The sky had dimmed into a deep, fading blue.
The last traces of sunlight clung weakly to the edges of the floating cliffs, slowly giving way to the cool hush of evening. Lanterns flickered to life across the Wind Village, their soft glow swaying gently in the drifting currents.
Far from the noise—
Yumi sat alone.
Her knees were pulled close to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, her chin resting on the edge of her sleeves. Her hair, usually so neat, had fallen slightly out of place, strands clinging to her damp cheeks.
Her eyes were red.
But dry now.
Empty.
"…Lady Yumi?"
The voice came faint at first, carried by the wind.
Then closer.
"Lady Yumi!"
Footsteps—quick, uneven—approached from behind.
Sui.
She appeared from the path, her usually composed posture broken by urgency. Her breathing was slightly uneven, her eyes scanning frantically until—
She saw her.
"…There you are…"
Relief flooded her face so suddenly it almost looked like pain.
She slowed her steps as she approached, as if afraid that moving too fast might make Yumi disappear again.
"Lady Yumi," she said more softly now, stopping a few steps away. "I've been searching everywhere for you…"
No response.
Yumi didn't look up.
Didn't move.
Sui's gaze softened, but the worry didn't leave.
She stepped closer.
"…It's getting late," she said gently. "You shouldn't be out here alone."
Still nothing.
A small pause.
Then—
"…Did something happen?"
That was enough.
"Nothing happened!"
The response snapped out of Yumi instantly—sharp, loud, cutting through the quiet air.
Sui didn't flinch.
Yumi lifted her head slightly, eyes narrowed, voice trembling with something she refused to name.
"I'm fine! So stop asking stupid questions!"
Silence followed.
The wind passed between them.
Sui watched her quietly.
"…I see," she said softly.
Yumi's grip tightened around her arms.
"Then go away!" she snapped again, harsher this time. "You found me, didn't you? So just go back! I don't need you standing here!"
Her voice cracked at the end.
She turned her head away quickly.
"I want to be alone."
The words came out quieter.
But sharper.
More honest.
Sui didn't answer.
For a moment—
She simply stood there.
Watching.
Not the "Lady of the Kaze."
Not the proud, composed girl.
But the child sitting in the dirt, trying very hard not to fall apart again.
"…Very well," Sui said at last.
A small pause.
Then—
She stepped forward.
And sat down beside her.
Not too close.
Not too far.
Just… there.
Yumi froze.
"…What are you doing?"
"You asked me to go away," Sui replied calmly. "I am not speaking."
"That's not the same thing!"
"No," Sui agreed quietly. "It isn't."
Yumi's hands clenched.
"Then leave!"
Sui said nothing.
The lantern light from the distant village flickered faintly against them, barely reaching where they sat.
The space between them remained.
Unforced.
Unbroken.
"…You're annoying," Yumi muttered under her breath.
No response.
"…Why are you even here?" she added, more quietly this time.
Sui's voice, when it came, was soft.
"Because you are."
That was all.
Yumi's throat tightened.
Her eyes burned again.
"…I didn't ask you to come."
"No," Sui said. "You didn't."
Silence returned.
Long.
Heavy.
But no longer empty.
The wind moved gently through the grass.
And for the first time that day—
Yumi wasn't completely alone.
The wind moved softly through the grass.
Time passed.
Neither of them spoke.
"…Sui."
Her voice was quiet.
Small.
But it broke the silence completely.
Sui turned her head slightly. "Yes, Lady Yumi?"
There was a pause.
Yumi's fingers tightened slightly against her sleeves.
"…Do you think I'm… annoying?"
Sui blinked once.
Not surprised.
Just attentive.
"…What brings that question?" she asked gently.
Yumi immediately turned her head away.
"…It's nothing," she muttered. "Just a random question. Don't think too much about it."
Sui studied her for a moment.
Then answered anyway.
"…No," she said softly. "I do not think you are annoying."
Yumi didn't react immediately.
"…However," Sui continued, "you are quite stubborn."
That got a reaction.
Yumi's head snapped slightly in her direction.
"…What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Sui's expression didn't change.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
Yumi frowned.
"…Hmph."
She looked away again, but there was less bite in it this time.
More thought.
Another pause.
The wind passed again.
"…What about Kaito?"
Sui glanced at her.
"…What of him?"
"What do you think about him?" Yumi asked, her voice quieter now.
Sui considered the question.
"…He is interesting," she said.
Yumi's brows pulled together slightly.
"…How?"
Sui's gaze shifted toward the distant lights of the village.
"…Despite being only five years old," she began, "he is already one of the most capable minds within the Wind Clan."
Yumi stayed silent.
Listening.
"He learns quickly. Observes well. Adapts faster than most adults."
A small pause.
"He is, by all accounts, a prodigy. One of the greatest."
Yumi's grip tightened slightly.
"But…" Sui continued, her tone softening, "despite all of that…"
She glanced back at Yumi.
"…he still behaves like a child."
Yumi blinked faintly.
"He laughs. Plays. Argues. Does dumb things sometimes."
A small pause.
"…And," Sui added gently, "he is quite stubborn, just like you."
Yumi's gaze dropped.
"…He's not like me."
The words came out low.
Heavy.
Certain.
Sui tilted her head slightly.
"…Who told you that?"
Yumi's expression hardened just a little.
"If you're saying that just to make me feel better," she said, her voice tightening, "then you shouldn't."
She looked away.
"…Don't pretend."
The air stilled.
Sui didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
She reached out.
And took Yumi's hand.
Yumi froze.
Her entire body tensed at the sudden contact.
"…W-What are you doing?!"
But Sui didn't let go.
Her grip was firm.
Warm.
Steady.
"You are correct," Sui said calmly.
"Kaito is not exactly the same as you."
Yumi's eyes flickered slightly.
"In fact," Sui continued, "you are quite different."
She spoke plainly.
Without hesitation.
"Kaito enjoys sweets."
Yumi's nose wrinkled slightly.
"You do not."
"Kaito enjoys training."
Yumi looked away.
"You do not."
"Kaito is exceptionally intelligent."
A small pause.
"You are… not to the same degree."
Yumi flinched.
Just slightly.
"But," Sui said, tightening her hold just a little,
"…you share the same blood."
Yumi's eyes shifted.
"You come from the same family."
Her voice softened.
"…You are part of the same being."
Yumi didn't pull her hand away.
She couldn't.
"You said you are not like him," Sui continued.
"And in many ways… you are correct."
A pause.
Then—
"But that does not mean you are less."
Yumi's breath caught slightly.
"I understand," Sui went on gently, "that you feel you are not like Kaito…"
Her thumb brushed lightly against the back of Yumi's hand.
"…but that is not something you need to become."
Yumi's lips parted slightly.
"…Then what am I supposed to do?" she whispered.
The question slipped out before she could stop it.
Sui's gaze softened.
"You do not need to become someone else," she said.
"You only need to allow others to see who you already are."
Yumi's fingers trembled slightly in her grasp.
"…They don't want to," she said quietly. "I tried."
Her voice cracked at the edge.
"I told them who I was…"
Sui shook her head gently.
"…That is not the same thing."
Yumi looked at her.
Confused.
"Telling people who you are," Sui said softly, "is not the same as letting them know you."
Silence fell again.
But this time—
It wasn't empty.
Yumi looked down at their hands.
At Sui's steady grip.
At the warmth that hadn't left.
"…I don't understand," she admitted quietly.
Sui gave a small, gentle smile.
"…That is alright."
A pause.
"You do not need to understand everything tonight."
The wind passed between them again.
Soft.
Calm.
And this time—
Yumi didn't pull her hand away.
The wind settled into a quiet rhythm around them.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Sui was the first to move.
"…Lady Yumi," she said softly, "it is getting late."
Yumi didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze lingered on the distant lights of the village—warm, flickering, alive.
"…We should return home," Sui added gently.
A small pause.
Then—
"…Okay."
The answer was quiet.
But it came without resistance.
Sui stood first, smoothing out her clothes before offering a hand.
Yumi looked at it for a second.
Then, without a word—
She took it.
They stood.
Side by side.
And began walking back.
The path home was calm.
The village had quieted, the earlier laughter fading into distant murmurs. Lanterns swayed gently above the stone walkways, casting soft, golden light beneath their feet.
Yumi walked a little closer than before.
Not holding on.
But not distant either.
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
The towering gates of the mansion came into view.
The guards straightened immediately as they approached.
"Welcome back, Lady Yumi."
Yumi gave a small nod.
Not sharp.
Not prideful.
Just… there.
The heavy doors opened.
The familiar silence of the mansion greeted them once more.
Inside—
Footsteps echoed.
From above.
A figure descended the grand staircase.
"Reiji," Sui acknowledged with a small bow.
Yumi's eyes lit up almost instantly.
"Brother Reiji!"
Before he could even fully step down—
She ran.
Reiji barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around him.
"…Yumi?"
He blinked, caught off guard, but his expression softened as he steadied himself.
"That's new," he muttered lightly.
He rested a hand on her head.
"…Where have you been?"
Yumi didn't answer.
Instead, she tightened her hold slightly.
Sui stepped forward calmly.
"Lady Yumi wished to spend some time observing the village this evening," she said smoothly. "I accompanied her."
Yumi's eyes flickered toward Sui.
Just for a second.
Then—
She smiled.
Small.
Grateful.
Sui returned it.
Just as quietly.
Reiji glanced between them.
He paused.
Then exhaled softly.
"…I see."
He didn't press further.
After a moment, Yumi pulled back.
"Where's Mother?" she asked quickly.
Reiji nodded toward the upper floor.
"She's in her chambers. Taking her bath."
Yumi's eyes brightened again.
"Okay!"
She turned immediately.
"I'm going to go join her!"
And just like that—
She ran up the stairs.
Her steps echoed, lighter than before.
Reiji watched her go, a faint hint of confusion lingering on his face.
"…She's in a better mood than I expected."
Sui folded her hands neatly in front of her.
"…Yes."
Her gaze followed Yumi's disappearing figure.
"…She is trying."
The mansion, though still vast—
Didn't feel quite as empty.