That morning, the air was still cold and a thin layer of dew clung to the glass windows. The men's bedroom remained quiet, only the sound of Shu's steady breathing breaking the silence as he slept soundly on the futon.
Raku opened his eyes slowly, glancing at the wall clock. The long hand had just passed twelve.
"Five a.m. again?" he murmured softly, his voice almost swallowed by the silence. He sat up, rubbing his face briefly. "Did I always wake up this early… before the amnesia…?"
He rose carefully, stepping out without waking Shu. His body stretched, joints creaking slightly from the cold, then he walked toward the men's bath.
As soon as he slid open the door, warm steam greeted him. The familiar scent of wood and hot water filled the room. Raku entered, removed his clothes, and slowly lowered himself into the hot water. The warmth spread, making his body feel lighter.
On the other side, Claude was already there, sitting calmly with a straight-ahead gaze. Hearing the splash of water, he turned.
"Bocchan?" Claude was slightly surprised, his voice low but clear. "You're awake? Good morning. Couldn't sleep?"
Raku turned, also a little surprised to see Claude there. Yet his expression remained calm.
"Good morning, Claude," he said politely. "No, it's not that I couldn't sleep. Somehow, ever since I lost my memory after the hospital… my body always wakes up at five a.m. No alarm, no sound at all. I just… wake up suddenly."
Claude stared at Raku for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing slightly as if considering something. He then let out a small sigh, letting the steam rise and cover his face.
"…Hm. Strange indeed," he said briefly. "But perhaps your body is still accustomed to the old routine before the amnesia."
Raku didn't answer. He just stared at the calm rippling surface of the water, letting the warmth seep into his muscles. No deep thoughts, no anxiety. Only… a silence that felt both strange and soothing.
Claude leaned back again, seeming too lazy to think further. To him, Bocchan sitting with a blank and peaceful expression felt different from the Raku he once knew—yet he had no intention of bringing it up.
The two of them soaked in silence, accompanied only by the occasional gentle ripple of the water.
Shu stirred lightly on the futon, his eyes still half-closed. The winter sunlight filtering through the shoji made him snort softly. He raised a hand, covering his face briefly, before finally rising half-lazily.
"…Hhh… morning already, huh," he murmured hoarsely. His gaze immediately went to the side—Raku's futon. Empty.
Shu blinked, rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't mistaken. "Huh? Raku…? But he slept here last night." He glanced at the wall clock. The long hand pointed to twelve, the short hand directly at six. "Six a.m.? Already gone?"
With a half-amused, half-surprised expression, Shu stood up, straightening the futon as best as he could. He left the men's guest room, walking along the cold wooden corridor, the floorboards creaking softly with each step.
Shu peeked toward the snow-covered garden through the window. "No way he's playing in the snow this early… so where could he be…?"
His steps led him to the men's bath. From behind the door, the faint sound of water splashing could be heard. Shu raised an eyebrow. "Oh, don't tell me…"
He slid the door open slowly, the familiar scent of hot steam immediately enveloping him. Sure enough, inside the bath, Raku sat calmly in the water, half-submerged, his face relaxed as if undisturbed by the cold outside. Claude was on the other side, soaking with his usual formal demeanor.
"This early, you're already here?" Shu spoke, making Raku turn his head.
"Oh, Shu. Good morning," Raku replied briefly, his face innocent.
Shu leaned against the doorframe, chuckling. "I thought you'd still be sleeping soundly. Turns out you have the habit of waking up this early, huh."
Raku shrugged. "I don't know… ever since I woke up at the hospital, my body always awakens at five. No alarm, no sound."
Claude only murmured lightly, "…Bocchan's body routine seems to remain even though his memories are erased."
Shu smiled slyly, looking at Raku. "Hhh… so even amnesia can't change your habits, huh? You're still Raku. Well, in that case, I don't need to worry anymore."
Raku simply nodded gently, his eyes returning to the gently rippling water, while Shu stared at his friend with mixed feelings.
.....
That morning, the living room for the girls felt warm with winter sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains. The snow outside was still thick, but inside, the aroma of warm tea and futons still holding a comforting scent created a different atmosphere.
Ruri opened her eyes first. With her hair slightly messy, she rose slowly from the futon. Her gaze swept toward the window, coated with a thin layer of dew. She let out a quiet sigh.
"…The snow is still falling. Seems like this really is a harsh winter this year."
Not long after, Onodera stirred lightly on the futon beside her. Her hair was messy, her cheeks still flushed from the cold. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes as she looked at Ruri.
"Good morning, Ruri-chan…" she said in a hoarse, sleepy voice.
"Morning," Ruri replied briefly, but a faint smile appeared on her face seeing Onodera's innocent expression just waking up.
Chitoge, who slept a little apart, had been snoring softly before finally waking due to their quiet voices. She blinked several times, then sat up somewhat lazily. Her blonde hair was tousled, making her look more natural than usual.
"Aaah… so cold… morning, you guys," she said, pulling the blanket over her shoulders.
Onodera turned her head, smiling faintly. "Good morning, Chitoge-chan."
Chitoge stretched, then grabbed a small pillow and hugged it. "I didn't expect to sleep this well here. Raku's house… even though it's big, it feels warm too."
Ruri crossed her arms, her voice calm but gentle. "That's because the Ichijou family… even though they're Yakuza, they maintain the warmth of their home. Feels like a big, lively family."
Onodera smiled, seeming to agree. "Yes… I can feel that too. At first, it was a bit awkward, but everyone was so kind."
Chitoge lowered her head slightly, her expression softening. "I also… I thought it would be awkward, especially with Claude watching over me. But… somehow I feel comfortable. Even, to be honest… I've never experienced a Christmas this warm before."
A brief silence enveloped the room. The three girls exchanged glances, small smiles appearing in different ways. Ruri with her faint smile, Onodera gently, and Chitoge with a slightly shy expression.
Onodera then tapped her cheek lightly. "Seems like we should get ready soon. Maybe someone will come to wake us up shortly."
Chitoge stood with renewed energy, even though her hair was still messy. "Yes! Let's make this morning more lively. If I help, maybe I can prepare breakfast for everyone."
Ruri only shrugged, but her tone was clear. "…As long as you don't make the kitchen a mess, go ahead."
Chitoge huffed indignantly, "Hey! I can cook too, you know!" while Onodera stifled a small laugh at their warm interaction.