Kasumi glanced around Tomiko and me, her voice soft but carrying that familiar maternal warmth. "Have you guys eaten?"
Tomiko nodded with a small, tired smile. "Yeah… we already ate at the company. It was a long day, but the food helped."
Kasumi gave a small nod of approval, her eyes lingering on both of them for a moment longer than usual, as if checking for any hidden signs of exhaustion or lingering tension from earlier.
With that, it was time to sleep. We all settled down together in the spacious hall, just like the night before—futons laid out side by side, the soft glow of a single nightlight casting gentle shadows across the tatami mats.
The house was quiet now, the earlier emotional storm between the sisters having finally eased into a fragile peace.
Yuko and Haruna curled up on their usual spots, breathing steadily and slowly. I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the day still pressing on my chest. But eventually, sleep claimed everyone.
