Part 1 — Fear Becomes Anger
The afternoon sky had begun turning orange by the time the triplets reached home.
Even during daylight, the village still felt tense.
Shinobi movement occasionally crossed distant rooftops.
People spoke quieter outside.
Everything felt unsettled.
The three stepped into the house silently.
"…We're back."
Akari was already inside waiting.
The moment she saw them, her expression softened slightly.
"…Welcome back."
Kaito quietly set his bag down.
Ayame removed her shoes slowly.
But Haruto remained standing near the entrance.
Still gripping his bag tightly.
Akari noticed immediately.
"…Haruto?"
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…You lied."
The room instantly became still.
Kaito looked up quickly.
Ayame's eyes shifted carefully toward Haruto.
Akari blinked once.
"…What?"
Haruto slowly raised his head.
His eyes still looked slightly red from earlier.
"…This morning."
His voice trembled slightly.
"…You said Renjiro was outside."
A pause.
"…But he already left."
Akari's expression tightened faintly.
"…Haruto—"
"…Why didn't you tell me?"
The words came out sharper this time.
"…Everyone at the academy already knew something was happening."
"…Everyone."
His breathing slowly became uneven again.
"…And I didn't even know he was gone."
Akari stepped forward carefully.
"…You were already scared."
Haruto immediately responded.
"…Because nobody tells me anything!"
Kaito flinched slightly at the sudden volume.
Ayame quietly stepped closer.
"…Haruto…"
But he kept going.
"…You and Renjiro always decide everything yourselves."
His hands trembled tightly against his sleeves.
"…You never even ask us anything."
Akari tried keeping her voice calm.
"…Because you're still children."
That line immediately made Haruto's expression change.
Not sadness.
Something harsher.
"…So what?"
A pause.
"…That means you can lie?"
Akari stayed silent for a moment.
"…We were trying to protect you."
Haruto looked down briefly.
Then suddenly looked back up again.
And this time—
the fear inside him twisted into anger.
"…Protect?"
His voice cracked.
"…You can't even protect yourselves."
The room froze instantly.
Kaito's eyes widened slightly.
Ayame looked toward Haruto sharply.
But Haruto didn't stop.
"…Renjiro already left."
"…You don't even know what's happening yourself."
His breathing became rougher.
"…You both just act like everything's fine all the time."
Akari's expression tightened slightly now.
"…Haruto."
But he continued over her.
"…You're weak."
Silence slammed into the room.
Even Haruto's own breathing sounded loud now.
"…Both of you."
His voice shook harder now from emotion.
"…You and Renjiro can't protect anyone."
Kaito immediately stepped forward slightly.
"…Haruto, stop—"
"…Then why does everyone keep disappearing?!"
The words burst out of him.
Raw.
Broken.
"…Four years ago everyone said things would be okay too!"
His voice cracked harder.
"…And they still died!"
Akari went completely silent.
Haruto's hands trembled uncontrollably now.
"…So don't say you're protecting us…"
Tears had started slipping down again.
But he barely noticed anymore.
"…Because you can't."
The words landed brutally in the quiet room.
Ayame stepped toward him quickly.
"…Haruto!"
But he pulled away immediately.
Emotionally overwhelmed.
Unable to stop anymore.
"…You both just decide things yourselves because you're scared too!"
His breathing had become unstable now.
"…And then you pretend it's for us!"
Kaito looked completely panicked now.
Like he didn't know who to protect first.
Akari remained silent.
Not because she had no response—
but because every word Haruto was saying came from fear far deeper than anger.
And somewhere beneath all of it—
she understood that.
But Haruto couldn't stop anymore.
"…I hate this…"
His voice finally weakened.
"…I hate everyone leaving…"
The room stayed completely silent.
Then suddenly—
he turned away.
"…Forget it."
His voice sounded exhausted now.
Empty.
Before anyone could stop him, he walked quickly down the hallway.
SLIDE.
His bedroom door shut firmly.
And click, he locked himself,
Silence filled the house afterward.