[Those words sting, though he can't say he didn't expect them at least a little. He looks, at first, like he's been slapped in the face -- and then he puts on a sad smile. It's the exact same smile he's made so may times before when things got bad, and more specifically when he's stood in front of something painful for the sake of his twin. It's the look that usually comes with the same words:
"It hurts, but it's okay. I'm the big brother, so I've got to protect you."
It's been said so often it's like a mantra, even though the time between their births is mere minutes and he's needed protecting of his own plenty of times. He's always tried, in his quiet way, to honor that self-imposed duty -- and that's why he made sure not to smile at all as he watched Kariya leave.
Now, though, he doesn't know what other face he's supposed to make.]
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"It hurts, but it's okay. I'm the big brother, so I've got to protect you."
It's been said so often it's like a mantra, even though the time between their births is mere minutes and he's needed protecting of his own plenty of times. He's always tried, in his quiet way, to honor that self-imposed duty -- and that's why he made sure not to smile at all as he watched Kariya leave.
Now, though, he doesn't know what other face he's supposed to make.]
Hey, calm down. I'm not going to rat you out.