After two weeks of suspension, then another few months of peaceful living. And so on until Kiyo was about to enter ninth grade.

"Students, it's the last year of secondary school. I hope you will focus more on studying to pass the high school exam." - The homeroom teacher said so.

The whole class now has summer school, no one has the mind to tease each other anymore. Everyone is working very hard now.

They don't want to fail, they don't want to be left behind. Entering 10th grade is their only goal.

Kiyo was also in a similar situation. He went to school from morning, then buried with books late at night. At least he got his own bike so he didn't have to hitchhike Sunny anymore.

But because of the exam preparation, the two gradually stopped talking to each other. Sometimes they just look at each other and don't know what to say. Well, perhaps no one cares about interacting with others anymore.

Don't know why these days, the house next door always has the sound of knocking down furniture, the man's cursing, the woman's screams and cries. Every time he heard that voice, it reminded Kiyo of his camp days. Had been out of there, but it's also horrifying to remember it.

To avoid distraction, he slammed the door shut, and plugged in headphones to study.

One day Kiyo got a day off. Taking advantage of his free time, he opened his computer to study. He planned to ask Sunny something related to some programming exercises, and he was going to ask if he would go to practice in the afternoon or not.

Just starting the laptop, he heard strange noises outside. What's that? He leaned out to see.

It wasn't Sunny, or anyone in the class, but a boy from the neighborhood. It was a child about eleven years old. His body was pale and thin, his clothes were dirty, and his face was like a person who had cried a lot. It holds a rather large bag, but only holds books and school supplies.

The boy just stood there, looking at him. Kiyo walked over and asked him:

"What's wrong?"

The boy didn't say anything, but he looked like he wanted to go into Kiyo's house. Kiyo noticed that from his expression, so he brought him into the house.

Kiyo searched for any clothes from when he was in the orphanage, then gave them to the boy:

"You go in there to change your clothes, they're all dirty. I'll give it to you too. When you're done, come in here and I'll talk to you."

"Yes." - He nodded and walked into the bathroom.

After a while, he returned with new clothes, he crouched down in front of the owner.

Kiyo barely recognized him now. It was the kid in the house which had screams every night.

"So, what happened?"

"Dad kicked us both out. We were going to go straight to her grandparents' house down in the South, but she told me to stay with dad. I don't want to live with him at all..."

What was the mother thinking? Why did the husband kick her and the child out but still leave him behind? Letting him suffer to this extent... Either way, his dad is still the worst person.

Kiyo doesn't know what to say now, other than thinking it's best to let him stay here, but how to raise him? He didn't want to send him to the camp that had been making him miserable for years. The boy shouldn't go on the same path as Kiyo.

"...Do you have any other relatives?"

The boy replied no.

Maybe he really had to let him live here. His father is a violent man, brute force, lets him stay there, and he probably won't be able to live for a few days. Kiyo is still healthy, and studies well, what's wrong with letting a child study next to him?

Kiyo put his hand on his shoulder, saying something like a declaration:

"From now on, you'd better stay here. You can't stay with your father forever. If he's going to do anything, I'll take care of it."

"Really?" - The boy looked up.

"I don't lie."

"That's great! Thank you." - He touchingly said.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Ryota." - The boy said he would.

Ryota. What a decent name.

Kiyo introduced himself, although the two were neighbors, they never had spoken.

He officially accepts Ryota as his younger brother, because he knows Ryota's parents abandoned him, he has no one to rely on anymore, and even Kiyo has no parents...

Kiyo would educate and take good care of him until he can take care of his own life.

From now on, both of them would live happily ever after.

Maybe...

***

After lunch, he texted Sunny saying:

"Going to the yard in the afternoon?"

"Okay." - Sunny texted back very quickly.

Kiyo decided to bring Ryota with him, it's better now. He will take him to practice with him, to get healthy.

Arrived on time, Sunny had seen Kiyo, but Ryota... He had never met him.

"Um, Kiyo? Who's that?" Sunny looked at Ryota confused and strange.

"My brother."

"You have a brother?? But how come I've never met him at your house?"

"When we're done with the practice, we'll talk about it." - Kiyo just laughed.

After the three of them warm up, they'll do some exercises, and teach Ryota as well.

Resting for five minutes, Sunny now asked about it:

"This boy's name is..."

"Ryota." - Kiyo answered for him.

"Is that so? But how did he become your brother?"

"Ah, well..."

"This is how it is." - Ryota spoke up.

Then Ryota spoke softly, and Sunny did not miss a word. But this reminded him of his family.

Sunny sighed, then said:

"Ryota. Actually, I am too. But my parents are away more, and my sister keeps hitting and bullying me."

Ryota hugged his knees and lowered his face to think something.

"Then you and I are on the same page.."

Kiyo sat there, feeling sorry for both of them. They are still young, they should be surrounded and loved by their family, not treated so badly like this.

Kiyo doesn't have a family, but at least he doesn't have his own relatives do that to him.

The scariest thing is that his assassin training camp blacklisted those two, maybe they were killed at some point. This means more attention must be paid to them, especially Ryota, who is still young.

"Okay, how about practice?" - Kiyo lowered his voice. He suspected that his words were not very good right now.

They agreed, showing no signs of discomfort or complaint.

Until late afternoon...

"Kiyo has a bike, doesn't he?" - Sunny stepped on the stand.

"Yeah, so I won't have to bother you anymore."

"It's okay. Well, I'll be back." - Sunny got on the bike and waved goodbye.

"See you later." - They replied.

"Bye". - As Sunny turned away, both of them waved as well. And after that, Kiyo drove Ryota home.