Arashi slowly pushed himself up from the floor, his body still feeling heavy from the strange dream that had torn through his mind moments ago. His head throbbed faintly as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.
Without thinking too much, he made his way to the bathroom.
He turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto his face, again and again, letting the chill run down his skin. Droplets dripped from his chin as he leaned closer to the mirror and looked at his reflection.
His eyes looked tired. Unsettled.
"What the hell is going on…?" he muttered quietly.
Just yesterday, Ayane's confession had shaken him completely. Her words were still fresh in his mind, echoing whenever he tried to think clearly. And now this—that bizarre, haunting dream filled with disappearing people, accusations, and faces he couldn't remember.
First Ayane… and now that dream.
Arashi let out a long breath and straightened up.
"This is too much," he said under his breath. "I need to stop thinking for a while."
He wiped his face with a towel and decided to distract himself with something simple—something normal.
"I'll make breakfast," he thought. "At least that'll get my mind off everything else."
With that, he left the bathroom and headed toward the kitchen.
Just as he reached the hallway, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Arashi paused.
He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. A notification had popped up—a message from Ayane's mother.
His fingers hesitated for a second before unlocking the phone.
"…Ayane's mom?"
Curious—and slightly nervous—he opened the message and began to read.
Hi Arashi. I hope you're doing well now. I truly hope you're okay.
And I'm really sorry if Ayane's situation has become a burden for you. I know I asked a lot from you, and I understand if it felt overwhelming. But please believe me when I say I had no other choice.
That said… I have one more small request.
School will be opening again in just a few days, and I realized I still haven't bought Ayane's uniform. I'm really sorry about that. If possible, could you please go with Ayane and help her buy her school uniform?
I've transferred the money to your mother's account since she told me the card is with you. Please use that money to buy her uniform. And if it isn't enough, don't hesitate to tell me—I'll transfer more right away.
Please take good care of yourself… and of Ayane too.
Bye.
Arashi finished reading and slowly lowered his phone.
He stood there silently, the words sinking in.
"A burden…" he repeated softly.
He hadn't thought of it that way—not exactly. But hearing it spelled out like that made his chest feel a little heavier. Ayane's mother wasn't demanding. She wasn't forcing him.
She was asking… and apologizing at the same time.
Arashi stared at his phone for several seconds after finishing Ayane's mother's message.
His thumb hovered over the screen.
He wasn't sure what the right response was. His mind told him to keep it short and formal—but something else, something quieter inside him, pushed him to be honest.
Slowly, he began typing.
Please don't worry at all. I'll take Ayane to buy her uniform.
And no… it's not like Ayane is a burden on me. Not even a little.
I think of her as my little sister. And a sister is part of the family .Family is never a burden.
Honestly, I'm glad you trusted me with this.
Please take care.
He reread the message once.
Then twice.
"…What am I even writing?" he muttered.
Before he could overthink it any further, he pressed send.
The moment the message was sent, reality hit him.
Arashi froze.
"…Uff. What did I just do?"
He stared at the screen like it might suddenly change on its own.
"That was way too mature," he whispered. "Who even says things like that so naturally?"
His heart began beating faster—not from fear, but from shock.
"Did I really write that?" he thought, incredulous. "When did I start talking like some responsible adult?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling strangely embarrassed by his own words. It wasn't fake. It wasn't forced.
That was the worst part.
He had meant every single line.
"…This is bad," he sighed. "I'm seriously shocking myself now."
Trying to escape his own thoughts, he shoved the phone into his pocket.
"Forget it. Breakfast. Just focus on breakfast."
He turned toward the kitchen and began preparing food, keeping his hands busy so his mind wouldn't wander back to confessions, dreams, or messages sent too honestly.
The soft sounds of cooking slowly filled the quiet house—the clink of utensils, the faint sizzle from the pan.
For a brief moment, everything felt… normal.
Then—
Soft footsteps echoed behind him.
Arashi didn't notice at first.
Ayane had woken up and quietly made her way to the kitchen. She stopped just at the entrance, leaning slightly against the doorway.
And there she stood.
Watching him.
Arashi, focused on cooking, sleeves slightly rolled up, hair still messy from sleep—completely unaware that someone was looking at him so intently.
Ayane didn't say anything.
She just watched.
Then—Arashi felt it.
That strange sensation of being watched.
He turned his head slightly.
And their eyes met.
Just for one second.
One single, dangerous second.
Both of them froze.
And instantly—
Their faces heated up.
Color rushed to Ayane's cheeks. Arashi felt his ears burn.
Yesterday's confession flashed through both of their minds at the same time.
The words. The silence. The tension.
Neither of them could hold eye contact.
Almost immediately, Arashi turned his face away toward the stove.
Ayane looked in the opposite direction, gripping the edge of her sleeve.
"…Um," she said awkwardly, breaking the silence. "I—I'll go for now. Just… tell me when breakfast is ready."
Her voice was soft, rushed.
"Y-Yeah," Arashi replied quickly without turning around. "Sure. I'll let you know."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
Ayane turned and practically ran out of the kitchen, her footsteps hurried and light.
Arashi stood there, staring at the pan, his heart beating far louder than the cooking sounds.
"…This is seriously bad," he muttered.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to focus.
But no matter how hard he tried—
The warmth on his face refused to fade.
Arashi stood there for a while after Ayane had fled the kitchen, the sizzling sound of the pan doing little to calm his racing thoughts.
If things are already this awkward… then what's going to happen next? he thought.
He let out a quiet, frustrated sigh.
"Seriously… if it's this uncomfortable already, what will it be like later?" he muttered under his breath. "Uff… I really don't understand what's happening anymore."
And as if that wasn't enough—
"…I also have to go buy a uniform with her today," he thought.
The realization hit him again, heavier this time.
Spending time alone with Ayane. Walking through shops together. Standing side by side, deciding things, talking—
Or worse—
Not talking at all.
Arashi swallowed.
"How am I even supposed to act normally?" he wondered. "Pretend nothing happened? Or pretend it did?"
Neither option felt right.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
"No. Overthinking won't help," he told himself firmly. "Just act natural. Calm down. Treat her like always."
That's what he told himself.
But deep down, he knew—
Nothing was "like always" anymore.
And today was only going to test that even more.
After calming himself a little, Arashi finished setting the breakfast on the table. He wiped his hands on a towel and glanced toward the hallway.
"Ayane," he called out, trying to sound casual. "Breakfast is ready."
No response.
He waited a few seconds.
"…Ayane?" he called again, a bit louder this time.
For a moment, only silence answered him.
Just as he was about to call her name again, her voice finally came from down the hall.
"I—I'm coming. Just a second."
Arashi let out a small breath and sat down at the table.
Okay, Arashi, he told himself. Act normal. Nothing happened. Just wait—it'll all go back to normal.
That's what he kept repeating in his head, over and over, like a weak attempt at convincing himself.
A moment later, Ayane entered the room and quietly took a seat across from him.
Neither of them spoke.
The air between them felt heavy—filled with unspoken thoughts and memories from the night before.
Ayane stared down at her breakfast, her hands resting on the table. She didn't touch the food.
Arashi noticed.
He hesitated for a second before speaking.
"…You're not eating," he said gently. "Why?"
Ayane flinched slightly, then quickly picked up her spoon.
"I am," she replied softly. "I was just about to."
She took a small bite, avoiding his eyes.
"Oh," Arashi said. "Okay… that's fine."
And just like that, the conversation died again.
The silence grew thicker.
Arashi took a few bites himself, but the awkwardness made it hard to enjoy anything. Every movement felt too loud. Every glance felt dangerous.
Trying to ease the tension—even a little—he spoke again.
"Ayane… your mother sent me a message this morning," he said carefully.
Ayane looked up for a brief moment, listening.
"She said we need to buy your school uniform," Arashi continued. "So… be ready by one o'clock today, okay?"
Ayane nodded slightly.
"Today's weather is nice," he added, forcing himself to keep talking. "And the forecast says it might rain in the evening, so we'll go during the day."
"…Okay," Ayane replied quietly.
That was all.
No follow-up. No extra words.
They both returned to their food, eating in complete silence.
The clock ticked loudly on the wall.
When breakfast was finished, neither of them lingered.
Arashi stood up first.
"I'll… clean up," he said.
Ayane nodded, stood as well, and turned away.
Without another word, they both went back to their rooms—retreating into separate spaces, each lost in their own thoughts.
The house grew quiet again.
But the tension didn't fade.
It simply followed them.
The clock struck one.
Ayane stepped out of her room first, already dressed to go out. Arashi followed shortly after, grabbing his keys and slipping on his shoes. Neither of them spoke as they left the house.
The air outside was warm, but not heavy yet. The sky above them was filled with slow-moving clouds—dark enough to promise rain, but not close enough to deliver it just yet.
They walked side by side.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
No casual conversation. No unnecessary words.
Only the soft sound of their footsteps and the distant noise of the street.
Arashi glanced up at the sky again, his eyes following the thick clouds rolling lazily overhead.
"…We should hurry," he said finally, breaking the silence. "Looks like it's going to rain soon."
Ayane looked up as well and nodded.
"Yeah," she replied softly.
And just like that, the silence returned.
They continued walking until they reached a modest-looking shop with a clean glass front. Behind the window, neatly displayed, were school uniforms—pressed perfectly, hanging in rows.
This was it.
They stepped inside.
A small bell above the door rang softly.
The shop was quiet, organized, and brightly lit. Uniforms of different sizes were arranged along the walls. A staff member greeted them politely and asked for the school name.
Arashi gave it.
The staff member nodded, already familiar with it, and guided Ayane toward the fitting area. Measurements were taken carefully—shoulders, sleeves, length—while Arashi stood a short distance away, giving her space.
Ayane tried on different sizes.
Each time, she stepped out briefly to check the fit, adjusting the sleeves or straightening the fabric. Arashi avoided staring too much, only glancing when necessary and nodding when asked if it looked right.
Eventually, the staff member smiled.
"This one fits perfectly."
Ayane looked down at the uniform, then nodded.
Arashi paid at the counter, checked everything once, and thanked the staff.
The uniform was neatly packed and handed to them.
With that done, they walked out of the shop together.
The bell rang again as the door closed behind them.
Uniform bought.
Errand finished.
They stepped back onto the street—just as the wind picked up slightly, carrying the faint promise of rain.
And without saying much, they continued on their way.