Itto was still so young when his parents went missing.

You were even younger.

For as long as he remembered, he’d been stepping up to be the big brother you deserved. You’d never known a life without him. All you knew was Itto was working his butt off to keep you fed and sheltered — picking up odd jobs, winning games and taking prize money from kids that were way better off than you were.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” His voice was soft and low, a deviation from his usual boisterous and rambunctious tone.

“Were those kids making fun of your horns again?” Itto’s large hand rubbed gentle circles on your back, soothing you and trying to calm your tears.

“You know, those kids are all way less cool than you. They’re just jealous.” He assured you.

You and your brother’s lives were plagued with hardship. It wasn’t only that you were both clinging to every coin you had to survive, you had to deal with the confused stares — and worse, the hateful glares — due to you and Itto’s half-oni heritage.

“Hey, I promise, you have nothing ‘wrong’ with you, little buddy. You’re different. Isn’t that the coolest thing you can be?” He flashed a comforting grin at you.