The siblings exchanged a glance. The tension between them eased slightly. At least it wasn't what Haruto had feared.
"Well," Haruka said, her tone lighter, "I understand. Hospitals can feel scary sometimes."
Minami shook her head, her voice trembling as she clarified, "It's not the hospital. It's my mother..."
Haruto blinked with confusion. "Your mother?"
But Haruka's expression shifted, her features hardening. She stood abruptly, brushing the dust from her skirt.
"We're going to the hospital," she said firmly.
"You need to meet your mother, Minami."
"But... but I don't want to go! Can't I just stay with you?" Minami clung tightly to Haruto's arm, her small voice trembling.
Haruto frowned, unsure of how to handle her fear.
Haruka, however, seemed to understand more than she let on. Her voice rose sharply.
"No! You can't! You need to see your mom!"
Minami flinched, her tears welling up as she whispered, "B-but my aunt said Mommy's going to die..."
Haruto's heart sank, but before he could speak, Haruka pressed on, her tone unwavering.
"That's why you have to see her! You'll regret it if you don't!"
Haruto glanced at his sister, catching the sadness in her eyes. He placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Haruka, calm down," he said softly. "We'll take her together, okay?"
Haruka's resolve faltered, and for a moment, her sorrow showed through. She leaned into Haruto, and he hugged her tightly.
"You always get this way around this time," he murmured, but she didn't respond, just nodding silently against his chest.
The night crept in, and with it, an air of urgency. Despite Haruto's gentle attempts, Minami still refused to go to the hospital.
Frustrated but unwilling to give up, Haruka finally resorted to using a fabricated folklore tale to frighten the child into compliance.
It worked, albeit reluctantly, and soon the three of them were on their way.
Haruto carried Minami, her small arms draped around his neck as sleep tugged at her eyelids.
She yawned occasionally, her head nodding against his shoulder as they approached the hospital.
Once they arrived, Minami stirred awake, her resistance rekindled as they stood in the brightly lit hospital lounge.
"Minami, you need to see your mother," Haruto said, kneeling in front of her as she sat on a waiting room chair. His voice was gentle, coaxing.
But at the same time, it felt like a small redemption—saving the girl from walking down the same lonely path she once had.
For that, she was grateful.
After a while, Haruto and Haruka quietly excused themselves, leaving the Adachi family to their reunion.
The siblings walked side by side under the darkening sky, the stars beginning to twinkle faintly above.
The silence was broken by Haruka's voice, soft and hesitant. "Brother... I've never said this before, but... I'm sorry."
Haruto stopped, turning to her in surprise. "What are you apologizing for?"
Haruka came to a halt, bowing deeply. Her voice trembled. "When Mom was dying, you spent her last moments searching for me instead of being with her."
"Because of my selfishness, you didn't get to say goodbye." Her tears spilled over as her voice cracked.
"I'm so sorry, Brother."
"Haruka..." Haruto's voice was gentle as he stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. "Do you know who asked me to look for you?"
She shook her head, her sobs muffled against his chest.
"It was Mom," he said. Experience more on empire
"Her last words to me were to take care of you. To love you as much as she did. And that's what I've tried to do every day since."
He remembered that rainy day vividly—the weight of his mother's final embrace as she whispered her goodbye, urging him to find his sister.
The memory burned deeply, a reminder of the promise he made and the guilt he carried for failing to protect Haruka in their first life.
Haruka broke down completely, her small frame trembling in his arms as sobs wracked her body.
"Mom loved you, Haruka," he continued, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.
"She didn't hate you for running. She only wanted you to be happy."
"But... I was so selfish..." she choked out between sobs.
"And you were just a child," Haruto said firmly.
"Don't cry anymore, Haruka. Don't carry this guilt. Mom wouldn't want that."
Her cries grew quieter, though tears continued to stream down her face. "I'm sorry, Brother. I'm so sorry..."
Haruto held her tightly under the starlit sky, his voice steady and full of love.
"It's okay. It's time to forgive yourself. Mom's watching over us, and she's smiling."
The two stood there, embraced under the stars, as if their mother's spirit was wrapping them in her warmth, assuring them that all was forgiven.