Ryu spent Wednesday night doing research on construction techniques, building designs and basic survival techniques. Everything he looked up was absorbed with remarkable ease, but whether Dot could apply that information would have to be put to the test.

Following that, Ryu still had his duty as a student. Thursdays were just another school day for him, nothing special in his opinion; however, as the school day came to an end he had a visitor, a visitor that made him the envy of every boy in his class.

“Umm… hey,” said Shizuka, quickly looking around the room. “Can we talk?”

Ryu could tell by the tone of Shizuka’s voice that this was something important, so he nodded his head.

“Yeah, sure.”

Ryu followed after Shizuka who walked quickly and never looked back. A few minutes later and they were outside, in a more secluded part of school. Shizuka turned around and looked at Ryu, taking a step back before she spoke.

“I’m not not into you like that, okay?” said Shizuka.

“Wait, what?” said Ryu.

“Just stop telling people we’ve been doing this and that, okay?!”

“Wha-”

“Okay?!” repeated Shizuka, taking another step back as if she was ready to bolt at a moment's notice.

“Okay! Okay,” said Ryu, holding his hands up.

Shizuka’s eyes lingered on Ryu for a second before she ran away, leaving behind a bewildered Ryu.

“The hell was that about?”

Ryu sighed before heading home, already having an idea of what might be going on. Dot was good at finding patterns, so it didn’t take long for Ryu to connect the dots. When he arrived home he headed for his room

“Did you have a nice day Nii-chan?” said Ruri, sitting on Ryu’s bed.

Ryu was about to answer, but stopped when he realised how impossibly rare it was for Ruri to be asking such a question. He looked at her, sitting up straight with her knees together. It was like she’d been waiting all day for this moment.

Ryu immediately dropped the pleasantries.

“What the fuck did you tell her?” said Ryu, throwing his bag against the wall.

Ruri smiled, and that was all the confirmation Ryu needed. He rushed at her, jumping on top of her and holding her wrists down.

“I just told her-”

“The fuck did you tell her?” Ryu shook her wrists.

Ruri stopped and took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling beneath Ryu.

“To use protection obviously.”

Ryu shook Ruri again, and she winced, just a little.

“I’m serious!”

“Safe sex is very serious Nii-chan.”

“What the fu-! You told her I’ve been-! Ugh!” Ryu slammed Ruri's wrists into the bed, but this time all he heard were giggles from her lips.

“Harder Nii-chan~!” said Ruri, wiggling beneath him.

Ryu bit his lip as he held himself back. He wanted to hit her but no matter what he couldn’t. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to hurt her, his ever increasing grip on her wrists was evidence of that, but if he did she’d win. If he did it she’d be the one in the control, and he couldn’t give her that.

“Ryu! Get off your sister right now!”

Both siblings immediately recognised the voice and stopped whatever they were doing. Ryu released Ruri’s wrists and got off of her, and Ruri sat up straight, rubbing her wrists that had turned red from Ryu’s grip on her.

“What’s going on here?” said Caragh, shutting the door.

“Ruri told a girl I know I’ve been telling people I did it with her, and now that girl thinks I’m a creep,” said Ryu.

“She already thought that,” said Ruri, yawning.

“You know a girl?” said Caragh, her expression brightening in an instant. “What’s her name? You should’ve told me Ryu!”

Ryu looked at his mother and sister, each flanking him. Had they both gone mad? What was it about him having friends that had such an impact on them?

“Mum!” said Ryu.

Caragh placed her hand over her mouth and began sniffing. “I’m sorry dear, I’m just, I’m just so proud of you.”

Ryu flopped back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. He shouldn’t have wished for it. Never, ever, have said those words, because now he was certain.

Nothing was ever easy.