The night quietly enveloped the house, the only sounds accompanying it were the faint whispers of the wind and the occasional creak of the wooden floorboards, as if the house itself was breathing softly.


    "We''re home!" Aiko called out as she pushed open the door. Her voice echoed in the quiet space, but the darkness remained undisturbed—no one responded.


    Miyo furrowed her brows and tugged at Aiko’s hand. "Mama, why is it so quiet?"


    Aiko looked down at Miyo with a gentle smile and patted the back of her hand reassuringly. "Maybe everyone is busy with something."


    "Mama!" Miyo suddenly exclaimed, pointing toward the fireplace.


    Following the direction her daughter’s pointing, Aiko spotted Ishin leaning against the hearth, arms crossed, fast asleep. A faint smile lingered on his lips, as if he were lost in a pleasant dream. The fire had long since burned down to glowing embers, casting a warm glow over his peaceful face.


    "Ishin, wake up!" Aiko stepped forward, her voice a mix of concern and mild reprimand as she nudged his shoulder.


    Ishin groggily opened his eyes, stretching lazily before letting out a long yawn. "Oh, you’re back~"


    "Where’s Tetsuya? I don’t see him anywhere," Aiko asked, glancing around the room.


    Still yawning, Ishin gestured lazily toward the backyard. "He said he was working on a surprise. He’s probably still busy out there."


    Aiko pursed her lips, concern creeping into her tone. "Still outside at this hour?" She turned toward the back door, but not before instructing, "Light the oil lamp already. It’s too dark in here to see anything."


    The backyard lay bathed in moonlight, the faint glow of scattered stars flickering overhead. The night was filled with the soft hum of insects and the faint, rhythmic sound of wood being carved. Aiko stepped closer and saw Tetsuya sitting cross-legged on the ground, carefully assembling a small wooden house model. A pile of old wooden boards lay nearby, neatly cut and shaped. The framework of the miniature house was already taking form.


    "Tetsuya?" Aiko called softly, not wanting to startle him.


    Tetsuya looked up and, upon seeing Aiko, gave her a shy smile. "Mom! You’re back just in time. Take a look—doesn’t it look nice?"


    Aiko crouched down, examining the small wooden house closely. Though unfinished, the pieces were meticulously assembled, each plank carefully placed with precision.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "It’s beautiful!" Aiko praised, then asked curiously, "But why did you suddenly decide to make this?"


    Tetsuya scratched the back of his head, lowering his gaze slightly. "It’s… a birthday present for Hinano. I wanted to make something special for her."


    "A birthday present?" Aiko raised a brow, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Why a wooden house?"


    Tetsuya let out a small sigh, lowering his head as if recalling something from the past. His voice softened. "When we were kids, we talked about building a secret hideout together. But it was just talk—we never actually did it. Now that we’re older, I guess… some things feel different."


    Aiko paused, her expression turning tender as she brushed a hand through Tetsuya’s hair. She asked softly, "What feels different?"


    "Maybe... it''s because she''s a girl, and I''m a boy."


    Tetsuya lifted his head, his eyes filled with uncertainty, his voice carrying a trace of hesitation. "We used to talk about everything, but now... there are so many things I feel like I can''t ask, and I don''t even know how to bring them up..."


    Aiko listened quietly, a mix of emotions welling up inside her—sympathy, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia. Gently, she patted Tetsuya''s head and spoke with soft reassurance.


    "Time never stops moving. You don’t have to hold on to the way things used to be. What matters is that you still care enough to try. Feeling uneasy is natural, but Tetsuya, I think you’re doing just fine. This cabin is proof of that."


    "Mom..."


    Tetsuya murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes softened, and a hint of confidence flickered within them.


    "Alright, I’ll go make dinner now. Don’t stay out too late, and be sure to come in and eat soon, okay?"


    Aiko patted his shoulder before standing up and heading back toward the house.


    Tetsuya watched her figure disappear into the night, a warmth spreading through his chest.


    Then—


    "You know, eavesdropping isn’t exactly the best habit, Uncle Makino."


    His tone carried a teasing lilt as he turned toward the doorway.


    Leaning casually against the doorframe was Ishin, smirking with a knowing glint in his eyes.


    "Haha, not bad, kid. Your senses have sharpened quite a bit."


    With a chuckle, Ishin picked up a wooden plank and idly toyed with it, as if he had just been passing by.


    Tetsuya crossed his arms, unimpressed.


    "Yeah, well, training with you is exhausting. If my senses didn’t improve, I’d have collapsed by now."


    Ishin let out another small laugh, but then, without warning, his expression turned serious.


    "If something happens to me one day… Aiko and Miyo will be counting on you."


    The words hit Tetsuya like a sudden gust of cold wind.


    "What do you mean?" He frowned. "Why would you say that all of a sudden?"


    Ishin didn’t answer right away. He simply patted Tetsuya’s shoulder, his grip firm yet oddly gentle. Then, as if brushing it off, he said,


    "Nothing. I just got a little sentimental listening to your conversation earlier."


    His tone was lighthearted, but Tetsuya could sense something different in him tonight—an emotion buried beneath his usual carefree demeanor, something he wasn’t willing to put into words.


    Then—


    "Tomorrow morning, I’ll be upping the intensity of your training."


    Ishin turned toward the door, casually dropping that bombshell before strolling off.


    "Wait, what?! Why?!"


    Tetsuya nearly jumped to his feet in protest, his face full of outrage.


    But Ishin didn’t look back. He simply waved a hand over his shoulder and laughed.


    "Better eat up, kid. Otherwise, you won’t last tomorrow!"


    Tetsuya stood there, watching Ishin’s silhouette fade into the night, an inexplicable feeling stirring in his chest.


    "...Weird."


    He muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a wry smile before returning to his work.


    Above him, the moon cast its quiet glow, enveloping him in a soft, silver light.