Part 4 — The Ceiling That Heard Everything
Akari walked back to her own room.
She paused as she opened the door.
The light from the hallway fell softly inside.
Haruto was still awake.
He lay on the futon, staring up at the ceiling, eyes open, unmoving—just as before.
Akari stepped in and slid the door shut.
She stood there for a moment, watching him.
"…Haruto?" she said gently.
This time, he turned his head toward her.
"I can't sleep," he said.
And in the quiet room, Akari knew—
The night wasn't finished with them yet.
Akari slowly lowered herself onto her futon, settling beside Haruto, though still a little distance away. She lay on her back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, mirroring his posture.
"…What can you see up there?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Haruto didn't answer at first. His eyes stayed locked on the plain ceiling, but after a moment, he muttered, "Ceiling."
Akari turned her head slightly toward him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Then why are you staring at it like… like it's holding secrets?"
Haruto's jaw tightened. "Maybe it is."
She tilted her head, studying him. "Secrets… from us?"
"No," he said after a pause. "Not from you. Just… from me."
The silence stretched between them. The quiet hum of the hallway clock and the soft rustle of the house settling were the only sounds. Akari let herself sigh, letting the tension of the day melt from her shoulders.
"You think too much," she said gently. "Sometimes it's okay to just… lie here. Even if your mind won't stop spinning."
Haruto finally turned his gaze toward her, his eyes reflecting a mixture of fatigue and something heavier—something he couldn't put into words. "And if I can't stop thinking?"
"Then I'll keep you company," she said simply. "Even if it's just… staring at the ceiling together."
A small, almost imperceptible smile brushed across Haruto's lips. He turned back to the ceiling, but this time, a little less tension was in his posture.
For a while, they stayed like that—side by side, eyes up, breathing in sync with the quiet of the night.
And though sleep had not yet claimed him, Haruto felt… less alone.
The ceiling held no answers, no secrets—just the steady presence of someone who understood.
The night lingered on, but for the first time, it felt a little less heavy.
Haruto's eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling, but after a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice low.
"Do you think I can… get stronger?"
Akari turned slightly to face him, her expression soft but steady.
"I know you can, Haruto. You'll get stronger, step by step."
He was quiet for a moment, then asked again.
"Do you think I can… protect the people I care about?"
"You already try," she said gently. "And yes… you can. You'll find a way."
"Do you think I can… stop being scared?"
Akari reached over and lightly touched his hand.
"Not all at once. But little by little, yes. You can."
"Do you think I can… make the right choices?"
"You can," she whispered. "Even if you stumble, you'll learn and keep moving forward."
"Do you think I can… trust myself?"
"Yes," Akari said softly. "You just need to start believing in yourself like I do."
"Do you think I can… survive what's coming?"
"You can," she said firmly. "I know you can face it."
"Do you think I can… ever be happy?"
Akari's voice was gentle, but certain.
"Yes, Haruto. You deserve to be happy."
"Do you think I can… protect you?" he asked next, almost barely audible.
"You already do, just by being you," she said, smiling softly.
"Do you think I can… do all of this… and not break?"
"You won't break," she said. "Not with the people who care about you by your side."