Part 1: The Fortified Red Bowl
Sas finished the last bite of the sandwich, folding the greasy paper wrapper neatly before placing it beside him. For a moment, the small room hung in complete silence, heavy with unspoken weight.
He turned his eyes toward the open window, where the cold night air stirred the curtains. "I should go."
Haruto looked up at him, a trace of hesitation in his voice. "Already?"
Sas gave a single, firm nod. "I can't stay here." He stood and walked toward the window sill, his movements quiet and practiced.
Haruto watched him closely, stepping forward. "Will I see you again?"
Sas paused, his hand resting against the wooden frame. He looked back over his shoulder, a faint, almost imperceptible smile softening his features. "Maybe." He met Haruto's eyes with sudden intensity. "But stay with your siblings."
Haruto nodded silently.
Sas pulled the window open wider. Before stepping out into the void, he looked back at Haruto one last time. "Take care of them."
In a whisper of cloth and a blur of shadow, he vanished into the darkness.
Haruto remained by the window for a few lingering seconds, staring into the empty night. Slowly, he turned away, walked to the doorway, and descended the wooden stairs.
The moment he stepped into the main floor of Red Bowl, he froze.
His eyes swept across the dining area. The usual warmth of the restaurant had been stripped away, replaced by an grim, tactical stillness. Stashed strategically throughout the room—beneath counter edges, beside window frames, and atop low tables—were weapons. Kunai, shuriken, and short blades sat drawn and positioned where a hand could reach them in a fraction of a second.
Haruto stared at the hidden arsenal. "...Miri?"
Miri looked over from behind the heavy wooden counter, a whetstone in one hand and a kunai in the other. "What?"
Haruto pointed toward the exposed steel. "Why are all these here?"
Miri tested the edge of the kunai against her thumb, her face unreadable. "Preparation."
Haruto's brow furrowed. "For what?"
Miri set the blade back down with a dull clack. "Whatever comes."
Haruto went quiet. A cold knot formed in his stomach as he surveyed the room again. Miri hadn't just been waiting for them to finish upstairs—she had been fortifying the building into a kill zone.
Before he could speak, the front door rattled and swung open.
Kaito stepped inside first, looking tired but alert. Ayame followed right beside him. Behind them walked Shisui, accompanied by several older academy classmates, their expressions taut with tension.
Miri's posture shifted instantly. "They're here."
Kaito nodded. "We found them."
Shisui stepped past the doorway, his eyes scanning the space. "Miri."
"Thanks for coming, Shisui," Miri replied softly.
Shisui's sharp gaze swept across the dining floor, catching the glint of steel hidden beneath the tables. His relaxed demeanor vanished instantly, his features hardening into absolute seriousness. "...So it's really that bad."
Miri didn't answer. She simply looked past Shisui toward the three children. "Stay together."
Kaito moved closer to Haruto, bumping his shoulder gently against his brother's. Ayame stepped up beside them, completing the circle.
For a brief, fragile moment, all three siblings were together again. Surrounded by Shisui, Miri, and senior shinobi ready to defend them, the oppressive fear of the night receded just a little. The restaurant remained quiet, the village streets outside remained dark, and for the first time that night, it almost felt like they were safe.