180 - Family

RAW

Haruto called out through the large glass.

“Grandma!”

Kiyoko had a breathing mask attached, and various medical devices surrounded her bed.

But aside from those, Kiyoko looked as if she were just sleeping quietly.

Haruto felt relieved knowing she wasn’t suffering. Yet at the same time, a terrifying unease welled up in his chest.

A sad image resurfaced in his mind.

The face of his grandfather, beautiful and peaceful, eyes closed in a coffin.

That image overlapped with Kiyoko lying on the bed.

Haruto desperately shook his head, trying to drive away the terrible thought.

“Grandma... please... wake up...”

He reached out his hand to her.

But his hand was blocked by the glass between them.

Cold, hard, and inorganic, that barrier made Haruto lower his gaze.

Loneliness pressed down on him.

A piercing sense of loss tore at his heart relentlessly.

“...Grandma... please...”

Haruto clenched his fists until they turned white, pressing his powerless frustration against the glass.

“Don’t leave me alone... don’t leave me behind...”

Like a lost child, weak and small, a whispered cry escaped him.

His body trembled lightly.

It was so cold.

From deep within, he felt an icy chill as if his heart itself was filled with ice.

At that moment, he was suddenly wrapped in a gentle warmth.

“Haruto, Kiyoko-san will definitely wake up.”

A kind, compassionate voice reached his ears.

Ayaka hugged the trembling Haruto from behind, wrapping him as if to warm him.

“It was a tough surgery, so she’s just tired. She’s only sleeping and resting. She’ll wake up soon. It’ll be alright.”

“Yeah... thank you.”

Haruto nodded and placed his hand over hers.

The warmth from her hands calmed his heart just a little.

Following Ayaka, Shuichi also spoke words of encouragement to Haruto.

“Kiyoko-san cares about you more than anything. She would never leave you alone like this.”

“Yes... you’re right.”

Haruto felt grateful to Ayaka and Shuichi, who stayed by his side and comforted him.

He forced a smile, lifting his cheeks.

“I’ll believe in grandma and wait.”

Haruto’s smile was twisted, as if enduring pain.

It was the best he could do for now.

Still, Ayaka squeezed his hand tightly, and Shuichi nodded firmly.

The ICU’s visiting hours were strictly limited to protect patients’ rest and prevent infections, so after about 30 minutes, the nurse urged them to leave.

Haruto and the others were guided to the waiting room just beside the ICU.

“ICU visits are only twice a day, at noon and evening. The next visit is at 6 pm,” Shuichi informed Haruto after talking with the nurse.

“Thank you, Shuichi-san. Truly, thank you,” Haruto said, sincerely grateful for Shuichi’s calm support since Kiyoko had fallen ill.

Just imagining being alone when Kiyoko collapsed sent chills down his spine.

“No need to worry. For now, let’s just pray for Kiyoko-san’s recovery.”

“Yes...”

“There’s some time before the next visit. Want me to get something to eat?”

“No... I can’t eat right now,” Haruto shook his head slightly, unable to swallow due to worry.

“That’s fine. I’ll just get some tea. Ayaka, do you want anything?”

“Just tea is fine for me too.”

“Got it. I’ll be back soon.”

Shuichi left the waiting room.

Left alone, Haruto thanked Ayaka, who stayed close.

“Ayaka, thank you. If you weren’t here, I don’t think I’d still be sane. Really, thank you.”

Ayaka smiled gently and softly held his hand.

“I hope Kiyoko-san wakes up soon.”

“Yeah.”

Facing the unbearable fear of possibly losing family, the warmth Ayaka gave felt like a lighthouse to Haruto.

They waited in the waiting room for news from the nurses.

But no call came that Kiyoko had woken.

Soon it was time for the second visit.

Back in the ICU visiting room, Haruto rushed to the glass again.

Kiyoko was still quietly sleeping.

The cold monitor sounds echoed from the treatment room.

Multiple IV lines connected.

An oxygen mask covering her mouth.

Seeing Kiyoko’s painful state squeezed Haruto’s chest painfully.

“Grandma... please wake up soon...”

Haruto’s anguished whisper drew no response.

She kept sleeping quietly.

The second visit ended as quickly as the first, with no change.

As Shuichi spoke with the nurse about leaving, he gently put a hand on Haruto’s back.

“Haruto-kun, the next visit is tomorrow at noon. You should go home for now.”

“B-but...”

“I understand your worry. But Kiyoko-san’s surgery was successful, and her condition is stable. It’s okay.”

Shuichi calmly persuaded him to go home.

“Also, you should rest a bit too. You haven’t slept or eaten since Kiyoko fell. I’m not telling you to force yourself, but try to lie down and rest.”

Haruto looked down.

He understood Shuichi was right.

Staying at the hospital wouldn’t let him see her or help — he’d just pace the waiting room.

Still, he felt a terrifying resistance to leaving her side.

Even if he couldn’t see her, being apart filled him with overwhelming fear.

Feeling that fear, Ayaka came close and gently hugged him.

“Haruto, let’s go home and rest, okay? If you collapse, Kiyoko-san will be shocked when she wakes. You need to rest so you can greet her with a smile.”

“...Yeah. You’re right.”

Haruto nodded weakly, leaning on Ayaka as they left the hospital.

On the way to the Tojo family home in Shuichi’s car,

The farther they went from the hospital, the more anxiety and fear swelled inside him.

Each time, Ayaka hugged him tightly and whispered, “It’s okay,” over and over.

When they arrived at the Tojo home, they were greeted by Ikue and Ryota.

“Welcome home.”

Ikue’s gentle smile greeted them.

But Haruto couldn’t respond, only nodding silently.

Ryota spoke with a worried look.

“Grandma? Isn’t grandma coming home?”

“Ryota, Kiyoko-san is still in the hospital.”

Ikue explained, stroking Ryota’s head while keeping contact with Shuichi.

“The hospital? Grandma got sick? Is she going to be okay?”

The sudden ambulance and Kiyoko’s hospitalization shocked Ryota deeply; his eyes welled as he looked at Haruto.

Haruto’s heart ached, and he crouched down to meet Ryota’s eyes.

“Grandma is just tired from surgery. She’s sleeping.”

“Just sleeping because she’s tired? Then when she wakes up, we can all eat together again!”

Ryota’s cheerful words squeezed Haruto’s heart.

His swirling loneliness, anxiety, and fear spilled out as words.

“Yeah... but maybe... she’s too tired to wake up...”

Haruto’s usual kind smile twisted into a painful expression.

Ryota’s face instantly filled with worry.

“Big brother...?”

“If she doesn’t wake... I’ll be all alone... no family left...”

Haruto lowered his gaze, unable to meet Ryota’s eyes.

“If that happens... what should I do...?”

His trembling voice was weak and childlike, unlike his usual self.

Seeing that, Ryota’s face tightened with determination.

“No! That’s not true!!”

“...Huh?”

Startled by Ryota’s sudden outburst, Haruto opened his eyes wide.

Ryota clenched his fists and shouted.

“You won’t be alone, big brother!!”

Then, without hesitation, Ryota turned and ran down the hallway.

Ayaka called after him.

“Ryota?!”

But Ryota didn’t look back and disappeared into the living room.

Ikue apologized quietly to Haruto.

“I’m sorry. I explained to Ryota, but...”

“It’s okay,” Haruto smiled weakly.

“Haruto-kun, let’s go inside.”

Shuichi urged gently, and Haruto nodded to take off his shoes.

At that moment, Ryota suddenly appeared from the living room, running back with something in his arms.

He stopped in front of Haruto, looking up seriously.

“You won’t be alone, big brother!!”

He repeated his words and tightly gripped a homemade “wedding savings box.”

“Because! If you marry Ayaka, we become family!”

He held out the “wedding savings box” to Haruto.

Haruto was speechless, unable to react to the sudden development.

Ryota continued without pause.

“You can’t get married because you don’t have money, right? I’ve been saving a lot since then! Look!”

Though Ayaka asked to see inside, Ryota refused to let anyone touch it.

Before anyone could stop him, he broke open the milk-carton-made savings box with both hands.

The torn opening let out coins jingling as they spilled onto the hallway floor.

The scattered coins were the hard-earned treasure of a five-year-old who worked hard for the beloved “big brother” and “big sister.”

Ryota gathered the coins as fast as he could.

“Look! I collected this much!”

Moved by Ryota’s earnest effort, Haruto felt a huge wave in his heart.

“Ryota...”

Ryota carefully picked up many ten and fifty yen coins.

“I even have hundred yen coins and some five hundred yen coins!”

He found the few five hundred yen coins and said proudly.

For a five-year-old, this pile of coins must have seemed like a fortune.

Every day, Ryota had been steadily saving.

Without hesitation, he gave it all to Haruto.

“I’ll give you all of it!! With this, you can marry Ayaka!”

Haruto was speechless at Ryota’s innocent, pure, and naive words.

“If you get married, big brother will be family with us! So you’ll never be alone!!”

Ryota pleaded desperately.

Seeing this, Haruto’s heart trembled and tears welled up in his eyes.

“…Thank you… thank you, Ryota… truly, thank you.”

Haruto hugged Ryota tightly, repeating words of gratitude over and over.

On his back, Ryota gently patted him.

“I love you, big brother. Grandma will be okay too, I’m sure.”

Ryota’s small hands conveyed his caring heart, trying to dispel the fear and anxiety inside Haruto.

“So, let’s all become ‘family’ together.”

At Ryota’s heartfelt wish, Haruto nodded through his tears.

Watching Haruto and Ryota embrace, Ayaka quietly wiped the tears from her eyes.

Then she hugged both of them tightly.

“That’s right. Haruto, you’re not alone. We’re all here with you.”

“Thank you, Ayaka.”

Following her, Ikue spread her arms wide, wrapping around the children.

“Yes. We will never let Haruto be alone.”

Finally, Shuichi embraced the entire family warmly.

“Exactly. Let’s all pray together for Kiyoko-san’s recovery.”

Wrapped in the Tojo family’s warmth, Haruto poured out the fear he had held inside, crying big tears.

“Th-thank you… truly… thank you so much…”

The tears he shed for the first time since Kiyoko’s collapse were filled with the kindness of the Tojo family.