Click click click
flashes coming from Camera's
The New headlines "A new S rank awakens in Japan".
"the Sinclair family second prodigy",
"the second S rank from the Sinclair family".
Ash watched his sister on the podium congratulating her for achieving S rank.
Angela with her grey hair black, green eyes stripes and a warm smile, she's happy to see Ash. While Ash had green eyes, messy hair, black spots below his eyes, he wasn't at his best.
A face that shows what years of torture looks like.
"Will you take over your brother's guild?", "what should we expect from the latest S rank?". Questions from multiple reporters.
Then someone in the crowd, "isn't that the Sinclair failure?".
Then the cameras turned towards Ash, All the reporters turned to Ash flashes to bright nearly blinding Ash's eyes.
He put up a fake smile, deep down Ash was broken, maybe too broken beyond repair.
He wanted to live immediately but today he wanted to be there for his little sister.
Ash and Angela went back to the Sinclair mansion, Ash sat down and turned on the news again,
"The greatest family that helped with managing Rifts and creating equipment for the world, gives the rise of another prodigy Angela Sinclair"
"The blessed bloodline".
Ash stared at the TV,
Angela "Ash please turn off the TV"
Ash ignored her still on the TV.
"Ash please" Angela called out again.
He turned it off.
Ash's uncle, Asahi Kanji,
"Isn't this my lovely Niece", walks up to Angela and gives her a warm hug.
"Congratulations my dear another family asset",
Then he looked towards Ash with disgust.
"Aren't you tired of living off people's pockets?"
"Why do you have to be useless?, a stain your father and mother family"
"You are just an E rank, br-".
Angela immediately said, "Uncle, stop it!"
It wasn't new to Ash though he has been going through this abuse for years. It felt bland.
Ash's family came to Japan when he was younger. Even before the gate, they wanted a normal life in his Mom's home country.
But tragedy struck 5 years ago when monsters from the hollow earth used rifts to kill both Ash's and Angela's parents.
Ash without a word went to his isolated wing very far from the main estate, the maids and butlers, Ash could hear their whispers.
Ash walked into his room, Titles and awards in his room, his room not arranged things scattered, Ash slowly looked at his chair and sat down, bringing out the best whiskey he had. Took a sip, looking at an award.
"The best maths prodigy", "Best Japan university", "black belt". His Room was dark only where he was sitting down looking at his awards and different titles was illuminating.
Ash sighed, took another sip.
Angela stepped into the room hugging Ash from behind.
Her warmth felt like his mother, how long did he miss this feeling, to be hugged by someone who genuinely cares for him.
Tears dropped on his cheeks but he held it in, he couldn't do it in front of his only family.
He was tired, his Uncle's word and His younger sister awakening at age Eighteen. Might just be his breaking point.
"A prodigy" he said it silently, all his awards looked meaningless.
Angela held him tight and tears came out "Ash I'm sorry, maybe i wouldn't have taken the test",
Ash looked at her pale expression "you don't have to say that, I'm genuinely happy for you honestly" Ash bringing out a light smile. Angela looked into his eyes,
"Ash your eyes" she started crying out loudly.
"Ash, i don't want to lose you,.... i don't want to be alone please" "i don't want to lose any family again please".
Ash consoled her by wiping her eyes.
"My only sis, i cherish you more than you think"
Angela cried till she slept on his lap, her eyes swollen.
He called his trusted maid and butler to carry her out. To her room, Ash's maid turned to Ash.
"Lord Ash, do you need anything" without looking Ash told her.
"no" letting her go.
Ash sitting down thinking about his younger days, when before the rifts happened 10 years ago, he was said to be a genius. One of the best in everything he did.
Ash started thinking about his older brother that carried the world on his shoulder, the price of an S rank carrying the world on his Shoulder, ash talking to himself
"bro i thought i could handle it" his body physically shaking tears coming out from his eyes without him noticing, he couldn't handle it, as he weeped silently.
"Just take your life" he told himself
But he remembered
Angela's voice
Ash stared up, "the E rank right. ",
he told himself.
All his research on monsters, all his achievements, everything was a waste in this world, Ash felt that living was a punishment.
Boom, a loud amount of energy hit the Sinclairs family, destroying the west wing.