The morning light spilled softly through the curtains, painting the room in pale gold. The world outside was quiet — the kind of calm that only comes before the city wakes up.
Honoka was still curled beside Yukino on the bed, Panda-san tucked under her arm, her cheek resting against the pillow. Yukino brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, smiling faintly. The peace on her sister's face was always the calmest part of her mornings.
But as soon as Yukino spoke, that peace began to tremble.
"Honoka," she said gently, "wake up, sweetheart. You'll be late for school."
Honoka stirred, her tiny hand tightening around Panda-san.
"Mmm… Onee-chan," she murmured sleepily, eyes still half shut. "Will we see Ken-ni-san today?"
Yukino paused. For a moment, she wished she didn't have to answer.
Her chest tightened with the memory of last night — that soft message on her phone.
She sat up slowly, keeping her voice steady.
"Not today, Honoka," she said softly. "Ken-san… will come back on Thursday."
Honoka blinked her sleepy eyes open, confused. "Thursday?"
Yukino nodded gently. "He told me last night. He has to go somewhere for a few days, but he'll be back soon. He promised."
The light that usually filled Honoka's face dimmed instantly.
Her small fingers loosened their grip on Panda-san.
"But… but that's four days," she said in a trembling voice, her lips quivering.
"Why can't he come tomorrow? Did we do something wrong?"
Yukino's heart clenched. She shook her head quickly, reaching out to cup her little sister's cheek.
"No, sweetheart. You didn't do anything wrong. He just… has something important to do. But he'll come back. He always does, right?"
Honoka's eyes welled with tears, the soft shine of them catching the morning light. "But… what if he gets hurt again?"
Yukino froze. That image of Ken — bandaged, tired, but smiling — flashed sharply through her mind. She swallowed hard and forced a small, gentle smile.
"He won't," she whispered. "Ken-san is strong. You saw how brave he was, didn't you?"
Honoka sniffled, rubbing her eyes. "Then… can I call him?"
Yukino brushed her thumb over her cheek, wiping away the tiny tear. "You can. But not right now, okay? Maybe later after school. You can tell him that you and Panda-san miss him."
That earned the faintest smile from Honoka, though it trembled on her lips. She nodded, hugging her plushy close again. "Okay…"
Yukino helped her sit up, fixing her messy hair gently. "That's my brave girl," she said quietly.
But when Honoka got up from the bed and walked toward her school uniform, Yukino caught the look in her eyes — distant, heavy, a little lost.
And even as Honoka tried to hum softly under her breath, Yukino could tell her heart wasn't in it.
Monday evening
The apartment was quiet. Too quiet.
Honoka sat at the table, her crayons scattered across the notebook. Usually, she would hum or talk about her day — but today, she just stared at the paper, drawing little circles in silence.
Yukino, drying dishes nearby, glanced at her. "You're awfully quiet today, Honoka," she said gently.
No answer.
Yukino set down the towel, walked over, and knelt beside her.
"Hey," she whispered. "What are you drawing?"
Honoka looked up — her big, glistening eyes making Yukino's heart ache. On the page was a small sketch of three people: a tall man, a woman with long hair, and a little girl holding a panda.
"That's… us," Yukino said softly.
Honoka nodded faintly. "But Ken-ni-san is far away now," she murmured. "So I'm drawing him close again."
Yukino blinked fast, trying to stop the sudden warmth behind her eyes. "That's beautiful, Honoka," she whispered, brushing her sister's hair again.
Honoka looked up at her, voice trembling. "Will he forget us?"
The question cut deep.
Yukino shook her head immediately. "Never. Not Ken-san. He's not the kind of person who forgets."
Honoka stared at her for a long moment, then finally whispered, "Then I'll wait."
That small sentence — so simple, so pure — made Yukino's chest tighten painfully.
She smiled, forcing her voice to stay steady. "We'll both wait, okay?"
Honoka nodded again, clutching Panda-san tightly.
And later, when Honoka finally fell asleep beside her, still hugging that plushy like it was a lifeline, Yukino lay awake — staring at the ceiling, feeling the silence wrap around her like a question she couldn't answer.
(He said Thursday… he'll come back Thursday.)
But even as she closed her eyes, that same quiet fear whispered in her heart —
What if he doesn't?
She turned on her side, curling up beside Honoka, and whispered so softly that even the night couldn't fully hear it.
"Ken-san… please, keep your promise."