Early in the morning, the sound of wood being chopped echoed through the air — once, twice, three times. It was Akira and his father, Kaito. They were preparing for the cold winter ahead. By chopping wood, they could keep the stove burning through the long, frozen nights.
"Tired already, Akira?" his father smirked, throwing the axe over his shoulder.
"I've only just begun, Father," Akira smiled back.
Sweat ran down Akira's face. He was truly exhausted, but he didn't want to show weakness.
To Akira, Kaito was more than just a father — he was someone he wanted to see as a friend, a person who could always support him no matter what.
"Just a little more. Let's push through," said Kaito.
After a while, they finished their daily quota of chopping wood. The time was 8:30 a.m. When they entered the house, they were greeted by Akira's mother, who had already prepared breakfast and was waiting for them at the table.
"I was just about to call you two. Go wash your hands before the food gets cold," she said with a warm smile.
Akira and Kaito went to wash up. Returning, they sat down at the wooden table. The smell of freshly baked bread and hot soup immediately filled the cozy kitchen. Their mother, Alya, placed cups of warm tea on the table and smiled kindly.
Their eyes were full of joy, and their mouths watered at the sight of the wonderful breakfast before them.
"Eat while it's still hot. Takeshi and Yui will be down soon — I just woke them up," their mother said cheerfully.
"Thanks, Mom. I love you," Akira replied with a smile.
"You've both done so well — so much wood chopped! It brings tears to my eyes to see you becoming more and more manly, Akira."
Akira blushed slightly.Kaito laughed, patting his son on the shoulder.
"Soon he'll surpass me! Did you see how he swung that axe? Stronger than I am already."
Akira was proud of himself after hearing that. He was only fourteen, yet he already helped his family more than anyone else.
From the hallway, Takeshi — Akira's younger brother — appeared. He stretched, yawning, wearing a loose home shirt and messy hair.
"You're done already?" he muttered sleepily. "Thanks for waking me up… I guess."
"I woke you twice, and you still wouldn't get up! You sleep like a rock," their mother teased.
"I just had a really good dream, that's all. Didn't want to wake up."
Kaito grinned. "How about joining us tomorrow? More hands mean faster work — and you won't miss breakfast."
"I'd love to say no, but I can't. When do you start?"
"At five in the morning," Kaito replied. Takeshi's eyes widened.
"FIVE?! I'll probably wake up an hour late even then… that's way too early!"
Everyone laughed, and Takeshi turned bright red.
"But I guess I don't have a choice… I don't want to miss breakfast."
"That's the spirit! We'll wake you with cold water if we have to," Kaito chuckled.
"DAD! M-Maybe don't… I'll get up on my own!" Takeshi shouted.
Akira laughed. "That's the only way to get used to the schedule," he said with a grin.
Alya handed Takeshi a bowl of soup, kissing the top of his head. "Eat while it's hot," she said lovingly.
At that moment, Yui entered the room, brushing her hair and casting a disinterested glance at her brothers.
"Morning," she said lazily, grabbing an apple from the table. "I'm going to Ren's. I'll be back in the evening — we're heading to town today."
"You're not having breakfast?" their mother asked in surprise.
"I don't want any. He's waiting for me," she said, putting on a light jacket and heading to the door.
"Wait—" Kaito began, but the door slammed shut before he could finish.
Akira lowered his eyes to his bowl and sighed quietly.
"She's always with him… Sometimes she doesn't even eat with us anymore, barely stays home…"
"And barely talks to us," added Takeshi, spinning his spoon between his fingers. "I tried talking to her yesterday — she treated me like I didn't exist and kicked me out of her room."
Kaito pushed aside his cup and, frowning slightly with bits of food still on his lips, said:
"Don't worry. It's just her age. Relationships take over at that stage. She'll come around with time."
Alya sat down beside them and added softly:
"And you're not alone. You have us. Both of you have your own paths to walk, my boys."
Akira nodded, gripping his spoon tightly. "Yeah… a path… right."
Takeshi quietly looked out the window.
Later
Kaito and Akira went to the forest to gather mushrooms, while Takeshi stayed home to help his mother in the garden. Alya already carried a woven basket, and Takeshi dragged two buckets from the shed.
"Mom, can't we just plow this spot next time instead of using our hands?" he grumbled, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"You have to feel the earth, son," she smiled gently. "And don't whine — you're a future man. There'll be a lot of work ahead of you."
"Alright, alright," he sighed, though there was a hint of pride in his voice.
Meanwhile, in the forest on the other side
Yui walked beside Ren, holding his hand but still fuming inside.
"All of it just irritates me… Everyone with their lectures. Akira with his 'wise face,' acting like he's some kind of sage. And Takeshi — always trying to talk, he's so annoying!"
Ren listened silently, not interrupting.
"Mom's… kind, but she's always interfering. And Dad… he doesn't even notice how distant I've become!"
"Yui," Ren said calmly, "maybe you're looking from the wrong side. Maybe you don't understand what they want from you."
"What do you mean?" she asked, surprised.
"You say they don't understand you. But you don't even try to understand them. Your family worries about you, Yui. They're the most important thing you have. You're important to them."
Yui frowned. "So you're on their side now? Giving me another lecture?"
"I'm not taking sides," Ren said softly. "I just don't want you to regret one day losing something you didn't appreciate. Family isn't just background scenery — they're a part of you. You can lose them in a moment… and never get them back."
Yui clenched her fists, her lips trembling."Don't say that to me… You don't understand anything!"
She turned and ran off down the forest path, tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't look back.
Ren stood there, watching her disappear among the trees."I just don't want you to be left with emptiness someday, Yui," he shouted after her.
After some time, Yui returned home in tears. She burst through the door, slamming it so hard that the hanging keys on the wall rattled. Her mother, seeing her tear-streaked face, dropped her hoe and rushed to the hallway.
"Yui? What happened?"
"Nothing!" Yui shouted, avoiding eye contact. "Leave me alone!"
She ran upstairs and slammed her door, locking it. From inside came a muffled, shaky sob.
Takeshi, who was carrying a bucket of water at the time, frowned."What happened…? She's crying."
Alya sighed heavily, leaning against the doorway."Probably another fight with Ren… or with us. I can't reach her anymore. Why is everything always wrong…"
"Maybe just leave her alone?" Takeshi suggested carefully. "She's not the type to calm down quickly."
Alya nodded, but her eyes were full of worry.
"Alright…" she whispered. "Let her talk to herself if she needs to. But it's hard… when your own child drifts away from you."
Somewhere in the forest
Akira walked along a mossy path beside his father, who carried a basket already half-filled with mushrooms. The warm sunlight filtered through the trees, and for a moment everything seemed peaceful.
"Dad," Akira suddenly said, "why is Yui so… cold?"
Kaito didn't answer right away. He sat down on a stump, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Because everyone has their own pain, their own storms. Your sister is strong — but sometimes it's hardest for the strong ones to show weakness."
Akira stayed silent.
"Your mother and I weren't always understood either," Kaito continued. "There was a time when I wanted to leave home too. But if I hadn't stayed back then… I'd never have met your mother, built this house, or watched you all grow up."
He placed a hand on his son's shoulder."The most important thing, Akira, is not to be deaf to those around you — even when they stay silent."
Akira looked down, deep in thought. He didn't understand everything yet — but he could feel that his father's words meant something real.
A few hours later, Akira and Kaito returned home. The atmosphere felt heavy. Yui had locked herself in her room, and quiet sobs came through the door. Alya stood outside, gently pleading:
"Yui, please… we just worry about you. Talk to us."
But there was no answer.
Akira approached and knocked softly."Yui… are you okay?"
"Go away!" she shouted, voice trembling. "Leave me alone!"
Kaito put a hand on his son's shoulder."Don't push her. Let her cool down."
They went to the kitchen. Alya sighed and returned to washing dishes. The house fell into uneasy silence.
Night
The house was quiet and dark. One by one, everyone went to their rooms. Even Akira, still worried about his sister, finally went to bed. Moonlight spilled through the windows, and only the creak of the wooden floors broke the stillness. Someone walked softly down the hallway — probably Alya, checking if the children were tucked in.
But Yui was awake. She lay with her face buried in her pillow, a storm raging inside — anger, shame, guilt, and sorrow. Yet saying anything, admitting anything, was too hard.
The Next Morning
The sun was just rising when Akira, Takeshi, and Kaito went outside again. This time, all three took up axes and began chopping wood together. They didn't talk much — each was lost in thought, following the steady rhythm of their swings.
By noon, the woodpile was stacked high, and their hands trembled with pleasant exhaustion. Returning home, they sat down at the table. Alya had already set the food — soup, bread, and warm compote.
And, surprisingly, Yui was sitting at the table too.
She was quiet, not looking up, eating slowly, almost distantly. No one said a word. They all felt it — this was a fragile moment. Only the sound of spoons tapping against bowls filled the room.
After Lunch
Akira finished eating, said goodbye, and went outside — where Haru, Ren's younger brother, was already waiting for him. Haru, thirteen, was a lean boy with silver-blue eyes and a friendly nature. He and Akira had been close friends for a long time. Despite the difference in age, they saw the world the same way — sincerely, brightly, without pretense.
A playful tension filled the air between them.
"I've been waiting for you, Akira," Haru said darkly.
"I thought you'd be too scared to show up, Haru," Akira smirked.
"I've already beaten you in my mind!" Haru laughed.
"Don't get cocky. The fight hasn't even begun. If you're that confident, prove it," Akira replied calmly.
"You seem different today — quieter… emptier," Haru said curiously.
"I'm fine. Don't get distracted."
Akira always hid family problems. He never showed weakness — always staying calm, or at least pretending to.
They walked toward the forest clearing where their improvised training field began. Sticks became swords, logs became towers, and their imaginations painted scenes from legends.
Meanwhile, at home
Takeshi stayed behind. He had noticed how hard it was for Yui to sit at the table earlier. Knocking softly, he opened her door. Yui sat on the bed, staring out the window.
"Can I come in?" he asked.
Yui didn't respond — but she didn't turn him away either.
"Yui… I know you're hurting. I'm not here to scold you or anything. I just… want you to tell me what you feel."
The girl slowly turned to him.
"I… got lost. I thought none of you saw me as a person. And then Ren said I don't value you… But he's lost almost everything. And me… I have everything — and I don't even see it…"
Takeshi sat beside her.
"It's okay to make mistakes. What matters is admitting them. We all love you. Even when we stay quiet."
Yui looked at him, her eyes trembling."You… you were all worried about me, weren't you?"
"Very much," he said softly.
Yui threw her arms around her brother and, for the first time in a long while, cried — truly cried — in a freeing, heartfelt way.
Evening
The sun was setting when Akira and Haru parted ways. Alya met Akira at the door with a blanket and a smile.
"Well, hero, how was your game?"
"It was great!" he said proudly.
Ren was waiting near the fence, holding a basket. He had just helped Alya in the neighbor's garden, cleaning up the last of the beds.
Seeing Akira, he set down the basket and walked over.
"How's Yui?" he asked right away.
"She was at lunch. Quiet. But I think she's doing better," Akira said.
"Thank you," Ren sighed. "I… I think I was too harsh. I just don't want her to repeat my mistakes. Please, tell her I'm sorry."
"She'll understand. Give her some time," Akira replied.
"And Haru? He didn't bother you too much?"
"Quite the opposite. We played a lot today — our battle ended in a draw."
Ren laughed. "Well, I'd better go. My brother's waiting at home. Tell Yui I said hi — when she's ready."
"I will. Goodbye!" Akira waved.
Late Evening
Akira came home when it was already getting dark. He took off his jacket, shook the dust from his hair. As he passed the hallway, he heard Yui's door open.
She stood there, looking uncertain. Then, after a few seconds, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry…"
Akira blinked in surprise but hugged her back.
"It's okay, Yui."
"Thank you… for always being there. I'm sorry," she said through tears.
They stood there in silence. Family — it wasn't just a word.
That night, the house was filled once again with light — not from the lamps, but from forgiveness, understanding, and love.
Akira went to bed with a warm feeling in his chest. He was truly happy that his sister was okay. The night was quiet and calm — and in that silence, there was real harmony.