Harumi walked down the hospital's seven floors with slow steps.
Her body felt heavy.But her mind… didn't.
She knew what she had to do now.
The documents were pressed tightly against her chest—yellowed papers, old stamps, signatures split between ink and pain.
Too much information for a single night.Necessary information.
But that wasn't what weighed the most.
What hurt the most was the empty space where Takeru should be.
Stepping out through the hospital's automatic doors, Harumi felt the night air hit her face hard.
Cold.Freezing.
As if reminding her what was at stake.
The old town where she used to live was small.Almost no one on the streets.
Dim streetlights, one at each corner… and nothing else.
Harumi walked along the narrow sidewalk, taking deep breaths so she wouldn't completely collapse.
She felt…
— …helpless.
But also determined.
Every step she took said:
"I'm going to find him!"
The nearest streetlight flickered, dying.
Harumi raised her phone, turning on the flashlight.
A thin beam of light cut through the darkness.
And then she saw it.
A small figure.
A boy, sitting on the curb a few meters ahead.
Dark coat.Head lowered.Legs gently swinging, like someone waiting for something that might never come.
He was gripping his own pants, fingers tightening against the fabric, as if trying to hold himself together.
No backpack.No phone.Nothing.
Just him.
And the cold.
And the empty world behind him.
Harumi stopped.
She would recognize that silhouette…That way of sitting…That rigid silence…
Even from behind.Even in the dark.
It was him.
And her heart nearly fell to the ground.
— Takeru…
She didn't say it.Only thought it.
And started running.
She didn't trip.Didn't slip.Didn't make a sound.
For the first time in her life, Harumi moved perfectly.
As if the world itself had made space for her.
The wind hit his face, but he didn't even blink.
"I should've brought Mei.I'm an idiot.I left her… just like Mom left us.
Where do I even go now?I shouldn't have come…
Harumi's probably happier without me getting in the way…
Does Mei have food?Will she wake up and notice I'm gone?"
He tightened his grip on the fabric of his pants.
"I shouldn't have been born…"
And then…
Something warm touched the back of his neck.
An embrace.
Strong.Desperate.Warm like a house with the oven on.
Her hair brushed against his cheek.
And the scent… that soft, unmistakable Harumi scent… wrapped around him completely.
He hadn't seen her arrive.Hadn't heard her.Hadn't imagined it.
He just felt it.
And his world broke.
Slowly.Silently.
Like thin glass.
The tears fell before he realized it.
He tried to hold them back.Tried to swallow them.Tried to hide.
His trembling hand gave everything away.
And Harumi, behind him, noticed.
She held him tighter.
— It's okay… — she whispered, gentle, calm. — It's okay now… it's okay, Takeru…
Her hand slowly moved up to his head, ruffling his cold hair, warming his chilled skin.
He turned his face just slightly.Rested his forehead against her arm.
And cried.
It wasn't a quiet cry—it hurt just to hear it.That child was desperate.
He cried a cry he didn't even know he had been holding in for years.
Harumi took a deep breath, wiped her own tears with her sleeve, and stayed there, holding him, murmuring words that landed softly on his soul:
— It's over now… I found you… I won't leave you alone. Not ever again.
It sounded like a prayer.
And maybe it was.
The heater gave off a soft warmth.
But Takeru was red—puffy eyes, red nose, burning cheeks.
Harumi looked at him and murmured:
— It's because it's cold.
Izumi wasn't there to argue.
But Takeru knew.
He knew she was saying that just so he wouldn't feel embarrassed.
And because of that…
He glanced quietly at their hands on the bench.
Her hand was trembling.
From the cold… and from relief.
He lightly touched her fingers.
And for the first time…
Didn't pull away.
Harumi knocked on the door, exhausted, eyes red.
Sakura opened it.
Mei was asleep in the arms of the handsome-working neighbor, chocolate smeared around her mouth, clutching a napkin like it was treasure.
— She was worried you wouldn't come back… — Sakura said softly. — But she fell asleep after the third sweet.
Harumi gave a weak smile.
— Thank you… really…
Takeru stood behind Harumi, half-hidden.
And when Sakura saw his swollen eyes, she didn't ask anything.
She just smiled gently.
— You three… are something beautiful to see, you know?
Harumi blushed and sniffled.
— W-We should get going… thank you for taking care of Mei.
— Anytime — Sakura winked.
The house was dark.
And cold.
Very cold.
Harumi opened the door carefully, Mei in her arms—heavy with sleep.
Takeru stopped beside her.
The hallway felt like a frozen tomb.
— Oh my God… I really need to fix that… that heater… — Harumi muttered, shivering.
And then…
Takeru took a deep breath, as if saying, "I'm finally home."
Harumi looked at him, surprised.
He quickly looked away.
She smiled.
A small, tired smile… but completely full of love.
The children were safe.
She was safe.
And for the first time…
That cold house didn't feel so empty anymore.
It felt like…
Home.