The backyard looked beautiful.
Decorated tables.Flowers in the center.String lights hanging above.
Everything perfect.Everything elegant.
Except for the fact that Harumi looked like she'd been attacked by three chickens, two bushes, and a lizard.
Regina sighed, fixing her daughter's hair with excessive force.
— If you get near anyone like this, they'll think I raised you in the forest.
— Mom… but I fought the forest…
— Exactly, Harumi.
The obaasans arrived carrying enormous trays.
The food smelled so good it felt like it had been prepared by local deities.
— Regina-chan, the meat is resting!— Desserts are ready!— And Harumi?— Alive. More or less.
Harumi waved weakly, smiling like a dehydrated plant.
The guests arrived.
And with them… social RPG dialogue.
Sweet neighbors brought gifts, sweets, flowers, compliments.Younger neighbors arrived excited and curious.
And others…
Arrived with opinions no one asked for.
Harumi was serving tea when she heard:
— She has such a big heart, right?— Yes, yes! Taking in two children like that… so brave.— I just wonder…— How long she'll last.
Harumi froze.
But before she could react…
Takeru, standing behind the table, heard everything.Every. Single. Word.
He stopped.Planted his feet firmly on the ground.
His chest tightened, like always.
Like always since he was little.Like always when adults spoke assuming kids couldn't hear.
He thought:
"I knew it. I knew we weren't supposed to stay."
Mei, happily eating sweets, noticed nothing.But Takeru's gaze dropped to the floor.
— Takeru? — Harumi called softly.
He didn't answer.
And worse—she didn't realize he had heard.
Thankfully… there were children.
And children heal worlds.
The village boys, who had ignored Takeru yesterday, now surrounded him like he was the new gang leader.
— Hey, do you have a console?— I do! — one boy said. — But his is better!— And he knows ALL the dinosaur game levels! ALL OF THEM!— Dude, your house has a POND??
Takeru muttered:
— …Yeah.
That was enough.
The entire group ran toward the back of the yard like they'd been released from school.
— BOYS!! — Harumi ran after them.— BOYS, WAIT, DON'T—!!
Too late.
They were already at the pond's edge.
— GUYS! IT'S FREEZING!— I KNOW!!! — a kid replied, smiling like a happy gremlin.
And then—
PLOFTPLOFT PLOFT PLOFT
ONEBYONETHEYJUUUUMPED.
Harumi froze.
— H-H-HOW DID YOU—
She ran toward the pond.
— GUYS! THE WIND IS COLD! YOU'LL GET SICK!! MY GOD—
Izumi filmed, obviously.Regina appeared holding towels and a witch-ready-to-hunt-souls expression.
The obaasans laughed.
And there, in the middle of the water…
Takeru.
Not adult.Not tense.Not rigid.
Takeru was… laughing.
LAUGHING.WITH KIDS.PLAYING.
Splashing water like he was competing.Running through the pond like he'd forgotten the weight of the world.
Harumi stopped running.
Completely.
And placed a hand over her heart.
Because her chest felt warm.Truly warm.
— …He's being a kid. — she whispered, almost crying.
Mei appeared beside her, holding Kuma-chan.
— Harumi… Takeru is happy! — she said, smiling wide.
Harumi swallowed the lump in her throat.
— Yeah… yeah, he is, my love…
But the world doesn't stop for that.Gossip continues.
Behind them, the neighbors were still talking:
— But seriously, she's great… I just don't know for how long.— Kids are hard work…— And she's so young… maybe 24 at most…— It must be hard for her…
Takeru heard it again.
This time, he looked at Harumi—laughing while grabbing towels for the wet kids.
He watched her for a long time.
It wasn't hatred.Nor anger.
It was…
Decision.
A hard decision.
"I need to leave before she gets tired of me."
Mei stood beside him, hugging Kuma-chan, not understanding anything.
And Harumi?
Completely unaware of the existential crisis happening three meters away.
She just raised her hands and shouted toward the pond:
— TAKERU, YOU'RE GONNA GET PNEUMONIAAAA!!
Takeru replied:
— I'M FINE!!!
And dove again.
At the end of the day…
Regina and the obaasans served the banquet like culinary goddesses.The guests ate until they couldn't move.Harumi ran around like she had 17 clones.Everyone left happy.
And Takeru…
Stood still for a while, staring at the front door.
Thinking:
"If I leave… it hurts.""If I stay… it might hurt later."
Mei held his hand.
— Takeru?
He took a deep breath.
Looked at the house.Looked at Harumi laughing with Izumi.
He didn't decide anything then.
But he decided…
That he would need to leave someday.
Just when Mei was asleep.
The night would be long.
Just one more smile.