The car rolled quietly down a narrow countryside road, the evening sun painting the sky in soft gold and crimson. The air here felt different — cleaner, calmer. For Kuhaku, it carried the scent of old memories.
Bronya, sitting by the window, pressed her small hands against the glass. Her silver eyes widened as the car turned the final corner, revealing a sprawling traditional Japanese estate surrounded by tall cedar trees.
"This is… your home?" she asked softly, her tone half disbelief, half awe.
Kuhaku nodded, smiling faintly. "Yeah. My grandparents' place. It's been around for generations — built when Kyoto was still mostly farmland. Grandpa's the one who keeps it standing even now."
The wooden gates opened with a slow creak, revealing the wide courtyard. The house stood tall and elegant, its roof tiles gleaming in the sun, the garden blooming with early spring flowers. Wind chimes sang in the soft breeze.
Waiting at the entrance were two figures — an elderly couple with gentle smiles and sharp eyes that spoke of years of wisdom.
⸻
Before the car even came to a full stop, Rin burst out of the back seat.
"Grandpa! Grandma!" she cried, sprinting into their arms.
Her grandparents laughed as they knelt to embrace her, showering her with kisses and playful head pats.
"You've grown again, Rin-chan!" her grandmother said. "You'll be taller than your brother soon!"
"Ehh?! No way!" Rin puffed her cheeks, pointing dramatically at Kuhaku as he stepped out of the car. "Onii-chan's just tall because he eats all the snacks!"
Kuhaku chuckled. "I don't eat all of them. You just hide them badly."
Aoi stepped forward with a small bow, her voice polite but warm. "Father, Mother — it's been a while."
Daichi followed, giving his parents a short nod that somehow carried both respect and familiarity. "We'll be staying for a while, if that's alright."
"Of course, of course," his father replied. "This house is always open to family."
The old couple's gaze then turned to Bronya, who stood a little behind Kuhaku, her posture perfectly straight and polite.
"Ah, and who might this young lady be?" the grandmother asked kindly.
Aoi smiled. "Her name is Bronya. She'll be staying with us for a while."
Bronya bowed slightly, her voice steady. "Thank you for allowing me to stay."
"Oh, such manners," the grandmother said, clearly charmed. "What a lovely child."
Kuhaku noticed the faintest hint of red on Bronya's cheeks.
⸻
The moment Kuhaku stepped through the front doors, a familiar scent hit him — the clean wood polish, the faint aroma of tea leaves, and the earthy smell of tatami mats. The maids were busy sweeping the corridors, their voices soft and respectful as they greeted the family.
He walked down the hall to his old room. The sliding door opened with a sound that instantly brought back years of memories — late-night games with Rin, naps after training, quiet evenings watching the stars through the paper windows.
The room was exactly as he remembered. A futon neatly folded, a small desk by the window, and a single framed photo of the Hoshizora family on the shelf.
Kuhaku set his bag down beside the bed and exhaled softly.
"It's really been a while," he murmured.
He sat down, pulling up his System Window with a thought.
The familiar blue light shimmered faintly in front of him.
Level: 24
HP: 100%
MP: 100%
Fatigue: 0%
Free Points: 36
Strength: 60
Agility: 48
Vitality: 36
Intelligence: 36
Sense: 48
He stared at the floating numbers, thinking back to everything that had happened since that day in Nagazora.
Balancing things might make him more stable, he reasoned.
A thought — and the numbers shifted.
Strength: 60
Agility: 51
Vitality: 51
Intelligence: 51
Sense: 51
Free Points: 0
Then, the system chimed quietly.
[System Feature Unlocked — Stat Edit Mode]
User may freely redistribute allocated points.
Kuhaku blinked. "Wait… what?"
He hesitated, curiosity bubbling up, and decided to test it. He thought of putting everything into Strength.
The moment he did, he felt his body grow unnaturally light — the air pressure changing, gravity almost vanishing. His heartbeat quickened as power flooded his veins, every muscle tense but effortless.
"Whoa—!"
He accidentally gripped the futon frame; the wood creaked and bent under his fingers.
"Okay, that's… maybe a bit too much."
Then came his mother's voice from downstairs.
"Kuhaku! Dinner's ready!"
He quickly reset his stats back to normal — all at ten — and rushed out before his mom came to drag him down herself.
⸻
The house was filled with warmth and the smell of home-cooked food — miso soup, grilled fish, and fresh rice. Rin and Bronya sat in front of the TV, their eyes glued to a Mario Kart match. Rin was laughing loudly while Bronya, focused as always, controlled her kart with precise, analytical movements.
"Victory is inevitable," Bronya declared flatly — right before Rin's shell hit her from behind.
"Ha! I win, Bronya-oneechan!" Rin giggled, raising her tiny fists in triumph.
"…Glitch," Bronya muttered.
From the sofa, Grandma watched them fondly while an old drama played in the background. "Such energy," she said, smiling softly. "It reminds me of when Daichi was a boy."
Kuhaku took a seat beside his father as Aoi brought the last dish to the table. The sound of laughter and the gentle chatter filled the room, blending with the soft clatter of chopsticks.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Kuhaku felt truly at peace.
No blood, no fear — just warmth. Just family.
He looked around the table — at his smiling parents, his cheerful sister, the serene grandparents, and Bronya shyly thanking his mother for the food — and smiled.
Yeah, he thought quietly.
I'll protect this… no matter what.
⸻
End of Chapter 2 – Part 4