The Akimatsu residence was quiet in the morning.
The traditional wooden house sat peacefully underneath the soft morning light. Their shoji screens allowed the sunlight to filter into the rooms, casting the gentlest shadows across the tatami floors.
The scent of breakfast still lingered in the air, and the sound of footsteps moved through the wooden halls.
It almost looked like a normal morning.
Almost.
Yozora sat at a table, finishing his breakfast.
His expression was as calm as always.
Nothing about the morning seemed unusual.
Not even when those loud footsteps suddenly echoed through his home.
"Jin!"
Nene's voice rang out.
Yozora continued drinking his tea.
"Wait, Mama! It was a joke!"
"Jin Akimatsu!"
The sound of running footsteps moved closer.
Yozora looked toward the hallway.
His younger brother appeared for a moment, smiling brightly as he ran.
Behind him was Nene.
She looked far less cheerful.
"Come back here!" Even when yelling her voice still had a soft, smothering tone to it. One wouldn't know if it counted as yelling.
Yozora watched silently.
Jin was always energetic, and sometimes too energetic.
And apparently, today he had decided to tell everyone he was bringing a bomb to school.
Whether it was a joke or not...
Yozora didn't know.
But considering who their father was, he couldn't completely dismiss the possibility.
He stood up.
At the entrance of the house, he changed from his indoor slippers into his school shoes.
The genkan remained as neat as always.
Everything was in its proper place.
Even while chaos happened behind him.
"Goodbye, Okaa-san."
Nene stopped.
She looked at him.
"Zozo?"
Yozora looked back.
"Yes?"
For a moment, she seemed like she wanted to say something.
But before she could, Jin ran past again.
"Mama can't catch me!"
Nene immediately chased after him.
"Jin!"
Yozora simply opened the door.
"I am going to school."
And he left.
...
The walk to school was quiet.
Yozora preferred it that way.
The sounds of the city slowly surrounded him as he walked down the street but his thoughts still remained elsewhere.
His phone vibrated.
He looked down.
A message. Riku.
Are you feeling better today?
Yozora stared at the screen.
The boy who had somehow decided that bothering him was a normal thing to do.
The boy who came over without permission when he was sick.
The boy who continued trying to get close to him.
Normally, Yozora would ignore him.
There was no reason to answer.
Yet...
His finger remained above the screen.
Why?
Why was he thinking about replying?
The question bothered him.
He lowered his phone slightly.
Since when did he care enough to think about the possibility of not ignoring it?
Before he could think further, he felt it.
A presence.
Someone was following him.
Yozora continued walking.
He didn't turn around.
He already knew.
Someone was there.
Watching him.
His thoughts were interrupted.
"Yozora-nii"
Yozora looked ahead.
Jin stood there.
He had a small pout on his face.
"Mama took my bomb."
Yozora stared at him.
A silence passed.
Then he looked away.
The morning continued.