Ita woke slowly.
For a moment, he didn't remember where he was.
The room felt too warm.
Too quiet.
No shouting.
No footsteps pacing outside the door.
No sudden banging that made his heart jump before he was fully awake.
Just soft morning light spilling through the curtains.
And the quiet sound of someone moving nearby.
Ita blinked and pushed himself up slightly.
Kiel was already awake.
He was kneeling on the floor, carefully folding the blanket he'd used, trying not to make too much noise. When he noticed Ita was watching, he gave a small, sleepy smile.
"morning " Kiel said softly.
Ita rubbed his eyes, still a little disoriented. "morning…"
"i didn't want to wake you.." Kiel added. "you look like you actually needed sleep"
Actually needed the sleep.
The words stuck with Ita.
No one had ever cared enough to let him sleep before.
At home, mornings were loud.
Rough.
A hand on his shoulder that was never gentle.
A voice that was always sharp.
Sometimes a slap if he didn't get up fast enough.
That was how his day usually started.
Here,
It was just quiet.
The door opened a little.
Kiel's mom peeked inside, smiling warmly when she saw Ita awake.
"Good morning " she said. "breakfast is ready! "
Her voice was bright. Kind. Like she was happy they were both there.
Ita froze for a second.
He wasn't used to being greeted like that.
Kiel stretched his arms over his head. "Smells good,im staarving."
"Then come eat befire it gets cold" she laughed softly, stepping back into the hallway.
Ita followed Kiel downstairs, his steps slow, unsure.
The kitchen felt full.
Not crowded.
Just… alive.
The table was already set. Plates. Cups. Warm food laid out neatly. Kiel's dad was reading something on his phone, but he looked up when they walked in.
"Morning, boys." he said easily.
Ita mumbled a quiet, "morning.."
"sleep okay?" Kiel's mom asked, placing another plate on the table.
Ita nodded. "yes, thank you."
She smiled again, the same gentle smile as before. "Good, eat as much as you want."
Eat as much as you want.
Ita sat down carefully, almost stiff.
At home, breakfast didn't exist most days.
If it did, it was silent.
Tense.
And never meant for him.
He stared at the plate in front of him for a second too long.
Kiel noticed. "go on " he said, nudging him lightly. "before i steal yours."
Ita gave a small, awkward nod and picked up his fork.
The food was warm.
Simple.
But it made something twist painfully in his chest.
This was normal.
This was what mornings were supposed to feel like.
And it made him feel strange.
Jealous.
Back at his house, mornings started with cold floors and colder voices.
Sometimes anger.
Sometimes silence that felt worse.
Here, there was laughter.
Soft talking.
Kiel's parents didn't ignore him. They didn't stare at him like he was a problem.
They talked to him.
"So, Ita." Kiel's dad said gently, "What subjects do you like at school?"
Not demanding.
Just curious.
Ita hesitated. "Math… I guess..."
Kiel groaned. "Of course you do. You're the only one who actually answer the questions correctly."
His mom chuckled. "Thats a good thing. We need more people who like math."
Ita wasn't sure how to respond, so he just nodded slightly.
But the conversation kept going.
Kiel's mom talked about how she used to hate math when she was younger.
Kiel's dad mentioned a funny story about getting in trouble at school for sleeping in class.
None of it felt forced.
No one was pushing him.
No one was demanding answers.
They just included him.
Like he was supposed to be there.
Ita felt his face grow warm.
Embarrassment settled in his chest.
Like he didn't belong in this place.
Like he was sitting in someone else's life.
He kept his eyes down, eating quietly, trying not to take up too much space.
But every now and then, Kiel's mom would smile at him.
Or Kiel would bump his elbow lightly.
Or his dad would ask him something simple, like if he liked video games.
And for a moment,
Just a moment,
It felt like he was part of something.
Something normal.
Something safe.
And that feeling scared him more than anything.
Because it reminded him of what he didn't have.
And what he would eventually have to go back to.