Part 4 – On the Way to the Academy
Breakfast came to an end.
Kaito leaned back with a satisfied sigh.
"...I'm full."
Ayame raised an eyebrow.
"You said that yesterday."
"I was."
"And then?"
"I got hungry again."
Haruto couldn't help but smile.
Ayame stood, gathering the empty bowls.
"Since you're so full..."
"You can wash the dishes."
Kaito's expression froze.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
"But I complimented your cooking."
"And now you can compliment my cleaning by helping."
Haruto let out another quiet laugh.
Kaito looked at him dramatically.
"You're enjoying this."
"...Maybe a little."
"Oh, so you've joined her side now?"
Haruto shook his head, smiling.
"...There aren't sides."
"There are."
Kaito pointed toward Ayame.
"She's the commander."
Then toward Haruto.
"And you've become her lieutenant."
Ayame sighed.
"The dishes, Kaito."
"...Yes, Commander."
Haruto giggled.
Kaito looked over his shoulder.
"...You laughed again."
Haruto quickly covered his mouth.
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I smiled."
"You laughed."
Ayame smiled to herself as she rinsed a bowl.
The sound of their voices filled the kitchen.
It had been a long time since the house had sounded like this.
A little while later...
The three stepped outside.
The crisp winter air greeted them.
A thin layer of frost covered the rooftops.
Haruto quietly locked the front door.
As they began walking through the village...
Something felt different.
The streets were busier than usual.
Shinobi hurried from one place to another.
Villagers stood in small groups, speaking in hushed voices.
A cart loaded with supplies rolled past.
Kaito glanced around.
"...Looks like everyone's getting ready."
Ayame nodded.
"...The whole village is preparing."
Haruto remained silent.
His fingers unconsciously brushed against the pocket where he had folded the letter.
Only the three of them knew...
The coming battle wasn't at the border.
It was coming here.
The academy gates soon came into view.
Unlike most mornings...
The courtyard was quieter.
Students still laughed and talked...
But every conversation eventually drifted back to the same topic.
"The war..."
"...Do you think it'll really happen?"
"I heard my brother got sent to the border."
"My dad left before sunrise..."
The three siblings exchanged a brief glance.
None of them joined the conversation.
They quietly walked into their classroom.
One by one...
Their classmates began arriving.
Some looked excited.
Others looked nervous.