The hoodie frayed more each week.

Caeli tugged loose threads into tiny knots. Mirae patched the elbows with old sock fabric. Lira drew stars across the hem with charcoal. Corin added another pocket “for storing secrets.”

But it was Rael who did the careful work.

She taught Akari how to mend it himself. Tiny stitches with fingers that still trembled. He never spoke while sewing. It felt sacred. Meditative.

“I’ll outgrow it eventually,” he whispered once.

Rael just looked at him. “Don’t,” she said.

He never brought it up again.