Part 9: Running From Home
Haruto, who had been lying on the sofa, shifted suddenly. His eyes opened, wet with fresh tears.
"I told you guys to keep it low!" he shouted, voice cracking.
"You ruined it! Why can't you be patient?"
Renjiro and Raizen exchanged uneasy looks.
"Is it really that important to you?" one of them asked cautiously.
Haruto's voice trembled with frustration.
"I… I never got to see that beautiful view in four years!" he said, still staring at the ceiling.
"And you guys ruined it—all of it!"
He continued complaining, pacing his emotions between sadness and irritation, until a sudden sound at the door caught everyone's attention.
"I'm home!"
Kaito's cheerful voice rang through the house.
Haruto froze mid-complaint. His eyes widened, and awareness hit him fully.
He looked around.
He was… at home.
The frustration softened slightly, replaced by quiet relief.
As Kaito entered the living room, Haruto immediately stood up.
Without saying a word, he turned and walked upstairs.
Raizen followed him quietly.
Back in the living room, Akari quickly picked up a winter cap and gently placed it over Ayame's head, carefully covering the part of her silver hair at the back that was damp with blood.
"So he doesn't see," she whispered.
Ayame nodded weakly.
Upstairs, Haruto entered the bathroom.
He pulled off his shirt and leaned over the sink, rinsing his face with cold water. Drops slid down as he gripped the edge of the basin, breathing slowly.
When he stepped into his room, Raizen was already sitting on the chair near the wall.
Haruto glanced at him.
"Shouldn't you be watching what's happening downstairs?" he asked flatly.
"Why even bother coming here?"
Raizen didn't answer immediately.
Haruto turned away, opening his drawer. He pulled out a black track with red stripes.
"You think I want to be there?" Raizen said calmly. "Crowded. Loud. You weren't comfortable."
Haruto scoffed softly as he changed into the track.
"Comfortable?" he muttered. "That moment was already ruined."
He slipped on a black half-sleeve shirt and grabbed his jacket.
Raizen watched him carefully.
"You don't need to shut everyone out."
Haruto paused briefly, then continued dressing.
"Everyone already decided everything without me."
As Haruto began putting on his black jacket with red stripes, Raizen suddenly stood.
"Stop."
Haruto froze. "Why?"
Raizen stepped closer and pointed.
"Your arm," he said quietly. "It's bleeding, come over here."
"I'll clean it myself," Haruto replied instantly.
Raizen reached out, but Haruto pulled back.
"I said I'll do it."
He went back to the bathroom, ran water over his arm, and wiped it clean without flinching.
Raizen watched in silence.
He was shocked—not by the injury, but by how little it seemed to affect Haruto.
Haruto returned, put the jacket on fully, and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes with his sleeve.
Raizen spoke gently.
"You should go downstairs. You know Kaito was worried about you too."
Haruto shook his head.
"Don't try to change my mind," he said. "I'm not going."
Raizen sighed.
"Then why are you crying?"
Haruto turned away.
"I'm not crying," he said coldly.
"…It's just because I'm feeling cold."
Raizen didn't respond.
The room stayed quiet—
heavy with words neither of them said.
Downstairs, the moment Kaito stepped fully into the living room, he dropped his bag onto the sofa.
"Ayame!"
He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"I'm sorry," he blurted out. "I should've been here. Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
Ayame stiffened for a second, then gently patted his back.
"I'm fine," she said quickly. "Really. I just felt a little sick, that's all."
Kaito pulled back slightly, searching her face.
"Nothing happened?"
She forced a small smile.
"Nothing. Don't worry."
Akari watched closely but said nothing.
At that moment, footsteps came from the stairs.
Haruto walked down.
Everyone turned toward him.
He looked different now—cleaned up, dressed, closed off.
He glanced at Akari.
"Aka," he said casually, "I'm hungry. So I'm going out."
Akari straightened immediately.
"Hey—wait. Haruto—"
But he was already moving.
He slipped on his shoes, didn't look back, and ran out the door.
The sound of it closing echoed through the room.
Silence followed.
Kaito frowned, confused.
"…What's wrong with him?"
No one answered.
And outside, Haruto kept running—
away from the house,
away from the silence,
away from everything he didn't want to feel.