In a small town.
Miyama.
The night was silent.
A ten-year-old Ryu slept peacefully beneath a warm blanket.
Outside, the small town was quiet.
The world seemed asleep.
Then—
“Big brother!”
A small voice suddenly echoed through the room.
“Big brother!
Wake up!”
Ryu groaned.
His eyes slowly opened.
Standing beside his bed was an eight-year-old boy.
His younger brother.
Kenji.
Tears filled Kenji’s eyes.
His face was pale.
“Kenji?”
Ryu immediately sat up.
“What happened?”
Kenji grabbed his sleeve.
“M-Mom…”
His voice trembled.
“Mom’s condition got worse.”
Ryu froze.
“What?”
Before Kenji could explain further, the bedroom door opened.
Their father entered.
For the first time in Ryu’s life—
He looked terrified.
“Ryu.”
“Get up.”
“We have to leave.”
Ryu blinked.
“Leave?”
“Where?”
“Tokyo.”
The answer came immediately.
Ryu’s father looked exhausted.
“Your mother’s condition became serious.”
“The doctors here can’t treat her anymore.”
“We have to go now.”
Ryu’s heart sank.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“The car is waiting outside.”
“Hurry.”
Ryu quickly stood up.
Then suddenly remembered something.
“Wait.”
His father frowned.
“What?”
“I need sometime.”
“I have to meet someone.”
His father stared at him.
Then his expression hardened.
“Absolutely not.”
“Dad—”
“No.”
“Your mother’s condition is critical.”
“This isn’t the time.”
“But—”
“Ryu.”
The sharpness in his father’s voice made him stop.
“You don’t understand the situation.”
“We need to leave immediately.”
Ryu clenched his fists.
“But—”
“No.”
His father pointed toward the door.
“Get in the car.”
Ryu lowered his head.
The words he wanted to say never left his mouth.
A few minutes later—
The family left.
The small town disappeared behind them.
And the car headed toward Tokyo.
Hours later.
The bright lights of a large hospital filled Ryu’s vision.
Doctors rushed through hallways.
Machines beeped.
Nurses moved from room to room.
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Ryu sat in the waiting area beside Kenji.
Both remained silent.
Neither knew what to say.
Eventually—
Their father stood up.
“I need to go back and bring the rest of our belongings.”
Ryu looked up.
“I’ll come with you.”
“No.”
“Dad—”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Ryu frowned.
“Please.”
His father sighed.
Then crouched in front of him.
For a moment—
He looked less like a father.
And more like a tired man carrying too much weight.
“Ryu.”
His voice softened.
“I know you wanted to stay behind.”
“I know there were things you wanted to do.”
Ryu’s eyes widened slightly.
His father continued.
“But right now…”
“…your mother and your brother need you.”
Ryu lowered his gaze.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
“You are the only person Kenji listens to.”
“You are the only one who can help him stay strong.”
“And your mother needs us too.”
For several seconds—
Ryu said nothing.
Then he slowly nodded.
His father smiled sadly.
“Thank you.”
A moment later—
He walked away.
Leaving Ryu and Kenji behind.
Ryu stared at the floor.
Something warm slid down his cheek.
A tear.
Then another.
He quickly wiped them away.
Not even realizing he was crying.
The memory faded.
The hospital.
The waiting room.
The tears.
Everything disappeared.
And once again—
Ryu found himself sitting beside Hina in the present.
The quiet plaza remained illuminated by a single streetlamp.
For a while—
Neither spoke.
Then Hina quietly asked,
“…How is your mother now?”
A small smile appeared on Ryu’s face.
“Much better.”
“I’m not saying she’s completely healthy.”
“But she’s doing far better than before.”
Hina visibly relaxed.
“I’m glad.”
A short silence followed.
Then she lowered her gaze.
“…I’m sorry.”
Ryu looked surprised.
Hina continued.
“I didn’t want to understand.”
“I didn’t even try.”
Her hands tightened slightly.
“Because I was scared.”
“If I trusted you again…”
“…I thought you would leave me again.”
The words hurt to say.
But she said them anyway.
Ryu listened quietly.
“I thought…”
“…everyone eventually leaves.”
Ryu’s expression softened.
“Hina.”
“You were a child.”
“You don’t have to apologize for feeling hurt.”
His voice remained gentle.
“I understand why you felt that way.”
Hina stared at him.
Ryu’s emotions entered her senses.
Relief.
Then smiled weakly.
“Thank you.”
After a brief pause—
Ryu tilted his head.
“So who are you living with now?”
“My aunt and uncle.”
“Aunt?
Uncle?”
Hina nodded.
“Last year, my aunt visited our house.”
Her expression darkened slightly.
“She saw how my father treated me.”
Ryu immediately understood.
Hina continued.
“They argued.”
“A lot.”
“In the end, she brought me to Tokyo.”
A small smile appeared.
“They take good care of me.”
“They always have.”
“But…”
She lowered her gaze again.
“I never trusted them.”
Ryu remained silent.
“I wanted to.”
“I really did.”
“But after you left…”
“…I stopped trusting people.”
Her voice trembled.
“I thought if I trusted someone…”
“…they would leave too.”
“So I kept everyone at a distance.”
She laughed softly.
A sad laugh.
“Even people who cared about me.”
The night breeze gently passed by.
Then Hina lifted her head.
This time—
There was determination in her eyes.
“But now I understand.”
“It was a misunderstanding.”
“Not everyone leaves.”
“Not everyone lies.”
She smiled.
A real smile.
“And I want to change.”
“I want to move forward.”
“I want to learn how to trust again.”
Ryu smiled softly.
The smile reached his eyes.
And somehow—
That smile made Hina feel lighter.
Much lighter.
Later that night.
Ryu walked Hina home.
The streets were quiet.
The city lights glowed softly around them.
Eventually—
They stopped in front of her house.
Ryu smiled.
“Good night, Hina.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Hina smiled back.
“Good night, Ryu.”
Then she walked inside.
The moment she entered—
A worried voice called out.
“Hina!”
Her aunt hurried toward her.
“Hina, where were you?”
“I was worried.”
“You should tell me before going somewhere.”
“I get scared when I don’t know where you are.”
Hina aunt’s eyes met Hina’s.
Concern.
Genuine concern.
The concern in her voice was genuine too.
For a moment—
Hina simply stared.
Then suddenly—
She stepped forward.
And hugged her aunt tightly.
Her aunt froze.
“H-Hina?”
Tears filled Hina’s eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
Her voice shook.
“You always cared about me.”
“You always worried about me.”
“But I never trusted you.”
Her aunt’s eyes widened.
“I never wanted to trust you.”
“Because I was scared.”
“So scared.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“But now…”
“…I want to try.”
“I want to trust the people who deserve it.”
“I want to trust you.”
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Then her aunt smiled.
And gently hugged her back.
“Then I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll earn that trust.”
“You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Hina buried her face against her shoulder.
And nodded.
Nearby—
Her uncle watched the scene.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
“Well, well.”
“So you two finally made up?”
Both immediately looked embarrassed.
Her uncle laughed.
“I knew it would happen.”
“Our little family is going to be just fine.”
Hina remained in her aunt’s embrace.
But this time—
She smiled.
A small smile.
A genuine one.
And as her aunt held her close—
And her uncle smiled nearby—
For the first time in a very long while…
Hina felt like she was finally home.
End of Chapter 8.