Part 12 — The Ring I Gave You
Haruto was still looking at the ring on his finger… turning it slowly… watching the red gem catch the light.
Ayame sat beside him, calm, steady.
Then—
The front door swung open loudly.
"I'M HOME!!"
Kaito rushed in first, slightly stumbling because he was carrying too many shopping bags at once. Colorful ribbons stuck out from one bag, snack packets from another, and a box of decorations nearly slipped from his arm.
Behind him, Akari entered with groceries.
Renjiro followed, holding cake boxes carefully.
Kaito dropped his bags near the door and ran forward excitedly—
Then he stopped.
His eyes locked onto Haruto's hand.
The ring.
Everything went silent.
His face changed instantly.
Confusion.
Shock.
Then hurt.
Then anger.
He walked closer slowly… like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"…What… is that?"
Haruto looked up. "…Hm?"
Kaito pointed sharply.
"That ring."
Ayame answered gently, "I gave it to him."
Kaito froze.
His breathing stopped.
Then his voice exploded—
"YOU GAVE HIM MY RING?!"
Haruto jerked slightly. "What— no—"
Kaito rushed forward, grabbing Ayame's arm.
"I GAVE YOU THAT!!"
His voice shook hard now.
"When we were small! I gave you a ring just like Papa gave Mama!!"
His eyes filled fast.
"And you gave it to HIM?!"
He pointed at Haruto like he'd been betrayed.
"Just because it got small for you?! You gave it away?!"
Ayame blinked softly. "Kaito— listen—"
"No!!"
His grip tightened.
"AYAME IS MINE!! ONLY MINE!!"
The words came out raw. Childish. Painfully real.
Haruto sat frozen.
Kaito's breathing became uneven.
"You can't give things I gave you to someone else…!"
His voice cracked.
"That was mine… that was yours… that was ours…"
Silence filled the room.
Akari stopped moving near the doorway.
Renjiro quietly set the cake down.
Ayame slowly knelt in front of Kaito so their eyes were level.
Her voice stayed calm. Gentle. Firm.
"Kaito… look carefully."
She lifted Haruto's hand.
Then she reached into her pocket.
And pulled out another ring.
Small.
Older.
Simple.
The one Kaito gave her years ago.
Kaito's breath caught.
"…I never gave yours away," she said softly.
His eyes widened.
She opened his palm and placed the small ring inside.
"You gave me this. I kept it safe."
He stared at it like it might disappear.
Then looked at Haruto's ring again.
"…Then… that one…?"
"That is new," she said quietly.
"I chose it for Haruto."
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.