The morning began normally.
Nagisa had finished breakfast with her siblings and was sitting beneath the large tree in the courtyard, reading one of her books while Sato and Hirata argued over a wooden training sword.
Ren was nearby practicing his balance, while Airi was lying in the grass with her eyes half closed.
It was an ordinary morning.
Until the sound of horses reached the estate.
Nagisa lifted her head.
The approaching footsteps were accompanied by the clinking of armor.
She closed her book.
“Who’s that?”
Her father was already walking toward the entrance.
Nagisa followed.
Her siblings came after her.
Several armored soldiers stood outside the estate gate.
Their clothing carried the emblem of the military, and their expressions were serious.
One of them stepped forward.
“Lord Asano.”
Asano nodded.
“Report.”
The soldier bowed.
“We’ve received an urgent summons from the eastern command.”
Celeste had also come outside.
She immediately noticed the seriousness in the soldier’s voice.
“What happened?”
The soldier hesitated briefly.
“The demon forces have broken through one of the outer defensive lines.”
The children became quiet.
Nagisa had heard stories about demons before.
They weren’t bedtime stories.
The world contained many races, and some territories were peaceful while others were constantly threatened by conflict.
The demons were one of the major enemies of the surrounding kingdoms.
Nagisa looked at her father.
“You’re going?”
Asano didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Celeste.
She already knew.
“When do you leave?” she asked.
“Today.”
The word seemed to settle over the courtyard.
Today.
Not tomorrow.
Not next week.
Today.
Sato stepped closer.
“But Father…”
Asano crouched down.
“I have to go.”
“Why?”
“Because people are depending on us.”
Sato frowned.
“Can’t someone else go?”
Asano smiled sadly.
“Someone else will be fighting beside me.”
Nagisa remained silent.
She understood more than her younger siblings did.
Her father wasn’t simply going somewhere.
He was going to war.
She didn’t know how long he’d be gone.
She didn’t know what would happen.
And she suddenly hated that uncertainty.
Hirata stepped forward.
“Are you going to fight demons?”
Asano nodded.
“Yes.”
“Are they strong?”
“Some are.”
“Are you stronger?”
Asano smiled.
“I’ll do my best.”
Nagisa looked at him.
That answer didn’t reassure her.
Her father was strong.
She knew that.
But strong didn’t mean invincible.
Celeste walked over and placed a hand on Asano’s shoulder.
“How serious is it?”
“Serious enough that the command needs everyone available.”
Celeste lowered her gaze.
She understood what that meant.
The children didn’t.
Not completely.
The rest of the morning passed strangely.
Nobody wanted to talk about the departure, but everyone knew it was coming.
Asano prepared his equipment.
Nagisa watched from the doorway as he checked his armor and weapons.
She had seen him train countless times.
She had seen his calm expression during difficult situations.
But this was different.
This was the first time she had seen him prepare to leave home for a war.
She walked inside.
“Father.”
Asano looked toward her.
“Yes?”
Nagisa stood quietly for a moment.
“Are you coming back?”
The question made him pause.
He crouched down until they were at the same height.
“I intend to.”
Nagisa’s ears lowered.
“That’s not the same as saying yes.”
Asano smiled faintly.
“You’ve become quite perceptive.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
He gently placed a hand on her head.
“I will do everything I can to return home.”
Nagisa looked into his eyes.
“Promise?” Get faster updates on g.com.
Asano held out his little finger.
“Promise.”
Nagisa hooked her paw around it.
“Then you have to keep it.”
“I will.”
She leaned forward and hugged him.
For a moment, Asano simply held his daughter.
Then the other children joined them.
Sato wrapped his arms around his father’s side.
Hirata joined next.
Ren and Airi followed.
Soon, all five children were clinging to him.
Asano laughed softly.
“You’re making it difficult to leave.”
“Good,” Sato muttered.
Nagisa smiled despite the heaviness in her chest.
Celeste stood nearby watching them.
Her expression remained calm, but Nagisa noticed the sadness in her eyes.
Eventually, the time came.
The soldiers were waiting outside.
Asano stepped away from his children and approached Celeste.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
They had spent years together.
They had built a home.
They had raised five children.
And now one of them was leaving to fight a war.
Celeste reached up and adjusted the collar of his armor.
“Come back.”
Asano smiled.
“I will.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
“I know.”
She looked at him for another moment.
Then she embraced him.
Asano held her tightly.
Nagisa looked away.
She felt like she was intruding on something private.
When they separated, Celeste whispered something Nagisa couldn’t hear.
Asano nodded.
Then he turned toward the children.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Sato was already crying.
“Come back quickly.”
“I will.”
Hirata tried to hide his tears.
“You better win.”
Asano laughed.
“I’ll try.”
Ren looked down.
Airi hugged Celeste’s leg.
Nagisa stepped forward last.
She didn’t say anything.
She simply hugged her father one more time.
Asano gently stroked her head.
“Take care of your mother and your siblings.”
Nagisa nodded.
“I will.”
“And don’t get into too much trouble.”
She looked up.
“I don’t.”
Asano raised an eyebrow.
Nagisa looked away.
“…Usually.”
He laughed.
Then he walked away.
Nagisa watched until he disappeared beyond the gate.
For the first time since she had been reborn, the estate felt much larger than it actually was.
And much emptier.
Two months passed.
At first, everyone expected Asano to return quickly.
He didn’t.
Letters arrived occasionally, reassuring the family that he was alive and still fighting.
Nagisa treasured every one.
She would read them repeatedly, even after Celeste had already told her what they said.
The children continued their routines.
They trained.
They studied.
They played.
They ate together.
But something was missing.
Their father.
Then, one afternoon, another message arrived.
This time, Celeste read it alone.
Nagisa noticed the change in her mother’s expression.
“Mother?”
Celeste folded the letter.
“I’m being summoned.”
Nagisa’s heart dropped.
“To the Frontline?”
Celeste nodded.
“The situation has become worse.”
The children gathered around her.
Sato immediately asked, “You’re leaving too?”
Celeste knelt before them.
“Only for a while.”
“But Father is already gone.”
“I know.”
Hirata looked worried.
“Who will take care of us?”
Celeste smiled.
“I’ve already arranged that.”
A familiar voice came from behind them.
“Hopefully someone competent.”
Nagisa turned.
Her aunt stood at the entrance.
It was the woman they had met during the family gathering.
She had long dark-blue hair and violet eyes.
Her name was Seraphine.
Nagisa’s face brightened.
“Aunt Seraphine!”
Seraphine opened her arms.
Nagisa ran into them.
The other children quickly followed.
Seraphine laughed as five cubs surrounded her.
“Well, I suppose I have my work cut out for me.”
Sato looked up at her.
“Can you cook?”
“Yes.”
“Can you fight?”
Seraphine smiled.
“Yes.”
“Can you tell good stories?”
“Of course.”
Sato nodded.
“You’re qualified.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Celeste.
But the laughter faded when she looked at her sister.
“Seraphine.”
Her sister’s expression softened.
“I know.”
Celeste crouched down beside her children.
“I have to go.”
Nagisa’s eyes began to sting.
“How long?”
“I don’t know.”
That answer hurt more than anything else.
Celeste noticed.
She pulled Nagisa into her arms.
“I’ll come back.”
Nagisa buried her face against her mother.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
The other children gathered around them.
Celeste hugged all five.
“You are going to stay with your aunt while I’m gone.”
Sato nodded.
“We’ll behave.”
Hirata immediately looked at him.
“Will we?”
Sato ignored him.
Celeste smiled.
“I want you all to listen to Seraphine. Stay together. Help one another. And remember that your father and I are always thinking about you.”
Nagisa held her mother’s clothes tightly.
“Be careful.”
Celeste kissed the top of her head.
“I will.”
She then looked at Seraphine.
“Take care of them.”
Seraphine’s playful expression disappeared.
“I will.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Celeste nodded.
“I know.”
The sisters embraced.
Seraphine whispered, “Bring yourself home.”
Celeste closed her eyes.
“I intend to.”
When they separated, Celeste looked at her children one last time.
Her gaze lingered on Nagisa.
Then Sato.
Hirata.
Ren.
Airi.
She smiled.
“I love you all.”
“We love you too!”
Their voices overlapped.
Celeste turned toward the waiting soldiers.
Nagisa watched her walk away.
She wanted to run after her.
She wanted to ask her to stay.
But she remembered her father’s words.
Take care of your mother and your siblings.
So Nagisa remained where she was.
She stood beside her siblings and watched until Celeste disappeared from sight.
Seraphine gently placed a hand on Nagisa’s shoulder.
“She’ll come back.”
Nagisa nodded.
“I know.”
But her voice trembled.
She looked at her siblings.
They were scared too.
Nagisa took a breath.
Then she moved closer to them.
“Come on.”
Sato looked at her.
“Where?”
“Inside.”
“Why?”
Nagisa looked toward the gate one last time.
“Because we’re going to wait for them together.”
Her siblings followed.
For the first time, the five cubs entered their home without either of their parents beside them.
But they weren’t alone.
Their aunt was there.
Their family was still together.
And somewhere far beyond the estate, their parents were fighting to make sure they could return home.
Nagisa didn’t know what the coming months would bring.
She only knew one thing.
She would wait.
And when her parents finally returned, she wanted them to find the same five children they had left behind—only a little older, a little stronger, and still waiting for them at home.