Part 7 — Haruto Breaks
Then why—
why did people like Renjiro have to leave instead?
Before he realized it—
Haruto suddenly stood up.
The chair legs scraped sharply against the floor.
The entire classroom looked toward him immediately.
Even Daigo paused.
Haruto's breathing shook slightly.
"…Then why didn't you go?"
Silence.
The classroom froze.
Daigo opened his mouth slightly—
but Haruto didn't let him speak.
"…You're saying we shouldn't fear it…"
His voice cracked, but he kept going.
"…But you're afraid too, aren't you?"
A sharp silence hit the room.
Some students looked between Haruto and Daigo, unsure whether to intervene.
But no one did.
Haruto stepped forward slightly, tears forming but not falling yet.
"…Everyone says 'responsibility', 'orders', 'cycle', 'era'…"
His voice rose just a little.
"…But it always ends with someone leaving!"
He pointed slightly toward the door, voice shaking more now.
"…So why him?"
A pause.
Then, louder—
"…Why did Renjiro have to go?!"
The tears finally slipped down, but he didn't stop.
"…He's the only one I have left who can take care of us…"
"…Me… Ayame… Kaito…"
His voice broke at the end.
The classroom stayed completely silent.
No one dared interrupt.
Not even Daigo.
Haruto wiped his face quickly, but his hands were shaking.
"…Why is it always like this…"
For a moment—
the room felt like it stopped breathing with him.
Then suddenly—
Hina stood up.
Her chair scraped loudly.
"…You're not the only one."
Her voice was shaky, but firm.
She looked down, fists clenched.
"…My father is gone too."
"…Not home. Not safe. He's out there."
Haruto looked at her, still shaking.
Then Riku stood up too.
"…My mother is the only family I have."
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried weight.
"…And she's also deployed."
Silence deepened again.
Daichi opened his mouth slightly, but no words came.
Then Misaki spoke quietly from her seat, voice trembling.
"…My father isn't even in war…"
She hesitated.
"…He's in the hospital…"
A pause.
"…But I still might lose him too."
That line hit differently.
Because it wasn't battlefield fear.
It was helpless fear.
One by one, the room stopped being just Haruto's pain.
But it didn't make him feel better.
It made him feel smaller.
Like everyone was losing something—
but he still couldn't let go of what he lost.
"…That doesn't change anything…"
Haruto whispered.
His voice broke again.
"…Renjiro still left."
A heavy silence followed.
Then Daigo finally stepped forward.
"…Haruto."
But Haruto cut him off immediately.
"…Don't."
His voice was low now.
Not loud anymore.
Just broken.
"…Don't say 'understand responsibility'…"
He wiped his face again.
Hands shaking.
"…Don't say 'village needs them'…"
He looked up slightly, eyes red.
"…I understand that already."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…But I don't understand why it always takes my family."
The classroom went completely still.
Even Daigo didn't speak.
Near the back—
Arashi remained silent.
Expression unchanged.
But his eyes lowered slightly.
Not disagreeing.
Not agreeing.
Just watching.
Ayame looked down quietly.
Kaito clenched his hand slightly.
The room wasn't a classroom anymore.
It was just children sitting inside the weight of things they could not change.
Haruto's voice shook again—but this time it didn't rise.
It broke.
"…Four years ago…"
He swallowed hard.
The classroom stayed completely silent.
Even breathing felt louder now.
Haruto's hands trembled at his sides.
"…I lost my parents."
A pause.
"…My younger brother."
His eyes lowered.
"…My cousin."
"…My uncle."
Another breath.
"…And someone I used to look up to… like a big brother."
Silence pressed heavier into the room with each word.
Haruto's voice turned smaller.
"…All of them."
His fingers curled slightly.
Then loosened.
Like strength was leaving him in waves.
"…And now…"
He stopped.
A shaky inhale.
Then exhale.
He suddenly stepped back slightly and sat down on his seat again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like his body couldn't hold the weight anymore.
Haruto closed his eyes for a moment.
"…There's no use…"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
He placed a hand over his chest.
And began breathing slowly.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Controlled.
Forced steady.
Like he knew—
if he pushed any further, he would collapse right there.
The room didn't move.
No one spoke.
Not Daigo.
Not the students.
Even the smallest sound felt dangerous now.
Haruto kept breathing slowly.
Head lowered.
Trying to stay conscious.
Trying not to break completely.
And the classroom—
just stayed still around him.