The next morning.
Haruki woke to the faint sound of movement in the room.
He opened his eyes slowly and saw Satomi already dressed, adjusting her blouse collar in front of the mirror.
"You're going to work?" Haruki asked, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Yeah." Satomi turned and gave him a small smile before planting a quick kiss on his lips. "Get up already. It's late."
Haruki blinked at the clock. 7:30 AM.
"Isn't it a bit early?" he asked, stretching under the blanket.
"Hmm? Father's already downstairs. Probably drinking coffee." She walked over to the dresser and grabbed her bag. "Come on. Wash your face and let's eat breakfast with him."
"Alright, alright…" Haruki sat up with a yawn. "Jeez… getting scolded this early in the morning."
Satomi shot him a quick glance and shook her head with a soft chuckle. "You need it sometimes."
Haruki smiled back. Yeah… it was rare for Satomi to nag like this.
But somehow… it didn't feel unpleasant. Just different.
He pushed himself off the bed and made his way to the bathroom.
Once he came downstairs, Haruki spotted Satomi by the kitchen counter, preparing breakfast. His father-in-law was already seated at the dining table, eyes glued to his tablet.
"G-Good morning," Haruki greeted, trying to shake off the last traces of sleep from his voice.
"Oh, Haruki? Morning," the older man replied without looking up from the screen.
Haruki quietly took his seat, glancing at Satomi as she finished plating a simple breakfast—fried frankfurters and eggs—with a pot of fresh coffee nearby.
He didn't see Kyouko anywhere.
Still upstairs? he wondered, but didn't dare ask.
Satomi placed the plates on the table with practiced ease and poured coffee for the three of them. Haruki gave her a small nod of thanks.
They started eating.
The quiet morning air quickly filled with work talk. His father-in-law went on about project deadlines and design changes while Satomi nodded along, offering her input between bites.
They spoke fast, effortlessly.
Haruki just listened, chewing slowly, feeling like an outsider at his own table. He tuned in and out as Satomi and her father traded updates—project revisions, new client expectations, the usual morning rhythm that didn't quite include him.
Then Satomi glanced at the clock, her eyes widening.
"Ahhh !! We're late, Father!"
Her father stood up immediately, pushing his chair back with a sense of urgency. "That's not good. We still have a lot to finalize with the new company. Satomi, make sure everything goes smoothly today."
"Don't worry, I will," Satomi said confidently, already grabbing her bag.
"Ah, just leave it. I'll take care of these."
His father-in-law paused for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Thanks, Haruki." His voice was firm as always. "You don't have work today?"
"Ah...My schedule's flexible," Haruki replied with a polite smile.
"Good." Without another word, he turned and headed toward the door.
Satomi followed right behind but paused near the hallway, glancing back. "By the way, Haruki. Mother's not feeling well today. Probably a fever. Father mentioned it earlier."
Haruki blinked. "Oh really? I didn't know."
"Yeah, she's still resting. If it gets worse, can you call a doctor?"
Her father added, "We're both tied up today, so… just make sure she's alright."
"Got it," Haruki nodded. "I'll look after her."
"Thanks!" Satomi smiled, then rushed out with her father.
Haruki waited by the front door, watching Satomi wave from inside the car. Her father gave a short nod before pulling out of the driveway. Haruki stood there until they disappeared from view.
Once the road fell quiet, he stepped back inside and gently closed the door.
He gathered the plates from the dining table and began cleaning up their simple breakfast. The clinking of dishes and the soft drumming of rain outside made the morning feel still—peaceful, yet strangely heavy.
After tidying everything away, he made his way upstairs.
He stopped in front of Kyouko's door and hesitated before knocking lightly.
No response.
He gently pushed the door open.
"Kyouko-san…?"
Soft light from the cloudy sky filtered through the curtains, casting a dim glow over the room.
She lay in bed, curled slightly under the blanket. Her face was pale, her usual bright expression gone. Even her breathing seemed faint and tired.
When she noticed him, Kyouko's eyes fluttered open. She gave him a weak smile.
"Ah… Haruki-kun… sorry… I don't feel good today…"
Haruki stepped closer, concern etched across his face. "It's okay. Satomi told me… she asked me to check on you."
He reached the side of her bed and crouched down, gently brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Her skin was warm—too warm.
"You have a fever," he said softly.
Kyouko gave a tired nod, her eyelids heavy. "Maybe just a little…"
"I'll bring a thermometer. And some water. Wait here, alright?"
She shook her head slowly and began to rise from the bed, her movements sluggish but determined.
"Don't worry, Haruki-kun… I'm okay," she said softly, trying to smile.
"But Kyouko-san, you should rest," Haruki replied, standing beside her, concern heavy in his voice.
"Satomi and my husband… they already went to work?"
"Yes," he nodded.
"They already ate? You… already ate?"
"Yeah. Satomi cooked for us. Fried egg and—"
"That's not good…" Kyouko interrupted gently, a faint smile on her lips. "You should eat better than that…"
She took a few slow steps away from the bed, her hand lightly brushing the edge of the drawer to steady herself.
Then suddenly, her body gave out.
"Kyouko-san!"
Haruki lunged forward and caught her just before she hit the floor.
Her body felt warm against him—too warm. She was burning up.
"Kyouko-san…!"
Her eyes fluttered, but she didn't respond. Her breathing came shallow and uneven.
His heart pounded as he gently lifted her into his arms.
( End of Chapter )