Part 7 — The Battle Reaches Its Peak
Kaito's grin somehow widened even further.
"The enemy has accepted the challenge."
Haruto spun the cushion once in his hand.
"The enemy talks too much."
"That's because the enemy is confident."
"The enemy is annoying."
"I'll take that as respect."
Haruto sighed.
"You shouldn't."
For a moment, both stood on opposite sides of the hall.
The cushion border remained between them.
The atmosphere grew strangely serious.
Then—
Kaito pointed dramatically.
"Battle begins in three!"
Haruto rolled his eyes.
"Two!"
"Kaito—"
"One!"
Before Haruto could finish, Kaito charged forward.
"FOR THE GREAT NATION OF KAITO!"
Haruto immediately stepped aside.
Kaito flew straight past him.
"You're an idiot."
Kaito stumbled, nearly tripping over his own feet before catching himself.
"That was a warning strike."
"You missed by three meters."
"A warning strike doesn't need accuracy."
"It does."
"No it doesn't."
"Then it's not a strike."
Kaito pointed his cushion.
"Stop using logic."
"Never."
Kaito clicked his tongue.
Then suddenly threw a cushion.
Haruto caught it.
Kaito froze.
"...That wasn't supposed to happen."
Haruto calmly tossed it onto his fortress.
"Thanks."
"Give that back."
"No."
"That was military equipment."
"It's mine now."
"You stole it."
"I captured it."
Kaito gasped.
"War crime."
"That's not a war crime."
"It feels like one."
Haruto shook his head.
Then picked up the captured cushion.
Kaito immediately ducked.
The cushion flew harmlessly over his head.
A loud thud echoed as it landed behind him.
Silence.
Kaito blinked.
Haruto blinked.
Both slowly turned toward the hallway.
A cushion now rested directly in front of Ayame's bedroom door.
The two brothers froze.
Neither moved.
Neither breathed.
Several seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
No door opened.
No angry voice appeared.
No footsteps.
Kaito slowly wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"...That was close."
Haruto nodded.
"Too close."
Kaito immediately pointed at the cushion.
"Retrieve the evidence."
"You threw the first cushion."
"You're closer."
"That's not my problem."
"It is if she wakes up."
A pause.
Then both sprinted at the exact same time.
They crashed into each other halfway.
"Ow!"
"Move!"
"You move!"
The cushion remained on the floor.
Both boys wrestled for position while trying not to make noise.
After several seconds of complete failure, Haruto finally grabbed the cushion and pulled it back.
Both immediately retreated.
Then sat silently.
Listening.
Waiting.
Nothing.
The house remained quiet.
Kaito slowly looked up.
"...We almost died."
Haruto nodded.
"We did."
A grin slowly appeared on Kaito's face.
Haruto immediately recognized it.
"No."
"Oh yes."
"We're not escalating."
"We are absolutely escalating."
Kaito grabbed a blanket.
Haruto stared.
"Kaito."
Kaito tied the blanket around his shoulders.
"Kaito."
The boy stood proudly.
"I am now General Kaito."
Haruto looked at the ceiling.
"Why?"
"Because every great nation needs a general."
"You are eight."
"And already promoted."
Haruto picked up a cushion.
"This was a mistake."
"Too late."
Then General Kaito charged once again, launching himself across the battlefield while Haruto prepared to defend his fortress, both brothers trying their absolute best not to wake the one person neither of them wanted to face— Ayame.