The morning air was crisp, the scent of burning firewood lingering as breakfast sizzled over the open fmes. Ren sat with his back against a fallen log, cigarette unlit between his fingers, staring at the smoke curling from the fire.

  Yumi leaned against a crate, legs crossed, picking at her food absentmindedly. Watari, stretching out with a zy yawn, rubbed the sleep from his eyes before blurting out—

  “Hey, do you guys mind if I go home first? I just wanna check on everyone.”

  Silence. Then, Ren exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.

  “A quick trip won’t hurt.” He took a slow drag from his unlit cigarette, gncing toward the road ahead. “We’ve got time before you start pying spy.”

  Yumi, half-focused on her meal, only muttered a nonchant, “Hmph. As long as you don’t take all day.”

  And with that, the three set out toward the orphanage.

  The moment they stepped through the orphanage gates, a wave of small figures crashed into Watari.

  “Big Bro Watari!!!”

  Kids tackled him, some clinging to his arms, others grabbing at his legs. One particurly energetic boy cmbered onto his back. Another girl tugged at his shirt.

  “Idiot-ari’s back!” A little girl with puffy cheeks giggled, smacking his shoulder.

  “Oi, Sumi! I’m not an idiot!” Watari shot back, lifting the girl in one arm while ruffling another kid’s hair.

  “You totally are,” another kid chimed in.

  Ren stood a few steps away, watching the chaotic reunion with mild amusement.

  “Damn kid’s got his own fan club.”

  Yumi, however, was not as pleased.

  “Hey, get off me!” she snapped as a few kids tugged at her sleeve, demanding attention.

  “She’s pretty!” one of them decred. “Yeah! Watari, is she your girlfriend?!”

  Yumi’s face turned red instantly. “E-eh?! As if I’d date this fool!”

  Watari, instead of denying it, put on his most smug grin.

  “Well, Mi-chan, looks like the kids ship us.”

  SMACK!

  Yumi’s fist collided with the back of his head, sending him sprawling.

  “DON’T CALL ME THAT!”

  The kids, instead of being scared, burst into ughter.

  As Watari untangled himself from the children, a familiar caretaker stepped outside.

  “You’ve changed, Watari,” she said, watching him with a small smile.

  “Huh?”

  “I can see it in your eyes,” she continued. “There’s something different about you now.”

  Watari chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

  “Ah, well, y’know… new experiences and all that.”

  “Speaking of caretakers,” he added, “Where’s Mary?”

  The woman’s expression softened. “She’s been sick tely. Anne’s been taking care of her. Since we’re down two, we brought in another caretaker for extra hands.”

  Watari froze for a moment. Mary, sick in bed. Weak. Unmoving. It reminded him too much of before. Of them. His fingers curled into fists.

  “She’s gonna be okay, right?” he asked, forcing a smile.

  “We surely hope so. You can check on her if you’d like,” the caretaker offered.

  With a nod, Watari made his way inside.