Kasumi watched quietly from a corner, face soft whisper.

"They have a nice bond… I'll let them finish the game."

The game ended. Miyu lost.

"Hmph! You told me you didn't know how to play! Still beat me five times!"

"Maybe I got lucky," Shion said softly.

Kasumi stepped forward.

"Miyu, let him rest. Shion must be tired."

"Okay… we'll play again later, okay?"

"Alright."

---

In the living room, Takeshi and Sayaka sat on the sofa. Miyu nestled between them.

"Dad, big sister's taste is nice~" she teased.

"Miyu, hush! Don't tell Shion yet…"

Takeshi scolded playfully.

Sayaka chuckled softly.

"And Kasumi's hiding it too.kasumi not tell her his feelings But we've figured it out."

"Okay! This secret's between the three of us!"

They all shared a slightly nervous smile.

Miyu tilted her head.

"What's wrong? Why so tense?"

"N-nothing~" they answered with a fake smile.

---

In the guest room, Kasumi asked softly,

"Are you feeling uncomfortable here?"

"A little strange… but not uncomfortable. Maybe because you're here."

His voice was gentle.

---

At dinner, the whole family and Shion sat together. The smell of warm miso soup and grilled fish filled the room.

"Shion—sit next to Kasumi," Sayaka said.

"… thank you," he replied, a little hesitant.

"Today we have Shion as our guest!" Miyu announced proudly.

"That means extra rice," Takeshi joked.

Shion asked quietly, "Do you all have dinner together every night?"

"Mostly. Sometimes we're busy, but we usually eat together," Sayaka replied.

"It feels warm…" he said softly.

Kasumi looked at him. Gratitude shone in her eyes. She averted her gaze, but her smile said it all.

After dinner, a calm silence filled the table.slow dark fell softly outside...

The early morning. The house still slept, but Kasumi couldn't rest. She slowly opened Shion's room door.

The room was dark.

A cold breeze slipped through the window. She went to his bed and gently shook his shoulder.

"Shion… wake up. I want to take you somewhere."

Half-asleep, he opened his eyes. "You're here?"

"Come on. Trust me," she said gently.

They slipped into jackets and slippers and quietly left the house. Fog hugged the road. Their breath made small clouds in the air.

---

They reached the lake and walked along a curved path. The sky was still dark, but a faint orange glow seeped from the east.

"This place… it's so beautiful," he said softly.

Kasumi stood a little distance away by the water and smiled.

"When I was eight, my dad used to bring me here early every morning. That was my 'good morning'."

He went to the water and dipped his hand in. The lake was cold—he didn't flinch. Kasumi watched him from a step back.

Shion thought In His mind a echoes."Is this what family warmth feels like? I almost forgot it existed."

"What does your dad do?" he asked casually.

"He's a doctor. I want to be a successful doctor like him."

"That's… a really beautiful dream," he said softly.

A thought crossed his mind. He'd seen Shion's scars but never asked. Maybe some things are meant to be felt rather than talked about.

Orange light spilled across the lake. Sunrise. The water reflected the sky—calm, dreamlike. Side by side, they watched in Beauty.

---

After a breakfast, Kasumi, Shion, and Miyu walked down. Kasumi wanted to show them her old middle school.—

"This was my middle school… kinda boring, right?" she said.

"Not boring. Cute," Miyu chimed, bouncing in the blog.

At the gate, Shion stopped.

"You must have been really different here."

Kasumi blushed.

"I was very quiet… invisible. But I gave my first speech here. My voice shook—my legs froze."

"I wish I'd been here then," he murmured.

Kasumi looked at him and smiled softly.

---

The classroom door creaked open. Inside were old wooden benches, a chalkboard, and that familiar school smell.

"This is where my class sat," she whispered.

"Sister, you sat here?" Miyu asked, excited.

"Yes. Third row, by the window. I liked looking outside."

She ran a finger along the bench edge. Nostalgia softened her face.

"It's a small place… but—," Shion said quietly.

Miyu jumped onto a bench. "I'd sit here!"

"Then I'll try too," Shion said carelessly, taking a seat diagonally across from Kasumi.

"No! You two should sit together! Big sister best-friend style!" Miyu protested.

Kasumi hesitated, then sat on the left. Shion took the right.

"I never thought I'd come back here…" she said softly.

"I'm glad I did. With you," he replied.

Miyu quietly pulled out a phone.

"Don't smile. Just… stay real."

📸 Click.

Kasumi and Shion sat close on the bench—simple, warm.

"This photo's not normal. You two look... together," Miyu teased with a mischievous grin.

They glanced at each other, then looked away with soft smiles.

---

After school visit three of them return to home.

In the living room the heater gave a warm glow. Outside, the cold wind pressed against the windows. Kasumi brought out a white photo album.

Miyu leapt onto the sofa.

"Yay! Childhood embarrassment time!"

"This is my life documentary—respect, please," Kasumi said, mock stern.

Shion chuckled softly. "Let's see…"

The album opened. The first photo showed a messy-haired Kasumi in a school uniform.

"That's… you?" he asked, amused.

"Yeah… not-so-cool me."

"You still liked that pink muffler back then. Then and now," Miyu teased.

Shion looked from the photo back to her.

"You were the same then. Now."

More pictures flipped. One showed Kasumi in the snow holding a plastic stethoscope.

"This was the start of my dream—becoming a doctor. It's still the same," she said softly.

He looked at her for a moment.

"You're everything I never even imagined."

Silence settled. Kasumi slowly closed the album.

---

Miyu suddenly fetched a red-bound album.

"Tada~! Big sister's Sports Day!"

Photos spilled out—Kasumi sweating, playing badminton, the crowd cheering.

"You looked so serious," Shion said.

"Yeah… I lost. But everyone cheered. That's when I learned—sometimes losing still makes you feel whole."

"You were smiling even then," he noted softly.

"I always smile… no matter what's going on inside," she replied with a small laugh.

A page turned.

"Ooh! Look! When big sister fell during tug-of-war!" Miyu squealed.

"MIYU!" Kasumi cried, embarrassed.

The room filled with laughter. Cold wind spread outside, while inside a warm quiet spread.

---episode 20 end---