Adrian didn't notice when the house stopped feeling unfamiliar.
It didn't happen all at once.
It wasn't a big moment.
It was small things.
The way he walked through the halls without thinking.
The way he knew where everyone would be at certain times.
The way he didn't hesitate before entering a room.
It just… happened.
And one day, he realized—
He wasn't adjusting anymore.
He was living in it.
—
That morning, Adrian walked into the kitchen before anyone else.
That was new.
Usually, someone was already there.
But this time, it was quiet.
He stood there for a second, looking around.
Then walked to the counter, opened one of the cabinets, and took out a glass.
No hesitation.
No second guessing.
He knew where it was.
That alone made him pause.
"…I remember this," he muttered.
Not from before.
From now.
From being here.
The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts.
Alessio walked in, stopping when he saw him.
"You're up early."
Adrian shrugged.
"…Couldn't sleep."
Alessio glanced at the glass in his hand.
"You got it yourself."
Adrian looked at it.
"…Yeah."
Alessio nodded slightly.
"That's good."
Adrian didn't respond.
But he understood what that meant.
—
At breakfast, things felt normal again.
Not quiet.
Not tense.
Just… normal.
Nico was talking too much, Dante was half-listening, Marco was watching everything like usual.
Adrian sat down beside Alessio.
"Morning," Nico said.
"…Morning," Adrian replied.
Simple.
Natural.
Not forced.
Dante looked at him.
"You look less tired."
Adrian shrugged.
"…A little."
Marco didn't say anything, but his eyes stayed on Adrian for a second longer than usual.
Adrian noticed.
But he didn't feel uncomfortable.
—
After breakfast, Adrian didn't go straight to get his bag.
He stayed.
That was new.
He leaned back slightly in his chair, listening to the conversation.
Not planning to leave.
Not waiting for an excuse.
Just staying.
Alessio noticed.
"You're not rushing today."
Adrian shook his head.
"…No reason to."
Alessio nodded.
"Yeah."
That was it.
No questions.
No pressure.
—
At school, things continued the same way.
Steady.
Simple.
Adrian met Mira at the entrance again.
"You're getting consistent," she said.
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…With what?"
"Showing up where you say you will," she replied.
Adrian thought about it.
"…That's normal."
She smiled a little.
"For you, maybe."
Adrian didn't respond.
But he didn't argue either.
—
During class, Adrian didn't feel out of place.
He followed along.
Answered when needed.
Even helped someone sitting behind him who didn't understand something.
That surprised him.
Not because he couldn't do it.
But because he chose to.
After class, the student said, "Thanks."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
And that was enough.
—
At lunch, things felt even easier.
Mira sat with them again.
No hesitation.
No awkwardness.
"You're different today," she said.
Adrian looked at her.
"…You say that a lot."
She shrugged.
"Because it keeps happening."
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
Then said,
"…I think I'm just more comfortable."
Mira nodded.
"That makes sense."
Alessio glanced at him.
"You are."
Adrian looked at him.
"…It's obvious?"
"Yeah," Alessio said. "But not in a bad way."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
—
After school, Adrian didn't feel like leaving immediately.
He stayed near the gate for a few extra minutes.
Not waiting for anything specific.
Just… standing there.
Mira noticed.
"You're not in a hurry today."
Adrian shook his head.
"…No."
"That's new."
Adrian looked at her.
"…I guess."
She smiled slightly.
"Good new."
Adrian didn't disagree.
—
Back at the mansion, something shifted again.
But this time, it wasn't inside Adrian.
It was outside.
Or rather—
It was how he saw it.
He walked into the living room, expecting the usual.
Nico arguing.
Dante making comments.
Someone watching TV.
And it was all there.
Exactly the same.
But this time—
It didn't feel like something he was stepping into.
It felt like something he was already part of.
He didn't stop at the entrance.
He walked in and sat down without thinking.
"Finally decided to join us properly," Dante said.
Adrian glanced at him.
"…I've been here."
"Not like this," Dante replied.
Adrian didn't argue.
Because he knew what he meant.
—
Later that evening, Adrian went upstairs.
Not to avoid anyone.
Just because he wanted to.
He stopped in the hallway, looking around.
The doors.
The walls.
The quiet.
It didn't feel unfamiliar anymore.
It didn't feel temporary.
It didn't feel like he could be taken away from it at any moment.
It felt steady.
That was the difference.
"…This is my room," he said quietly, glancing at his door.
Not a question.
A statement.
—
He went inside and sat on his bed.
For a moment, he just looked around.
The desk.
The notebook.
The small things he had started to leave around.
They weren't placed carefully anymore.
They were just… there.
Because he expected them to stay.
Because he expected to stay.
—
He opened his notebook.
Not out of habit.
But because he wanted to.
He wrote—
It feels normal now
He paused.
Then added—
The house doesn't feel чуж anymore
He frowned slightly at the word, then crossed it out and rewrote—
The house doesn't feel strange anymore
He leaned back slightly.
Reading it again.
Then wrote one more line.
It feels like home
He stared at that for a long time.
Because that word—
Home—
It wasn't something he used easily.
Not before.
Not after everything.
But now—
It didn't feel wrong.
It didn't feel forced.
It just felt… true.
—
That night, Adrian didn't think about the past.
Not first.
Not second.
Not even later.
He thought about the house.
The people in it.
The way things had changed.
The way he had changed.
"…I'm staying," he said quietly.
Not because someone told him.
Not because he had nowhere else to go.
But because he wanted to.
And for the first time—
That choice felt real.
Adrian closed his eyes slowly.
And the silence around him didn't feel empty.
It felt safe.
And that was something he never thought he'd have again.
But now—
He did.