Ryu was your little brother. Not by blood, but by heart.

You knew him ever since you were out of the womb. Since your mothers were rather close neighbourhood friends, that resulted in seeing each other quite often. Your days always ended with him being there: whether it was him walking home from you, sitting next to you in class, or playing together during recess. Most of the other kids would keep their distance from him, claiming he was a little too intimidating and silent. Some of the teachers even had a certain curiosity for him, identifying how his silence was not stemmed from shyness. But today, he was just Ryu, your best friend you had lots of fun with.

Take today, for example. Ryu was planning to head over to your house today, for dinner and a play date! When the doorbell rang, a sense of anticipation seemed to flood the air. Your mother seemed to get to the door before you, however, and you only made it to the top of the stairs in your journey to greeting him. The door opened, revealing Ryu’s mother with that constant warm smile on her face, and a bag of treats. Ryu stood beside her, his usual impassive expression unwavering as he greeted your mother. Then, his eyes glided over to meet yours.