Chapter 13: WHAT?
(WARNING: This chapter contains some blood and mild violence. Reader discretion is advised.)
Kaito and Haruto freeze where they stand. Yue speaks.
Yue:
"I was going to object back there, but I thought that if I talked back, it would definitely end badly for me."
Kaito looks at him in shock.
Kaito:
"What? How is that even possible? I mean… how?"
Haruto speaks with a serious expression.
Haruto:
"I admit it—I was surprised too. But lately, there have been way too many strange things happening."
As the three of them talk, Ren approaches them in the corridor.
Ren:
"Hey guys, it's getting pretty late. I don't usually see you this exhausted. Did something happen?"
Kaito is about to speak, but Haruto immediately grabs his hand and turns to Ren.
Haruto:
"Ah—no, nothing at all, Mr. Ren. Don't worry. Today was actually pretty calm. Other than Yuki, there wasn't much excitement."
Yue cuts in.
Yue:
"Mr. Ren, if you'll excuse me, I'm heading to my room."
(He turns to Haruto and Kaito.)
"Good night, guys."
Kaito nods, pulls his hand away from Haruto.
Kaito:
"Haruto, I'm heading to the training room. I'm not sleepy. If you want, we can continue our conversation there."
(He turns to Ren.)
"Would you like to join us, Mr. Ren? It's been a while since I did arm wrestling."
Ren clears his throat.
Ren:
"Hahaha, Kaito. Sorry, but Lady Akira called me after the meeting. You remember—the Kuiri issue. I'll be heading somewhere nearby tomorrow."
Haruto rests a hand on his chin.
Haruto:
"Hmmm… Ren."
(Even though Ren is Lady Akira's aide, he doesn't really like being called 'Captain' or 'Sir'.)
"Even Daichi got injured, and Lady Akira is sending you somewhere close to that area? Why?"
Kaito starts walking.
Kaito:
"Haru, I'll be at the training room. If you want, meet me there. See you."
(He looks at Ren.)
"Good night to you as well, Mr. Ren."
Ren nods.
Ren:
"Good night, Kaito."
"Haruto, I should get going too."
Haruto smiles.
Haruto:
"Yeah… I should probably check on Yuki."
After they part ways, Haruto passes by the training room and hears Kaito calling out to him.
Haruto:
"Huh? Were you waiting for me?"
Kaito turns to him with a serious, charismatic gaze.
Kaito:
"Haruto, what's wrong? Tell me."
Haruto sighs.
Haruto:
"What's wrong is… I need to look after Yuki. How did you even know?"
Kaito smirks.
Kaito:
"When you're hiding something, you clench your hands into fists, Haru. That's how."
Haruto looks surprised.
Haruto:
"Wait—are you always watching my hands?"
Kaito:
"Ugh, Haru, you're really obvious. Anyway, go take care of Yuki."
Haruto exhales in frustration.
Haruto:
"Honestly… fine. Like Ren said, it's really late. And Yuki might have nightmares, so I'm taking him to my room and sleeping there with him. Today was seriously strange. I need to clear my head too."
He turns away. Kaito calls out after him, shocked and irritated.
Kaito:
"Hey, idiot! But Yue—!"
Haruto cuts him off.
Haruto:
"We'll talk after breakfast tomorrow. There's no mission for us anyway."
(His eyes narrow.)
"At least for now."
Kaito snaps angrily.
Kaito:
"You bastard! You're seriously an idiot! We're talking about this tomorrow!"
Haruto pretends not to hear, grins sideways, and casually waves his hand in an "okay" gesture.
Kaito enters the training room. As he practices his signature punching motions, memories resurface in his mind.
Flashback
Haruto stands in a director's office, wearing white pajamas. Several children are around him. Kaito watches them through a crack in the door.
The director shouts angrily, holding a stick.
Director:
"Haruto! What do you think you're doing?! Never share your food with animals again! They're animals—they're meant to starve!"
One of the children speaks up.
Child:
"Sir, he's not just sharing. He steals food from the kitchen and gives it to them."
The other two children nod in agreement.
Haruto speaks in fear and stress.
Haruto:
"N-No… I didn't mean to steal… it was leftovers… they were hungry…"
The director strikes Haruto's hand with the stick.
Haruto:
"Ah! Ugh—please, sir!"
He starts crying.
Director:
"Open your hand! Let everyone see! If any of you hide things from me like Haruto did, I'll do the same to you!"
Kaito watches in horror as Haruto's hands bleed and bruise.
Haruto:
"Please… they were hungry…"
Someone calls out to Kaito from behind, pulling him out of the flashback.
Present
Kaito turns around. Sora is standing there.
Sora:
"What's going on with you, Kaito? You're pretty irritable—don't you think?"
(Tilting her head, laughing.)
"I mean, even more irritable than your usual 'abnormal' level."
Kaito ignores her teasing.
Kaito:
"I was just wondering… why life is so cruel, Sora."
"Why it's never on our side."
Sora looks surprised, then smiles and sits down, straightening her skirt.
Sora:
"Ah, Kaito…"
"It's not about whether life smiles at you or not. If you focus on that, you won't see the beautiful things in your life. Yes, life is cruel—but you mustn't forget why you're living."
At that moment, Haruto appears in Kaito's mind.
Seven-year-old Haruto, smiling despite his hands being covered in blood…
Haruto, tired but smiling, staying by his bedside in the infirmary when he was sick…
Kaito's eyes well up, but he hides it and turns his face away.
Kaito:
"Sora… I should go to bed."
Sora looks surprised but says nothing.
As Kaito leaves, he slightly turns his face away, his bangs hiding his expression.
Kaito:
"But thank you, Sora. You reminded me of something."
Sora doesn't fully understand, but she smiles warmly with her blue eyes.
Sora:
"If I managed to help you, even with a short conversation, then thank you too."
Kaito smiles faintly and leaves.
After he's gone, Sora yawns.
Sora:
"Ughhh… maybe I should grab some chocolate cupcakes. There should still be some left…"
As she heads to the kitchen, Taro appears.
Taro:
"Let me guess—looking for cake?"
Sora blinks in surprise.
Sora:
"What—how do you always guess right, Mr. Taro?"
Taro smiles.
Taro:
"I've known you for a long time, Sora. You don't eat dinner at night, but when your sweet cravings hit, you always end up in the kitchen—no matter how late it is."
Sora smiles.
Sora:
"You've really figured me out… but keep it between us."
Taro laughs, places four cupcakes on a plate, and adds strawberry cream on top.
Taro:
"And here you go—extra strawberry sauce and cream, my lady."
Sora blushes.
Sora:
"Seriously, Uncle Taro, I'm glad you're here. You really know everyone."
Taro speaks with a nostalgic smile.
Taro:
"I've known many people here for a long time… especially Haruto and Kaito."
Sora swallows her bite.
Sora:
"Haruto and Kaito? What do you mean?"
Taro looks at the refrigerator, then at the rain-streaked window.
Taro:
"Because… I was at the orphanage where they grew up."