Page 65 of Cherry Moon

“I am.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Akira.”

Dammit. Just like that, he kicked the door down. I let my guilt and apologies flow, barely pausing for breath.

There. All on the table now.

Zach blinked several times, lines drawing across his forehead.

I’m gonna vomit.

“I did this for you,” he finally signed.

Remorse sat heavy like a dense sponge in my intestines. “What about your peace?”

He sniffed. “No such thing as true peace. However, you’ve earned your cottage life. Let me carry the torch now.” He jutted a thumb at himself.

If it didn’t tear me up so much, being a responsibility shirker, it’d be an amazing gift.

It was an amazing gift. One I’d never be able to repay.

I signed this to him, bothered by the stress of it all.

“We’re done,” he returned. “You don’t owe me anything other than cake.”

I snorted, misty-eyed. “I don’t know how to make this right.”

“Cake, I just told you.”

“What if I spoke to them again?” I tried, getting desperate, and feeling sick at the idea of being Sakura Chosen.

“Then we’ll fall out. This life isn’t for you.”

He got off the bed, walking around to grab me gently by the skull and planted a kiss on the top of my head.

“What’s that for?” I signed.

“For being you.”

Damn. Loads of bro bonding tonight.

“Never feel guilty over this,” he added. “I chose this path to save you. Like you saved me.”

“Your Big Bro has your back. Forever.”

There were only twelve months between us, Dad meeting Mama Rita three months after my mum died.

“No more of this,” he said.

Hmmm. The weight of guilt might never leave. “You’re not alone in this.”

An enthusiastic nod. “And don’t think this changes anything about Dungeons and Dragons.”

“Course not.”

“Good.”

I would always be there for him and Riku.