NOT DEAD :D

So sorry that I still haven't updated Touketsu Daze yet. DX writer's block is a nasty disease. I promise it'll be out soon. But in time, have this! XD

Disclaimer: Kagerou Project is not locked in a small box in my room. Thus I don't own it.

He still remembered the day he first met his sister.

It had been confusing, to say the least. And for Kisaragi Shintaro, being confused about anything itself was strange.

For a boy who was just shy of turning three, he couldn't remember a time where he hadn't been hailed as a genius; learning and maturing so much faster than any of his peers in preschool. While the other children were coloring and taking naps, Shintaro was eagerly reading books, writing words and counting numbers with ease. He listened and understood what grownups said, almost completely. The only words that the caretakers ever had to say to his parents were congratulations and praises of him.

"Your son is amazing for his age! A true prodigy."

"Little Shintaro is so bright! Kisaragi-san, you and your husband are so blessed to have him."

"Why, I bet you could skip kindergarten altogether, place him in an elementary school and he would be able to keep up!"

While the compliments made his parents happy, and thus, Shintaro happy, he didn't really understand it all. Was he really so special? So different? It didn't feel like he was. He was just like the all the other children, right? If not, was this the reason why none of them would play with him? Because he was too smart? Why the bigger kids would push him around all of the time? Why none of them seemed to understand things he knew or cared about? Was this the cost of being a 'genius'? He wasn't so sure he liked it at all anymore.

Regardless, the praises never stopped coming and Shintaro eventually got used to them, though he tried not to give it much thought. Overall, there was no doubt that he was quite smart and understood quite a lot for a someone just leaving toddlerhood.

But perhaps he wasn't so different after all, because of course, like all children including prodigies, there was still so much little Kisaragi Shintaro didn't understand. Things that confused him. For example, the last few days. Or maybe months. He didn't know for once.

Why was his mother's stomach so big? Shintaro didn't like it; it made it harder for him to hug her.

Why were his aunts and uncles coming over with things like diapers and bottles? Shintaro's parents had said that he was a baby anymore, he didn't need them!

And finally, where were his father and mother going? And why to place so far away that they had to ask his grandmother, who lived away in some place called 'Hokkaido', to come and watch him for a few days?

He had tried asking; he was still smart little Shintaro after all. But all he ever got was "It's a surprise, honey. One you'll really like. So just wait for a little longer, okay?"

During the last time he had asked however, they had added something new to the explanation. "Tou-san and kaa-san will be back in a day or two, and we'll bring the surprise home with us."

Shintaro wanted to protest, to say that he didn't even want the surprise in the first place. He didn't want tou-san and kaa-san to go; he would miss them.

On the other hand, Shintaro had never been one to cry or make a big fuss over little things like this, so just like all the last times, he didn't. "Okay, kaa-san. I will wait until you come home."

"Good boy, dear," his mother cooed and patted his head, while also stroking her bulging belly. Shintaro didn't understand why she looked like it was hurting her. He wanted it to stop.

Soon after, he was waving goodbye to them with his grandmother on the porch as his parents drove away in the car. He hoped that when they returned, his 'surprise' would be worth it. That he would finally understand what was happening.

"Come on now, Shin-chan," his grandmother had said with a gentle smile after his parents had driven out of sight. "Let's get out of this chilly air and play cards inside."

"...okay, obaa-san."

The days with Kisaragi-obaa flew by faster than Shintaro had thought they'd go. They were mostly spent watching TV, listening to her many, many stories, helping her with chores around the house, etc. It wasn't a problem, however; Shintaro found himself enjoying his grandma's company and growing accustomed to her calm and peaceful lifestyle. So much that he almost forgot to miss his mother and father. Almost, of course.

As much as he loved his obaa-san, he wanted his whole family to be around him. He couldn't help but wonder endlessly about when his parents would be returning.

...they would be returning, right? Kaa-san promised after all, and she never broke her promises to him...

But what if-

"Shin-chan! Don't sit by the door for so long, it's freezing! Come now; dinner's ready! "

He blinked his eyes out of their trance. Ah, he had been staring out the front door window at the driveway again, huh...

With a sigh, he picked himself up from the stool he had been sitting on. He made sure to put on a smile for his grandmother, and not to tell her of his worries as they ate his favorite red bean flavored dish.

They'll definitely be back.

And he was right.

At exactly 10:34 PM on February 14, almost an hour after obaa-san had put him to bed, he was awoken again.

The front door was opening.

Footsteps.

...crying?

Someone was definitely downstairs. But when he got up to go tell his grandma, he found her missing from the mat next to his.

Ahh, so she was already taking care of it. No need for him to go down then. Might as well go back to bed, he thought as he walked past the bedroom door-

"Where's Shintaro?"

Kaa-san.

"Upstairs sleeping."

Obaa-san.

"Well, best not wake him until morning then."

Tou-san.

Shintaro didn't need to think twice. He flung the door open and practically flew down the stairs. He didn't stop running until he bounded, arms stretched out, right into the parent closest to him.

It happened to be his father. While at first startled by the two little arms suddenly hugging him, the man soon picked his son up, the tails of his red scarf messing up the little boy's hair.

"Guess there's no need to wait until morning, huh Shintaro?" Mr. Kisaragi murmured aloud, rubbing Shintaro's pajama-covered-back up and down.

Shintaro didn't say anything, too absorbed in his father's hug. Eventually, he felt himself being passed to his mother. Her belly was still larger than normal, but he found it easier to hug her now for some reason.

"Did you really miss us this much Shintaro?" He nodded into her dark hair. "Hmm. I'm so glad I have such a loving son."

She placed a kiss on his forehead and rubbed away the tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "Shhh, shhh. Don't miss us anymore; tou-san and I are back now just as I promised. Do you remember what I also promised you?"

Shintaro's mind clicked instantly. "The surprise?"

Kaa-san nodded. She gestured over to his grandmother. Hobbling over, she handed his mother a bundle of white cloth.

Moving white cloth.

The bundle was being rocked oh so gently in her arms, and she kneeled down to allow Shintaro a chance to peer in. He couldn't contain his curiosity anymore. What could it possibly be?

As he peeked in, his mother carefully pushing back a fold of cloth, he found out.

"A... baby?"

A baby indeed. A tiny little one with soft pinkish skin, chubby cheeks, and a bald head that was already sporting a few fluffy tufts of hair. Bright orange hair, unlike his mother's, but just like his father's.

"Still as sharp as ever, Shin-chan," Obaa-san laughed, walking towards her rocking chair by the fireplace. "It's a beautiful baby girl."

Shintaro was too mystified with the little thing trying to wiggle out of kaa-san's arms to ask how his grandmother already knew it was a girl. He tilted his head. He swore the baby did the same right after.

"Well, what do you think of her?" His mother asked quietly, cradling the baby back and forth.

"I... don't know. Why did you bring me a baby, kaa-san?"

Tou-san placed a hand on his back from behind. "She's not just any baby, Shintaro. She's our child, just like you are. Her name's Momo. Kisaragi Momo. She's going to be your little sister now."

"Little sister?"

"Yes, and you're her 'onii-chan' now too. Her big brother."

"O-onii...chan...?"

"Do you know what that means, Shin-chan?" Grandmother called from the other side of the room, watching them all with wise eyes. "It means that Momo-chan is your responsibility now. You have to protect her, watch over her, and love her always."

"...but, why?"

Obaa-san laughed an old wise laugh, sounding just like his father. "Because that's what big brothers do!"

"..." Shintaro turned to face his parents again. "Tou-san, kaa-san... do I have to?"

"Well, the choice is really up to you, I suppose." Tou-san considered. "You're growing into a boy now, so you have to decide for yourself. Ehe, no pressure."

"Not all on your own, though! We'll always be here," Kaa-san gave tou-san a little twack to the side, before continuing. "Oh, but please, Shintaro. Will you please promise to us that you'll be a good onii-chan to Momo? That you'll always love and get along with her? And most importantly, that you'll always be there with her no matter what?"

When her son didn't answer, Mrs. Kisaragi sat him down on the couch and very, very, very carefully laid the bundle into Shintaro's arms, completely trusting him to not drop it. He tried his best not to hold onto his new 'sister' too tight or too loose. His hands couldn't help but sweat a little.

She's so warm, so small.

Shintaro paused for a long time. He looked back at his parents' and grandmother's patient faces, searching for his own answer. Big brother? Onii-chan? Protector? How could he be any of these things? He didn't have any friends so how would he play with her? For all his talents, there was still so, so much that he didn't know, including anything having to do with babies. What would he choose? What would his answer be...?

The complicated racking of his three-year-old brain was interrupted, however, as the bundle in his arms began to sniffle and squirm, ready to cry. Not wanting to hand her back just yet, Shintaro peered down at the whining baby cautiously. Her whimpering left a pang of sympathy in his heart. He suddenly felt a longing to make her smile again. How could he comfort her? Obaa-san had sung old songs to him before bedtime during the past few days, could he try that? With a small breath, he tried to hum a tiny made-up lullaby to the tiny, teary baby.

Miraculously, it worked. Momo stopped moving and opened her eyes to him for the first time. In doing so, Shintaro found himself staring back at dark, shiny, innocent orbs. Just like his.

His chest swelled with affection. This feeling was... love, right? To test it, he kissed the top of her downy head like kaa-san had. If he had been even the tiniest bit uncertain, it all vanished when the little, adorable, perfect sister in his arms started giggling; trying to reach up and grab at his face with her plump little hands. Only then did Shintaro know for certain that it was love. He smiled warmly back down at her and consequently made his decision.

Maybe...in another time, in another place, in another boy... Shintaro would've simply said 'yes' to his family, but not really mean it afterward.

But in this time, in this place, in this boy...

"Okay kaa-san, tou-san, obaa-san! I promise to be Momo's onii-chan forever and ever."

...Shintaro meant every word of his answer. It wasn't really all that confusing, or transparent of a question, after all.