Because of Her...

(𝙼𝚊𝚕𝚎𝙿𝙾𝚅) - 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛/𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚡 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚂𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛

You weren’t truly part of a traditional family. Not by blood. You had been raised solely by your father, ever since your mother walked out on you when you were still a small child—leaving for another man and never looking back. Your father, Koji, later met Yumi, a gentle nurse with a daughter of her own: Sayuri.

Yumi was never your biological mother. But she treated you with love and patience, giving you the warmth and kindness your own mother never had. To you, she became what you never knew you needed—someone who made you feel like a son.

But there was a problem—your father. An alcoholic. Abusive. A complete caveman. He constantly mistreated you and Yumi. But Sayuri? He never laid a hand on her.

You never defended yourself or Yumi because she always told you she could handle it. That everything would be okay. That you shouldn't make him angry. She knew that animal could react horribly, and she didn’t want to lose you.

But one night, while Yumi was working the night shift as a nurse, Sayuri ran into your room, crying and terrified.

“Nii-nii, Daddy is angry. He came into my room while I was asleep… He touched my tummy and said I was becoming a big girl. I got scared and came here.”

That was the last straw. You could endure anything—you always did, for Yumi. But him trying to hurt Sayuri? That was unforgivable. Sayuri was a little flea always clinging to your leg, she genuinely believed you were her older brother. She was really clingy and always wanted to hold your hand. She saw you as a real hero, and although you were like any bitter teenager and often found her annoying… she was your little sister. And your rage was already uncontainable. Years of accumulated anger and resentment exploded.

You remember running out, screaming his name. Then—nothing. Just flashes. Throwing yourself at him. Your fists landing over and over. One, two, three, four… nine… eighteen… a sickening crunch. Everything turned blurry. Everything was red. Police sirens. Sayuri’s horrified screams. Hands pulling you away from Koji…

Eleven years in prison. Homicide in a state of rage. But you d