Chapter 51: Friend
"S–you…"
Yuki stared in shock at the boy sitting on the bed, wrapped tightly in a blanket.
The boy tried to sit up a little straighter, but only his shoulders managed to move. The rest of his body beneath the blanket remained almost completely still, as if it refused to respond.
"Hi… um… I didn't mean to scare you," he said with an awkward, almost shy smile.
"Yuki, why are you just standing there by the door? You can come in."
Yuki froze for a moment, his fingers still resting on the doorknob. Then, with slow and cautious steps, he walked into the room.
"Um… are you running away from someone?" the boy asked gently.
Yuki tried to steady himself.
"I… it just happened so suddenly… I—I'm sorry. Really. I'm the one who should apologize…"
He quickly wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, embarrassed.
The boy let out a soft giggle.
"Hehehe… I guess I'm the one who startled you. But seriously… are you running from someone?"
Yuki took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling unevenly.
"Actually… Haruto and Kaito have been hiding something from me. My life… is apparently in danger."
The boy went quiet for a second. Then he tilted his head slightly to the side, studying Yuki more carefully.
"Ahh… so you're that kid, right?"
Yuki blinked in surprise.
"H–huh? How do you know?"
The boy gave a small, almost proud smile.
"Well… I'm the boss's son. Hehe."
"The boss?"
"Everyone calls my dad 'the boss.' He's the leader here."
Yuki slowly nodded.
As he did, his eyes drifted to the wheelchair beside the bed.
The footrests were fixed in place. Not unused… but worn in a way that showed it had been needed for a long time. It wasn't temporary.
Yuki quickly looked away, pretending he hadn't noticed.
"Were you… sleeping?"
The boy shrugged lightly. Only his shoulders moved. From the waist down, there was still no response.
"No, not really. I was just drawing."
Yuki noticed the sketchbook lying open on the blanket.
"Drawing?"
"Yeah. I can't stand up… but my hands work just fine."
His voice was calm when he said it.
Not bitter.
Not angry.
Just… used to it.
Yuki's eyes widened for a brief second, but he quickly forced himself to relax.
"I–I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Kazeki smiled softly.
"It's okay. I've been like this since I was born. So it feels normal to me."
He turned his head toward the window, a faint smirk appearing on his face.
"Looking outside is nice. If you can't go out there yourself… you learn how to draw it instead."
Something tightened slightly in Yuki's chest.
"My little sister was here earlier," Kazeki added. "She just left the room. Didn't you see her?"
Yuki shook his head.
"No… I didn't."
After a brief hesitation, he gathered a small bit of courage and held out his hand.
"I'm Yuki. What's your name?"
The boy struggled just a little to reach forward, but eventually he managed to take Yuki's hand.
"I'm Kazeki."
Yuki smiled, more genuinely this time.
"Nice to meet you, Kazeki."
Kazeki tilted his head slightly.
"Yuki… are you scared?"
Yuki paused. His fingers tightened just a little.
"…A little."
Kazeki smiled again, softer now.
"I get scared sometimes too. But being scared isn't a bad thing."
He looked at Yuki steadily.
"It's just… important not to be scared alone."
The room grew quieter after that.
But it wasn't a heavy silence.
It felt different.
Maybe it was the quiet that forms
when two lonely people
realize they're no longer alone
in the same room.