PART 1 — "Warm Return"
The kitchen was warm, filled with the rich aroma of freshly made miso ramen.
Akari moved with practiced ease, placing bowls onto the table one by one, steam rising gently into the air.
"Careful, it's hot," she said, setting the last bowl down.
Kaito was already seated, leaning forward eagerly.
"Finally… I was waiting for this."
Ayame took her seat calmly, adjusting her sleeves before picking up her chopsticks.
Haruto sat across from them, a little quieter, but fully awake now.
Akari looked at all three of them for a brief moment.
"…You all did well in the tournament."
A small pause.
"…I'm really proud of all three of you."
Kaito grinned instantly.
"Of course you are."
Ayame gave a soft nod.
"…Thank you."
Haruto didn't say much—
but he nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
They began eating.
The warmth of the ramen settled in quickly, the earlier tension of the day fading into something calmer.
For a few moments, it was just the quiet sound of chopsticks and bowls.
Then Haruto spoke, almost casually.
"…I actually thought I was last."
Kaito looked up mid-bite.
"…What?"
Haruto continued, still eating.
"…They started from 46. Not 48."
A small pause.
"…So I thought I was 47 or 48."
Silence.
Then—
Kaito blinked.
"…Wait."
Another pause.
"…I thought the same thing."
Ayame looked between them.
"…You're serious?"
Kaito nodded immediately.
"I was literally sitting there thinking 'yeah, I'm done.'"
Haruto let out a faint breath that almost turned into a laugh.
"…Same."