Path of the Extra

Leo did not kill Lia the day after her birth either.

Then the day after, the same happened—Leo did not kill Lia.

Even after an entire week had passed, Leo still didn’t kill her.

A month later, he was extremely tempted, after her wails kept echoing through the night and ruining his sleep, yet even then there was always some excuse Leo found not to kill her.

…He had never seen his parents so lively before. Dad was home more often. Mom was smiling much more genuinely.

It got Leo wondering whether the cause was truly Lia, and that Leo was simply… not enough. Or maybe the reason was simply that they adored those ugly, snot-nosed babies that much.

Well, either way, it wasn’t like Leo could turn himself into a baby. Even for him, that would be too much. So he discarded the idea of testing that theory—of seeing whether dressing himself up as a baby would make his mom and dad happy.

So instead he simply did what he was always good at.

Being the best.

A year passed.

And then a few more years passed, each day offering a new excuse not to kill that brat.

*****

“Leo, won’t you eat breakfast with us?”

Having gotten ready for school and already wearing his uniform, Leo finally left his room and was about to head out when he saw his mom in the kitchen. Honestly, he had been planning to skip breakfast.

“Mom? Shouldn’t you be at work? Where is the nanny?”

He had been planning to avoid eating with his little sister or that nanny, but today seemed to be a change in his usual routine. His mother, wearing an apron, gave him a cheerful smile.

“I decided to take a break for a few days to spend more time with Lia— and you, of course.”

Naturally, Leo was pleased and glad that Mom was worried about her two children. Yet the moment he saw her narrow her eyes at him like the daggers of a killer, he quickly averted his gaze.

“Now tell me, Leo. If it wasn’t me here right now but the nanny, you would have left without having breakfast, right?”

Scratching the back of his head, Leo decided to be honest.

“Well… yeah, I guess.”

She sighed.

“Seriously, this boy… Leo, how many times have I warned you not to skip your breakfasts?”

“But… I can’t help it. That nanny’s voice gives me headaches. Skipping breakfast is simply a price I’m willing to pay if it means staying sane!”

“Your tongue hasn’t grown dull over the years, it seems… no, it’s only been growing sharper…”

She started untying her apron.

“Well, anyway. It’s not like you’ll be late for school. Go sit and wait at the table with Lia.”

“…Fine.”

Doing as he was told, Leo dragged his feet and headed over to the table. On his way there, he saw Lia already seated, still in her pink pyjamas, her hair styled into twin tails. She was groggily rubbing her eyes with her small hands while a plush tiger sat on the table in front of her.

Sighing and scratching his hair, Leo decided to sit opposite her. She must have noticed him because once her eyes cleared and she got a proper look at him, she flinched, her face turning pale as she stared at him like she was seeing the devil himself.

Leaning on the table, Leo propped his head on his hand.

“What?”

Pursing her lips, Lia shook her head, her twin tails swinging and lightly hitting her own head as if to say “nothing” without using words.

’Well, at least she’s not that ugly anymore… still a snot-nosed brat…’

“Lia, what did I say about bringing Mister Whiskers with you?”

“Mom!”

Seeing their mother finally arrive, Lia looked at her like some divine angel coming to save her. She grabbed Mister Whiskers and ran over before hugging her legs.

“Lia! Don’t run! You might fall—and especially not while I’m holding these hot plates!”

Lia said nothing, just pressed her face against their mother’s legs.

Their mother sighed again, as if already fed up with something.

“Leo, the day has just begun. What is with you having to be lectured so many times already? Don’t scare your little sister!”

Leo looked at her with a blank gaze, feeling entirely unjustly cast in the role of the villain. He glanced at Lia and could swear those eyes of hers were trying to hide her amusement.

’…Tonight might finally be the night I kill her…’

As that thought passed through his mind and he was already building simulations of how the event would play out, his mother and little sister came to the table and sat down in front of them.

The aroma of French toast pulled him out of his not-so-child-friendly thoughts, and he glanced at his plate.

While he got French toast, Lia had cereal in the shape of dinosaurs. His mother scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and then brought it to Lia’s mouth to feed her.

’Useless snot-nosed brat…’

What good were those tiny arms of hers for?

“Leo, eat before it gets cold.”

“…Yes, Mom.”

Munching on the delicious food, he listened as his mother started a conversation with him while wiping a bit of milk from Lia’s cheek.

“Didn’t you have a test today? Did you study for it?”

Leo’s eyebrows rose at the question.

“No? Why would I? I already know everything, and the content of the test is quite easy… well, I think.”

His mom had a wry smile.

“Well, it’s easy for you. That doesn’t mean it’s easy for others. Still, you should sometimes try to check the contents. You never know what might surprise you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

Her eyes turned slightly nostalgic.

“Time has flown by quickly again this year, huh? The year is almost finished, which means you’ll be going to high school soon…”

“Yeah…”

Not that Leo really cared. It was all the same, always.

“Have you considered joining the student council in high school? Maybe even running for president? You didn’t do it during your time here in middle school, saying you wanted to focus on your other activities, but still… it would be extremely beneficial for you.”

Leo shook his head.

“I didn’t see the appeal in it from the beginning. If there is some in high school… I’ll try to keep an open mind, but I doubt it.”

“Well, with your grades and hobbies, you’re already set to do whatever you wish. Just keep at it…”

Leo gave a perfect smile.

“Of course, you don’t need to worry, Mom. No one my age is really better than me anyway.”

His mother chuckled.

“As long as that’s the case.”

Saying that, she focused on feeding Lia, who was growing impatient with the pace.

Leo also started eating properly but subtly glanced at his mother and narrowed his eyes.

’I really do wonder why it is you want me to be the best…’

He remembered when his mother had argued with his father and talked about her dead sister…

But sometimes Leo couldn’t help but feel like…

’Is projecting your feelings about you and your dead sister onto me really everything? Is that why you want me to be above everyone else..?’

Because if there was another reason…

No.

It didn’t matter.

No matter what reason there was…

Leo would do what made his mom so happy.

And that was being the best.

*****

Walking through the hallways of his school, on his way to class alone, Leo suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Ugh… I forgot my bag at home…”

He clicked his tongue.

’All because of that brat.’

It wasn’t.

“Ah, it’s not like I ever need it anyway.”

Scoffing, he was about to start walking again when someone suddenly slapped him on the back.

Leo didn’t flinch or turn around and get hostile, because there was only one person aside from his dad who had the balls to hit him.

“Nathan… how many times have I told you not to do that?”

“Ah, come on! I thought I could make you flinch this time!”

Nathan wrapped an arm around Leo’s neck and leaned forward, grinning, his perfect white teeth showing and his blue eyes bright.

Both Leo and Nathan had started to grow a lot, getting out of that cute baby-face eye-candy phase and into more of a tall, handsome-teenager phase—though still eye-candy. Naturally, Leo was the one who was more eye-candy than Nathan.

“Man… we’re almost done with middle school, huh…”

Leo rolled his eyes.

“But fuck… to think we never even once got into the same class! Fate is trying to tear apart my friend!”

“Don’t call me your friend. And act normally.”

“What, what? Is my acting not up to your standards, oh prodigious god of acting?”

“Just shut up, your breath stinks.”

“Aha! I know you’re lying, since I have gum in my mouth!”

“That’s against school rules.”

“What are you, the student council?”

“…Seriously. Shut up.”

They kept bantering, Nathan giving him a headache and Leo getting increasingly annoyed as they walked. Eventually they arrived in front of Leo’s classroom, Nathan reluctantly letting go of his neck and being forced to part ways.

“I won’t be able to walk home with you after school, by the way,” Nathan suddenly said before heading off, making Leo tilt his head at him.

“Gotta go to the dentist with my dad.”

“I see.”

“Ciao.”

“…See ya.”

Entering his classroom, Leo noticed there were already quite a few people inside.

Calmly, he walked toward the back of the class, where his assigned seat was—by the window.

’What was it Nathan called it again? Ah yeah… the protagonist seat…’

Keeping his face neutral, Leo sat down, folded his arms on the desk, and rested his head on them, closing his eyes.

He could already feel some eyes on him. And it was probably not because he was the only one who had entered without a school bag.

’Ahhh… I just want this day to be don—’

His thought was interrupted by a soft, nervous voice coming from above him.

“U-ummm… Leo. Leo, are you awake?”

’I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.’

“A-are you really asleep already? Ah… then maybe I should come back another time…”

“Just smack him on the head!”

Someone in the class shouted.

’…Great. So either I talk to this girl or start a fight with some idiot…’

Both were annoying.

Sighing internally, Leo raised his head with a begrudging look. The girl looking down at him took a step back and bumped into the chair behind her, staring at him with a nervous expression.

She had black hair in a bob cut and brown eyes. Just a bit above average in looks, but instead of beautiful she fit more into the “cute” category, especially since she was also short.

Leo instantly noticed the hint of redness on her cheeks.

’Ah, great… this again…’

“If… if you don’t mind… can we talk in private somewhere now or later today..? A-as long as you have time, of course! I don’t want to hold you back from any—”

“Sure.”

Leo cut in, unable to handle the stammering and panic any longer.

“I’m free one hour after school. I’ve got some practice to do before that.”

“A-an hour? That… that is fine! No, that is totally perfect! Yeah, perfect! Then I’ll meet you an hour after school!”

“Yeah, I’ll meet you here.”

“Yeah!”

The girl beamed, her expression bright and delighted, like the sun was shining directly on her skin and making it look healthy. She said goodbye and hurried back to her seat, turning around several times just to wave at him again.

’Ahhhh… how annoying. So many parts of my usual routine getting destroyed today…’

So annoying.

Well… as long as it all stayed within this scope of normal, it was fine.

Since all of this…

Was not new.