Morning wrapped the city in a soft golden light. Birds began chirping in the distance, and fresh air slipped through the gaps in the windows still covered by thin curtains.
Raku slowly opened his eyes. The morning light wasn't too bright yet, only slightly illuminating the edge of his bed. With heavy eyelids, he turned to the side. On the futon, Shinobu was still sound asleep—her face calm, her breathing steady. Her golden hair was a bit messy, partially covering her face, and a white blanket wrapped around her small body.
The wall clock on the small table showed 5:00 AM.
Raku let out a soft sigh, then got out of bed. He sat at the edge for a moment, stretching slowly while rolling his shoulders.
"Today's gym class," he murmured quietly.
He stood up and walked out of the room with light steps so as not to wake Shinobu. The house was still quiet, only the sound of a fan could be heard from the living room. He headed to the sink near the kitchen, turned on the water, and washed his face. The cold water touched his skin, slowly erasing the lingering sleepiness. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, pausing for a moment. His gaze was calm, but there was a faint emptiness lingering behind his eyes.
After washing his face and drying it with a small towel, Raku stepped to the back door of the house and slid open the door that led directly to the small backyard garden.
The morning air greeted him. The garden was simple—well-maintained green grass, a few small trees on the edge, and a large stone Raku often used to sit on in the afternoon.
He stepped onto the still-cool ground, then began to rotate his shoulders and waist, doing light stretches. His hands reached upward, then slowly bent forward. Each movement was done calmly and consistently, as if he were already used to it.
After a few minutes, Raku moved on to more advanced warm-ups—push-ups on the soft grass, then sit-ups with hands crossed over his chest, and finally squats to strengthen his leg muscles. Each repetition was done with steady breathing, his body moving without rush.
Time passed. The sun began to show itself from behind distant buildings, spreading golden light that bathed the entire yard. Morning dew still clung to the tips of leaves, reflecting the gentle light.
Raku, now starting to sweat, stood while regulating his breath.
"Enough for today," he murmured softly.
He went back inside the house, took a towel, and changed clothes. After that, he headed to the Japanese-style bathroom on the east side of the house.
The wooden door slid open. Raku undressed and placed his clothes in a bamboo basket, then turned on the water and poured shampoo into his hand. He began washing his hair, then his body, before slowly stepping into the ofuro—a large bath filled with warm water.
Steam rose. The warm water enveloped his body, and the fatigue from his morning workout slowly melted away. Raku rested his head on the edge of the tub and looked at the sky through the open window. The morning sky was so clear—blue without clouds, peaceful without sound.
He closed his eyes.
"Is all of this… real?" he thought.
"Why do I feel like I've lost something? Not just childhood memories, but something deeper. As if a part of me… never came back."
He let out a soft sigh. Only the sound of trickling water and birdsong accompanied him.
Raku remained silent in the warmth of the water and the quiet of the morning. While hoping, maybe… someday, he would find the answer.
After finishing his bath, Raku came out of the bathroom with slightly damp hair and the scent of soap still clinging to him. He put on his school uniform as usual—a neat white shirt, a tie already tied, and dark-colored trousers. Morning light from the window lit the inside of the house, giving off a calming warmth.
As he stepped into the living room, Raku glanced toward the futon laid out in the sitting room. There, Shinobu was still sound asleep, her small body curled under the blanket like a comfortable cat. Her breathing was steady, and her golden hair was messy on the small pillow.
Raku slowly squatted beside the futon, then gently patted the vampire girl's shoulder.
"Shinobu, wake up… it's morning. We're having breakfast. You should take a bath first," said Raku in a soft voice.
Shinobu slowly opened her eyes, her heavy eyelids gradually lifting. She blinked a few times, then stretched her small body like a lazy cat.
"Fuaaahh… it's morning already? So fast…" she mumbled quietly.
Raku stood up while looking at her with a flat but slightly amused expression.
"You're like a cat. Always sleeping. Maybe 80% of your time is spent doing that."
Shinobu slowly sat up while rubbing her eyes and answered with a small smile.
"Heh. Maybe you're right… but this is the first time in a long while I've slept this soundly and peacefully."
Raku just gave a slight nod, then walked to the kitchen. He began preparing breakfast ingredients—eggs, rice, sliced seaweed, and leftover miso soup from last night. With steady movements, he started frying the eggs and preparing a simple side dish. A delicious aroma began to fill the house.
A few minutes later, Shinobu appeared from the hallway with her hair slightly damp—she had already bathed and was wearing a simple sleeping kimono. Her face looked fresh, and she seemed a bit more alive than usual.
"You got up faster than I thought," said Raku while carrying the tray to the dining table.
"Free breakfast, of course I woke up," Shinobu replied casually, then sat on the chair.
Not long after, Ryunosuke entered the dining room from the back door that connected to the side yard. The typical Yakuza child uniform he wore was slightly wrinkled, indicating he had just finished physical training with the other Ichijou underlings.
"Hm. Breakfast is ready, I see," he muttered briefly, then sat down without saying much.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor. Issei Ichijou, the head of the family and Raku's father, entered with his usual calm gaze. He sat at the end of the table, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.
"As usual, our breakfast is complete… though now we have one additional guest," he said while glancing at Shinobu. "But it's fine. As long as we can still sit together like this… we're still a family."
Silence fell for a moment. Then Issei put his hands together and spoke softly but deeply:
"Itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu!" said Ryunosuke, Raku, and Shinobu almost in unison.
And once the morning ritual was over, the mood at the dining table shifted. The sound of chopsticks, light laughter, and chewing filled the entire room.
Shinobu looked greedy—she went for a second helping of rice before the first one was finished. Her hands moved swiftly scooping soup and eating the omelet with a satisfied expression.
"So good!" she exclaimed with a wide smile.
Raku himself ate slowly, as usual, savoring the flavor without showing much emotion. He sat upright, watching Shinobu and Ryunosuke eat enthusiastically. A faint smile appeared on his face—a peace he probably hadn't felt in a long time.
Issei only raised an eyebrow seeing Shinobu take a third portion, then chuckled lightly and said:
"If you really are a vampire, your appetite for food is way too human."
Shinobu turned and answered while chewing:
"I'm a special vampire, I told you!"
Raku just shook his head slightly while smiling.