Part 5: Sas
Haruto slowly climbed the stairs.
The upper floor was darker than the restaurant below.
Only a faint light from the hallway reached the room ahead.
He tightened his grip around the sandwich.
"..."
A quiet voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Haruto stopped.
He glanced back toward the stairs.
"Miri?"
No answer.
He frowned.
"Miri?"
Still nothing.
The voice came again.
"She won't answer."
"She knows you're safe."
Haruto slowly stepped into the room.
Someone was sitting against the wall.
An injured boy.
His clothes were worn, and he looked exhausted.
Haruto froze.
He had never seen him before.
At least...
Not that he could remember.
The boy looked at the sandwich in Haruto's hand.
"She sent that?"
Haruto nodded cautiously.
"Yeah."
He placed it beside him.
"She said you were hungry."
The boy gave a faint smile.
"Still taking care of people, huh?"
Haruto's expression changed.
"...What?"
The boy looked directly at him.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
Haruto shook his head.
"No."
The boy smiled faintly.
"That's alright."
"You were only four."
Haruto's eyes narrowed.
The boy continued.
"Look at me carefully."
"Do you remember me now?"
Haruto remained silent.
The boy slowly spoke.
"I am Sas."
Haruto froze.
"...Sas?"
Sas nodded.
"Yeah."
Haruto stared at him.
The name meant nothing at first.
Then Sas continued.
"There were three of us back then."
"Me..."
"Cap..."
"And Ren."
Haruto's expression changed slightly.
Sas noticed.
"You remember them?"
Haruto's eyes moved downward.
Something was beginning to surface.
Three people.
Three Hunters.
A little girl.
Two boys.
A distant afternoon.
Sas smiled.
"You laughed at us."
Haruto looked up.
Sas continued.
"You looked at the three of us and said..."
He paused.
"You all look the same age as Miri."
Haruto's eyes widened.
The memory suddenly became clearer.
The three people standing in front of his four-year-old self.
Cap.
Ren.
And Sas.
His own laughter.
Their confused expressions.
The strange little conversation.
Haruto took a slow step backward.
"..."
Sas watched him quietly.
"Now you remember."
Haruto's breathing became unsteady.
"...You really are Sas."
Sas nodded.
"It's been a long time."
Haruto looked toward the staircase.
"Miri!"
His voice echoed through the upper floor.
"Miri!"
No answer came.
Haruto looked back at Sas.
"You were..."
He struggled to finish.
"...one of them."
Sas gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Haruto stared at him.
For four years...
That memory had remained buried somewhere in his childhood.
And now...
One of the three people from that day was sitting right in front of him.
Sas.
Haruto stared at Sas.
The memories were still slowly settling into place.
Cap.
Ren.
Sas.
Then his eyes returned to Sas.
"...You sent me that letter?"
Sas nodded.
"Yes."
Haruto's expression softened.
"...Thank you."
Sas gave him a small smile.
"You don't have to thank me."
Haruto looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because you shouldn't have needed that letter in the first place."
Haruto went quiet.
Sas looked toward the window.
"The war alert..."
"It isn't what they told everyone."
Haruto listened carefully.
"The Hunters are inside the village."
His expression became serious.
"...Inside?"
Sas nodded.
"They've been waiting for the right moment."
Haruto looked toward the stairs.
"Then Miri knows?"
"She knows enough."
Haruto looked back at him.
"And you?"
"I know more than I should."
A short silence followed.
Haruto hesitated before asking,
"...What about Cap and Ren?"
Sas looked at him.
"They're alive."
Haruto's eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
"Yes."
A faint smile appeared on Haruto's face.
"I thought..."
He stopped himself.
Sas understood.
"They're still with the Hunters."
Haruto's smile faded.
"...Are they safe?"
Sas didn't answer immediately.
"They're careful."
"That's all I can tell you."
Haruto nodded slowly.
Then he looked at Sas again.