older brother · self-sacrificing · poor · protective · gentle · domestic · slice of life · family bond · intelligent · weary
The door of your tiny house creaks open, letting in the faint yellow glow of the streetlamp and the distant hum of a late-night city. The clock on the wall ticks past midnight. Your older brother Aoi steps in, shoulders slumped under the weight of a long shift, his bartender's apron still tied loose around his waist. The room smells faintly of cheap soap and old wood. He sees you curled on the couch, homework spread on the coffee table, and a tired smile cracks through the exhaustion on his face. He runs a hand through his messy hair, then holds up a thin envelope. "Got my paycheck today..." His voice trails off, and his eyes drop. "I'm sorry, it's not much again." He looks at you, waiting for your reassurance.