The heights I had sweated day after day and fought desperately to reach were nothing but something laughable in his eyes. He could see through everything. In his eyes lay a world I could never reach.
Word of this soon reached Father. Father, who had once dismissed Yoriichi, underwent a complete change in attitude. Stunned by Yoriichi's terrifying talent, he even began secretly gathering his retainers, seriously considering whether to displace me, his eldest son, and have Yoriichi, the true genius, inherit leadership of the family instead.
I felt unprecedented fear and utter humiliation. This was the second time I hated my younger brother. He possessed such terrifying talent that he could even threaten the position I had fought with all my strength to secure.
Yet he was clearly just a pitiful child who could barely walk steadily and still needed Mother to hold his hand at all times!
Just as I sank into endless anxiety, he soon surprised me for the second time.
It was late one night in late autumn. Yoriichi silently slid open the paper door to my room and came to my side. In his hand was a small flute, roughly carved from wood.
"Elder brother, I'm leaving." Yoriichi's voice was as calm as ever, without a ripple.
Somewhat stunned, I asked him where he was going.
"I'm going to the temple tonight. I know what Father is thinking. I can't let you suffer, elder brother." Yoriichi held the rough wooden flute out to me. "This is a gift for you."
I stared fixedly at the flute, the humiliation inside me keeping me from reaching out to accept it.
Yoriichi did not insist. He tucked the flute back into his robes, then quietly told me that Mother was actually in very poor health. The left half