Meanwhile, Haru was still working furiously, hauling heavy boxes of fireworks onto the ship. These were the explosives that would later light up the evening sky. Sweat trickled down his face from a half-day of nonstop labor. He hadn't rested or even eaten lunch, and yet he was determined to finish quickly so he could join his brother and his best friend to watch the dazzling fireworks at sunset.
"Okay… just a little more and I'll be done," he muttered to himself.
Just then, a sharp voice rang out from below deck. "Hey, Haru!"
He paused, leaning over the railing. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Your girlfriend's here! She's looking for you!"
Haru's eyes went wide. "G–girlfriend?!"
Startled, he lost his balance and bumped a heavy box beside him. It toppled and landed squarely on his right foot.
"OW!" Haru cried out, clutching his foot as tears pricked at his eyes. "Ahh, it hurts!"
While he writhed in pain, the voice from below called out again. "Don't keep your pretty girlfriend waiting! She even brought you lunch! Stop working and come down already!"
Still limping and muttering under his breath, Haru climbed down from the ship. His awkward stagger didn't stop his coworkers from snickering behind him.
When he finally reached the docks, his gaze fell on Lumier, her best friend, waiting patiently on a bench near the ship. She held a neatly wrapped lunch box, something she and his sister Yufa had prepared together.
As Haru approached, Lumier looked up, her voice soft with hesitation. "Um… did I interrupt your work?"
"N-no not at all…"
Haru felt a pang of hesitation, not because of Lumier's presence, but because of the eyes looking at them. His coworkers had all but stopped working, their curious stares fixed on the pair like an audience waiting for a romantic drama to unfold.
"Look at that! Our kid was so lucky!" "Woo-hoo! Go on, son!"
"Your girlfriend's gorgeous!"
Haru's face flushed as the teasing grew louder. Lumier, equally uncomfortable, tugged lightly at his sleeve and said, "Come on…let's go somewhere else to eat," she whispered.
Grateful for the escape, Haru quickly took her hand and led her away. They found a quieter spot a little farther from the docks, where an empty bench sat shaded from the sun.
"Why here?" Lumier asked as they settled down. "Wouldn't it be easier to eat near the ship?"
Haru scratched his cheek, avoiding her eyes. "Ah, well…I just wanted a bit of privacy while eating. You know…"
"I see."
She didn't press him further. Instead, she unwrapped the bundle she had brought. "Here. Yufa and I cooked this for you. I hope you like it."
Haru's face brightened as he accepted the food with both hands. "Thanks! You and Yufa really went out of your way just to prepare this, and you even carried this all the way here for me…it feels like too much trouble."
Lumier's shoulders tensed as her gaze dropped to the ground, her cheeks warming. "W-what are you saying? It's fine! I don't have much to do at home, so I had plenty of time to bring you food."
"Hehe, I see. Well…thank you, Lumier."
Her face lit up at his gratitude, and she eagerly scooped more food onto his plate. "Alright! Eat as much as you want, okay? Finish it all!"
"W-wait, this is too much! It feels like today's my last meal or something."
Lumier's eyes widened in alarm. Her expression hardened. "Don't say things like that, Haru! Talking about death is bad luck." She frowned, irritation clear in her voice. "If you say it again, I'll really get mad at you."
Haru held up his hands in surrender, laughing nervously. "Alright, alright! I was just joking. I'm sorry. Please don't be angry." He leaned a little closer, his tone softening. "I'll eat everything you brought, okay? That way, you won't be upset with me anymore."
The girl's cheeks flushed at Haru's desperate pleading, though she quickly turned away so he wouldn't notice. "O–okay, okay. Just… finish your food."
When Haru was done eating, Lumier quietly cleared the dishes and slipped them into his bag. Silence stretched between them. Haru didn't seem in the mood to talk, so Lumier forced herself to break it.
"Ah, Haru…" She hesitated, then spoke. "If I remember right…today marks the anniversary of your sister's survival in the fire, doesn't it?"
The air shifted immediately. Haru's expression suddenly became dark while the memory of that incident weighed heavily on him.
Lumier winced at her own words. "S–sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up."
"No, no, it's fine." Haru smiled faintly, though his eyes looked distant. "I just… can't believe it's already been ten years. It feels like it happened yesterday."
Both fell silent again. Then, after a pause, Haru's voice softened. "It was the worst nightmare of my life. That night, I thought I'd lost her forever. I wasn't there when she almost burned alive, and I swore from that moment on that I'd never leave her again. I promised myself I'd do anything for her."
"I know," Lumier said gently. "You've always been a good brother. Yufa's lucky to have you."
"But I'm not always there for her," Haru murmured, guilt lacing his words. "No matter how hard I try, it never feels like enough. I want to give her everything, but—"
"No, Haru!" Lumier cut him off, her voice firmer than usual. "You've already given so much. You've carried the weight of being both her father and her mother. Yufa doesn't measure your love by how often you're beside her. She knows you're always there for her—and that's what matters most."
Haru's lips curved into a grateful smile. In moments like these, he realized how much Lumier meant to him. She had always been there, for both him and Yufa.
"I owe you more than I can say, Lumier. You've looked after Yufa when I couldn't. Knowing you're there for my sister eases my heart. I just hope you won't ever grow tired of us."
Lumier's face warmed, her heart racing wildly. She turned her head quickly, feigning nonchalance. "O–of course not. We're best friends, right?"
"Yes," Haru said softly, with a smile that made her chest tighten. "Best friends."
The moment lingered before Haru perked up, remembering something important. "Oh, right. Tonight there's going to be a fireworks display on the ship." He glanced at Lumier with a hopeful grin. "Would you like to watch it with me and Yufa?"
Her answer came without hesitation. "Yes! Yufa and I will be there."
"Great!" Haru's eyes lit up. "Meet me at the dock an hour before it starts, okay?"
"Okay," Lumier replied, smiling despite the rapid beat of her heart.