The evening stretched into a comfortable rhythm. After dinner, the children drifted into the living room, where a low lamp cast golden light across the walls. Aara settled onto the sofa with a blanket, Haru leaning back beside her, while Ayin perched in an armchair with a small smile tugging at her lips.
Kaien opened a book but didn't get far before Hana climbed onto his lap, tugging at the pages. "Read it out loud!"
He frowned. "It's not a storybook, Hana. It's history."
"Then make it a story," she said firmly.
Mika leaned in, curious. "Which history?"
"Local wars from two centuries ago," Kaien answered, pushing his glasses up.
Ren groaned, throwing himself onto the rug. "Boring. Tell a story about fighting monsters instead."
"Monsters aren't real," Kaien said flatly.
"They are if you fight them hard enough," Ren shot back.
Ayin chuckled softly, cutting in. "What about I tell you all a story?"
The children looked up in unison. Even Kaien lowered his book.
Ayin leaned forward, her voice soft and melodic. "Once, there was a girl who lived in shadows. She thought she'd never see the sun again. But one day, her sister found her, and together with a scarred man, they tore down the walls of darkness."
Mika's eyes widened. "That's you, isn't it?"
Ayin smiled faintly. "Maybe. Or maybe it's just a story."
Ren sat up, eyes shining. "And the scarred man is Papa!"
Haru lifted an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.
"And the sister is Mama," Kaien added quietly, closing his book.
Hana clapped her hands. "And then they lived happily ever after!"
Ayin's gaze softened, flicking to Haru and Aara. "Exactly."
The room fell into a gentle hush. Aara reached over, squeezing Haru's hand under the blanket. His thumb brushed hers in return, silent but sure.
Breaking the stillness, Mika tugged at Haru's sleeve. "Papa, tell us a story too."
He blinked. "Me?"
"Yes!" Hana bounced on the sofa. "Your turn!"
Haru exhaled slowly, feigning reluctance. "Fine. Once there was a father who wanted to sleep… but four little demons wouldn't let him."
The children erupted in laughter.
Ren grabbed a pillow. "We're not demons!"
"Speak for yourself," Kaien muttered, dodging as Hana shoved him playfully.
Aara laughed, leaning against Haru. "You walked right into that one."
"Story over," Haru said with mock finality, but there was a softness in his voice that betrayed him.
Eventually, the laughter settled into yawns. Hana curled against Aara, Mika nodded off over her notebook, and Ren sprawled across the rug, still insisting he wasn't tired. Kaien stayed awake longest, but even his eyes grew heavy.
Ayin helped Aara carry the children to their rooms, whispering goodnights. Haru dimmed the lamp, the house finally quiet again.
In the stillness, Aara glanced around the living room—the books, the toys, the blanket still warm from their laughter. Her chest ached with gratitude.
"They're safe," she whispered.
Haru nodded, his hand finding hers again. "Because you made it so."
And in that gentle, lamplit silence, surrounded by the echoes of her children's laughter, Aara believed him.