A Familiar Warmth:
The morning sun filtered through the shoji, casting delicate shadows on the tatami floor. Haruto blinked against the light, his small fingers gripping the futon as he slowly sat up .The room still felt unfamiliar-- but it noo longer scared him.
A light knock came at the door.
"Haruto?Okiteiru?" came Miyuki's gentle voice from behind the sliding panel.
"Un..." he replied softly.
The door slid open , Miyuki stepped in , already dressed and smillingly.
"Come on , sweetheart. You'll feel better after washing your face".
Haruto nodded and rose from the futon. Miyuki fold his blanket and guided him toward the waashroom down the hall.
The cool splash of water against his face jolted him fully awake. As he reached for the towel , something stirred in his mind--like a screen lightigng up in the darkness of his thoughts.
[System Booting....]
He paused , blinking at the text that flickered within his mind-- not seen , not heard, but known.The strange familiarity of it buzzed against the edges of it's awarness.
It wasn't just memory . It was something new, yet deeply tied to him --not to haruto the child, but to silas grey,the soul within.
But he didn't focus it now.Footsteps came from the hallway.
"Did you brush your teeth too?" Miyuki peeked in.
"Yeah ... almost done"Haruto replied shaking off the echo of the system.
she gave him a soft nod. "Good boy breakfast is already ready".
Back at the table , Miyuki placed down bowls of steaming miso soup and tamago gake gohan. The smell was warm and familiar--at least to this body.
His father , Souta soon joined , buttoning the cuffs of his shirt and carryng a small amamori.
"Here," he said, placing it beside haruto's dish. "For Luck".
Haruto picked it up, holding it between his fingers.
"Thanks .. otosan," he said, the word still tasting unfamiliar but light.
Souta gave a nod , ruffling his hair before stepping out.
Haruto sat quietly at the table, Miyuki sitting across from with her cup of green tea. There was no rush , no tension, just warmth.
In the hospital , the mornings were quiet too-- but in a lonely , sterile way. The nurse named diana had always been kind, but the silence then had been filled with emptiness, with distance.
Now, the silence carried something different , Connection.
Haruto look up at his mother . She smiled just for him .
This wasn't just a second life, it was a second chance.
...
....
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