"Yo, Haruto. How about we grab a cigarette up on the roof?"
Haruto's eyes widened at the voice, his head instinctively snapping toward the door. There, in all his battered glory, stood Daiki—the man he despised most.
Bandages covered Daiki's body, barely concealed by the hospital gown, and his face was swollen, his nose visibly broken.
'Damn, do I look that bad too?'
Haruto thought, his mind momentarily wandering to the toll the fight had taken on his own appearance.
Without his face intact, how could he ever get close enough to steal what Daiki held most dear?
"What are you zoning out for? Come on, dumbass."
Daiki's voice went from calm to irritated in seconds, his mood shifting so quickly that even someone with bipolar would be ashamed of him.
'Goddamn it. Can he just leave me alone?'
Haruto bit back the urge to scoff, but Jin's advice echoed in his mind: get close, and stab him from behind.
With a reluctant sigh, Haruto pulled himself out of bed, thankful he didn't have any IVs to tangle with.
Together, they made their way to the rooftop, where a soft yellowish hue from the setting sun greeted them, a fresh breeze sweeping across the open space.
Daiki dug through his pocket and fished out a box of cigarettes and a lighter.
One of his hands was too injured to move well, so Haruto stepped forward, taking the lighter and flicking it to life.
He held it to Daiki's cigarette, resisting the temptation to "accidentally" burn him.
'I should've just scorched his face.'
Daiki handed him a cigarette, and without hesitation, Haruto took it, lighting it and inhaling with ease.
"You're the first person," Daiki said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"The first one who didn't kneel and beg for mercy when fighting me."
Daiki's eyes were sharp, almost contemplative as he watched the city skyline.
"Haruka, what are you doing here? I told you to rest at home," Haruto said, closing the door gently behind him.
At the sound of his voice, Haruka jumped, spinning around to face him, her concern evident. "Brother! Where were you? Why did you leave?"
She hurried over, taking his arm and guiding him back to the bed, fussing over him as if he were still a child.
"I just needed some fresh air," he replied, settling down with a weary smile.
Haruka glanced at the bed, her expression a mix of resolve and shyness. "Move a little. I want to sleep here too."
Haruto lifted an eyebrow. "Here? Why?"
"Ugh, just move! You're always telling me to rest, I wanted to rest with you!" Haruka crossed her arms, a slight pout tugging at her lips.
With a sigh, Haruto shifted over, making space for her. Haruka climbed in beside him, wrapping her arms around him in a familiar, comforting embrace.
"When we were little, we'd sleep like this with Mom," she murmured, her voice soft with nostalgia.
"She always held us close whenever there was a storm."
Haruto's chest tightened as he listened. His sister rarely spoke about their mother, who had passed when they were young, and hearing her talk about it felt both comforting and bittersweet.
Haruka continued her voice a whisper. "Now, I get scared sometimes, thinking you might leave too, just like she did."
Haruto's heart ached as he turned to face her, seeing the sadness in her eyes. He gently reached up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
"What do you mean? I'm fine, Haruka. I'll never leave you."
Haruka held his gaze, searching his eyes. "But... you seem different, brother. You come home so late now, your body's covered in bruises and scars. Sometimes, I feel like you're slipping away."
Haruto paused, the words he wanted to say caught in his throat. 'If only she knew...'
All his late nights, all his battles—he'd taken on so much to protect her, to prevent the future he had come back to erase to take revenge on whoever wronged them. But he couldn't tell her that. Not yet.
Instead, he pulled her close, hugging her tightly, his voice a soft promise. "Don't worry, Haruka. I'm still me, and I still love you, just like always.
"Just promise me, you will never leave," she said as he nodded.
Haruka relaxed into his embrace, silent as she rested her head against him. In the quiet of the room, they lay together, letting the peace of the moment wash over them.
Finally, the two drifted off to sleep, holding onto each other, grateful for this small comfort amid the chaos.