182 - Embraced

RAW

"Haruto, you won’t ever be alone. I’ll always stay by your side. As your family, right next to you."

Her words, spoken with a serious expression while looking straight into his eyes.

Hearing them, Haruto felt his heart gently being wrapped in warmth.

The loneliness and fear that had been gnawing at him until now suddenly eased.

"…Ayaka."

"It’s alright. I’ll be by your side. Tomorrow, and from now on, forever and always."

Ayaka’s words carried a certain strength.

They showed Haruto that they were honest, heartfelt words without a trace of falsehood.

"Thank you."

I’m not alone.

I won’t be alone.

He had lost his parents when he was little, lost his grandfather when he entered middle school, and now even his grandmother, the only family he had left, might be gone.

For Haruto, consumed by that fear, Ayaka’s words were immeasurably precious.

"Let’s get some proper rest, so tomorrow we can be ready to wait for Kiyoko-san to wake up."

"Yeah. You’re right."

Following Ayaka’s words, Haruto finally managed to lie down on the futon.

But when he closed his eyes, the darkness behind his eyelids felt like it might swallow him whole.

Then, lying there, Haruto suddenly felt himself embraced by a soft, gentle warmth.

"I’m here with you. It’s alright."

Ayaka’s voice whispered in his ear.

She lay down beside him, wrapped her arms around him, and held him close.

Pulled tightly into her chest, Haruto was enveloped in a warm sense of security.

Having lost his parents at a young age, Haruto had nearly forgotten what it felt like to be embraced by a mother.

But now, being held in Ayaka’s arms in the futon, faint memories resurfaced—those precious, scarce moments of closeness with his mother that had been buried deep within him.

"You’re not alone. I’ll always stay with you."

Her gentle, tender voice reached his ears.

The comfort transmitted from her body pressed against his.

And the steady heartbeat that pulsed from her chest.

All that Ayaka gave him softly eased the fear within Haruto and gently led him toward sleep.

At last, in Ayaka’s embrace, Haruto closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Ayaka gazed tenderly at her beloved sleeping in her arms, and before long, she too slowly departed into dreams.

The next morning, Haruto felt the sunlight filtering through the curtains and slowly opened his eyes.

And there, filling his vision, was the face of his beloved girlfriend sleeping peacefully.

Ayaka was still holding him in her arms as if wrapping him up, asleep in silence.

"Ayaka… thank you."

Haruto’s heart had been on the verge of being consumed by loneliness.

But thanks to Ayaka, who stayed close by his side, he was able to face himself.

The fear that had long lurked deep within him swelled up all at once when Kiyoko collapsed, as though it had been waiting for that very moment.

He had been desperately fighting to push it back, trying not to be swallowed whole.

But then, touched by the kindness of the Tōjō family, wrapped in Ayaka’s love, Haruto was finally able to accept that fear.

Before, in trying so hard to resist such an overwhelming fear, he had seen nothing else but that fear. But by accepting it, he found room in his heart.

And with that, beyond the fear of losing his only family—Kiyoko—he was able to hold onto hope that she would safely wake again.

He could wish to once more gather around the table with everyone, to share times full of laughter.

His beloved girlfriend had given him that strength.

Haruto gently held Ayaka, still asleep at his side.

"Mm… Haruto?"

"Good morning, Ayaka."

Haruto softly called out.

Ayaka blinked several times in a daze. Then, realizing she was being held by Haruto in the futon and that she too was holding him, her cheeks flushed red.

But only for an instant—right after, she turned her caring gaze toward Haruto.

"Good morning, Haruto. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Thanks to you, I slept soundly."

"That’s good."

Ayaka’s face brightened with relief and joy.

Moved by her heartfelt worry and affection, Haruto hugged her once more, full of gratitude and love.

In his arms, Ayaka narrowed her eyes slightly, as if ticklish.

"Mm… then, let’s get up and go see Kiyoko-san."

"Yeah. Let’s."

The two got out of bed, prepared themselves, and got ready to head to the hospital.

Shuichi once again drove them there.

Treating Haruto like his own son and even prioritizing him over work, Shuichi earned Haruto’s sincere gratitude.

"Thank you, Shuichi-san."

Haruto spoke toward the driver’s seat, and Shuichi smiled as he held the wheel.

"Haruto, you and Kiyoko-san are already like family to us. Putting family before work is only natural."

Shuichi’s reply carried no hesitation.

Beside them, Ayaka nodded firmly.

She, too, had chosen to skip school just to stay by Haruto’s side.

Haruto thought from the bottom of his heart.

That he was glad he had taken the housekeeping part-time job that summer.

That he was glad his very first clients had been the Tōjō family.

At the hospital, they passed the time in the waiting room until visiting hours for the ICU.

When the first visitation period at noon arrived, they entered the ICU’s visitor’s room again.

Kiyoko was still lying beyond the glass, surrounded by medical equipment, fast asleep.

Haruto slowly approached the glass separating the rooms.

"Grandma…"

Kiyoko’s eyes remained closed, her stillness accompanied by the monotonous beeping of monitors.

Quietly, Ayaka stepped up beside Haruto and gently squeezed his hand.

"Kiyoko-san, please wake up. Everyone’s waiting for you."

She called out through the glass.

"There are still so many things I want you to teach me. Cooking, knitting… so many things. So please, I beg you."

Ayaka spoke earnestly.

Looking at her profile, Haruto turned his gaze back to Kiyoko together with her.

There was no response. No answer.

The fear inside Haruto threatened to erupt again.

But the warmth given to him by the Tōjō family calmed it gently.

Soon, a nurse came to announce the end of visiting hours.

Haruto pressed his hand to the glass once more and spoke.

"I’ll come again, Grandma."

They left the visitor’s room and returned to the waiting area.

Worried that Haruto might be shaken by Kiyoko’s lack of response, Shuichi tried to reassure him.

"They say it’s common for elderly patients to take longer to wake from anesthesia after surgery."

"I see…"

"Yes. So I’m sure Kiyoko-san will be alright."

"Yes, you’re right."

Until yesterday, no matter what anyone said, Haruto’s heart had been filled only with fear, anxiety, and loneliness.

But now, supported by Shuichi’s reliability, embraced by Ikue’s kindness, saved by Ryota’s wishes, and enveloped in Ayaka’s love…

Haruto could clearly see the hope that lay within his fear.

"I’m sure… I’m sure Grandma will wake up."

Smiling, Haruto declared firmly. Shuichi responded with a strong nod.

Afterward, they spent some quiet time in the waiting room, eating a little convenience-store lunch.

Occasionally Shuichi stepped out to call his company, but otherwise nothing much changed.

Haruto and Ayaka simply counted down the time until the next visit.

Then, suddenly, they heard hurried footsteps outside, and a nurse entered the waiting room.

Scanning the room, she spotted Haruto and smiled brightly.

"Your grandmother has regained consciousness."

"!! R-really?!"

Haruto leapt up from the sofa at the nurse’s words.

"Yes, I’ll take you to the visiting room."

"Y-yes! Please!"

Haruto exchanged a look with Ayaka, then followed the nurse eagerly.

In the visitor’s room, he looked beyond the glass.

There, surrounded by doctors and nurses checking her vitals, was Kiyoko.

"Grandma!!"

As soon as Haruto entered, he rushed forward, trying to get as close to her as possible.

Placing both hands on the glass, he called out once more in a loud voice.

"Grandma!!"

Until now, no matter how many times he had called, she had shown no response, only sleeping quietly.

But this time, she reacted to Haruto’s voice.

Turning slowly from the doctor, she moved her face toward the faint sound through the glass.

And when her eyes met those of her beloved grandson, deep wrinkles formed into a smile.

The instant Haruto saw his precious family’s smile, his heart filled with relief. Then, that relief turned into joy that spilled from his eyes.

"Thank goodness… thank goodness…"

He wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

Ayaka, who had arrived a moment later, gently embraced him.

"We did it, Haruto! Now we can all live together again!"

"Yeah! Yeah!!"

Haruto hugged her back, sharing their joy together.

A little apart from them, Shuichi exhaled in relief, smiling softly as he murmured,

"Now the whole family is truly together again."