Part 3 — The Ones Left Behind
Back home, with a brother who didn't realize how deep the distance had grown.
Haruto's voice dropped.
"It always feels like Kaito chose Ayame," he said quietly.
"And I chose Mom and Dad."
Yuji's expression tightened.
Haruto kept going, words slow, heavy.
"And Mom and Dad… died."
The room felt smaller.
Miri's hands clenched at her sides.
"Sometimes," Haruto continued, staring at the table, "I even thought it was my problem."
Yuji frowned.
"Haruto—"
"Because they loved me," Haruto said, cutting in softly.
"And one by one… they died."
His fingers trembled slightly as he pressed them together.
"I know it sounds stupid," he muttered.
"I know it doesn't make sense."
Yuji stepped closer, voice firm but calm.
"It doesn't make it stupid."
Haruto swallowed.
"There were times," he said, "when I thought… maybe if I wasn't there, they wouldn't have stayed. Maybe they wouldn't have gone."
Miri's eyes widened.
"That's not—"
"I know," Haruto said quickly. "I know it's not true."
He exhaled shakily.
"But when you're the one left behind," he added, "your head doesn't care about logic."
Yuji placed a hand on the counter, grounding himself.
"Listen to me," Yuji said.
"People don't die because they love someone. They die because of the world they live in."
Haruto didn't respond, but his shoulders shook once.
"And your parents," Yuji continued, "chose you. Every single day."
Silence followed.
Haruto wiped his face roughly with his sleeve.
"…That's why I didn't want to go home," he admitted.
"Not today."
Yuji nodded slowly.
"That makes sense," he said.
"But running doesn't mean you don't belong."
Haruto looked up at him.
"…Then why does it feel like I'm always the one left?"
No one answered immediately.
Because sometimes,
the hardest truth
is that being loved
doesn't always feel like being held.
The living room had gone calm, but not peaceful.
Ayame sat quietly, hands folded in her lap.
Kaito stood nearby, still restless.
She looked up at him.
"Kaito…" she said softly.
"Do you remember that day?"
He glanced at her. "Which day?"
"The day Haruto went out with Dad," she continued.
"And we stayed home with Mom."
Kaito's expression shifted slightly.
"You remember what Mom said, right?" Ayame asked.
"That… we're siblings."
Kaito let out a small breath.
"So…?"
Ayame hesitated.
She knew that tone.
She knew where this was going.
Her fingers tightened, then she slowly stood up, reaching for Akari's arm for support.
"Big sister," Ayame said quietly, changing the subject, "I'm hungry."
Akari immediately nodded.
"Come," she said gently.
She guided Ayame to the table, sat her down, and served her food carefully.
Then Akari looked back at Kaito.
"Go change your clothes and come," she said. "Food will get cold."
Kaito hesitated, then turned and walked away without another word.
Raijin picked up his coat near the door.
"I'm heading back," he said calmly.
"If anything serious happens, inform me."
Renjiro nodded.
"I will."
The door closed behind Raijin.
The house felt heavier after that.