The living room was quieter than usual.
Ichiro sat curled on the edge of the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, ice pack pressed against his cheek like some frail porcelain doll cracked by the wind.
Everyone was home.
Everyone was watching.
And Ichiro knew how to work the spotlight.
"…I guess I must've said something wrong again," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe I shouldn't speak at all when Jin's around…"
His gaze trembled toward Jin for half a second — just enough for the others to catch it — before fluttering downward like a tragic petal in the breeze.
[Wow. Oscar incoming.]
[I didn't even look at you today.]
Father cleared his throat awkwardly. "Jin…"
Jin didn't reply. He scrolled his phone like they were talking to someone else.
Ichiro sniffled, wiping at invisible tears. "It's not his fault, really. I mean, I did accidentally bump into him, and I get that he's sensitive about his space…"
[You "accidentally" elbowed me in the kidney in the hallway, and I elbowed back. That's not drama. That's math.]
"I just hope he doesn't hate me," Ichiro whispered. "It's been hard since he came back… like he doesn't feel like family."
[Good. We're not.]
---
In the secret group chat:
Su: "He's doing it again."
Xinyi: "He's trying to guilt-trip everyone into taking his side."
Lianhua: "He's not saying anything directly, but it's like he wants Dad to think Jin's dangerous."
Grandma Li: "If Jin wanted to be dangerous, Ichiro would be a chalk outline."
---
At dinner, Ichiro poked at his food.
"I read somewhere that trauma can make people lash out without meaning to… We shouldn't blame Jin for acting this way. It's probably… just his way of coping."
[He's talking like I wasn't reborn with memories of him trying to poison me at sixteen.]
[Keep coping.]
"I just miss when things were quiet," Ichiro added, eyes misty. "Before everything got so… chaotic."
The chopsticks in Jin's hand snapped in half.
He stood.
"I'm eating in my room."
Before anyone could stop him, he was gone.
---
Later That Night
Ergouzi chimed in:
"Ichiro just messaged a classmate pretending to be you. The message implies threats toward the Li Family."
[He's really running a solo act of 'How to Be a Villain 101'.]
[Cool. Time to make him cry for real.]
---
The Next Morning
Ichiro came down to breakfast already looking pale, hand shaking as he clutched his phone.
"Someone hacked my messages… There's a text from me threatening Xinyi, but I never sent it! I swear!"
He glanced at Jin—only a glance—but it was just enough.
Everyone turned.
Jin sipped his coffee.
[He's trying to get me kicked out.]
[This guy's got the subtlety of a circus cannon.]
"I don't want to accuse anyone," Ichiro said quickly, "but maybe we need to look into who benefits from these misunderstandings…"
[You mean like the guy who wants the family inheritance?]
[Try harder. Actually—don't.]
---
In the group chat:
Xinyi: "He's faking panic. He literally sent that text from Jin's name using a spoof app."
Su: "How does Jin stay so calm?"
Meiyu: "Because he's two seconds from putting Ichiro through drywall."
Father Li: "Don't encourage him."
Grandma Li: "Encourage him. I got insurance."
---
Later – In Private
Ichiro approached Jin in the hallway with downcast eyes and forced humility.
"I just… I want us to get along. Really."
Jin said nothing.
"You don't trust me, do you?"
[Not even a little.]
"I don't blame you… Maybe I'm just not good enough to be your brother."
[True.]
"Maybe you think I'm trying to replace you…"
Jin stopped walking.
His voice was low.
"You're not replacing anything. You're a placeholder."
Ichiro flinched.
"I'm not playing your script," Jin added. "So stop acting like this is a drama. If you really want to be pitiful, do it somewhere else."
---
In the secret chat:
Lianhua: "He just dismantled Ichiro with one line."
Su: "I thought he didn't care, but he's watching everything."
Xinyi: "Should we start gathering evidence?"
Father Li: "We already are."
Grandma Li: "By the time he realizes we know the truth, it'll be too late."
---
Next Chapter Preview:
Chapter 17 – The First Fracture: Cracks in the Family's Faith