Chapter 49
"Ughhh—!"
Haruto threw himself onto the bed and glanced at Kaito, who was changing his clothes.
Haruto: "There's no way to get rid of the exhaustion from the last three days except by sleeping."
Kaito let out a faint, indifferent smirk.
"Yeah… definitely."
The playful smile on Haruto's face slowly faded into something more sorrowful.
Haruto: "Kaito… why do you think they want Yuki?"
Kaito lifted his head in surprise and looked at Haruto from the side.
Kaito: "What?"
Haruto: "San said it…"
Kaito pulled his sweater down and turned fully toward him.
Kaito: "We found Yuki just a week ago. You said everything would be fine. But look at what's happened."
Haruto sat up straighter.
Haruto: "What are you trying to say, Kaito?"
Kaito: "What do you think?" he shot back angrily.
"They were looking for the kid that day. Even the old man at the katana shop was one of them. A weak one, but still one of them."
Haruto frowned.
"I don't understand any of this."
Kaito ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Ugh— fine. I'll say it clearly, Haru. How are we supposed to take care of this kid?"
Haruto suddenly stood up, raising his voice.
Haruto: "Oh, get out of here with that!"
Kaito stepped forward angrily and grabbed Haruto by the collar.
Kaito: "What did you just say to me?!"
Haru grabbed Kaito's wrist with both hands and tried to pry it off, but it was useless.
Kaito's eyes burned as he shouted,
"Am I wrong?! Tell me! How are we supposed to protect this kid?! A kid with a Quirk we don't even understand— and there are people after him!"
Haruto forcefully twisted Kaito's wrist and shoved him back a step.
Haruto: "You're always so negative! We survived that orphanage, didn't we? Thanks to Yaro and Mitsuni! And we saved him from that place too!"
Kaito cut him off.
"And brought him somewhere even worse, didn't we, Haruto?! We're going to be the reason he dies, Haruto!"
His voice cracked.
"…Right, Haru… big brother?"
At that moment, a small, trembling voice came from the side.
Haruto and Kaito both turned their heads.
And there he was—
Yuki.
Standing there, clutching the plush teddy bear Zen had given him.
Tears shimmered in his eyes as he looked at them.