The final school bell rang through the building.
Students poured out of classrooms, voices rising again as the pressure of the day finally broke.
Ren and Kai walked out together, like always.
But today felt heavier.
The sky outside was turning orange, the sun slowly dropping behind the city buildings.
As they walked home, Kai broke the silence.
"I don't understand you sometimes."
Ren looked at him slightly. "What do you mean?"
Kai kicked a small stone on the road.
"Why don't you fight back? Those guys back there… you just take it."
Ren didn't answer immediately.
His eyes lowered a little.
Then quietly he said:
"…Because I'm scared."
Kai frowned. "Scared of them?"
Ren shook his head.
"No… not them."
Kai slowed down. "Then what?"
Ren hesitated for a moment.
"…Memories."
That word made Kai stop completely.
He turned to him. "Memories?"
Ren kept walking, avoiding his eyes.
"…Memories that might come back and hunt me."
Silence.
The wind passed between them.
Kai's expression softened slightly.
"Since when?"
Ren finally looked at him.
"…You never asked me before."
Kai looked surprised. "Yeah, but—"
Ren cut him off gently.
"…Maybe someday. But I'm not ready now."
Kai didn't push further.
But for the first time, he looked at Ren not like a strong brother…
but like someone carrying something heavy alone.
"…Alright," Kai said quietly. "But don't shut me out forever."
Ren didn't respond.
But he didn't disagree either.
They continued walking home in silence after that.
The streets of Tokyo were calmer now, lights starting to turn on.
The world looked normal again.
But nothing about them felt normal anymore.
At Home
Their house came into view.
Same place. Same hallway. Same locked door at the end.
Their father's office still untouched.
Waiting.
Inside the house, a woman was already home.
Their mother: Haruka Aoyama
She stood in the kitchen, gently preparing dinner, her movements calm but tired in a way that never fully left her.
When the door opened, she turned slightly.
"Welcome back."
Her voice was soft… but carried weight.
She looked at both of them carefully.
Kai smiled a little. "We're home."
Ren gave a small nod. "We're back."
Haruka studied them for a second longer than usual.
"…You both look tired."
Kai shrugged. "School stuff."
She didn't fully believe it.
But she didn't push.
Instead, she simply said:
"Wash up. Dinner will be ready soon."
As they moved deeper into the , Ren's eyes briefly drifted toward the hallway.
Toward the locked door.
The father's office.
To be continued...