The neighboring city was quiet.It was deep in the early morning—that hour when even the streetlights look like they want to sleep.
Kurosawa was driving back home after dealing with some paperwork at the local government office.His eyes were heavy with sleep… until something caught his attention.
On the left side of the street, three figures were walking slowly.A small, disheveled woman carrying a little girl asleep in her arms…And beside her, a tall, thin boy, his hand clinging to hers like he'd never let go again.
Kurosawa slowed the car.
— …Harumi?
He would recognize that chaotic creature from miles away.
Harumi had her coat crooked, hair a mess, dark circles under her eyes, carrying a child in the middle of the night…
Kurosawa almost stepped out of the car.
— What… are you doing walking around at this hour?
But she didn't hear him.Didn't see him.She just walked past with that empty, determined look of someone who had survived an emotional apocalypse.
Kurosawa stayed still, watching.
Then his brain started putting the pieces together.
Yesterday:Harumi didn't show up for work.Didn't call.Disappeared.
"Did she… skip work because of her nieces and nephew?"
He looked closer.The little girl was asleep in her arms like it was the safest place in the world.The boy… was glued to her, like he had cried himself empty not long ago.
Kurosawa took a deep breath, resting his head against the steering wheel.
— …So… she has kids?
Pause.
Four seconds.Deep breath.
Five seconds.Thinking.
— Her sister is YOUNGER… so the kids AREN'T her sister's… so…
SUDDENLY HIS EYES WIDENED.
— …she has two kids.
Dramatic silence.
He blinked three times.
The mental image:Harumi, 26 years old.A 13-year-old boy.A 9-year-old girl.
The math wasn't mathing.
The universe was screaming:"KEI, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED USING LOGIC?"
But Kei was way too emotional to think.
He pulled out his phone.And called the worst possible person.
ITSUKI / THE HOT HARDWORKING NEIGHBOR — KEI'S #1 ENEMY
Itsuki answered, laughing.
— Hey, Kei. Long time no see.
— Itsuki… I need to ask you something.
— Of course. Always a pleasure helping my old school rival.
Kei took a deep breath.
— Harumi… does she have kids?
Itsuki went quiet.
And smiled like someone who had just won a game without even playing.
— Ahh… you want to know if she's married, has two kids, and a huge house, right?
Kei went silent.
— …
Itsuki kept going, in the most smug tone possible:
— Yes.
— …
— Yes, Kei.
— …
— She's married.
— …
— Has two kids.
— …
— And a giant house.
Kei hung up.
Without saying a word.
Itsuki laughed by himself for three straight minutes—he knew it was all a lie… but it was way more fun to mess with Kei.
HARUMI'S HOUSE — 5 A.M.
Harumi opened the door, still holding Mei asleep.Takeru walked in behind her, slowly.
Both of them were exhausted, starving, emotionally wrecked.
And then…
GRRRUUUUUUURRRRRRLLL
Mei's stomach growled so loudly it echoed.Harumi's answered.Takeru's joined the choir.
Harumi put a hand on her stomach.
— Takeru…
— Hm?
— We need a chef in this house…
— Yeah.
— AND THAT PERSON IS NOT ME.
Takeru gave a tired half-smile.
— I'll cook.
— GREAT. THEN YOU'RE NEVER LEAVING AGAIN.
He blushed.
— O-Okay.
Harumi ran to the 24-hour market on the corner, bought everything in sight—instant noodles, onigiri, frozen curry, bread, ice cream, NOTHING MADE SENSE—and ran back.
Takeru cooked like he had been reborn.
And at 5:17 in the morning, they were sitting on the tatami, eating hot curry.
Mei slept with her head on Harumi's lap, drooling and nibbling a piece of bread in her dreams.
Takeru kept glancing at her, checking if she was really there.
Harumi noticed.
And smiled softly.
After eating, they washed up and fell asleep together—the three of them piled onto the big futon, Harumi in the middle.
Takeru slept holding onto her pajama sleeve.
Just to make sure she wouldn't disappear.
NEXT MORNING — THE CHAOS RETURNS!
Takeru opened his eyes first.Looked at the clock.
— …three hours of sleep.
He sighed.
— Harumi… wake up…!
WHACK.
A pillow to Harumi's face.
— AAH WHAT WAS THAT—
— You have work. You missed yesterday.
— WHAT?!
She shot up like a possessed ghost.
— OH MY GOD I REALLY DID MISS— AND I DIDN'T CALL— AND I ALMOST GOT ARRESTED— AAAAAAAAA
Her phone started vibrating.
BRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRR
She looked.
28 missed calls from her mom.
And one message in the neighborhood group chat with the headline:
"WOMAN BREAKS INTO HOSPITAL, YELLS AT PATIENT, AND RUNS THROUGH THE CITY."
Harumi screamed:
— MOOOOOOOM THAT'S NOT HOW YOU SPREAD GOSSIP!!!!
Mei woke up startled.Takeru sighed, already used to it.
— Go get ready, Harumi. Before the news releases part two.
— HELPPPP—
AT WORK — THE ENCOUNTER…
Harumi arrived at the office running, hair still wet, bag open, wrong coat, heavy eye bags.
Kurosawa was waiting.
Arms crossed.Serious expression.And a deadly mix of jealousy and concern.
But he couldn't say:"I SPENT ALL NIGHT THINKING ABOUT YOU AND TWO KIDS (WHO DON'T EVEN EXIST) AAAAA."
So he said the only thing he could:
— …You're late.
Harumi thought, he's going to kill me.
She gave an awkward smile.
— Good morning, boss… I can explain…
— You can. — Kurosawa replied in the coldest voice he had. — But later. There's a lot of work piled up because someone disappeared.
Harumi froze.
— Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry—
Kurosawa looked away.
He couldn't look at her for too long or he'd melt into a puddle.
— …And please organize your documents properly today. — he muttered. — And try not to blow up the coffee machine this time.
Harumi turned a little red.
Kurosawa turned his back, heart racing.
And thought:
"She has two kids… two… and she's married… what have I been waiting for all these years…?"
He sighed, frustrated.
And hit his forehead against the nearest wall for absolutely no reason.
A coworker walked by and muttered:
— Kei's in love again.
— I AM NOT!!!
And he hit his head again.