Part 8: A Borrowed Sunset
From the sofa, Haruto lay flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling, eyes unfocused.
His voice came out quiet and tired.
"…Can you keep the noise down a little?"
No one spoke.
Akari turned toward him slowly, concern filling her eyes—not anger, just worry.
Haruto didn't look at any of them.
He was still lying on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.
After a moment, he spoke again, softer.
"Let me at least have a good view of the sunset," he said.
"You guys never take us outside… and now that we are, just let me see."
The room went still.
Raijin exhaled slowly, understanding dawning in his expression.
Ayame whimpered quietly, still holding onto Akari, while no one moved to interrupt.
No one tried to help again.
The house settled into silence—
heavy, careful, and filled with things no one knew how to say.
"Haruto, we aren't—" Renjiro started.
Haruto cut him off.
"Brother," he said quietly, almost pleading. "Please… just let me see it."
Renjiro froze.
Raizen stepped in, trying to sound calm.
"We're—"
Again, Haruto interrupted, his voice a little stronger now.
"Why?" he asked.
"Why can't you guys just let me have a view?"
He turned his head slightly, eyes unfocused but steady.
"Those birds," he continued softly. "Going back home… different colors, different kinds."
No one spoke.
"The orange sunset," Haruto went on, almost to himself.
"It's turning red. The sun's going down."
A faint pause.
"Once it's night," he said, "we can go home. Okay?"
The words hung in the air.
Renjiro, Raizen, Akari, and Raijin exchanged looks—silent, careful, uneasy.
Raijin, still leaning slightly, whispered to Renjiro and Raizen.
"Is he seeing through the ceiling… or what?"
Renjiro frowned, watching Haruto's eyes fixed on the unseen horizon.
"He's too calm for someone who'd be sensing things outside," he murmured.
Akari glanced at Haruto, his fingers loosely resting on the sofa, his face relaxed despite his pain.
"He's… just looking," she said softly. "Like he's remembering something."
Raizen's eyes softened.
"The birds… the colors… the sunset," he muttered. "It's what he saw on the grounds before. He's not seeing anything now. He's just holding onto that memory."
Renjiro exhaled, tension easing slightly from his shoulders.
"So he's not seeing through the ceiling. It's just… him recalling that moment."
Raijin nodded.
"That makes sense," he said quietly. "He's tired, hurt… and holding onto something familiar to calm himself."
Akari smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from Ayame's face.
"That's… a relief," she said. "At least it's not him sensing danger. Not yet."
Haruto, still staring at the ceiling, whispered softly to himself.
"The birds… the sun…"
Everyone exchanged looks, silently agreeing to let him be.
For now, Haruto was just remembering the last peaceful moment he had on the grounds, not seeing through anything beyond the walls.
The room returned to quiet, heavy with unspoken concern, but a small sense of calm returned for the first time since the attack.
Akari leaned closer to Ayame, her voice soft.
"Ayame… are you feeling okay now?"
Ayame blinked, still holding onto Akari, and gave a small nod.
"I… I'm feeling a little better," she said quietly.
Akari's gaze softened, but concern lingered.
"Where else did you get hurt, other than your leg?" she asked gently.
Ayame hesitated, then whispered,
"The back of my head… but that's already clear," she said, brushing a hand over her silver hair. The strands at the back were slightly damp with blood.
She swallowed and continued softly,
"Actually… I was feeling sick after the first break. I vomited, so Daigo-sensei told me to go home. After coming home, Haruto came to me and cried, and told me that Big Sister and Brother lied to us about Big Brother Guren."
Her eyes grew distant.
"Then he fell asleep. I stayed awake because I sensed danger… it was hunters. I took one down, but then more came. I used Brother Renjiro's weapons… and when I thought I couldn't handle it, I ran out with Haruto on my back. After reaching the grounds, I lost my balance… Haruto might have gotten more hurt. His head was bumped… he was bleeding, and his left eye too. I don't know where else he's injured."
Akari put a hand on her shoulder gently.
"That's… good to hear, at least," she said softly. "You both did well."
"I told you guys to keep it low!" haruto shouted.