Part 4 — Departure Orders
The house had become completely quiet.
From down the hallway, the soft sounds of Kaito and Ayame sleeping could occasionally be heard.
Peaceful.
Unaware.
For a while, Haruto remained seated silently on the sofa.
Akari quietly cleaned the last few dishes nearby.
Neither spoke immediately.
The warm light inside the house contrasted heavily against the darkness outside the windows.
Eventually—
Haruto quietly lowered his gaze.
"…Aka."
Akari looked toward him gently.
"…Hm?"
A small silence followed.
Then quietly—
"…I'm sorry."
Akari stayed still.
Haruto's fingers tightened slightly together.
"…I said horrible things earlier."
His voice sounded smaller now.
Not angry anymore.
Just exhausted.
"…I got frustrated…"
A pause.
"…And scared…"
He struggled slightly to continue after that.
"…So I just kept saying everything I was thinking."
Akari quietly walked over and sat beside him.
But she didn't interrupt.
Haruto kept staring downward.
"…I know you and Renjiro were trying to protect us…"
"…I know that…"
His voice trembled faintly again.
"…But when he disappeared…"
He swallowed slightly.
"…It felt like everyone was leaving again."
Silence filled the room softly.
Haruto's breathing slowed carefully.
Like he was trying very hard not to cry again.
"…I don't want that anymore…"
His eyes lowered further.
"…I don't want people disappearing…"
Akari quietly listened beside him.
Then gently placed a hand on his head.
Haruto's shoulders trembled faintly at the touch.
"…You were afraid."
Her voice stayed soft.
Not accusing.
Not upset.
Just understanding.
Haruto nodded slowly.
"…Really afraid…"
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…I don't want to die either."
That line made the silence feel heavier.
Because he said it so honestly.
Like a child finally admitting the fear he'd been trying to hide all day.
Akari's expression softened deeply.
"…You won't."
But even she couldn't say it with certainty anymore.
Haruto noticed that immediately.
Still—
he leaned slightly closer beside her anyway.
Seeking comfort without realizing it.
After a while, Haruto quietly asked:
"…Where's big brother Raizen?"
Akari's gaze shifted slightly.
"…He left too."
Haruto slowly looked up.
"…With Renjiro?"
Akari nodded once.
"…Yes."
Silence again.
Haruto lowered his gaze afterward.
Not surprised.
Just sad.
Because another familiar person was gone now too.
Outside—
faint movement crossed somewhere above distant rooftops again.
The village still hadn't fully relaxed.
Then suddenly—
knock knock.
Both Haruto and Akari looked toward the entrance immediately.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Akari slowly stood.
Then walked toward the door.
Haruto quietly followed behind her a few steps.
When Akari opened the door—
two shinobi stood outside.
Both wearing official combat gear.
Serious expressions.
The moment Haruto saw them—
his chest tightened immediately.
One of them spoke first.
"…Akari."
"…Orders have been issued."
The room became quiet.
The second shinobi continued calmly.
"…Additional units are being mobilized tonight."
Akari's expression hardened slightly.
"…I already told command before."
"…The children are alone right now."
The first shinobi lowered his gaze briefly.
"…We understand."
"…But the situation is escalating faster than expected."
Akari stayed silent.
The second shinobi spoke again.
"…If you remain here…"
He glanced briefly toward Haruto behind her.
"…You protect three children."
A pause.
"…If you join the frontline, you protect the entire land."
Those words settled heavily into the silence.
Haruto instinctively looked toward Akari.
Waiting.
Hoping.
For a moment—
Akari didn't answer.
Her eyes briefly shifted toward the hallway where Ayame and Kaito slept.
Then toward Haruto.
Still standing there quietly.
Trying not to look afraid.
Finally—
Akari closed her eyes briefly.
Then softly exhaled.
"…Understood."
Haruto's chest tightened painfully.
Even though part of him already expected the answer.
The shinobi nodded once.
"…Departure preparations begin immediately."
"…A transport unit will arrive shortly."
Akari nodded quietly.
Then slowly closed the door.
Silence filled the house again afterward.
Heavy silence.
Haruto stood there quietly for several seconds.
Then finally—
"…You're leaving too…"
Akari looked toward him gently.
"…Only for now."
Haruto lowered his gaze slightly.
His fingers tightened faintly again.
But this time—
he didn't argue.
Didn't cry.
Didn't shout.
Because now he understood something.
No matter how much he hated it—
the adults were leaving anyway.
Akari slowly crouched slightly in front of him.
"…Listen carefully while I'm gone, okay?"
Haruto stayed quiet.
"…Take care of Ayame and Kaito."
"…Stay inside if emergency alerts happen."
"…And don't panic."
That last line almost made Haruto emotional again.
But he held it in this time.
Barely.
After a long silence—
he slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
Akari gently patted his head once.
Then stood again to begin preparing.
Haruto quietly watched her for a while.
Watching the movements calmly somehow hurt more than shouting earlier.
Because now everything felt real.
Finally—
as Akari prepared near the doorway—
Haruto softly spoke behind her.
"…Aka."
She looked back.
Haruto hesitated slightly.
Then quietly said:
"…Good luck."
The words were small.
But genuine.
And somehow—
that made them hurt the most.