The sun had barely risen when the first assault began.
Haru opened one eye, groaning softly. Beside him, Aara stirred but didn't wake. He thought, for a fleeting second, that maybe today would be calm. Quiet. Peaceful.
"Papa!"
The word was a battle cry. Hana launched herself onto the bed, landing squarely on his chest with a giggle. "Wake up, Papa!"
Haru wheezed, feigning injury. "You've gotten heavier."
"I'm growing!" she said proudly, clinging to him like a koala.
Before he could respond, Ren charged in, brandishing his pillow like a weapon. "Ambush!"
The pillow smacked into Haru's shoulder. He sighed dramatically. "Another one? I'm outnumbered."
"You're always outnumbered," Ren declared, climbing onto the bed. "But you'll never beat me."
Kaien appeared next, shaking his head as he adjusted his glasses. "Honestly, can't you all let them sleep for once?"
"Traitor," Ren accused. "You're supposed to help!"
"I prefer books to battles," Kaien muttered, though he sat on the edge of the bed anyway.
Mika entered last, holding something small in her hands. "I made a new gadget! It's supposed to—" She pressed a button, and a small whirring toy zipped across the blankets.
Haru raised a brow. "Supposed to what?"
"Uh… not explode," Mika said sheepishly as the toy sputtered smoke.
"Off the bed!" Aara finally laughed, sitting up and brushing her hair from her face. "You're going to set your father on fire."
The children erupted in laughter, piling around Haru anyway. Hana clung to his neck, Ren tugged at his arm, Mika tried to explain her invention, and Kaien muttered that this was "far too much noise this early."
Haru, trapped beneath all four of them, gave Aara a helpless look. "Save me."
She smirked, leaning against the pillows. "You're the one who said you could handle anything."
"This wasn't what I meant," he muttered, though his lips curved in a rare smile.
"Papa's smiling!" Hana squealed, hugging him tighter.
"Of course he is," Aara teased softly, watching them with warmth. "This is the life he was made for."
Ayin peeked in through the doorway then, holding a bag of bread. "I could hear the war from my apartment. Should I come back later?"
"No!" Hana shouted. "Auntie Ayin, come help us beat Papa!"
Ayin grinned, setting down the bag. "Finally, a side worth joining."
Haru groaned as Ayin joined the fray, tickling Hana while Ren cheered. The room filled with laughter, voices overlapping in a joyful storm.
For the first time, Haru didn't mind being outnumbered.
Because this was what peace looked like: chaos, laughter, and love piled high in the morning sun.