Part 2 – A House Filled with Unease
The familiar warmth of his home surrounded him.
For a moment...
The strange feeling outside seemed distant.
He slowly turned around and reached for the door.
But just before it completely shut...
Something moved.
Haruto's silver eyes instantly caught it.
Across the street...
On the rooftops.
A figure.
Moving silently through the darkness.
For a brief second...
The silhouette crossed directly in front of his vision.
"..."
Haruto froze.
His instincts screamed.
That wasn't someone casually passing by.
That movement...
That presence...
It was the same.
Before he could think...
His hand pushed the door shut.
Bang!
The sudden sound echoed through the house.
Haruto stood there.
His hand still resting on the door.
His breathing slightly heavier.
"..."
A few seconds of silence passed.
Then...
"Haruto?"
A voice came from behind him.
Haruto turned.
Kaito stood there, looking confused.
His expression changed when he saw Haruto's face.
"..."
"What's wrong?"
Haruto didn't answer immediately.
He looked back at the closed door.
Then toward the window.
His silver eyes remained serious.
Kaito walked closer.
"Haruto?"
"You look like you saw something."
Haruto slowly turned back toward him.
"..."
"I did."
Kaito's expression became more serious.
"...What?"
Haruto lowered his voice.
"Someone was on the rooftops."
Kaito stared.
"...A shinobi?"
Haruto shook his head slightly.
"I don't know."
"But..."
He looked toward the door again.
"Something feels wrong."
The room became quiet.
Kaito watched him carefully.
Because he knew...
Haruto wasn't someone who got nervous without a reason.
If Haruto was worried...
Then something was definitely happening outside.
Kaito watched Haruto carefully.
Because he knew...
Haruto wasn't someone who got nervous without a reason.
If Haruto was worried...
Then something was definitely happening outside.
"..."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"What exactly did you see?"
Haruto looked toward the window.
"The streets were empty."
"All the shops were closed."
"Two shinobi rushed past me earlier."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"Shinobi?"
Haruto nodded.
"They looked serious."
"One of them said..."
He paused.
"...'We're running out of time.'"
Kaito's expression slowly changed.
"And then?"
Haruto continued.
"When I came closer to home..."
"I saw someone on the rooftops."
"The same kind of person I saw before."
Kaito became quiet.
"...You think they're connected?"
Haruto didn't answer immediately.
His silver eyes remained fixed on the dark street outside.
"...I don't know."
"But something is wrong."
Before Kaito could reply...
A faint sound came from behind them.
"...Haruto?"
Both of them turned.
Ayame sat near the table.
Her notebook was still open in front of her.
She smiled slightly.
"You're back."
Haruto looked at her.
Then noticed something.
Her face looked a little pale.
"..."
Kaito noticed him looking.
He quickly looked away.
Haruto didn't say anything.
Not yet.
Suddenly...
A distant sound echoed through the village.
Not loud.
But enough to make all three of them stop.
"..."
The atmosphere changed.
Kaito slowly stood.
"What was that?"
Haruto walked toward the window.
His eyes narrowed.
"..."
From this distance...
He couldn't see anything.
But he could feel it.
Something was happening.
Kaito looked at him.
"Haruto."
"We need to tell someone."
Haruto nodded.
"...Yuji-san."
Kaito looked surprised.
"Yuji-san?"
Haruto turned.
"Yeah."
"He told us..."
"If something happens..."
"Tell him."
Kaito thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
"But..."
He hesitated.
"What about Aunt Mikasa?"
Haruto became silent.
Kaito continued.
"Shouldn't we go there first?"
Haruto shook his head.
"No."
Kaito looked at him.
"Why?"
Haruto lowered his gaze.
"You know she isn't well."
"She's already dealing with medical problems."
"And Mimi is there too."
"We can't take the risk of bringing them into this."
Kaito went quiet.
He knew Haruto was right.
Then...
His expression changed.
"..."
"But..."
Haruto looked at him.
Kaito's voice became softer.
"What about Ayame?"
The room fell silent.