Part 4 – Toward Red Bowl
Haruto looked at her.
"...Ayame."
She lowered her hand.
"I'm okay."
Her voice was calm.
But weaker than before.
Haruto looked at her for another moment.
Then quietly asked,
"...Can you walk?"
Ayame blinked.
Then smiled.
"...I'm not made of glass."
"I'll be fine."
Kaito folded his arms.
"You've already said that."
"And I still don't believe you."
Ayame looked at him with a helpless smile.
"...You worry too much."
Haruto sighed.
"...We're worried because you're family."
Ayame smiled softly.
"...And I'm the older sister."
Kaito immediately pointed at himself.
"...Huh?"
"Isn't I the oldest?"
Ayame looked at him.
"...By four minutes."
Kaito proudly folded his arms.
"Exactly."
"I'm still older."
Ayame rolled her eyes.
"...Congratulations."
"You've been using those four minutes your entire life."
Haruto couldn't help but smile.
"...You two argue about the weirdest things."
Kaito looked at him.
"That's because being the eldest deserves respect."
Ayame smirked.
"Keep dreaming."
For a brief moment...
The three laughed.
The tension in the room eased.
Only for a moment.
Haruto looked back at Ayame.
"...Still."
"If you start feeling worse..."
"We're stopping."
Ayame nodded.
"...Deal."
Kaito walked over and picked up his jacket.
"So..."
"We're really going?"
Haruto nodded.
"...Yeah."
"We need to tell Yuji-san."
"If nothing's wrong..."
"We'll just end up bothering him."
Kaito shrugged.
"I'd rather bother Yuji-san..."
"Than ignore this feeling."
"...Same."
Haruto answered without hesitation.
Continuing naturally from there:
Ayame slowly pushed herself up from the chair.
She stood still for a brief moment...
Making sure her balance was steady.
Kaito noticed.
"...You sure?"
Ayame looked at him.
"...I'm sure."
Haruto quietly watched her.
She still looked a little pale.
But she was standing.
He decided not to say anything.
Not yet.
Ayame reached for the light cardigan hanging beside the door and slipped it on.
Kaito grabbed his own jacket.
"...Let's hope we're just overthinking this."
Haruto gave a small nod.
"...I hope so too."
He walked toward the entrance.
His hand rested on the doorknob.
For a brief second...
None of them moved.
The house was silent.
Almost comforting.
Haruto slowly opened the door.
A cool breeze drifted inside.
The night had fully settled over the village.
He stepped outside.
Kaito followed beside him.
Ayame came after them.
She gently pulled the door shut.
Click.
The sound echoed softly through the quiet street.
The three stood there for a moment.
The village felt...
Different.
No shopkeepers calling out to passing customers.
No children laughing in the streets.
No neighbours chatting outside their homes.
Only silence.
Haruto slowly looked down the empty road.
"..."
Kaito quietly exhaled.
"...I don't like this."
"...Neither do I."
Haruto replied.
Ayame looked between the two of them.
"...Let's go."
Haruto nodded once.
"...Yeah."
Without another word...
The three siblings began walking together...
Toward Red Bowl.