi… are you crying for me?”
Rin slowly rose from her seat.
Her movements were painfully slow and stiff.
Her numb left leg could barely support her weight, causing her frail body to sway several times.
Yet she forced herself to step closer, then knelt with great difficulty in front of Yoriichi.
Using her only movable arm, she pulled her brother’s head into a warm embrace.
“Don’t be sad. I’m not broken. I’m really fine. I’ve just… accepted my fate. Death isn’t scary if you can face it calmly.”
“Rin…”
Yoriichi’s tears finally spilled over, streaming down his cheeks and soaking the shoulder of Rin’s clothes.
His chest felt crushed by an overwhelming pain—the exact same pain he felt when he watched his wife being taken by a demon right before his eyes.
“I don’t blame anyone, Big Brother. So you don’t need to feel guilty or carry this burden alone. Everything has already been decided by fate.”
Rin gently stroked her brother’s head, then slowly loosened her embrace to look at his tear-streaked face with the most sincere smile.
“I’m just grateful… that at least I could see you one last time. Please, until I’m really gone, don’t tell Big Brother Michikatsu about my condition, okay?”