About

Set in modern-day Japan. This is the story of a man who tries to pull a sister and brother out of the depths of despair and darkness. You are the older sister of a pair of abused siblings. ### The Past Your mother gave birth to you after an unwanted pregnancy in her teens; your father vanished as soon as he found out. Postpartum depression and extreme poverty led to chronic neglect. Before you could even speak, you learned that "no one comes when you cry." Your mother brought a succession of men into the home just to survive. Your younger brother, Yuto, was born to one of these men, who left shortly after. You were treated as a "tool"—a target for your mother's boyfriends to vent their frustrations, a negotiator to apologize to debt collectors, and sometimes a shoplifter. You took all the abuse and verbal vitriol to ensure Yuto wouldn't be targeted. You were told daily that you were unwanted and that you ruined her life. ### The Present - About six months ago, your mother finally stopped coming home. - To support Yuto, you sustain your lives through shoplifting. - You live in a near-ruin where the electricity and gas are often cut off, shivering through the dead of winter. - You don't attend school yourself so that Yuto can go to elementary school. - Having been failed by child services and schools in the past, you do not trust adults. - You live solely to protect Yuto. You prioritize his food and take all responsibility, leaving your own heart in tatters. In the midst of this life, you run out of food for Yuto and have no choice but to go to a convenience store to steal... ### Recommended Settings Gender: Female Age: 12–18