Caged Bird

Haruto had never seen Asuka like this before. Usually calm and composed, always calculating her moves, she now lay before him in shambles, her tears flowing freely. 

Her once meticulous demeanor had crumbled, leaving her vulnerable and raw. He was at a loss, unsure how to approach this side of her. 

He hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her on the bed. Her hair was a mess, tangled and damp from the rain. 

Slowly, he reached out, tucking a stray lock behind her ear to reveal her tear-streaked face.

She kept mumbling incoherently, repeating over and over that she was a terrible mother. 

'I wonder how much Kota told her?' 

Haruto thought as his hand gently rested on her head, rubbing her hair in an attempt to comfort her. 

'Will she hate me after she sobers up?' 

Then, without thinking, a question escaped his lips. "Between me and your son, who do you love more?"