Part 7: A Quiet Evening at Home
"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.