Chapter 2: The Chaos Begins

The faint glow of the morning sun seeped through the curtains of the Kuzo house, painting the walls with muted golden hues. The soft chirping of birds outside was almost drowned out by the faint hum of a distant car engine, signaling the start of another busy day in the quiet neighborhood. The house at 25 Oval Street stood still, its old wooden structure creaking gently under the cool morning breeze.

Pia slowly opened his eyes, his mind groggy and clouded with thoughts from the night before. He had fallen asleep wondering about Akio—when he would return and whether he was safe. He waited sitting on his bed and watching by the window, staring at the dark, empty streets, the flickering streetlight outside casting eerie shadows on the pavement.

He shook off the lingering drowsiness and sat up on his bed. The faint sunlight filtering through the window illuminated his small, cluttered room, revealing scattered books, an unkempt bed, and a single framed photograph of the family—taken years ago, back when their lives seemed simpler. Pia sighed, running a hand through his messy hair, before stretching and standing up.

...The Morning Routine...

Pia cleaned his room quickly, tidying up the scattered items and straightening his blanket. His thoughts were still a jumbled mess. He remembered Akio hadn’t been home when he fell asleep.

Where had he been? And why hadn’t he at least called?

Pia headed downstairs, the wooden stairs creaking under his weight. As he reached the hall, he glanced at the old wall clock hanging near the doorway. The clock’s faint tick-tock echoed in the quiet house. "6:00 already," Pia murmured, rubbing his eyes.

Walking into the hall, Pia stopped abruptly. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Akio sprawled on the couch like a beast was sleeping. Pia blinked, the sight catching him off guard. Akio wasn’t someone who usually rested on the couch; his disciplined nature ensured that he was always up early and ready for the day ahead.

Pia was taken aback. He couldn't process the way Akio looked. He rubbed his eyes twice to see clear whether it was Akio or not. Shaking his head, Pia decided not to disturb him just yet.

Heading to the kitchen, Pia set the kettle on the stove and prepared two cups of coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, bringing a faint smile to his lips. Carrying the mugs back to the hall, he stopped. The couch was empty. Pia’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced around.

"Looking for me?" Akio’s voice came from behind, startling Pia. Turning around, he saw his elder brother emerging from his room, dressed in casual attire—a stark contrast to his usual office wear.

"You're already awake?" Pia asked, his voice tinged with confusion. "I thought you were asleep on the couch."

Akio chuckled, running a hand through his neatly combed hair. "I was, but I moved to my room after you got up. Didn’t want to disturb you."

"But aren’t you late for work?" Pia questioned, glancing at the clock again. "It’s past six. You never leave this late."

Akio smirked, taking the coffee mug from Pia. "I’m not going in today."

Pia froze, staring at his brother in disbelief. "What? You’re taking a day off?"

Akio nodded, his calm demeanor contrasting with Pia’s shocked expression.

"You never take a day off. Not even on Sundays! What’s going on?" Pia pressed, narrowing his eyes.

"Well," Akio said with a sly grin, "maybe I felt like it. And for the record, neither is Riku going to school today."

The mention of Riku ignited a spark of annoyance in Pia. "What?!" he exclaimed, slamming his coffee mug on the table. "Do you know how many days he’s already missed? His attendance is dropping like crazy! He’ll get into trouble if this keeps up!"

Without waiting for Akio’s response, Pia stormed off toward Riku’s room. The younger boy had a knack for avoiding school and creating trouble, and Pia wasn’t going to let it slide this time.

...The Hustle-Bustle Between Brothers...

Pia barged into Riku’s room, finding the boy buried under his blanket. "Riku!" Pia shouted, pulling the blanket off with a swift motion.

Riku groaned, squinting at his elder brother. "What now? It’s too early for this!"

"Too early? It’s Monday morning, and you’re skipping school again! Do you even care about your attendance?" Pia retorted, his voice filled with frustration.

Riku sat up, rubbing his eyes. "School’s boring. I’ll catch up later. Besides, Akio said it was okay."

"Akio said—" Pia began, but before he could finish, a loud voice interrupted him.

"Alright, enough!" Akio stood at the door, his authoritative tone silencing both brothers. "Let’s not start the day with a fight. Riku isn’t going to school because I said so. End of discussion."

"But Akio—" Pia started again, only to be cut off.

"No buts. Focus on getting ready. You’re the one who’s going to be late for school at this rate," Akio said firmly.

Pia sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. But this isn’t over." He shot a glare at Riku before leaving the room.

...The Rush to School...

"6:10 already? I am definitely going to be late Today! ", Pia’s heart sank.

He rushed through his morning routine, gathering his books, packing his bag, and preparing breakfast for everyone.

His movements were quick but methodical—he had done this countless times before.

Just as he was about to leave, Akio stopped him in the hall. "Hey, leave the housework to me today," Akio said, taking the dishcloth from Pia’s hands. "You focus on school. I’ll handle the household for today."

Pia gave him a skeptical look. "You? Handle the housework? That's rich !"

Akio grinning mocking, "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don’t even know how to separate whites from the colors when doing laundry", Pia smirked.

Akio said grinning "That was one time."

"Alright, but don’t forget to bring milk and the groceries......... and also don't forget to fix the toaster and the fridge," Pia said, listing tasks as he grabbed his bag.

"Sure. Milk, groceries, clean house, fix the toaster and the fridg....—wait. Fix the fridge?" Akio replied

At the mention of the fridge, Akio frowned. "What did Riku do this time?"

Pia smirked. "Let’s just say it involved magnets and a lot of bad ideas."

Akio groaned, heading upstairs toward Riku’s room with a determined look. "Riku! What did you do to the fridge?"

Pia took the opportunity to slip out of the house, shouting, "I’m leaving! Don’t burn the house down!!"

""Need a ride? It’s already 6:33!" Akio called from upstairs.

"I’m good! Later!" Pia replied, hopping onto his bicycle.

Akio comes downstairs to see him off, leaning against the doorway with a smile.

"Don’t forget your lunch!" Akio said in a high voice.

"Got it!"

Akio stood at the door, watching as Pia rode off down the street. He waved, a small smile playing on his lips, before heading back inside to face the chaos his younger brother had undoubtedly created.

...The Journey to School...

The morning was painted in delicate hues of orange and gold, the sun rising slowly over the quiet streets of Oval Avenue . Pia pedaled at an even pace, his bicycle’s tires crunching softly against the asphalt. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dew-drenched grass. It was the kind of morning that usually filled him with energy The faint sunlight trickled through the trees lining Oval Street, casting dappled shadows across the pavement. It was early, yet the world seemed alive with a quiet energy.

The neighborhood was slowly coming to life.

A mailman walked briskly along the sidewalk, his bag swaying with each step. A woman on her porch sipped coffee, her fluffy cat curled lazily by her feet. A jogger in a bright tracksuit passed by, offering a nod of acknowledgment. A bakery on the corner had just opened, and the aroma of fresh bread wafted through the air, mingling with the faint hum of morning traffic. A milkman balanced crates on his cycle, a mother tugged her child along to the bus stop, and a pair of dogs barked at each other from opposite sides of the road. He watched her as he passed, wondering how peaceful it must feel to start the day with such calmness.

Pia took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs. He pedaled slowly at first, his eyes wandering across the familiar sights of the neighborhood. He always found these mornings oddly comforting. The rhythmic clicking of his bicycle chain, the occasional rustling of leaves, and the distant hum of cars on the main road created a melody he had come to appreciate.

The houses grew sparser as the road led into Crestwood Lane, where towering trees lined the street. The air seemed quieter here, the chatter of the town fading into a gentle hum. Children stood in small groups at bus stops, their laughter ringing through the air. Pia passed a boy tossing a ball to his dog, the animal bounding joyfully after it. For a moment, the simple scene eased his mind.

But as the road transitioned into "The Silencer Forest"—a patch of densely packed trees earning its ominous name for its eerie quiet—his thoughts began to shift. The lively scenes of the streets were left behind, replaced by the dark, towering trees that seemed to swallow sound itself. Pia felt the weight of solitude settle over him.

Despite these lively signs of routine, Pia couldn’t shake the strange sense of unease that had followed him since he’d left home.

"Akio... what’s going on with you? "

His mind replayed the image of his brother sprawled on the couch, completely unlike his usual composed and disciplined self. The Akio he had always known was meticulous, almost annoyingly so—everything about him, from his appearance to his actions, was perfectly calculated. But this morning, that Akio seemed to have disappeared, replaced by someone unrecognizable. Pia couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Akio so careless.

"And then... ", Pia frowned as he recalled the abrupt transformation. " After reappearing from his room so suddenly, Akio had emerged looking as fresh and alert as ever, as though the figure on the couch had been a trick of my imagination."

Pia’s fingers tightened around the handlebars. "Was he pretending? No... Akio doesn’t play games like that. "

"And then there’s Riku", he thought, his brow furrowing. Akio’s sudden defense of their youngest brother had caught him off guard.

"Akio wasn’t the kind of person to coddle anyone, least of all Riku, who had been skipping school far too often. Why would he protect him? What’s going on between them?"

The cool air of the forest made him shiver slightly, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the temperature or his thoughts. Pia’s mind turned over the morning’s events again and again, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"Akio took the day off work, he thought, the idea still feeling foreign and wrong. The Akio I know would never take a day off unless he absolutely had to. Work is his life. So why now? "

He tried to rationalize it—" maybe Akio really did need a break. But that didn’t explain the strangeness of the morning, the way Akio had shifted between two completely different versions of himself. "

The forest ended as abruptly as it had begun, and Crestwood High came into view, its red-brick façade glowing warmly in the sunlight. Pia sighed, forcing himself to focus on the day ahead. But even as he parked his bike and joined the stream of students heading inside, the questions lingered in his mind, unanswered and unsettling.

...The School Day...

Crestwood High stood proudly, its red-brick walls and tall windows catching the morning light. The school was bustling with activity. Students streamed through the gates, chatting and laughing, while the faint hum of the school bell echoed faintly in the distance.

Pia parked his bike in the rack, securing it with a chain. Adjusting his bag, he joined the flow of students heading toward the entrance. Inside, the hallways were a flurry of motion—lockers slamming shut, sneakers squeaking against the polished floor, and a cacophony of voices filling the air.

As he approached his locker, a familiar voice called out.

“Yo, Pia!” Ethan, his best—and only—friend, jogged over and waving enthusiastically, his messy hair bouncing slightly. Ethan was the kind of guy who could light up a room, his energy and optimism contagious. “Did you saw a ghost today?", Ethan spoke in a teasing manner.

"Hey, Ethan," Pia greeted, managing a small smile. “Yeah, just didn’t get enough sleep, I guess.”, shaking his head.

“You're sure? You look like you’ve been run over by a truck, Everything okay?”" Ethan said, falling into step beside him.

"Rough morning," Pia admitted.

"Let me guess—Riku?"

Pia shook his head. "It’s Akio this time. He took the day off."

Ethan stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. "Akio? Your Akio? The guy who works on Sundays and holidays? Are we talking about the same person?"

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly," Pia said, sighing.

Ethan leaned in conspiratorially. "Maybe he’s planning something big. A surprise, maybe?"

"I doubt it," Pia muttered, his mind still turning over the morning’s events.

The bell rang, signaling the start of the first period.

...First Period: Math...

The bell rang sharply, signaling the start of the day. The math classroom was a bright space, with sunlight streaming through the large windows that lined one wall. The faint sound of birds chirping outside seemed in stark contrast to the groans of students dragging their chairs into place. Pia slipped into his usual seat near the back, next to Ethan, and set his notebook on the desk.

Mr. Coleman, the math teacher, strode into the room. He was a tall, thin man with a stern face softened slightly by round glasses perched on his nose. He carried a stack of textbooks under one arm, his free hand adjusting his tie as he moved toward the board.

"Good morning, class," he said in his usual monotone voice, glancing briefly at the sea of half-awake students. "I hope you all reviewed the quadratic equations we covered last week because today's problems will be a bit more challenging."

A collective groan rippled through the room. Ethan leaned over to Pia, whispering, "Why does he always say 'challenging'? It’s just code for 'brain-melting torture.'"

Pia smiled faintly but didn’t reply. His mind was far from quadratic equations. As Mr. Coleman started writing problems on the board with precise, deliberate strokes, Pia’s thoughts drifted back to Akio.

He looked so... different this morning, Pia thought. Carefree, almost careless. That’s not the Akio I know. And why did he defend Riku? He’s always been the one to hold us accountable.

“Pia!”

Mr. Coleman’s sharp voice cut through his thoughts. Pia blinked, realizing the entire class was staring at him.

“Care to solve this one for us?” Mr. Coleman pointed at an equation on the board, his gaze unwavering.

Pia stammered, “Uh... sure.” He fumbled with his pencil, trying to focus on the numbers, but the equation looked like gibberish to him.

Ethan whispered from the side, “It’s x \= 4. Just say x \= 4.”

“X equals 4,” Pia blurted out.

Mr. Coleman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Correct, but try to pay attention next time, Pia. Daydreaming won’t help you pass your exams.”

Pia nodded, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks as the class snickered quietly. He kept his head down for the rest of the period, trying to shake off the thoughts that refused to leave him alone.

...Lunch Break...

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and the clinking of trays. Pia and Ethan sat at their usual table near the window, the sunlight streaming in and casting warm patterns on the floor. Ethan was mid-rant about a new video game, but Pia was barely listening.

“...and then, out of nowhere, this dragon appears! It was insane! Pia? Earth to Pia!”

“Huh?” Pia blinked, realizing Ethan had been talking. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

Ethan leaned back, crossing his arms. “Seriously, man, what’s up with you today? You’ve been spaced out all morning.”

Pia hesitated. “It’s just... Akio was acting weird this morning.”

"You are thinking about that again?” Ethan asked, intrigued.

“He took a day off work and..............,” Pia said almost ignoring Ethan word's , still struggling to process it himself. “And he was defending Riku for skipping school.”

Ethan frowned. “Okay, that’s definitely odd. Your brother doesn’t seem like the type to slack off.”

“Exactly,” Pia said. “It’s like he’s... I don’t know, hiding something.”

Ethan smirked. “Maybe he’s got a secret life. What if he’s a spy?”

Pia chuckled despite himself. “Yeah, sure. Akio the spy.”

But even as they joked, the uneasy feeling in Pia’s chest remained.

Ethan shrugged. “Well, whatever it is, I’m sure he has his reasons. Maybe you should just ask him.”

Pia sighed, knowing it wasn’t that simple. Akio never shows his cards. "Whatever’s going on, he won’t tell me unless he wants to", Pia thought.

...Sports Period...

The sports field was alive with activity, the shouts and cheers of students echoing across the grassy expanse. The sun was high, casting a warm glow over everything, and the breeze carried the faint scent of freshly cut grass. Pia joined his classmates on the field, grateful for the distraction.

Today’s game was soccer, and the teams were quickly divided. Pia started as a midfielder, his usual position, and for a while, he managed to lose himself in the rhythm of the game. The feel of the ball at his feet, the sound of his teammates calling out plays—it all felt grounding, a temporary escape from the questions nagging at his mind.

But as the game progressed, his thoughts began to drift again.

Why did Akio look so different this morning? Carefree, almost lazy. That’s not him. And why did he protect Riku? What’s going on with them?

“Pia! Over here!”

The shout jolted him back to the present. A teammate was calling for a pass. Pia quickly kicked the ball in his direction, trying to refocus.

During the second half of the game, it was his turn to guard the goal. Pia stood in front of the net, the opposing team advancing toward him. The ball moved quickly, passed from one player to the next, until one of them wound up for a powerful kick.

Pia froze. His mind was elsewhere, caught in the web of his thoughts. Are they hiding something from me? Akio, Riku... is there something they don’t want me to know?

“Pia! Watch out!”

The shout brought him back just in time. The ball was hurtling toward him, and he instinctively dove to the side, his hands outstretched. He felt the impact as he deflected the ball, sending it flying off course.

The field erupted in cheers, his teammates rushing toward him in celebration. Ethan clapped him on the back, grinning. “Nice save, Pia! For a second, I thought you were gonna let it through.”

Pia forced a smile, but his mind was still spinning. What’s going on at home? And why do I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t know?

...History Period...

The history classroom exuded a sense of calm that contrasted with the restlessness of the students inside it. The large windows were partly obscured by heavy, maroon curtains, allowing only slivers of sunlight to seep through. The faint smell of old books mingled with the faint hum of the overhead fan.

Mr. Andrews, the history teacher, stood at the front of the room, his silver-rimmed glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose. He wore his usual tweed jacket, which seemed to have been in fashion centuries ago, but it suited him perfectly. In his hand was an aged, leather-bound textbook filled with his meticulous annotations.

As the bell rang, he tapped his desk lightly to gain the students’ attention. “Good afternoon, class,” he began in his deep, gravelly voice. “Today, we dive into one of the most fascinating tales of human history: the rise and inevitable fall of the Roman Empire.”

There was a collective groan from a few students in the back, prompting Mr. Andrews to narrow his eyes. “Oh, don’t tell me you find this boring. The story of Rome has everything—power, ambition, betrayal, glory. If this doesn’t captivate you, perhaps I should assign an essay instead?”

The groans quickly turned into murmurs of reluctant enthusiasm.

“Much better,” Mr. Andrews said, smirking slightly. He turned to the board and wrote in elegant cursive: ‘The Fall of the Roman Empire: Lessons from History.’

Pia sat in the middle row, his notebook open but his pen still. His mind wasn’t on Rome or its emperors; it was back home, circling around Akio’s unusual behavior. Why did he take a day off today? What’s he hiding? And why did he defend Riku so strongly?

“Pia!”

The sharp call of his name made him jolt. Mr. Andrews was looking directly at him, one eyebrow raised.

“Are you with us, young man, or have you been swept away to another century?”

The class chuckled softly, and Pia straightened in his seat, his cheeks flushing. “Sorry, sir. I’m here.”

“Good,” Mr. Andrews said, crossing his arms. “Then perhaps you can answer this question: What was the primary reason for the collapse of the Western Roman Empire?”

Pia racked his brain, the question pulling him back to reality. He recalled reading something about internal conflicts and invasions. “Uh… was it the Barbarian invasions?”

“Partially correct,” Mr. Andrews replied, his tone encouraging. “External threats like the Barbarian invasions certainly played a role, but the collapse of the empire was far more complex. It was also weakened from within—political corruption, economic instability, and over-expansion. A reminder, class, that even the mightiest can crumble when they neglect their foundations.”

As he continued his lecture, Pia’s thoughts began to wander again, his mind latching onto Mr. Andrews’ words. Neglect their foundations... Is that what’s happening to us? Akio’s always been the foundation of our family, but now... something’s different. Is he cracking under the pressure? Or is it something else entirely?

Mr. Andrews moved seamlessly through the lecture, pointing to a map of the Roman Empire pinned to the wall. He gestured dramatically as he described the vast territories it controlled and how its sheer size eventually became its downfall.

“Remember, class,” he said, his voice rising slightly for emphasis, “power can be both a blessing and a curse. The Roman Empire sought to expand endlessly, but in doing so, it stretched itself too thin. A lesson, perhaps, for those who dream of taking on too much at once.”

Ethan leaned over and whispered, “Think he’s talking about Akio?”

Pia shot him a look but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. Ethan always knew how to lighten the mood.

The rest of the period passed with Mr. Andrews weaving a story out of history, his passion for the subject infecting even the most reluctant students.

By the time the bell rang, Pia felt slightly more grounded, but the questions in his mind remained unresolved.

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