Part 9 — A Lesson in Cleanliness
The warm colors of sunset slowly filled the hall as the three siblings sat on the sofa.
For once, nobody was arguing.
Nobody was fighting.
The Great Hall War had officially ended.
Kaito stretched his arms above his head.
Ayame leaned back against the sofa while Haruto sat nearby.
The house felt calm.
Peaceful.
Haruto glanced toward Ayame.
"How's your headache now?"
Ayame looked at him.
"I'm fine."
Kaito immediately spoke up.
"Really?"
Ayame pointed at him without hesitation.
"Don't bring it back."
Kaito blinked.
"How would I do that?"
"You'll find a way."
Haruto looked away, trying not to laugh.
Kaito looked betrayed.
"I haven't even done anything."
"Yet."
Kaito clicked his tongue.
"Nobody appreciates me."
Ayame ignored him.
Instead, she looked between both brothers.
"What did you two do while I was sleeping?"
Haruto thought for a moment.
"We finished eating."
Kaito continued.
"Packed the food."
"Did homework."
"Cleaned up."
"Washed the dishes."
"And then played."
Ayame nodded absentmindedly.
"Good."
A few seconds passed.
Then she suddenly paused.
"...Washed the dishes?"
Haruto immediately noticed the look on her face.
"Kinda."
Ayame ignored that part.
Instead, she turned toward Haruto.
"Haruto."
"What?"
"You took a bath, right?"
"I did."
Ayame nodded once.
Then slowly turned her head toward Kaito.
The moment she did, Kaito smiled.
A very suspicious smile.
Ayame stared.
Kaito kept smiling.
Ayame continued staring.
Slowly...
Very slowly...
The smile disappeared.
"...Kaito."
"Yes?"
"You didn't take a bath."
It wasn't a question.
Kaito immediately pointed at Haruto.
"He distracted me."
Haruto looked at him.
"What?"
"You distracted me."
"How?"
"I don't know yet, but you did."
Ayame closed her eyes.
For a brief moment, she looked like she was gathering patience.
Then she reached forward.
Kaito immediately sensed danger.
"...Ayame?"
Too late.
"OW!"
Ayame grabbed his ear.
"AYAME!"
"How many times have I told you?"
"Owwww!"
"After every training session."
"I forgot!"
"That's not an excuse."
She twisted his ear slightly.
Kaito immediately grabbed her wrist.
"Mercy!"
"No."
"Please!"
"No."
"Haruto help!"
Haruto folded his arms.
"No."
"TRAITOR!"
"Take a bath."
"Owwww!"
Ayame sighed.
"How many times?"
Kaito lowered his head dramatically.
"...A lot."
"A lot."
"Maybe."
"A lot."
"Okay, a lot."
Ayame finally let go.
The moment she released him, Kaito jumped backward and rubbed his ear.
"Violence."
"You deserve it."
"Abuse."
"You deserve it."
"Oppression."
"You deserve it."
Kaito pointed at both of them.
"One day I'm moving out."
Haruto nodded.
"Good luck surviving."
Ayame nodded too.
"Remember to take a bath."
Kaito looked horrified.
"You two planned that."
Neither responded.
Which was answer enough.
Kaito clicked his tongue before standing up.
"Fine."
He started walking toward the hallway.
Then stopped.
Then turned back.
"...If I take a bath, can I have food afterward?"
Haruto stared.
Ayame stared.
Kaito looked between them.
"...What?"
Haruto shook his head.
"You're unbelievable."
"I'm hungry."
"You are always hungry."
"Exactly."
Still grumbling, Kaito finally disappeared down the hallway toward the bathroom.
A moment later, the sound of a door closing echoed through the house.
The hall became quiet again.
For a few seconds, neither Haruto nor Ayame said anything.
Then Ayame let out a small sigh.
Haruto glanced at her.
"What?"
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"...Nothing."
For the first time that day, the house felt a little like home again.
Kaito disappeared down the hallway still complaining under his breath.
A moment later, the bathroom door closed.
Silence returned.
For the first time in a while, the house felt calm.
Just Haruto and Ayame on the sofa.
The sunset light stretched across the room, warm and soft.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Ayame leaned back slightly.
Haruto rested his arms behind his head.
A comfortable pause.
Then Ayame spoke, casually.
"You're slower than usual today."
Haruto blinked.
"Huh?"
"In everything."
"I'm not slow."
"You are."
Haruto frowned.
"I did everything faster than Kaito."
"That's not a high standard."
Haruto clicked his tongue.
"...Rude."
Ayame smirked a little.
A few seconds passed.
She continued, still light, still casual.
"You should've seen your face when he said he was starving again."
"I wasn't reacting."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You were judging him."
"I always judge him."
"True."
Haruto leaned back again.
For a moment, the conversation stayed easy.
No serious topics.
No heavy silence.
Just small, meaningless sibling talk.
Ayame kept it that way on purpose.
After a while, she changed tone slightly, still light though.
"You two were loud."
"That was his fault."
"It was both of yours."
Haruto shrugged.
"Mostly his."
Ayame shook her head slightly.
But she was smiling.
That was important.
A pause.
Then—
"Also."
Haruto looked over.
"What?"
Ayame pointed vaguely toward the hallway.
"If he comes out complaining about anything being cold, ignore him."
Haruto stared.
"...That's guaranteed to happen."
"I know."
Another moment of silence.
Then—
"WHY IS THE WATER COLD?!"
Kaito's voice exploded from the bathroom.
Both of them paused.
Haruto sighed.
"Told you."
Ayame leaned back, still calm.
"Ignore him."
"I always do."
A second shout followed.
"I'M NOT JOKING!"
Haruto closed his eyes.
"...He's always like this."
Ayame nodded lightly.
"Yeah."
No sadness.
No deeper thoughts.
Just normal conversation.
Just keeping the house light.
And for now, it worked.