As soon as they stepped inside, Arashi's mother noticed him and rushed forward. "Arashi!" she gasped, pulling him toward the sofa. Her hands trembled as she checked his arms and face, her eyes scanning every bruise.
"What happened to you?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.
Arashi gave a small, uneasy smile. "It's nothing, Mom… I wasn't careful, that's all. I… I got into a fight. It was my fault."
His mother froze for a moment, then shook her head slowly, her gaze piercing right through him. "No, Arashi. Don't lie to me."
Arashi looked down, unsure what to say. But his mother gently lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her eyes. Her voice softened, yet carried certainty. "I am your mother. I know you better than anyone. You're not the kind of boy who fights just because someone insults you. You never cared about what people said about you. But you… you can't stand it when someone insults or hurts others. That's when you step in."
Arashi's lips parted, but no words came out. She smiled faintly, brushing his messy hair from his forehead. "Be careful, Arashi. I know your heart is strong, but don't put yourself in danger recklessly. You don't have to carry the weight of others alone."
For a moment, the room was silent. Arashi looked away, guilt pressing in his chest — she had seen right through him. Finally, he whispered, "I'll be more careful… I promise."
After Arashi's mother gently wrapped his wounds in bandages, she smiled softly and said, "Enough for now. Dinner is ready—go fix yourself up and eat first."
Arashi nodded, his body heavy with exhaustion. After dinner, he and Ren went straight to their room. Both of them collapsed into their beds, too tired to even remember the truth-and-dare game they had planned earlier.
But in another corner of the house, Ayane sat in her room, her thoughts restless. She had been waiting for tonight—hoping to use the game as a chance to learn more about Arashi, to see another side of him. Why didn't they come? she thought, a faint disappointment lingering in her chest.
As she lay down to sleep, a voice suddenly echoed behind her. "Let's play truth or dare."
Ayane turned, startled. Elara stood there with a mischievous grin. "Come on, it'll be fun. Just us girls."
At first Ayane shook her head. "I'm not in the mood…"But Elara insisted, and finally, Ayane gave in with a small sigh. Soon, they all sat in a circle, spinning the bottle on the floor.
The bottle spun swiftly, then slowed… until it pointed directly at Ayane. She hesitated, then said quietly, "Truth."
Aurelia's lips curved into a knowing smile. She leaned forward, her eyes glinting as if she already had the perfect question. "Alright then, Ayane… tell us this—what do you truly feel about Arashi after what happened today? I mean, the way he fought… and the way he came back, hiding his pain from everyone. Did it change how you see him?"
Ayane's breath caught. She hadn't expected such a direct question. For a moment, she tried to laugh it off. "That's… that's a strange question."
But all of the cousins leaned closer, waiting. Ayane's cheeks warmed as she lowered her gaze. Slowly, her voice softened.
"When I saw him… I felt something I can't really explain. He wasn't just throwing punches. He was protecting… protecting without hesitation, without caring about himself. And when he returned, acting as if nothing had happened—hiding the pain just so his mother wouldn't worry…" She paused, clutching the edge of her sleeve.
"It made me realize… he's not like others. He carries so much inside, but never shows it. And that's why…" Her voice faltered, but she forced herself to continue, "…that's why I wanted to play truth or dare with him tonight. I thought maybe, through that silly game, I'd get to know the parts of him he never says out loud."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity. Aurelia exchanged a quick glance with Elara, both of them quietly smiling. They had gotten their answer, and it was more revealing than Ayane herself realized.
Ayane's face flushed as she turned away. "T-that's enough. Next turn."
But deep inside, she knew her heart had taken a step closer to Arashi.
Just as the bottle was about to spin for another turn, the door creaked open. Aunt stepped inside, her voice firm but gentle. "Girls, that's enough. Go to sleep now—it's too late for games."
The three of them exchanged quick glances, but none dared to argue. With soft sighs, they quietly slipped back into their beds.
Ayane, however, lay awake for a while, her eyes tracing the ceiling in the darkness. Maybe… once Aunt leaves, we'll start playing again, she thought hopefully. But as she glanced around, she realized the others had already drifted into deep sleep.
Disappointed, she closed her eyes and slowly surrendered to slumber.
The days that followed passed quietly, with nothing particularly special happening. Yet for Ayane, something inside her was changing. The memory of Arashi, his quiet strength, and the way he endured pain without complaint replayed in her mind again and again.
Each time she thought of him, her heart beat faster. Her curiosity to know him—to understand what he carried within—grew stronger with every passing day. And with that curiosity, so did her feelings.
A week later, the cousins' last night finally arrived. By now, most of Arashi's wounds had healed.
That evening, Seraphine gathered Arashi and Ren with a mischievous grin. "Since tonight is our last night here, you two better not think about sleeping early. Remember—we have to play Truth or Dare."
Arashi blinked, then glanced at Ren.
Ren chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Ohh… right! I'd almost forgotten. Has it really been a week already? Time really does fly."
Seraphine folded her arms, narrowing her eyes in mock annoyance. "Of course! You both forget because we don't matter to you, huh? We're not important in your lives. You two are such big, serious people—why would you care about promises made to someone like us?"
Arashi sighed and gave her a small smile. "Come on, stop acting so innocent. We said we'd play tonight, and we will. So be ready."
Seraphine's face lit up immediately. "Really? Then it's settled. But… where are we playing?"
She leaned forward, her tone lowering like she had been waiting to reveal something. "I already spoke with the elders. They agreed we can stay up late since it's our last night. So why don't we play in the room where you and Ren usually sleep?"
Ren glanced at Arashi, then shrugged. "No problem."
Arashi nodded with a faint grin. "Alright then—it's decided. Tonight, we play."
Ren suddenly smirked. "So… we start at night. That means we still have time to push our rank in BattleZone Royale."
Arashi chuckled, leaning back. "Push your rank? Don't even start. My account's already at Conqueror. You're the one stuck at Diamond forever."
Ren clicked his tongue. "Tch—don't remind me. And that's exactly why you promised me, remember? You said once you hit Conqueror, you'd carry me past Diamond. Well, guess what you're staying here for another week, remember you are here for 2 weeks it only has been one week. So no excuses. You're helping me grind tonight."
Arashi smirked, shaking his head. "You're hopeless. Even if I carry you, you'll just find a way to get knocked first."
After playing a few rounds of BattleZone Royale, Arashi and Ren finally stretched out on their beds, half-laughing and half-exhausted.
But suddenly—creak! The door swung open, and all their cousins rushed inside at once, giggling and whispering. Behind them, Ayane stepped in quietly, half-hiding in the group. Her eyes met Arashi's for a brief moment, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks warming with shyness.
Ren groaned, sitting up. "Ever heard of knocking? Seriously, do none of you know basic manners?"
Lyanna rolled her eyes. "Oh, stop acting so high and mighty. Privacy, huh? Like you two princes deserve it. Now hurry up and sit on the floor with the rest of us!"
Arashi chuckled softly under his breath, and with no other choice, he and Ren slipped off the bed and joined the circle forming on the floor.
Elara clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Alright! Let's begin!" She placed a bottle in the center and gave it a playful spin.
The bottle whirled around, everyone watching with anticipation, until finally—it pointed straight at Ren.
Ren smirked, folding his arms. "Alright, I'll take a dare."
Seraphine's face immediately lit up with mischief. "Ohhh, now this is interesting. You're daring, aren't you? Let's see how much of a man you really are." She stood dramatically and added, "Wait here. I'll be right back."
Everyone exchanged curious looks as Seraphine ran out of the room. Moments later, she returned, holding something in her hands—a raw egg.
Ren's eyes widened. "Oh no. Don't even think about it."
Seraphine grinned wickedly. "Oh yes. Your dare is simple: drink this raw egg."
"Are you insane?!" Ren protested, his face twisting. "That's disgusting!"
The room burst into laughter. Elara leaned forward eagerly. "Come on, Ren. Don't back out now. A dare's a dare."
Seraphine teased, shaking the egg in front of him. "What happened, Ren? Didn't you say you were a man? Prove it."
Ren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You people are unbelievable…"
But the way everyone's eyes glittered with expectation—and the fact that he couldn't stand being called a coward—left him no escape. Finally, with a resigned groan, he muttered, "Fine. Give it here."
Seraphine quickly cracked the egg into a glass and handed it to him with a triumphant smile. "Here you go, brave warrior."
Ren stared at the slimy, yellow liquid swirling inside. He gagged just looking at it. "This… this is a crime against humanity."
"Drink!" the cousins chanted, their voices filling the room.
Closing his eyes, Ren tilted his head back and downed the raw egg in one go. The room erupted into cheers and laughter.
But seconds later, Ren's face twisted in pure disgust. "Ugh… oh no…" He clutched his stomach, gagging, while everyone roared with laughter.
Seraphine clapped her hands gleefully. "Well done, Ren! You passed the dare—but you look like you're about to collapse."
Ren groaned, half-bent over, his face pale. "If I die tonight, just know… it's all your fault."
Arashi chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "That's what you get for acting so brave."
The room filled with laughter again, the game finally in full swing.
The bottle spun again, coming to a stop pointed directly at Seraphine. She shrugged with a confident smile. "Alright, my turn. I'll take a dare," she announced, already expecting something tame.
Ren shot her a mock-innocent look and leaned forward. "I have just the thing," he said, eyes glinting with mischievous revenge.
Seraphine laughed. "What? Come on, don't be mean. You're not actually going to—" she began, but Ren cut her off.
"You showed no mercy earlier," he said calmly, "so I won't either." He reached for the small snack bowl on the floor and pulled out a raw clove of garlic. Holding it up like a trophy, he added, "Eat this."
The room burst into playful gasps. Seraphine's face twisted between disbelief and insulted amusement. "Are you serious?" she said, putting a hand to her chest in mock offense. "You have no shame — you expect me to eat raw garlic? Do you realize what that will do to my breath? To my dignity?"
Ren grinned, enjoying the moment. "Well, you didn't spare me when you gave me that egg, did you? Remember how you cheered? This is payback. Eat it."
Seraphine crossed her arms and tilted her head, playing the innocent martyr. "Oh, how cruel of you. Don't you have an ounce of pity? You're literally making a girl suffer."
"Yeah, just like you pitied me before," Ren said, deadpan. "Now eat."
For a moment Seraphine tried to stall, pouting dramatically and casting exaggerated glances at the others. Elara and Lyanna howled with laughter, egging her on. Ayane watched quietly from the circle's edge, a faint smile on her face as the cousins teased each other.
Finally, with a theatrical sigh and a roll of her eyes, Seraphine surrendered to the joke. She took the clove, held it between two fingers, and for extra drama paused and sniffed it—then scrunched her nose and popped it into her mouth.
Seraphine finally popped the garlic into her mouth and started chewing with exaggerated courage. At first, she tried to hold a straight face, but within seconds her eyes widened and began to water.
"Ughhh—this is so strong!" she gagged, fanning her mouth with both hands. Then suddenly she cried out, "WATER! Somebody give me water, quick!"
Everyone burst into laughter, rolling on the floor at her dramatic reaction. Lyanna quickly slid a glass toward her, almost choking with laughter herself. Seraphine snatched it, gulping it down as if she had just crossed a desert.
She slammed the glass down and coughed a little, glaring at Ren with tear-filled eyes. "You monster! Do you know how horrible that was?"
Ren leaned back smugly, arms crossed. "No worse than drinking that egg you forced on me. Now we're even."
Elara giggled so hard she had to cover her face, while Ayane shook her head, smiling softly at the playful chaos.
Seraphine finally wiped her eyes, still panting. "Fine," she muttered between heavy breaths. "But just wait till your turn comes. I'll make sure you regret this."
Ren smirked. "Bring it on."
The bottle spun again, the cousins leaning in with anticipation. It slowed… slowed… and finally pointed at Ayane.