Chapter 25 : Clear Sky

Sunlight. Bright, loud, merciless sunlight.

I hadn’t seen it this cheerful in weeks—probably because I spent most mornings in rain, mud, or a hospital bed courtesy of my own fists. But today… today was different.

Yume had made it her personal mission to drag both Asuka-sensei and me to a park for a picnic. The “Sunlight Intervention Program,” she called it.

Translation: she refused to let either of us be alone in the apartment and threatened a tantrum if we didn’t come.

---

By the time we arrived, the park was bustling. Kids ran around screaming, dogs barked, and geese waddled like they were plotting our deaths.

Yume ran ahead, skipping, waving a half-eaten sandwich. “Come on! Faster, Punch-kun!”

I groaned. “Why is she faster than a guy who does actual combat training?”

Asuka rolled her eyes, holding her sunhat down against the wind. “Because she’s five. Also, apparently, faster than men sometimes.”

We found a quiet patch of grass, laid out a blanket, and settled down. Yume immediately dumped half her bag of snacks onto the cloth like a tiny tornado.

I sat beside Asuka, shoulders brushing slightly as I unpacked the picnic.

And of course, the universe never misses an opportunity.

A sudden gust of wind lifted Asuka’s skirt like a rebellious bird, leaving me wide-eyed, fists instinctively shooting up.

I grabbed the edge, yanking it down faster than reflexes in a street fight.

She gasped, then slapped my arm lightly. “Kazama! You perv!”

I blinked, looking anywhere but her eyes. “I… wasn’t…”

“Were too!” Yume yelled from somewhere in the distance, pointing at us. “Punch-kun’s a perv!”

I groaned, mentally composing my suicide note.

Asuka’s cheeks turned pink. “You idiot. Thank you, but—don’t stare at me while doing it!”

“I wasn’t staring!” I said, voice higher than I intended. The lie didn’t help.

---

Eventually, we calmed down. Yume, predictably, fell asleep in the middle of the blanket, sprawled like a starfish. Her little head nestled between us, and suddenly the world felt… softer.

Asuka leaned back on her elbows, glancing at the sky. “It’s… nice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” I kicked at a stray pebble. “Clear skies. No fights, no rain, no chaos.”

She turned toward me, voice quiet. Almost a whisper. “Maybe… I don’t have to be strong all the time. If you’re here.”

The words hit me like a punch—not the kind I throw, the kind you can’t block.

I swallowed. “Good. Then I’ll stay.”

For some reason, the phrase sounded heavy. Important. And the warmth in my chest made me almost want to throw up from how ridiculous it felt.

--

Of course, the universe couldn’t leave it at that.

Yume, half-asleep, decided it was the perfect time to roll over and kick me in the ribs. I yelped, grabbing her tiny legs.

She giggled. “Punch-kun’s ticklish!”

Asuka swatted my arm again, shaking her head with a laugh. “She’s fine, idiot. Don’t take it personally.”

I muttered something about being unfairly attacked by children, but the truth was… it didn’t matter. Not right now. Not here.

---

I never thought moments like this could exist. Sunlight, warmth, Yume’s innocent chaos, Asuka’s soft voice beside me…

It was quiet, yes. Calm. Almost peaceful. The kind of peace I’d spent most of my life avoiding.

I glanced at Asuka’s face, relaxed in the sun, her hair slightly messy, eyes closed, and the faintest curve of a smile on her lips.

I hated everything else in the world—the fights, the pain, the constant chaos. But here?

Here, I didn’t hate anything.

---

She shifted slightly, brushing grass off her sleeve, and muttered softly, more to herself than anyone else:

“Maybe I don’t have to be strong all the time… if you’re here.”

Her hand brushed mine as she adjusted her sitting position.

I didn’t pull away. I didn’t even think about it. I just let it happen.

“…Good. Then I’ll stay.”

Her eyes opened, locking with mine. For a long, quiet second, everything else—the wind, Yume’s soft breathing, the world—faded away.

No fireworks. No shouting. Just us, sitting on a sunlit blanket, and the feeling that maybe… maybe I could belong somewhere.

--

Yume snored softly between us. The bag of goldfish snacks had spilled a little, but who cared?

Asuka rested her head back, eyes toward the blue expanse above. I leaned back beside her, feeling the tension of weeks of fights, confusion, and self-doubt drain out of me.

The sky was clear. Unstoppable. Infinite.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn’t the angry, lonely boy from the rainy alleys anymore.

I was just… here. With them.

I wouldn’t let go.

And above us, the sun shone brightly, washing over everything in a warmth that felt like hope.