As they finished eating, the family relaxed together, sitting back in their wooden chairs. The soft breeze drifted in through the open window, carrying the smell of grass and warm soil.
Arata leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment, smiling to himself.
But before long, he was outside again, running and laughing with his friends under the orange evening sky.
{Night Time}
His little sister tugged at his shirt.
Sister: Brother, it's late. We gotta sleep.
Arata: Oh, alright. Let's go.
They walked back home together.
The floorboards creaked softly under their feet as they stepped into the quiet house.
The lantern light flickered like a small, breathing flame.
Arata climbed into bed beside his sister, pulling the blanket up to his chest.
Arata (thinking): Tomorrow… we'll go out somewhere. Maybe the river… or the flower fields… It'll be fun.
He smiled to himself, eyelids growing heavy.
Then.
Thud.
His heart skipped hard, like it was punched from inside.
Arata: Huh…?
He waited.
Silence.
He tried to relax, but something in the air felt wrong.
Like the night itself was holding its breath.
Arata (whispering to himself): Why… why can't I sleep?
He stared into the darkness…
and the darkness stared back.