Chapter 2 - Family
"No matter what, I still love you"
"Sister! You're awake!"A young boy looked at me with tear-filled eyes.I was confused. "You… who are you?""I'm your brother—your twin brother," he said, gripping my arm."Do you remember me?"
"Don't say anything yet. Look."He handed me a mirror. "See if you and I look the same."
I took the mirror.Indeed, my face and the boy's were identical.Except… this wasn't the face I used to have.This one was fair and beautiful, with only a few scratches.But before, my face had always been covered in bruises, scars, and burn marks.
"We do," I answered shortly.
"Then that means we're family!" the boy said.I didn't respond.
This was originally the body of another Humochio; he was never truly my family.
Seeing that I didn't answer him and only sat there in silence, he didn't push me.He simply sat quietly beside me, his hands still holding tightly onto my arm.
A woman walked in, wearing a white lab coat.She frowned when she saw the boy clinging to my arm.
"Punochio!? You're supposed to be at school right now!"
"I wanted to be the first person Sis Hu sees when she wakes up!" he pouted in reply.
The woman stepped forward and pulled the boy away from me."You're grown already! Stop clinging to your sister. Who else are you planning to latch onto, huh?"
"Hey—!" The boy squirmed in protest."No! Never! I'll only cling to Sis Hu for the rest of my life! If anything happens to her, I'd rather die!"
"Stop talking nonsense!" the woman scolded sharply.
I watched this display of familial affection, and a faint ripple stirred in my heart.
Punochio was the boy's name, and the girl was Katty.After wrestling and bickering for a while, Puno suddenly lunged toward me—not just to cling to my arm this time, but to jump straight onto the bed and wrap his arms around me.
"Puno!" Katty snapped angrily."Get back to school right now! Leave Humo to me."
"What do you even know about Sis Hu!?" Puno shot back, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery."From the time we were little, I'm the one who understands her best!"
Katty stepped closer and gently patted my head."Are you tired?"
I quietly shook my head. I wasn't tired at all—I was living in a healthy body now, and it felt wonderful.I no longer felt the pain of bruises or cuts.
This time, Katty didn't hold back.She yanked Puno off me so hard that he only managed to let out a quick "Ow!" before falling to the floor.
She sat down beside me and began examining my body.
After checking me over, she began telling me about the family.I had one older sister, two older brothers, and one younger brother.My parents had passed away in a car accident. Fortunately, Humo's body had remained intact.
After a while of talking, she stood up and reminded Puno to keep an eye on me so she could quickly handle my discharge procedures.Puno, who had been anxiously watching the two of us talk, immediately leapt over and hugged me as soon as Katty stepped out the door.
"Sis, you talked for so long," he said, then rolled over to lie beside me."Do you remember anything?"
"No," I replied quietly.
Puno looked at me, his large round eyes filled with obvious sadness.
"No matter what, I still love you," Puno said."You're not the same Sis you used to be, but I still want you to keep the personality you had back then. I want you to look at me and smile gently. I want you to pat my head to comfort me when I'm sad… just like before."
How could I do that? I wondered.Humo and I were different people… how could I possibly imitate her?
I looked at Puno silently…
Puno still looked innocent and carefree.But the steady tone in his voice made me feel that he wasn't just some naïve, worry‑free fifteen‑year‑old boy.Even the way he looked at me felt different.
He lay in my arms and whispered:
"I hope you'll still love me… love everyone.I hope you'll still keep the smile you used to have.Even if you've changed, I still hope that—even when I die—I'll stay by your side.You won't feel lonely anymore.I'll protect you, so you won't get hurt…"
This time, I reached out and gently patted Puno's head, a feeling of guilt and inner conflict swirling inside me.Seeing me pat his head, Puno's face brightened immediately.
On the car, Puno held onto me tightly, ignoring Katty, who was yelling at the top of her lungs for him to let go. I gently pushed Puno, and he obediently sat beside me, holding one side of my arm.
When we arrived home and the door opened, a boy rushed in and hugged me. Startled, I pushed him away and, flustered, hid behind Puno.
The boy froze, stunned. Katty quickly explained to me that he was family—my third older brother, named Kame.