After Four Years of Silence

4 years later…

The first rays of sunlight filtered gently through the sliding doors, casting warm stripes across the room. Outside, birds chirped lazily, fluttering from branch to branch as the morning unfolded in its usual calm rhythm.

On a futon laid neatly in the corner, Haruto lay curled beneath his blanket, breathing softly in the quiet morning. The sliding door creaked open, and Ayame stepped in, dressed fresh in her morning clothes.

"Come on, wake up," she urged softly, stepping closer. "At least come to the academy today."

Haruto shifted slightly under the blanket, letting out a muffled groan.

"Haruto!" Ayame tried again, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

"I said… just go. I wanna sleep," he muttered, sliding further beneath the cover.

Ayame sighed quietly, shaking her head with a small smile, and quietly closed the door behind her.

Meanwhile, Kaito finished tying his shoes, glancing toward the door as Renjiro stepped forward. He was tall for his age, 16 years old, with sharp white spiky hair, his presence calm and protective.

"Ready?" Renjiro asked, gesturing toward the path leading to the academy.

"Yeah," Kaito nodded, and they turned to wave goodbye to Akari. Ayame followed, her steps light as she walked beside Kaito. They chatted softly as they made their way toward the academy.

Back in the room, Akari entered quietly, the sliding door clicking softly behind her. She was 16 years old, with brown hair reaching just past her neck. She settled onto her futon beside Haruto's, leaning sideways to wrap an arm around him. Patting his side gently, she murmured, "Haruto… It's been two years. You haven't gone to the academy since Lady Tsunami and Kairen left."

—Flashback—

Haruto lay curled on his futon, trembling, his face burning bright red. His hair was almost completely red from the fever, though streaks of blue — his natural color — peeked through. Beside him, on a futon a little farther away, Ayame sat, weak and pale, but her concern for Haruto overshadowed her own sickness.

"Kaito… please… check if he's okay," she whispered hoarsely, her small hand brushing the blanket covering Haruto.

Kaito nodded, worry etching his young face. When Ayame urged him again, asking for water, he carefully got up and went downstairs. But as he reached the bottom, he noticed Tsunami and Kairen quietly leaving the house.

"Where are you going?" Kaito called, panic rising in his voice.

They said nothing. "We have a mission… we must go," came a calm reply, and without another word, they walked away, leaving Kaito stunned and helpless.

Panicked, Kaito ran after them, catching at one of their legs. "Please… don't leave!" he cried. But they simply continued walking, disappearing from sight.

Swallowing hard, Kaito returned inside and handed the water to Ayame, acting as if nothing had happened. She drank slowly, her gaze flicking repeatedly toward Haruto, worry never leaving her face.

As Haruto's condition worsened, his breathing shallow and his body burning hotter, Kaito knew he had to do more. He ran out of the house, spotting Akari passing by. "Big Sister Akari! Over here! Haruto is sick!" he shouted, waving frantically.

—End of Flashback—

Haruto stirred slightly under the blanket, still half-asleep, the memory of the fevered mornings lingering faintly in his mind. Akari, sitting beside him, patted his side gently.

"I know why you're not going to the academy," she said softly, her brown hair brushing against his shoulder. "Because of what they say… how they call you a girl because of your hair, right?"

Haruto didn't answer, only shifted slightly, hiding more under the blanket.

Akari leaned closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Haruto… it doesn't matter what anyone thinks. Your hair turned red because of who you are, and that's not your fault. It doesn't change you… and it doesn't make you any less strong."

Haruto blinked slowly, a faint shiver running through him. Then he mumbled, his voice tinged with confusion, "I… I don't know why… I'm the only one who changed. Everyone used to tell me I was cute… and those eyes of mine… but now… I don't know why my hair and eyes… changed since then."

Akari shook her head gently, squeezing his shoulder. "Haruto… it's okay. Your hair, your eyes… they're just a part of you. They don't define you. You're still the same Haruto inside, and that's what matters. You don't have to be ashamed."

Haruto remained silent for a moment, letting her words sink in. Then, in a soft voice, he murmured, "But… what if they laugh? What if they… don't let me…"

"Then that's on them, not you," Akari said warmly, patting his hair lightly. "You're Haruto. That's enough. And I'll be here — always — Aka is not going anywhere."

Outside, the morning sun cast a comforting glow through the window, filling the room with quiet reassurance.

She smiled softly, brushing a stray strand of his red-and-blue hair from his forehead. "Haruto… I want you to try. Just for one day. Go to the academy. You don't have to go every day, not yet… just try for today."

Haruto's small hands twisted in his lap. "One day…? I… I don't know… what if they laugh? What if they… stare at me?"

She leaned closer, voice calm and warm. "Then that's their problem, not yours. You're still Haruto. Your hair, your eyes… they don't define you. You don't have to change for anyone. Just try… for yourself. And I'll be with you the whole time."

Haruto hesitated, biting his lip, the fear of judgment still heavy. Then, slowly, he whispered, "Okay… I'll try… just one day."

"That's my boy," she said, smiling gently and ruffling his hair. "Now let's get you ready."

She helped him wash up, carefully guiding his small hands under the warm water. He trembled slightly, but her calm presence reassured him, letting him focus on the motions rather than the fear lingering in his chest.

When it came time to tie his hair, she gently brushed the long strands and began arranging them neatly. Haruto stared at the mirror, the red and blue streaks falling past his shoulders catching the sunlight. His reflection was almost unrecognizable — the boy looking back at him had changed so much. For a moment, he didn't even know if it was really him.

"I… is that really… me?" he whispered, voice trembling.

She smiled softly. "It's still you, Haruto. Just a little older… a little stronger. That's all."

Haruto blinked, taking a deep breath as her hands worked carefully through the thick, long hair. "I… okay… I'll try," he murmured again, feeling a small surge of courage.

Next, she helped him into his academy uniform, straightening the collar and adjusting the sleeves. "There you go. All ready," she said. "No one can tell you who you are. Remember that."

Haruto finally stood, looking at himself once more in the mirror. The boy with the long red-and-blue hair, slightly trembling but determined, stared back. He whispered, "Thanks… Aka."

She extended her hand. "Come on, Haruto. One step at a time. I'm right here."

He placed his small hand in hers. Together they walked toward the door. Outside, the morning sun painted the streets golden, and the distant chatter of other students from the academy floated through the air.

As they walked, Haruto's steps were hesitant at first, but her presence beside him gave him courage. Around the corner, Kaito and Renjiro appeared, heading toward the academy as well.

"Good morning, Haruto!" Kaito called cheerfully, noticing his uniform.

Haruto's small voice barely rose above a whisper. "Morning…"

Renjiro, tall with white spiky hair and a mask partially covering his face, gave him a small nod. "Ready for today?"

Haruto swallowed, tightening his grip on her hand. "I… I'll try," he said, his voice steadier than before.

"That's all anyone can ask," she said softly, squeezing his hand. "One day at a time."

With that, the small group continued walking toward the academy, Haruto keeping his gaze forward. Each step felt heavier than usual, but he no longer felt entirely alone. Her calm reassurance, Kaito's cheerful presence, and even the quiet support of Renjiro gave him the courage to face the day… the first day after so long.

And as the academy gates drew near, Haruto lifted his head slightly, ready to take the next step in a world that had changed around him — but where he could still find his place.

Haruto slid open the classroom door quietly, the familiar chatter and clatter of desks filling the air. He stood there for a moment, unsure, scanning the rows of seats. It had been so long since he last came — everything looked slightly different. He looked around until his eyes landed on a familiar blue satchel with a small thunder-shaped badge on it.

Ayame's bag.

Without thinking twice, he walked toward it and sat down on the chair beside, his movements quiet but noticed by almost everyone. The room went oddly still for a few seconds. Haruto could feel it — the stares, the whispers, the glances at his red-and-blue hair. He kept his eyes low, pretending not to care, but every sound echoed too loudly in his head.

Then, suddenly—

"Haruto! You actually came!"

He turned to see Amaya rushing into the class, her usual bright grin stretching across her face. She hurried straight to him, dropped her bag beside his desk, and flopped into the seat.

"I can't believe this! You really showed up!" she said, leaning forward eagerly. "You have no idea how boring it was without you! Ayame kept spacing out, Kaito was always serious — it was so dull!"

Haruto blinked, caught off guard by her energy. A small, hesitant smile tugged at his lips. "You… talk a lot in the morning," he muttered.

Amaya giggled. "Well, someone has to! You've been gone for ages. What were you even doing, sleeping for two years straight?"

Haruto tilted his head slightly. "Something like that."

Their small laughter drew a few looks, but it was warm — genuine. For a moment, it almost felt normal again.

Then the sliding door slammed open.

Everyone immediately froze and scrambled to their seats.

A tall, broad man stepped in — Daigo Morinaka, the academy sensei. He had a buzzcut, a slightly oversized uniform jacket, and a half-eaten rice ball in one hand. His serious face didn't match the crumbs around his mouth.

"All right, class—" he began, then stopped mid-sentence when he spotted Haruto sitting there.

Haruto looked back. Silence.

The entire class stood up and greeted, "Good morning, Sensei!"

But the two of them just stared at each other, unmoving. Daigo slowly raised an eyebrow. Haruto tilted his head, still unfazed.

Finally, Haruto broke the silence.
"You ain't gonna stop eating, huh, Sensei? I can tell you've gotten fatter since last time."

The class burst into laughter. Amaya nearly choked trying not to laugh too loudly.

Daigo squinted, pretending to be offended. "Oh really? Big talk from the kid who looks like he's been napping and eating all year! You sure you didn't gain a few pounds too, Haruto?"

Haruto crossed his arms, smirking faintly. "That's muscle. Not everyone sits around grading papers and snacks."

"Oho!" Daigo laughed, pointing his rice ball at him. "Still got that mouth of yours, huh? Maybe I missed it a little."

The laughter rolled through the room, easing the tension that had been hanging in the air since Haruto walked in.

As everyone settled down, Amaya went back to her seat in front, and Ayame entered — spotting Haruto, she gave a small, surprised smile before slipping into her seat beside him.

Daigo clapped his hands once. "All right, enough comedy, you little troublemakers. Let's get started. Attendance time!"

He started calling names in his usual loud voice:

"Amaya Homura."
"Here!"
"Arashi Homura."
"Here."
"Ayame Inazuma."
"Present!"
"Haruto Inazuma."
Haruto raised a lazy hand. "Yeah."
"Izumi Homura."
"Here!"
"Kaito Inazuma."
Kaito raised his hand from the middle row. "Here, Sensei."
"Misaki Hoshino."
"Present!"
"Souta Nishikawa."
"Here."
"Yuna Sekiguchi."
"Here, Sensei!"

Daigo nodded, marking the register before glancing at Haruto again. "Good to have you back, kid. Don't make me get used to your empty chair again."

Haruto smirked lightly, turning to look out the window. "No promises."

The morning lesson began with Daigo pacing at the front of the room, chalk in hand, drawing wobbly lines on the board.
"Now, if you ever end up in the middle of a lightning release technique, what's the first thing you don't do?" he asked.

The morning lesson began with Daigo pacing at the front of the room, chalk in hand, drawing wobbly lines on the board.
"Now, if you ever end up in the middle of a lightning release technique, what's the first thing you don't do?" he asked.

Amaya whispered, "Touch it?"

"Correct, Amaya!" Daigo said proudly, slapping the board. "Touching lightning is a bad idea. Ten points for common sense!"

The class laughed. Even Haruto chuckled under his breath.

As the lesson went on, the classroom slowly felt less like a cage and more like a home again. Haruto leaned back in his chair, half-listening, half-thinking how strange it was to be back after two whole years.

From the row ahead, Yuna Sekiguchi turned slightly, her curious eyes landing on Haruto's red-and-blue hair. "Um… Haruto, right? Your hair — it's really pretty! But… was it always like that?"

Before Haruto could answer, Souta Nishikawa, who was never good at keeping quiet, blurted out, "Yeah, it's kinda weird! I thought your hair used to be all blue, didn't it?"

The class turned their heads subtly, all ears now.

Haruto blinked, caught mid-thought. His hand instinctively went to his hair. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. "I… uh…"

Before the silence grew awkward, Arashi Homura, sitting at the back with his usual calm expression, spoke up. "His hair changed after he got sick," he said flatly.

A few students blinked, surprised.

Arashi continued, his tone steady but respectful. "It was a rare kind of illness — something that affected his chakra flow. It changed his hair and eye color. No one knows exactly why… but it's nothing dangerous."

There was a murmur through the class. Souta and Yuna exchanged awkward looks, immediately regretting their curiosity.

Haruto gave a small, grateful glance toward Arashi.

Yuna smiled nervously. "Oh… sorry, Haruto! I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Haruto said softly, looking back at his desk. "It's just hair."

Daigo clapped his hands loudly, cutting the silence. "All right, everyone, less gossip, more lightning theory! Unless you'd all like to explain your own hairstyles next!"

The class burst into laughter again. Even Haruto smiled faintly, the tension melting away.

As the bell finally rang, Daigo stretched his arms dramatically. "Break time! Try not to destroy the classroom — especially you three," he said, pointing playfully at Amaya, Souta, and Haruto.

Amaya gasped in mock offense. "Sensei! We're angels!"

Souta laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, angels who make noise!"

Haruto sighed quietly, resting his chin on his palm. "I don't even do anything, and I still get blamed," he muttered.

Daigo smirked. "That's what all the quiet troublemakers say."

The class erupted in laughter again, and Haruto couldn't help but crack a faint smile.

Ayame turned in her seat, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Haruto. "See? Not so bad, huh?"

Haruto looked back, a faint smile forming. "Guess not."

Amaya leaned over the desk between them. "You're definitely coming tomorrow too, right?"

Haruto stretched a little, glancing out the window where the sunlight danced over the courtyard. "We'll see."

But in his heart — he already knew he would.

The morning lesson began with Daigo pacing at the front of the room, chalk in hand, drawing wobbly lines on the board.
"Now, if you ever end up in the middle of a lightning release technique, what's the first thing you don't do?" he asked.

Amaya whispered, "Touch it?"

"Correct, Amaya!" Daigo said proudly, slapping the board. "Touching lightning is a bad idea. Ten points for common sense!"

The class laughed. Even Haruto chuckled under his breath.

As the lesson went on, the classroom slowly felt less like a cage and more like a home again. Haruto leaned back in his chair, half-listening, half-thinking how strange it was to be back after two whole years.

From the row ahead, Yuna Sekiguchi turned slightly, her curious eyes landing on Haruto's red-and-blue hair. "Um… Haruto, right? Your hair — it's really pretty! But… was it always like that?"

Before Haruto could answer, Souta Nishikawa, who was never good at keeping quiet, blurted out, "Yeah, it's kinda weird! I thought your hair used to be all blue, didn't it?"

The class turned their heads subtly, all ears now.

Haruto blinked, caught mid-thought. His hand instinctively went to his hair. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. "I… uh…"

Before the silence grew awkward, Arashi Homura, sitting at the back with his usual calm expression, spoke up. "His hair changed after he got sick," he said flatly.

A few students blinked, surprised.

Arashi continued, his tone steady but respectful. "It was a rare kind of illness — something that affected his chakra flow. It changed his hair and eye color. No one knows exactly why… but it's nothing dangerous."

There was a murmur through the class. Souta and Yuna exchanged awkward looks, immediately regretting their curiosity.

Haruto gave a small, grateful glance toward Arashi.

Yuna smiled nervously. "Oh… sorry, Haruto! I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Haruto said softly, looking back at his desk. "It's just hair."

Daigo clapped his hands loudly, cutting the silence. "All right, everyone, less gossip, more lightning theory! Unless you'd all like to explain your own hairstyles next!"

The class burst into laughter again. Even Haruto smiled faintly, the tension melting away.

As the bell finally rang, Daigo stretched his arms dramatically. "Break time! Try not to destroy the classroom — especially you three," he said, pointing playfully at Amaya, Souta, and Haruto.

Amaya gasped in mock offense. "Sensei! We're angels!"

Souta laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, angels who make noise!"

Haruto sighed quietly, resting his chin on his palm. "I don't even do anything, and I still get blamed," he muttered.

Daigo smirked. "That's what all the quiet troublemakers say."

The class erupted in laughter again, and Haruto couldn't help but crack a faint smile.

Ayame turned in her seat, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Haruto. "See? Not so bad, huh?"

Haruto looked back, a faint smile forming. "Guess not."

Amaya leaned over the desk between them. "You're definitely coming tomorrow too, right?"

Haruto stretched a little, glancing out the window where the sunlight danced over the courtyard. "We'll see."

But in his heart — he already knew he would.

The morning lesson began with Daigo pacing at the front of the room, chalk in hand, drawing wobbly lines on the board.
"Now, if you ever end up in the middle of a lightning release technique, what's the first thing you don't do?" he asked.

Amaya whispered, "Touch it?"

"Correct, Amaya!" Daigo said proudly, slapping the board. "Touching lightning is a bad idea. Ten points for common sense!"

The class laughed. Even Haruto chuckled under his breath.

As the lesson went on, the classroom slowly felt less like a cage and more like a home again. Haruto leaned back in his chair, half-listening, half-thinking how strange it was to be back after two whole years.

From the row ahead, Yuna Sekiguchi turned slightly, her curious eyes landing on Haruto's red-and-blue hair. "Um… Haruto, right? Your hair — it's really pretty! But… was it always like that?"

Before Haruto could answer, Souta Nishikawa, who was never good at keeping quiet, blurted out, "Yeah, it's kinda weird! I thought your hair used to be all blue, didn't it?"

The class turned their heads subtly, all ears now.

Haruto blinked, caught mid-thought. His hand instinctively went to his hair. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. "I… uh…"

Before the silence grew awkward, Arashi Homura, sitting at the back with his usual calm expression, spoke up. "His hair changed after he got sick," he said flatly.

A few students blinked, surprised.

Arashi continued, his tone steady but respectful. "It was a rare kind of illness — something that affected his chakra flow. It changed his hair and eye color. No one knows exactly why… but it's nothing dangerous."

There was a murmur through the class. Souta and Yuna exchanged awkward looks, immediately regretting their curiosity.

Haruto gave a small, grateful glance toward Arashi.

Yuna smiled nervously. "Oh… sorry, Haruto! I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Haruto said softly, looking back at his desk. "It's just hair."

Daigo clapped his hands loudly, cutting the silence. "All right, everyone, less gossip, more lightning theory! Unless you'd all like to explain your own hairstyles next!"

The class burst into laughter again. Even Haruto smiled faintly, the tension melting away.

As the bell finally rang, Daigo stretched his arms dramatically. "Break time! Try not to destroy the classroom — especially you three," he said, pointing playfully at Amaya, Souta, and Haruto.

Amaya gasped in mock offense. "Sensei! We're angels!"

Souta laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, angels who make noise!"

Haruto sighed quietly, resting his chin on his palm. "I don't even do anything, and I still get blamed," he muttered.

Daigo smirked. "That's what all the quiet troublemakers say."

The class erupted in laughter again, and Haruto couldn't help but crack a faint smile.

Ayame turned in her seat, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Haruto. "See? Not so bad, huh?"

Haruto looked back, a faint smile forming. "Guess not."

Amaya leaned over the desk between them. "You're definitely coming tomorrow too, right?"

Haruto stretched a little, glancing out the window where the sunlight danced over the courtyard. "We'll see."

But in his heart — he already knew he would.

Haruto bent down, picked up a fallen sharpener, and smirked. "You know… looks kinda fun."

Souta popped his head out from behind a chair. "Wanna join, Haruto?"

Amaya grinned. "Yeah! We need reinforcements!"

Arashi groaned. "Don't even—"

But Haruto was already crouching beside them, stacking a few erasers like ammo. "Alright. Who's the enemy?"

Souta pointed dramatically toward the far side of the room. "Yuna and Misaki formed an alliance. They're hiding behind the shelves."

"Got it," Haruto said, narrowing his eyes in mock seriousness.

Arashi sighed. "I can't believe this."

"Too late to stop me now," Haruto grinned, flicking an eraser. It soared perfectly through the air—

—and smacked Daigo right on the forehead as he entered the classroom.

The entire room froze.

Daigo stood in the doorway, one hand still on the doorframe, blinking in disbelief. A small red mark was forming on his forehead. "...Who," he began slowly, "just declared war on their Sensei?"

No one moved. Even Amaya covered her mouth to hide her laugh.

Haruto raised his hand. "Technically, it was an accident."

"Accident?" Daigo repeated, his tone rising. "You threw it with the precision of a trained shinobi!"

Arashi tried to hold back his laughter, but a small snort escaped.

Daigo glared around the class. "Everyone—back to your seats! Now! And whoever's idea this was—"

"Was Souta's," Amaya quickly pointed.

"Hey!" Souta protested. "You started it!"

"Both of you," Daigo said, exasperated. "After class, you're cleaning this room until it sparkles!"

He then looked at Haruto. "And you, Mr. Inazuma, maybe you should spend less time aiming erasers and more time aiming for attendance."

Haruto rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Fair point…"

Daigo pinched the bridge of his nose. "I swear, every year this class gets more ridiculous."

As he turned to the board to start the lesson, Amaya leaned toward Haruto and whispered, "Worth it though, right?"

Haruto smirked. "Totally."

Arashi sighed again but couldn't help a small smile. "You're all hopeless."

Daigo turned back to the board, chalk in hand, his face still slightly red from the earlier eraser incident. "All right, class. Let's continue. This time, answer carefully. If you're near water… what's the first thing you don't do?"

Haruto leaned back in his chair, lazily raising a hand. "Touch it."

Souta pointed at him dramatically. "Correct. Touching it is a bad idea. Ten points for common sense!"

Amaya groaned, waving her hands. "Wait… that's the same answer I gave for the lightning question before break! That's wrong for water!"

Haruto shrugged, smirking. "Same principle. Don't touch it."

Arashi snorted quietly from the back. "Technically correct… but it's going to confuse everyone."

Daigo rubbed his forehead, sighing. "Haruto… I swear, you're going to give me a headache before lunch."

Haruto leaned forward, chin in hand, grinning faintly. "Maybe. But at least they'll remember it."

The class giggled. Amaya shook her head, half-frustrated, half-amused. "You really don't change, do you?"

Haruto just smirked, completely unapologetic.

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day. Haruto stretched lazily, brushing a few stray strands of red-and-blue hair from his face.

"Class is finally over!" Ayame said, grabbing Kaito's arm.

Kaito nodded, adjusting his bag. "Yeah… let's get going before it gets dark."

Haruto shrugged, following behind them. "No point lingering."

Waiting near the academy gate was Renjiro, tall and composed with his white spiky hair catching the sunlight. "Hey," he called, raising a hand. "Time to go."

The triplets waved and fell into step with him. They walked along the streets, their chatter and laughter echoing lightly in the afternoon air.

"Did you have a good day?" Renjiro asked as they walked.

"Yeah… chaotic, but fun," Ayame replied, smiling. Kaito nodded in agreement, and Haruto stayed quiet, eyes scanning their surroundings.

Meanwhile, back at home, Akari was waiting in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared lunch. The aroma of freshly cooked rice and miso soup filled the room. She glanced at the clock, then toward the futons neatly arranged in the living area.

"Hopefully they'll be back soon," she muttered, patting Haruto's futon lightly, though he wasn't there yet. "I wonder what trouble they got into today…"

The triplets' laughter grew louder as they neared their home, the familiar streetlights and quiet houses welcoming them back. Soon, the cozy home would be filled with chatter and warmth again, signaling the end of another lively day.

The late afternoon light filtered through the paper windows, painting soft patterns across the floor. Haruto sat curled on the sofa, a thick book balanced open on his knees — "Shizue Aragi: The Desert Crossing."

It was one of his favorites, a story about Shizue's early adventures — when she was just eighteen and still learning what courage really meant. The book described her crossing a vast desert alone, chasing a rumor of a lost city beneath the sands.

Haruto's eyes trailed slowly across the page, his expression calm but tired. "She really did all this… alone," he murmured. His head dipped, then jerked up again as he blinked hard, trying to keep reading.

But the warmth of the room and the gentle ticking of the clock made his eyelids heavy. A few seconds later, his head slowly leaned to the side — and with a quiet thud, he slumped against the sofa cushion, fast asleep. The book slid slightly down his lap, open to the page where Shizue found a faint glow in the dunes, the start of her discovery.

From the dining area, Ayame's voice called out, "Big Sister Akari! Haruto's asleep again — and on the sofa this time!"

Akari peeked from the kitchen doorway, a soft smile forming on her face. "Let him be, Ayame. He barely slept last night and still went to the academy early."

"But what about dinner?" Ayame asked, folding her arms.

"We'll wake him when it's ready," Akari said gently. "He needs to rest more than he needs a meal right now."

Haruto shifted slightly, his head pressing deeper into the cushion. A faint whisper slipped from his lips. "...Shizue… found it…"

Akari walked over quietly, pulling a blanket over him. Her hand lingered for a moment, brushing the hair from his forehead. "Sleep well, Haru," she whispered softly.

Ayame leaned on the armrest beside them. "You think he'll really become like her one day?" she asked.

Akari looked at Haruto, his peaceful face framed by his red-and-blue strands of hair. Her smile grew warm, though a trace of sadness passed in her eyes. "Maybe," she said quietly. "Maybe even greater."

A little while later, the scent of miso and freshly grilled fish drifted through the house. The low hum of conversation from the kitchen mixed with the faint clatter of dishes as Akari and Renjiro set the table.

"Dinner's ready!" Akari called out warmly.

Ayame immediately rushed back to the living room. "Haru! Wake up, dinner's here!" She leaned closer, shaking his shoulder lightly. "C'mon, you'll miss all the good food!"

Haruto stirred, blinking groggily as the blanket slipped off his shoulder. "...Dinner?" he murmured.

"Yeah," Ayame said with a grin. "Big Sister Akari made that soup you like."

Haruto slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. His body felt heavy, but the gentle tone in Ayame's voice made him push himself off the sofa. "Alright, alright… I'm coming."

When he entered the dining room, Kaito was already halfway through his rice bowl. "Finally awake," Kaito said teasingly, his mouth half full. "You sleep more than Brother Renjiro after missions."

"Hey, don't drag me into this," Renjiro replied with a chuckle. "I only nap when I've earned it."

Akari smiled as she placed a dish near Haruto's seat. "Here, eat slowly, okay?"

Haruto nodded, his tone soft. "Thanks, Aka."

The family settled into an easy rhythm. The clinking of bowls and chopsticks blended with small bursts of laughter — Ayame teasing Kaito for dropping rice, Renjiro recounting a minor scuffle he saw in the village square, Akari scolding them all lightly for talking with their mouths full.

Yet through the warmth, Akari noticed Haruto was eating less than usual. He smiled when spoken to but his voice was quieter, his hand occasionally pausing halfway to his mouth.

"Haruto?" Akari asked gently. "You okay?"

He blinked, then gave a faint smile. "Yeah… just tired. Guess reading took more out of me than I thought."

Renjiro nodded. "That happens when you read instead of nap."

Ayame laughed. "He did nap, Brother Renjiro — just before dinner!"

Haruto managed a small grin. "And got dragged back up right after…"

The light laughter returned, but when the meal ended and everyone began clearing the table, Akari's eyes lingered on Haruto again. He looked fine — almost — but something about his pallor, the way he rubbed his temple once or twice, stirred an uneasy feeling in her chest.

Later that night, when everyone had gone to their rooms, Akari passed by the triplets' door. The sound of Ayame and Kaito talking softly faded as she peeked in. Haruto was already lying down, fast asleep again, his breathing calm but faintly uneven.

She whispered, "Good night, Haru," and quietly shut the door.

Outside, the wind rustled against the paper walls — a gentle, haunting sound that carried through the night, foreshadowing the sickness that would return before dawn.