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Hours, days, weeks…? At this point Haruka's lost count of how long he's been cooped up within these four walls. Since his mother had asked him to stay right where he was in his room and not cause any trouble because she'd be "right back."
The memory of her request plays like a record in Haruka's head, like a mantra to keep him going. It was the first time she had spoken to him in ages, her figure stood rigid by the wall next to Haruka's childhood drawings of her, tired eyes looking anywhere but his face.
But he didn't care. Just the fact that she had taken the time to talk to Haruka made it all okay. And because of that, he listened to every word. How nowadays everything is too much and she needs a break from all of this. From him.
Haruka supposed she wasn't exactly a fan of the little "gifts" he's been giving her.
She doesn't bring that up though, instead letting Haruka know she'll be going out for a bit, shortly after followed by the request for a favour from him. And when she asked, her voice cracked and raised slightly almost as if she was begging. A plea for Haruka to just once in his life to behave. To be a good boy.
"Don't leave this room until I come back, okay?" She said and being the good boy he is, Haruka obeyed.
This leaves him here, barely half a minute awake from his last rest, already feeling like he's dying.
(Or, that's how much time he's assumed has passed at least. With how tired Haruka is it's hard to tell when now everything feels like a jumble of numbers mixed and mashed together rather than anything coherent.)
His limbs lay stiff on his bed. The blue-themed duvet that once reminded him of the flowing and unnerving ocean—or he at least thinks it did—now prefers to reclaim itself as a resting place for stiff unmoving bones and creaking mattress coils.
And if he thought it couldn't get any worse, the sudden aching and rumbling from Haruka's stomach should speak for itself.
Even if his head currently felt like a mess at least one thing he can be certain of is his appetite, or in this case lack thereof.
Still, for it to reach this extent? It makes Haruka wonder just how hungry he's been. But no point in overthinking, it'd probably do him some good to get something to eat.
With this in mind, Haruka prepares himself to get up. Mentally first of course, because wanting to get out of bed is much different than actually doing it. He gives himself a little half-assed boost of morale, then flips over onto his side.
Though, there's one teeny tiny issue.
And it's that once he's facing the other side of the room, the first thing Haruka sees isn't his bedroom window carrying the night sky or poorly painted wallpaper either but rather the eyes of a stranger. Very judging ones at that.
"You sure took a while getting up, didn't you?" the stranger tuts sternly. "I'm sure you've had plenty of time to reflect by now, so are you ready to go?" An officer-like hat sat on their beige head, tiny arms crossed with all the attitude of an overworked teacher, when in reality this kid barely looked old enough to pass as a middle schooler.
Middle schooler or not, it does nothing to stop Haruka from nearly having a heart attack right then and there.
"R-ready to go…? Reflect?" He parrots, and when he speaks his lips are dry, throat itchy like scratched paper. Nervously, he sits himself up on the edge of the bed, hands curled into his palm. "I don't—I don't think I understand what you mean…?"
Similar to most other people in his life, Haruka expects them to be annoyed by his lack of understanding. He's learnt that nobody likes repeating themselves and as a result already braces himself for a scolding, eyes squinted shut. Waiting, waiting, waiting—but nothing seems to happen so warily opens them right up. It's only then he realises there are no balled fists or furrowed brows, only equal confusion held on the strangers' side.
"So you don't know that…" It's painfully clear there was more to be said but they trail off.
Before Haruka even has the chance to ask why, they've already turned away to a (very much one-sided) conversation with a…rabbit? One Haruka hadn't even noticed was here no-less, but now that he has, the abnormal horns and identical hat on its head was a hard image to get out of his mind.
The furry little creature does nothing but twitch its nose and move its head but somehow the situation becomes more heated, the child uttering groans of "I don't know!" and "I can't just say it like that!"
Watching this all unfold Haruka can't help but think it's a little strange. This scary figure who had broken into his home, now conversing with a live animal in the way he only did with his stuffies. A lot more realistic too.
Then again, it could just be a thing with age. Haruka's not familiar with many people his age, let alone younger so maybe this was just the norm and he's the odd one?
Considering the path his life has followed so far, the scenario isn't unlikely.
Either way, what ends the affair isn't them realising how odd they look talking to a rabbit, but the rumbling of Haruka's stomach.
"You're hungry?"
Haruka nods meekly.
"With where we're going you won't have to worry about that." From their pocket, they reach in and throw him a small snack bar. "But for now, take this."
He catches it in cupped hands, scarfing it down like a hungry wolf, the single bar satiating his hunger in a way almost akin to magic. And as he eats for what feels like the first time in forever, their offer grows to sound more appealing. So much that Haruka wishes he could just snatch it in his hands and run, even if he knows he can't. Not with the promise he's expected to keep.
With a saddened tone, Haruka has no choice but to deny. "I can't."
"How so?"
"I'm waiting for someone," he answers promptly. "My mother."
(Along with the fact this is a stranger, of course. But he's sure they're already well aware of that.)
"Your...mother…?" There are gaps when they say it, threading around the last word as if it were a foreign term.
It only helps in making Haruka more nervous, brittle nails digging into his palm.
"Yeah," he says. "She's asked me to wait for her so I have to stay here."
For a moment, the kid looks kinda puzzled, struggling to find the right words before eventually saying, "What if—What if I said the person who sent me here was her?"
The clarity in their voice is weak, but that doesn't stop swirls and knots from looping in Haruka's stomach at the mere idea she could be thinking of him.
He breathes in a gasp. "She did?"
"Yes," they say. "Right before she got captured by those pirate crooks that is."
Haruka pauses.
Pirates? Crooks?!
They couldn't be serious…
Not that Haruka makes it his first job to doubt them, but it all sounds so…surreal! Like the type of things you'd only hear in fairy tales and bedtime stories. He can't help but wonder if maybe this is all some cruel trick being played on him.
Nice as he can, Haruka explains his reasoning to the stranger, yet they only stare back at him with deadpan eyes.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
The flat expression on their face relays the answer clear as day.
Alright. Even if what they're saying is true—in their perspective at least—who's to say the woman seen was Haruka's mother? There ought to be at least a hundred women who could be mistaken for her.
"What did she—When she sent you here, what did she look like?"
Another question of Haruka's that yet again manages to catch them off guard.
When it comes to stating her eye colour they look directly at Haruka, their answer being quick and concise. It's afterward, that they fall short for a bit, eyes darting around the room, eventually delivering the rest. "Blue eyes, brown hair, and a silver necklace. Family name Sakurai, correct?"
Okay. After those...chain of events, Haruka may or may not have had a breakdown. Or two.
But come on, can you blame him? It's far from every day you hear such things, let alone ever. Luckily the stranger—Es, assures Haruka that his mother is safe and well. However, if he continued his wailing, he definitely wouldn't be.
"So this place that you spoke about," he starts quietly. "If I go there I'll be able to find my mom?"
Waiting on the answer, their companion Jackalope glares daggers at Es with a level of annoyance most rabbits don't have. They readjust their hat.
"It's the only place you can."
Haruka's heart hammers.
If it's to help his mom, going against her words like this is alright, isn't it? Otherwise, they'd both just be stuck away forever and that's just ridiculous.
"Okay then—then wherever it is, I'll go."
Unfortunately, with this arises another issue.
Es groans. "What is it this time? Why are you hanging your face?" Always curious about his behaviour, the way they poke their head about in question reminds Haruka of an owl. "And please make sure you get to the point."
If given the chance, he thinks they'd probably nab their beak into his eyes.
But for now, seeing as his eyes are still intact, they choose to stay glued to the floor instead as he shamefully mumbles a quick, "I-I haven't got any money." As if it were the worst crime known to man. "I mean, I'm more than thankful you're helping me, b-but I'd hate for you to waste your money on someone as—"
"Haruka!"
"Ah, sorry!" He yelps. "Nevermind I'll just—I'll go open the door for us."
Figuring he might as well find some way to be useful, Haruka walks over to the door and twists the handle, but strangely enough it doesn't budge at all.
From the corner of their eye, Es notices this and waves their hand to dismiss.
"No need to bother with that," they say. "We're taking a different route."
It's funny because the door's the only way out of the bedroom. Or so he thought. It isn't until Es, small frame and all, hops onto the windowsill that Haruka realises just what this other route is.
His eyes widen in shock, already backing away. "N-no way!"
"Relax!" With how they yell you'd think jumping out windows is a casual thing done. And if it is, Haruka wants absolutely no part in it. "Besides, don't you wanna see your mother again?"
Haruka lets out a staggering breath. "I-I do!"
"Then you've gotta work with me."
"I…I can't!" He shakes his head vigorously. "I don't know how to!"
Es pinches the bridge of their nose, but their frustration lies more with the situation itself than Haruka. On this occasion, a few more words are exchanged with Jackalope, ending with Es giving a curt nod.
"Right. Okay then, I'll teach you how," they say. "Close your eyes."
"But—"
Es silences him. "Haruka!"
His eyes squeeze shut.
"Now all you need are positive affirmations."
A sound of confusion leaves Haruka's lips.
"You need to think of things that bring you joy. Good memories of the past or hopes for the future." They state, and through his ears Haruka can hear how their heels trail around him in a circular motion. "Happy thoughts."
Happy thoughts? For a pitiful child such as himself, initially, Haruka's not sure he has much if any at all. But it's worth a shot and with that, Haruka allows his mind to wander.
However, what he thinks about isn't cotton candy-filled skies or his favourite stuffed bunny. None of that. Out of all the things in his life, anything to choose from—the first thing that comes to mind is that little brown-haired girl. And god, does Haruka hate himself for it.
So like a bad dream, he rattles away the thought and fills his head up with nicer, better things. Like his mother and how she once cradled him like her sun. Or blowing out the candles on your birthday and snuggling up in cuddly blankets. Anything but her.
He gets the sensation of what feels like tiny little grains of sugar being sprinkled over him, and in no time at all his feet are right off the floor.
Haruka's not sure he'll ever be able to relay the extraordinary experience that is flying in a way distinguishable to human language.
Starting, he's nothing but terrified and nearly crashes face-first into a wall as a result. Yet similar to an injured bird, with a little help and trust he begins to get the hang of it, and when he does Haruka doesn't think he's ever felt so free.
The rest of the trip is mostly a blur. A blur of towering buildings, dimming street lights, and an array of starry skies guiding them on their way.
Then finally, their destination is reached.
Once Haruka lands (or more like collapses) onto the ground—even with every last strand of grass tickling his face—he still can't believe he's not dreaming.
They're surrounded by cliffs upon cliffs of coloured greens, so tall that Haruka's almost certain if he fell it'd make no sound. Thankfully, the terrifying thought of such things is masked by the lovely nature the land resides in with blossoming flowers and the most huggable trees.
As they continue to walk, it's not long until the only things they see aren't just plants but people too.
Seemingly for a meal they're all gathered near a large table, everyone tending to their things.
Es clears their throat. "Everyone! I need your attention." They call and almost instantly twice a dozen youthful heads turn to stare at the two of them. Haruka thinks he might get sick.
"Just relax." They remind him.
Skin jittering with nerves, Haruka tries his best.
Casting a suspicious glare, one of the older faces of the bunch asks: "Oi, who's the new kid?"
"His name is Haruka," Es says. "I expect that you'll all behave yourselves and treat him with decency."
Filled with morning tiredness, a chime of warm greetings reach Haruka's ears.
He doesn't think he's seen anywhere outside of a school or park setting so filled with children.
The age ranges vary of course, with some barely looking old enough to read, others heading into their late teens.
Eventually, Haruka's advised to take a seat, his breakfast served to him by a friendly brown-haired girl and as he eats, based on pure observation (and eager to gossip peers) he gets filled in on quite a lot.
How, despite their age, Es is basically the boss around here, with Jackalope acting as their right-hand man, meaning true to their previous words, if anyone would be able to help him find his mother it'd be them.
They were also responsible for a majority of the younger kids, keeping them in check, and so on. Meanwhile, the older kids tended to act on their own accord, the most proclaimed of the group being Yuno, Fuuta, and Kotoko.
Welding a bow and arrow, Kotoko takes the role of a hunter of sorts, making it her duty to upkeep order in the land. Ready to dispose of anyone or thing which could disturb that.
Yuno, on the other hand, is more on the domesticated side of things. While she also enjoyed going out on hunts with Kotoko, you'd often find her helping out with preparing meals or aiding the younger ones in getting ready for the day.
And Fuuta. Well…nobody really knows what Fuuta's job is supposed to be. But Haruka has heard that he's pretty good at games or solving (and causing) any arguments that break out!
Speaking about Fuuta, with how he's been acting since Haruka's arrival, he doesn't think he likes him much.
He slouches his frame over the table, chin resting on his hand "Geez, Es how many kids are you gonna bring back here?" Fuuta grumbles. "We're not a damn orphanage y'know."
Unaffected, Es replies with a simple: "I never said it was. I'm just doing my job."
He scoffs. "Didn't know your job involved being a brat too…"
On the opposite side of the table, Kotoko can't help but roll her eyes. "It depends, Fuuta, maybe when you actually start contributing more you'll have the right to complain."
Yuno fails to hold back a snort. "Aw, but Fuuta likes whining though, that's gotta count for something, right?"
This seems to get him going, his face now only a few shades lighter than his fiery hair.
"T-The hell is that supposed to mean?" He squawks defensively. "I do loads around here!"
Everyone except Haruka looks unconvinced.
When asked, 'What?' The table goes silent.
"Now you're all just ganging up on me!" Heatedly, Fuuta springs up out of his seat, but just as quickly Yuno sits him back down, poking into his cheek like a marshmallow.
"Aw c'mon you know we're only teasing Fuuta, you help us lots!"
Crossing his arms, Fuuta mumbles a few words of how "he already knew that," his sullen face setting off a chain of laughter for the rest of the meal.
When meal time is over, everyone scatters all over the place tidying up, making it easy to get lost in the crowd.
Remaining curious about the status of his mom, Haruka heads in search of Es, who he finds in the company of the older kids making a poor attempt to look bigger than they are.
He notices how differently they carry themselves, back standing up tall and straight, and he swears they're trying to lower their voice too.
Unfortunately for them, it's not enough to stop Yuno from trying to ruffle their hair like a dog's fur or getting stuck in between Kotoko and Fuuta's fights.
Among all this commotion, Haruka hesitates on whether now's the best time to ask, but decides for it in the end.
"Hey um, Es, after we're done tidying up are we gonna look for my mom?" He asks and a wave of confusion strikes through the others.
Sighing, Es postpones their previous conversation as they head off into a more secluded area, indicating for Haruka to follow.
Once they're there, they place their hand on their head, bracing themselves to deliver the news. "Okay Haruka look, your mother—"
"My mother's what?"
Their sentence hangs idly, and while Haruka's not sure what it is, something in them switches.
Choosing to stay silent, Es sits on the ground by the trunk of one of many trees. Haruka does the same.
"...Your mother, I want to know why she's so important to you," they say. "So indulge me for a bit, what exactly is a mother to you?"
"What a mother is…" His whole life Haruka has always been made to feel dumb for things he couldn't understand, so now being in the position of explaining felt sort of strange.
Closing his eyes, he goes back a few years, running through all the fond memories of the past.
"A mother is kind and caring," Haruka begins, and already it's like he can feel the way her hands used to caress his face. "After all, they're the ones who take care of you as a baby and pick you up when you fall."
Against his will, his mind strays to different memories. Less kind ones.
Back when he was sat with his mother after the last doctor visit, tears staining the paperwork she forbade him to even look at.
"But…But if you're useless like me they stop loving you." Harukas' eyes grow glassy and his grip on his pyjama trousers tightens. "So you start to do anything to win her love back."
To be her good boy.
"You scream and you cry and you do just about anything to get her to love you again but it doesn't work." It never does. "But you don't hate her—you can't. Because you love her more than anything else and she'll always be your mom."
That's what a mother is.
Es remains wordless, their stiff posture a clear sign of their inability to react in such circumstances. Not like Haruka's used to being on the receiving end of it either so he supposes neither of them lose anything.
Haruka sniffles, a hand rising to his cheek to wipe his tears. "You already know all about this kind of stuff though, huh?"
They shake their head.
"Oh." His voice falls flat, breathing out a sorrowful laugh. "I bet I sound even stupider crying about this now."
"I'm sorry," Es eventually says. "You didn't deserve that."
Those four words are all it takes to break Haruka down like a dam.
While he cries, no more words are exchanged on Es' part, but they sit beside him through it all lending an open ear.
Haruka understands it's Es' job and they probably do this with everyone, maybe they didn't care as much as he presumes. And from what he's been told, it's not like they truly get the conflicting emotion a child shares with their mother either.
Even so, Haruka thinks if they ever were to have one, she'd be pretty lucky to have someone like Es as her kid.
With morning cleanup over, everyone starts to head into their groups and move on with their day. Es advises that before searching for his mom, he should familiarise himself with the land, a tiring but necessary process that'll take a few days. The first stop on the list is the lagoon where the merfolk live, another strange phenomenon Haruka's shocked actually exists.
However, when they arrive and he gets to witness it with his own eyes, Haruka has no doubt in his mind that this place is by far the prettiest. Pools of glistening water coat the area, accompanied by peach-coloured pearls which decorate the little patches of seaweed at the edge of the lake.
From the looks of it, the little green-haired girl beside him must share the same opinion too. She kneels on the sandy surface, mostly keeping to herself, eyes gleaming with enchantment each time her small hands cause a ripple in the water.
"Amane loves the water, doesn't she?" One of the kids mentions.
The merman with dual-coloured hair, Mikoto, smiles in agreement.
"She really does," he says. "So much, I'm afraid one day Mappi might try to sweep the kid up because of it."
Mahiru, who's the butt of this joke, pushes her cheeks outwards at Mikoto's comment. "And what's wrong with that?" As she whines her tail flops down like a dog's when upset. "Amane's such a cute kid you can't even blame me!"
Maintaining a far distance away from any water activity, Es throws her a quick caution. "Mahiru, please refrain from trying to kidnap anybody."
She giggles at their words. "I'm joking!"
Mikoto raises a brow playfully. "You sure?" He questions and as revenge, Mahiru sends a wave of splashes his way.
As Mikoto remains more drenched than anyone else in the lake, Mahiru brings her attention over to Amane, her demeanour now more serious.
"Don't forget Amane, the offer we gave still stands, okay?" She reminds her. "Whenever you're ready to swim you just let Mikoto and I know, and I swear we won't let your head go an inch further than it needs to."
For reasons Haruka's unaware of this resonates with Amane, her initially worried expression soon shifting into one of gratitude. She bows her head. "...Thank you."
The group resides at the lagoon for a while longer, tuning in to either hear Mahiru's troublesome love life or a nice song or two, before eventually having to take their leave. Amane stays as an exception to this, deciding to linger for a bit more and rejoin the group later.
It's as they're leaving, feet crunching on the sand below, that Haruka's foot comes in contact with a glittering seashell stuck in the ground. His mom had always been fond of nice jewellery, and so to offer as a gift of sorts Haruka fits it nicely into his pocket.
About halfway back to base is when Haruka gets a little more informed about the bandits who captured his mother. There's a whole ship of pirates—all of them being adults too, making it difficult for the kids to tell who from who—but their leaders are two men named Kazui and Shidou.
Unanimously, it'd been decided that, for whatever reason, Shidou was definitely the worse half of the pair.
Haruka gulps, all this talk of pirates making him nervous. "W-what kind of things have they done to you guys?"
What Haruka's expecting to hear about is blasting canons or making human fish food for the piranhas. Instead, he's given an earful of a different list of supposedly awful things like forcing an earlier bedtime or making the kids eat yucky vegetables.
All of which Haruka's sure, in their own unique ways, are no more bearable than the next awful thing, but none of them really sound threatening at all.
In the best way possible of course! With all the awful things he had previously envisioned, Haruka's glad to hear the worst thing that could be happening to his mother right now is eating her greens.
After returning to the forestry, Es has to leave on account of important business, which leaves the next couple of hours spent playing games like tag or hide and seek.
Haruka's barely been here for a day, yet through a short tour and a couple of games, he's already met so many new and wonderful faces.
And now with Es arriving back accompanied by an unfamiliar silhouette beside them, it seems another addition is about to be added to that group.
A curious crowd huddles around to see the new kid whose tears fell like snowdrops.
"Everyone, this is Muu," They introduce, and with each growing second the girls' wails only become louder, bandaged arms not even attempting to halt her tears. "She's a little on the…sensitive side so try to keep that in mind."
Muu gets settled to rest by the wooden benches, where she's comforted by reassuring words telling her 'it's alright' and how she can 'start a new beginning' here. Once that's over with, they continue with their day, as if people coming here so distraught were a normal event.
By the time Haruka gets thirsty and needs a drink, he uses that as his opportunity to sit down with her.
"Uhm, are you okay?"
She continues to sob, head buried in her knees.
Very bad question Haruka!
He tries again, this time holding out the remnants of a chocolate bar he had from earlier. "D-do you want some?"
Muu looks up from her weeping position, face contorting into a type of grimace as she pushes his hand away. "I don't want your gross chocolate!" She croaks out. "I want crêpe cakes a-and…and my mama and papa and—" She could've gone on forever, but at the sight of something shiny in Haruka's pocket, she stops.
Once he notices what she does, he pulls it out. "Oh, my seashell!" He exclaims. "It's pretty isn't it?"
Muu continues to stare.
And stare.
Until.
"Ohhhh." Haruka lets out an elongated gasp. "You want it, don't you?"
She nods.
It's supposed to be a gift for his mom, but if anyone needs some comfort right now it's Muu and so he hands it over into her palms. Besides, he can always get a new one another day.
Eyes still red but no longer carrying a river, Muu offers Haruka a smile. "You're very kind." She holds the shell up high, admiring its beauty in all the angles she can. "What's your name?"
This has gotta be at the minimum, the twentieth time Haruka's introduced himself today, yet he says it with as much joy as the last.
"Ah—my name's Haruka Sakurai."
"Well then Haruka, it's very nice to meet you."
From there stems the making of a friendship and many plans for a trip to the lagoon for seashell hunting.
For sure, out of everything he's witnessed here, the sleeping area being in the hallowed core of a tree is just about the most normal thing Haruka's seen today.
On the outside, it looks nothing more than an ordinary oak tree, but the inside can fit the size of at least four of his bedrooms at home, along with space to run around.
Not that there's any running about now because finally, after a busy day everyone's all tuckered out and ready for bed.
Or well, they will be, after one more thing is done.
"Bedtime story! Bedtime story!" The children chant wildly and out of unison, their little strike not ending until Es steps in through the doorway.
"You're not getting any tonight," They say. "I have things to do. I'm busy."
A collective groan echoes across the room.
"If you're only gonna do boring adult stuff you might as well become a pirate." The boy with the mole on his cheek pouts. "And no books about law, we don't wanna hear about prison!!"
Es mumbles something under their breath about the other having no taste.
"I think Es might be a little embarrassed because they can't read well," Muu says teasingly, now in much lighter spirits than she was earlier, "It's not a bad thing, to be honest, but it is kind of disappointing."
"T-that's!" Es' mouth opens agape in shock, snatching a book from the nearest child.
"I'm reading one and I repeat, only one story," They say, Muu's snide remark obviously striking a nerve. "Then you're all going to sleep. No exceptions."
"Okay!!"
After a few mini arguments of who gets to sit where, they place themselves in a large circle in a similar way the groups Haruka always saw at school. To be a part of something like this…it was nice.
The remainder of the night is spent in this manner, everyone bundled up in the fortress of warmth within the seemingly endless blankets and pillows, listening to stories about fantastical lands that Haruka would've never believed existed until today.
One story turns into the next, which turns into another and before he knows it, Haruka's already been here for a week.
In this duration, just as Es said, he's managed to familiarise himself with a lot of things in this land. Like—despite how intimidating they could be—dealing with the younger kids bickering and the older ones teasing. Or recognising each tune the merfolk sing by ear and meeting the tiny animals that tend to visit.
Haruka's also learnt to grow used to the fact that perhaps, he's not so useless either. For example: when it comes to hauling huge logs of wood to burn for firewood, there are very few who can carry the heavy load Haruka does.
Not to mention he's gotten pretty decent at making new games for everyone to play too! (It's almost always Muu who puts them into action though, the charm she's got is the type to make anyone play along.)
Now, all of this isn't to say he's forgotten his original reason for coming here—he could never—but Haruka's still a little far off from learning the arts of sword fighting for the possible event of a pirate duel.
Besides, he's constantly being updated that his mother's safe, and who knows, maybe she's enjoying the pirate life? She's always spoken about missing the freedom her life once had so maybe this could be the cure to that itch.
Still, Haruka can't help but wonder what she'll say once the two of them meet again. When she'll see with her very own eyes how Haruka can be useful. That finally, he's made something of himself.
He trails over the topic a bit more, tens of scenarios rushing through his head, unbeknownst to the fact that if she ever did see him again, it'd be through the famished corpse of a once unloved child.
Slowly, and without warning, the door of the hideout opens. The desperate part of Haruka's brain hopes that it's somehow his mother but in reality it's just Fuuta and Yuno coming in with extra blankets for the others.
Amidst the dark of the night, Yuno notices the pair of ocean blue eyes that stand out and asks what Haruka's still doing up so late.
He tells her he's simply just thinking, which is true but that in itself leads to another question that tails back to Haruka.
"About what?"
"Just my mom," he says and the sounds of folding fabric that come from Fuuta's area of the room stop with the redhead now joining himself in on the conversation as well.
"You missing her?" When Fuuta speaks his voice is quiet, surprisingly not laced with the usual roughness it holds. Haruka wonders if this is a soft spot for him.
However, in response to his question, he shrugs. She wasn't gone—probably only an hour away—so there isn't anything to miss, just a sort of longing he guesses.
"Seeing as you guys are here though, is it okay if I ask you something?"
Fuuta rolls his eyes, a loud yawn escaping him. "You better make it quick we're not working machines y'know?"
Ah, there it is.
Yuno gives him a bonk on the head to be quiet. "Don't listen to him, take your time."
Soothing himself, Haruka loops the loose thread on his shirt with anxious hands. "I was just wondering, even after I find my mom, you guys—y-you're not gonna leave me, right?" The thread he's winding grows thin. "L-like will I still be allowed to stay sometimes or visit?"
After he says this, Fuuta and Yuno both exchange looks. For a moment Haruka's afraid he's angered them in some way, but fortunately, the small snicker that Fuuta then Yuno gives out quickly dispels his worries.
"Trust us, even if we wanted to, there's no way," he says. "It's like kickin' someone out while they still have the house keys. It just doesn't make sense."
Yuno nods in agreement. "Exactly, this is your home too, silly!"
Home?
It's a funny little word. One that leaves Haruka with many hurtful thoughts and feelings.
Yet this place...This place was the exact opposite, filled with nothing but love and laughter and happy thoughts so high they could lift you to the moon and stars.
Haruka thinks that even if it's only pretend, the feeling of calling this place home—somewhere he can simply just exist—is something he likes the sound of alot.
And so he grins, his smile wide and bright. "Yeah, I guess you're right."