Part 10 – Brothers Again
Kaito stayed silent for a moment.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"…There's something else."
Haruto looked up slightly.
Kaito scratched the back of his head, avoiding eye contact.
"…I need to say it properly."
A pause.
"…I was jealous."
Ayame's eyes widened a little.
Haruto froze.
Kaito continued, quieter now.
"…When we were kids…"
"…you started spending time with Ayame."
He glanced at her briefly.
"…And I didn't understand it."
His hands tightened slightly on his knees.
"…I thought…"
"…she was choosing you over me."
Silence.
"…And instead of saying anything…"
"…I just acted annoyed."
He let out a small, bitter laugh.
"…I kept acting like I didn't care."
Then his voice softened.
"…But I did care."
He finally looked at Haruto.
"…A lot more than I showed."
A long silence followed.
Ayame lowered her gaze slightly.
Kaito continued, more honestly now.
"…And you know what's funny?"
He shook his head.
"…The whole time you thought I hated you…"
"…I thought you were replacing me."
He gave a weak smile.
"…We were both wrong."
Silence again.
Then Kaito looked directly at Haruto.
This time, his voice was steady.
"…I'm sorry."
Not dramatic.
Not emotional.
Just real.
A beat.
Then he added quietly:
"…For being jealous."
"…For pushing you away."
"…And for never asking what was wrong."
He leaned back slightly, staring at the ceiling.
"…If I had just talked to you back then…"
He let the sentence die.
Ayame didn't interrupt.
Neither did Haruto.
Because all three of them understood—
It wasn't just misunderstanding.
It was distance they built without realizing it.
And now…
They were finally breaking it down.
Silence returned again.
But it wasn't heavy anymore.
It was… tired.
Real.
Ayame slowly exhaled.
"…So both of you…"
She looked between them.
"…were just scared."
Kaito gave a small nod.
Haruto didn't speak, but he nodded too.
Ayame closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she opened them again.
"…You're both idiots."
Kaito let out a weak laugh.
Haruto blinked.
"…Huh?"
Ayame shook her head slightly.
"…All this time…"
"…you were suffering alone because you thought the other would hate you."
She looked at Haruto.
"…And you."
Then Kaito.
"…You were jealous instead of asking."
Kaito scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"…Yeah…"
Ayame sighed.
But there was a small smile now.
"…Honestly…"
"…I should've noticed earlier too."
Both boys looked at her.
Ayame continued calmly.
"…You two are my brothers."
"…I should've seen what was going on between you both."
A pause.
Then she stood up slightly and stepped closer.
She gently placed a hand on Haruto's shoulder…
Then one on Kaito's.
"…But it doesn't matter anymore."
Kaito looked up.
Haruto slowly did too.
Ayame's voice softened.
"…From now on…"
"…no more guessing."
Silence.
Then Kaito spoke quietly.
"…Yeah."
Haruto nodded.
"…No more hiding."
Ayame nodded once.
"…And no more carrying things alone."
A beat.
Then Kaito added softly:
"…Together?"
Haruto looked at him.
A long pause.
Then—
"…Together."
Ayame smiled faintly.
"…Good."
She gently pulled them both into a small, simple lean-in hug.
Not dramatic.
Just real.
A family that finally stopped breaking apart.