There's a strange soothing voice... A really nostalgic one. Haruka ran towards the door, opened it, and ran towards the main room. There, Haruka saw his older sister, Sakura. He was so happy that he ran to Sakura.
Haruka's voice, bright yet quivering, pierced the air.
"BIG SIIIISSSS!!!!!!!!!! I MISSED YOU!" He wore a façade of joy, but his reddened eyes betrayed the truth.
Sakura, weary from her long journey, caught a glimpse of the familiar chaos of home; on the sofa, Kenjiro Yamado nonchalantly lounged with Marie in his lap. Despite her exhaustion, the sight of Haruka somehow flickered warmth within her.
"Oh! Haruka!... I missed you a lot, too... But why are Mom and Dad not themselves?" she asked, her tone mingling curiosity with concern.
Haruka wiped away stray tears, his heart heavy. "Well, they had an argument, you know…" The ache in his chest grew sharper as he spoke, the weight of unhappy revelations settling around him.
Sakura shook her head. "Ugh... Classic them. But Haruka, why are your eyes red?"
His nervous stutter betrayed him. "Well... you know... It's just…"
While Kenjiro remained preoccupied with Marie, Sakura rose from the comfort of the couch and drifted toward Haruka's room. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Miyamaru sat in the living room, silent yet attending to Kenjiro and the baby, their own turmoil hidden beneath superficial niceties.
As Sakura entered Haruka's room, she perched herself on the edge of the bed—a sanctuary of shared memories that whispered of childhood laughter and muted sorrow.
This room held the essence of their upbringing: a bittersweet concoction of warmth, love, and pain.
With a shade of nostalgia, Sakura inquired, "So... what happened? I told them I was coming today, but they still fought. Did it have to be today? Don't they realize how their arguments ripple through the air, affecting everyone around? The neighbors are surely gossiping…"
Haruka's voice trembled as he began to recount the events, striving for composure yet failing miserably. Tears brimmed in his eyes, and a sense of melancholy surrounded him like a shroud. At twelve, he wore a guise of maturity that belied the confusion swirling within. As he spoke about their mother's hurtful words, the dam inside him broke. Sakura, sensing his vulnerability, wrapped her arms around him. She let him lean against her, allowing the sobs to escape without a whisper of judgment.
In that moment, they were simply siblings, sheltering each other amidst the turmoil that defined their lives.
"You are strong," Sakura whispered softly, her voice soothing like a balm.
"Don't be sad. Your mother is hurt too. Sometimes, words aren't spoken from the heart…" Gradually, the storm within Haruka settled, the tears subsiding as he soaked in her warmth.
"I must be lucky to have a sister like you… I'm glad you came today. *sob*… It was easier to bear all that chaos when you were here…"
Sakura chuckled lightly, promising him her return in a few months for a week's stay.
Right now, they have spent almost a week together. Time spent together breathed life back into their weary hearts, bringing laughter and lightness to their otherwise shadowed home. The arguments between their parents faded into a distant murmur, and each fleeting day brimmed with joy—pillow fights, games, and laughter found a fleeting sanctuary in their togetherness.
The bond formed between Haruka and Kenjiro blossomed into something akin to brotherhood, a reprieve from the specters of home. But as all good things do, the day of departure arrived. Mr. and Mrs. Miyamaru expressed quiet sadness, waving goodbye as though relinquishing a part of themselves with each gesture. Haruka, tears threatening again, masked his sadness with a wide grin. He knew she would return. He waved and exchanged a final handshake with Kenjiro, telling baby Marie, only eight months old, to visit again soon. As they departed, Haruka and his parents returned to the house, the echo of goodbye hanging in the air.
Mere moments later, Mrs. Miyamaru's phone rang, cutting through the silence.
"Hello, Sis?" Haruka picked up the phone and answered, his heart clenched not with despair but a flicker of hope.
"Oh, Haruka, just a few last words," she said softly.
"Stay strong. Don't let worry consume you; we'll come back soon. Always text me if you feel weighed down by it all. I'll be here for you, always. We just boarded the airplane, A-0174. We'll call you again when we land in California, alright?"
Haruka's tone was a blend of sadness and a glimmer of reassurance.
"Alright… Got it, Sis… Have a safe journey!" "Take care!"
Sakura laughed gently before hanging up, leaving behind the warmth of connection that lingered in the air, promising to bridge the distance until they could embrace once more.
It's been 8 hours since the last call, Haruka was watching a move in TV, then his dad said to switch to the news channel. Haruka, without a second thought, gave the remote to his dad and was walking away, wondering if Sakura said it takes almost 13 hours or even 12 to have a journey from California to Japan. So they must be near...A few more hours and they will call again.
But suddenly his ear catches the news...the reporter says, "We lost contact with Airplane A-0174..."
No more details, but hearing this many lines was enough to frighten Haruka... He says with a horrified tone...loud enough for Mr. and Mrs. Miyamaru to hear it, "T-that's the airplane, sister and others are in!"
Mr. and Mrs. Miyamaru were shocked by this news, refusing to believe reality. Haruka was shocked the most...
Just about then, there was a call on Mrs. Miyamaru's phone again...