Haruto was standing on the top terrace of the headquarters. His hands rested on the cold metal railing as he stared blankly at the vast lake in front of him and the mountains rising beyond it. Night was slowly fading away, and the first light of morning was beginning to take its place. The horizon was covered in a breathtaking blend of orange, pink, and gold. As the sun slowly rose from behind the mountains, nature itself seemed to be breathing again.
But Haruto wasn't really seeing any of it.
Even though his body was there, his mind was somewhere else entirely.
The same thoughts kept spinning in his head over and over again.
If only…
If only I had taken him somewhere safer from the beginning…
What if I lose him one day?
Why… why couldn't I keep the promise I made to him in such a short time?
Why couldn't I make him truly happy?
What if he stops trusting me?
What if I'm too late?
The questions echoed in his mind, each one heavier than the last, striking his heart again and again.
Haruto gripped the railing tighter. His knuckles turned white.
At that moment, a voice from behind shattered his thoughts.
"Hey, Harutoooo!"
Haruto flinched slightly but didn't turn around. His eyes stayed fixed on the horizon.
Footsteps slowly approached.
Kaito walked toward Haruto with a deep sigh.
"…Seriously?" he muttered.
Haruto still didn't respond.
Kaito took a few more steps, then sighed again as if gathering his thoughts.
Then his voice turned more serious.
"Haruto."
That single word was enough to pull Haruto's attention.
Without looking away from the view, Kaito continued.
"I understand your fear…"
He paused for a moment.
"Because I'm scared too."
Haruto suddenly widened his eyes and turned to Kaito in surprise.
Kaito was still standing the same way, hands in his pockets, looking at the morning scenery.
"You're not the only one worried about Yuki."
A short silence followed.
"Yeah… I'm not really good at expressing myself."
Kaito slightly turned his head.
"But I don't want anything to happen to her either. Do you understand?"
Then he looked directly at Haruto.
"And I understand you."
The shock on Haruto's face slowly softened into a calmer expression.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Kaito… I…"
He took a deep breath.
"Yuki only came here a short while ago."
He released his grip on the railing.
"But… somehow, I feel like I haven't really made a difference in her life."
He lowered his head.
"I don't know why…"
His voice grew quieter.
"But Yuki… reminds me of myself."
Kaito quietly listened.
Haruto's gaze drifted into the distance.
"Just like her…"
His voice trembled.
"Being deprived of family love…"
"Being excluded…"
"Being ignored…"
Suddenly, old memories flashed through his mind.
A dark room…
Children laughing…
Cruel voices…
"Hahaha! Who would ever love a kid like you?"
"Ahh, Haruto, let him cry!"
"Crying like a baby!"
"Pathetic!"
Haruto's breath caught for a moment.
His shoulders trembled slightly.
The words got stuck in his throat.
For a few seconds, he couldn't speak.
Then, gritting his teeth, he continued.
"And… she…"
He closed his eyes.
"She had a much worse life than I did."
Silence fell.
Only the sound of the morning wind could be heard.
Kaito slowly turned away and leaned his back against the railing.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Hah."
He lifted his head toward the sky.
"As if I'm any different."
Haruto quietly looked at him.
The smile on Kaito's face slowly faded.
"Those moments when my father hit me…"
His voice became quieter.
He shut his eyes tightly for a moment.
His hands clenched into fists.
But then, he suddenly pulled himself together.
"Ahh, whatever."
He shook his head.
"The past is the past."
That usual careless expression returned to his face.
"We haven't really taken care of Yuki properly until now."
He looked at Haruto.
"Let's do better from now on."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What do you say?"
Haruto didn't quite understand Kaito's sudden shift in attitude.
But still, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
He looked back at the horizon.
"Hah…"
He relaxed his shoulders.
"If we can, sure."
Then he smirked slightly.
"Besides…"
He looked at Kaito.
"I'm still not used to your smile."
A second of silence…
Then—
"WHAAAT?!"
Kaito's voice echoed across the entire terrace.
"What did you just say?!"
He suddenly lunged forward like he was about to grab Haruto by the collar.
"You're getting way too bold, you jerk!"
Haruto blinked.
Then his lips started trembling.
Kaito noticed it immediately.
"Wait…"
But it was too late.
Haruto suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha!"
His shoulders shook.
"Hahahahaha!"
Kaito stared at him for a few seconds.
Then, unexpectedly, he started laughing too.
"Pff…"
"Hah…"
"HAHAHA!"
Within seconds, both of them were laughing uncontrollably.
The silence of the morning filled with their laughter.
From a distance, Sora and Daichi, who had been watching them, froze completely.
They looked at Haruto and Kaito in silence for a few seconds.
Then slowly turned to each other.
They blinked at the same time.
And said at the same time:
"Those two…"
A short pause.
"…are definitely insane."