After 6 Months
Evening – Park
The evening air was cool, drifting softly through the quiet park. Streetlamps had just flickered on, casting a faint yellow glow around the benches.
Shion collapsed onto one of them, breath heavy, shoulders trembling slightly.
Souta walked up and quietly sat beside him.
"…What's wrong, Shion?"
Shion kept his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Just walking this much… wore me out."
Souta gave his shoulder a gentle pat.
"Stay strong. The road's still long."
Shion finally looked at him. His eyes were calm, but for a fleeting second, gratitude shone inside them.
---
Shion's House – Dinner time
Souta escorted Shion home. The moment the door opened, Kasumi stood there, see them together. Souta scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"Alright then… I'll head off."
Kasumi quickly stopped him.
"Wait, Souta. It's dinner time—stay and eat."
Souta hesitated, then glanced at Shion. Shion gave him a faint nod.
"…okay. I'll stay."
At the dining table, the two boys sat side by side while Kasumi served steaming miso soup. Souta took his first bite and instantly praised her.
"Wow… this is really good."
Kasumi softly smile.
"Thanks."
Shion said nothing. He simply observed them both in table.
There was no jealousy—only a calm stillness, as if he were quietly absorbing everything.
---
Night – Bedroom
That night, Shion and Kasumi slept in the same bed. The room was dark, only a sliver of moonlight slipping through the curtains.
Suddenly, Shion shifted in his sleep. A sharp pain struck his chest. With a groan, he instinctively reached out and clutched Kasumi's hand.
Kasumi's eyes shot open. Concern flashed across her face. But she didn't speak. She only tightened her grip, silently telling him: "I'm here."
---
Next Day – Afternoon
Shion sat in the corner of his hallway sofa, a nail clipper in his weak hands. He tried pressing down, but his fingers trembled too much. The clipper wobbled, failing to cut.
From behind, Kasumi quietly approached. Her eyes softened with pain, and he thought " I told him not to, yet he's still struggling…"but she masked it with a gentle smile. She reached forward and took the clipper from his hands.
"I'll do it."
She sat beside him and carefully trimmed his fingernails... Then she lifted his foot into her lap and gently clipped his toenails as well.
Shion simply stared at her. His face was unreadable, but a faint blush spread across his cheeks.
So close… so gentle…
When she finished, Kasumi still sat in beside Shion. An awkward silence lingered between them.
Without a word, Shion slowly rested his head on her lap, his face turned toward her stomach as his eyes drifted shut.
Kasumi froze. Her reaction mix in that time pain and relax, but she didn't protest. She only ran her fingers softly through his hair.
---Chapter 33 end---