𝟭. 𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝘿𝙀 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 || 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮 [✔]

Chapter 5: Bittersweet

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#070722
•••

"I know you," the boy said suddenly, his voice low but certain.

Osamu groaned. "Just shut up."

Aeris blinked, caught between confusion and curiosity. "It's okay... I'm Aeris," she said gently, trying to ease the tension.

Osamu placed a hand on her shoulder. "This is my twin, Atsumu."

Atsumu squinted at her. "The heck? How do you two know each other? Did you meet behind my back or something?"

His Kansai accent flared so sharply that Aeris couldn't help but laugh. The more confused Atsumu got, the stronger his hogen became.

"We don't know each other," Aeris assured him, smiling. "But your accent is funny."

Atsumu gasped dramatically. "OSAMU—your friend is bullying me!"

Osamu rolled his eyes. "She's not bullying you. You're just loud."

Atsumu scoffed, but eventually, even he laughed. The awkward introduction slowly melted into something comfortable. Before they realized it, the three were talking like they'd known each other for years.

Time passed, and Aeris naturally became close with the whole Inarizaki team. It was a strange story how they all met—Atsumu dragging her to play one day, Osamu insisting she stay because "she needed a hobby," and the rest of the team accepting her like she had always been there.

Even after her ankle healed, she still visited the 'forest'. She played with them sometimes, helped with errands, chased the neighborhood kids around, and found herself laughing more than she had in years. For the first time, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere.

One afternoon, while everyone lounged around after playing, Atsumu stretched out on the floor like a lazy cat.

"So when're ya gonna enroll?" he asked casually. "The new school year's comin' up soon."

Aeris tapped her chin. "Hmm... I really don't know yet."

"Why not Inarizaki?" Osamu chimed in, tossing her a sports drink. "Our school has the best volleyball team. No pressure, but y'know... we're kinda great."

Aeris laughed. "I'll think about it."

The twins nodded and quickly changed the topic to something random—mostly Atsumu complaining about school lunch portions and Osamu reminding him that he could just ask for more food.

Later That Night.

Back at home, Harumi washed the dishes while Aeris dried them beside her. In the living room, her uncle was helping the kids get ready for bed. The house felt peaceful, warm—the kind of place Aeris had gotten used to.

Harumi glanced sideways. "Are you thinking about where you want to go for school?"

Aeris sighed. "I'm... undecided."

"Why?" Harumi asked softly. "You have friends here. You've adjusted so well. And you know I can look after you anytime. You're not a burden—you're a great helper." She nudged Aeris playfully.

Aeris smiled at the teasing, but it faded quickly. "I want to stay but..."

"But what, sweetheart?"

Aeris took a breath. "Tobio's mom called."

Harumi froze. "...Kaori-san?"

Aeris nodded. "She said she needs help with Tobio. That since he's alone a lot now... he needs someone who can stay with him, or at least check on him."

Her voice softened. "She said he doesn't say it, but she thinks he's lonely."

"Aeris-chan," Kaori's voice was gentle, but Aeris could hear the worry underneath.
"I know you live with your maternal aunt now... and Tobio is living alone too. He says he's fine, but I can tell he isn't."

Aeris stayed quiet, listening.

"He's grown distant... colder. Not rude, just lonely in a way he doesn't understand yet," Kaori continued softly. "He pushes people away because he thinks needing others is a weakness."

There was a small pause, like Kaori was gathering courage.

"I know it's selfish to ask, but... could you help him? Be there for him? Even just check on him sometimes. You're one of the few people he ever opened up to."

Aeris felt her chest tighten.

Kaori added quietly, "He won't say it, but I know he misses you."

Harumi broke the silence first. "Well... it's your choice. Whatever you want."

Aeris looked down at her hands. "I... I want Tobio and I to reconnect. I heard he lives alone now most days. And the last time we talked... I yelled at him. For no reason. I never apologized."

Her voice cracked slightly.

"I haven't seen him in so long."

Harumi put down the dishes and pulled Aeris into a tight hug. "We don't have a choice, huh? But listen—you can visit here anytime. This is always your home."

Aeris felt something loosen in her chest, as if the permission she'd been silently begging for finally arrived.

She nodded. "Thank you... Harumi-san."

The next few months passed slowly. Aeris began preparing little by little—telling her friends one at a time, meeting them often, making memories she knew she would miss.

When she finally told the twins, Atsumu nearly cried on the spot.

"Ya sure yer goin'?" Atsumu asked, eyes shiny. He tried to hide it with a scowl, but failed miserably.

Aeris nodded. "I'm sure, Atsumu. And I'll miss your accent."

Atsumu snapped, "HEY—why's that the thing you'll miss?!"

Osamu nudged him aside, his voice softer. "You'll come back... right?"

Aeris nodded again. "Of course I will. I promise."

The team gave her gifts, snacks, letters, a volleyball signed by everyone—even Kita sent her off with advice about taking care of herself. It warmed her heart in a way that almost made her change her mind.

But she had already made her choice.

Her Last Night.

Aeris packed slowly, folding each piece of clothing with care. Her cousins peeked through the doorway, offering help that mostly turned into hugs and emotional breakdowns.

That night, her aunt, uncle, and cousins stayed up late with her. They watched movies, played games, cooked midnight snacks, and sat together on the living room floor—wanting to make the final night unforgettable.

It was warm, loud, a little chaotic.

Perfect.

When morning arrived, the sky was pale and soft.

Hide carried her bags to the car. "You ready?" he asked gently.

Aeris exhaled. "Thank you for helping me, Hide-san."

He smiled, patting her head. "Of course. Anything for our first born."

Harumi shut the trunk and turned to Aeris with watery eyes. "Let's go."

Aeris took one last look at the house, the garden, the memories.

Then she nodded.

And everything began to change.

« ֪ ׅ ֹ =͟͞ ♡ 𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗.

— sidenote
; we do know that it was not mentioned whose Tobio's mom is but we just pretend that we know