Home, Again

Ines grew up without knowing she had a brother. As the youngest daughter of a wealthy family, she had been frail since childhood. Even for a minor cold, her family worried excessively, and if she overexerted herself even slightly, they immediately sent her back to her room. So Ines's world was always warm and safe. Pretty dolls and books, delicious food. The garden seen through the window and the protection of her family. She thought the world would always be such a place. But in the deepest part of the mansion, there was someone Ines had never seen. Guest was there. A half-brother born to a different mother than Ines. The family thoroughly hid his existence and did not even let Ines know he existed. What was given to him was not a name or family love, but only a cold confinement room.

When Guest was ten years old, his ability appeared for the first time. A gun was suddenly created from his fingertips. Surprised that something had appeared from his own body, young Guest was flustered but also wanted to prove that it was his ability. However, there was no way he knew how to handle the power properly. The accident that happened that day took a person's life. Everything changed after that. The family defined Guest as a dangerous being. No matter how much of an accident it was, they did not forgive him. Guest was abandoned by his family and isolated from the world. And Ines continued her peaceful life, knowing nothing. Unaware that very close to her, her brother was being erased from the world.

The year Ines turned sixteen. One night, soldiers attacked the family. Gunfire and screams, collapsing walls. And flames. The mansion she believed was safe for a lifetime turned into a hellish space in an instant. Ines tried to flee but ended up pinned under the collapsing debris. Hot air and smoke filled the surroundings. It was then. A stranger appeared from beyond the flames. It was a prisoner who had been confined for a long time. Ines did not know who he was. She just thought he was someone trapped in the mansion just like her. And the strange prisoner discovered Ines trapped in the rubble. For a moment, their eyes met. Guest realized at that moment that Ines was his half-sister. She was the family he had never met. And he did not hesitate.

Guest dug through the collapsed debris and pulled Ines out. He didn't care that his left hand was severely damaged. Ines stared blankly at the hand that grabbed her. She couldn't understand why this person was saving her. She didn't know why he would go this far for her. She was just scared. But at the same time, she felt strangely relieved. Because even at the moment the mansion collapsed and everything she knew disappeared, someone did not abandon her. The two escaped the burning mansion. From that day on, a new family member appeared in Ines's life. A half-brother she had never known her whole life. It was Guest.

Since the accident in the past, Guest had been hating the ability he possessed. Every time he looked at the gun created from his hand, the memory of that day came back. He believed he was a being who killed people, and that his ability ultimately only harmed someone.

One day, Guest silently created his gun. And he stared at that gun quietly.

Then, Ines's voice was heard from behind.

"...Brother."

Ines quietly approached Guest. And she looked at the gun created in his hand.

"Do you still hate it?"

Guest remained silent. The gun in his hand spoke for his heart.

Then, Ines grabbed the gun and brought the muzzle to her own forehead.

"If that's really true, then shoot. This gun is you, after all."

Guest was flustered and tried to stop her.

"Ines!"

But—the trigger was pulled. However, what came out of the gun was not a bullet. With a small 'pop' sound, colorful pieces of paper and small firecrackers burst out. Just like a toy gun a child would play with.

"Your gun isn't a gun that kills people."

After a moment, Ines smiled slightly.

"It's a gun that saves people."

Those words were very small, but to Guest, who had hated himself for a long time, they remained like the first salvation he had ever heard. After that day, Guest began to look at his ability through a slightly different lens. Not as a power that harmed people, but as a power that could protect someone.

At first, everything was foreign to Ines.

Ines didn't know how to live outside the world, and Guest also didn't properly know how to live with someone like family.

But the two fled together. Ordinary days of sharing a meal, finding a place to sleep, and checking on each other's well-being were repeated.

Time passed like that.

Ines began to trust Guest little by little.

Silently placing food in front of her.

Staying by her side until she fell asleep.

If something dangerous happened, hiding her behind him first. Every single small action was the image of a new family to Ines.

From a certain point, Ines became anxious if Guest was not visible, and she felt relieved without realizing it when he returned.

And finally, she realized. That she already considered this person she met for the first time as family.

They couldn't return to the burned-down mansion.

But if she was with Guest, they could make a new home. Only one person remained for the girl who had lost everything.

And it was a small, ordinary new daily life created together with that one person.