CHAPTER 14

Kenji lunged the second Rei fell. He caught his son just before his head could slam into the floor, gripping his shoulders tightly as Rei convulsed in shallow, panicked breaths.

"Rei," Kenji said sharply, shaking him lightly. "Breathe. Look at me." Rei's eyes focused on his father. Kenji took the opportunity to reiterate. "Breathe."

But Rei wasn't responding. His eyes were unfocused, wide and glassy, his chest heaving violently. His fingers now dug into Kenji's arm, clutching so hard his knuckles turned white. He was too far gone.

Kenji swallowed, his own heart hammering, but he forced his voice to steady. " Pay Attention to me, Rei." Nothing. Rei's body remained stiff, trembling, his breaths shallow and erratic.

Then, movement beside him— Arato. Kenji barely had time to register it before Arato was on the floor next to them, his hands grabbing Rei's wrist, pressing firmly against his pulse point. His brother's body was stiff beneath his hands, but Arato didn't hesitate. He wrapped both arms around Rei's shoulders, pressing his weight against him. A grounding hold—tight enough to remind Rei that he was here. That he wasn't alone.

"You're not dying," Arato said, voice quieter than Kenji's but dead certain. "You're breathing too fast. It only feels like you can't. You're fine."

Rei's pulse was wild, erratic beneath his fingertips.

Arato squeezed his wrist.It looked like it hurt. "Slow it down, dumbass. Breathe slower, or you'll pass out." No response. Fine. Time for something else. Arato shifted forward, pressing his forehead against Rei's. Close enough that Rei had to see him. He stared him down, unwavering. Rei's pupils slowly moved to stare at Arato – Well he was in his face so he couldn't look anywhere else. 

"There's no danger, Rei," he said, voice lowering into something firm. Authoritative. "You're at home. Grandpa is dead." A pause.

Then, quieter—"You are safe."

Rei's body twitched. A subtle jerk, like something was starting to get through. Rei sucked in a ragged breath.

"There you are," Arato murmured. He didn't let go, but his grip eased, shifting just enough to let Rei move. Kenji, looking at the scene, theorized that Arato's crazed face probably scared Rei enough into breathing.

Rei sucked in another breath, this one deeper, more even. Kenji could see him shaking. Rei's pupils were moving a lot too now.

His lungs burned. His hands ached from how hard he'd been clutching Kenji's arm. His stomach turned over itself, the remnants of nausea curling at the back of his throat.

But he was here.

Kenji exhaled slowly. "Good." Arato finally pulled back, observing him with that same unsettling, too-blank look. His hand slid away from Rei's wrist, but only to flick at his forehead.

"Dumbass," Rei muttered.

Now that the storm has passed, Nagi reached across the table, grabbed his knife and started eating eggs off Rei's abandoned plate with it.

Rei, chest still tight, let out a sound somewhere between a wheeze and a laugh. "Are you—seriously—" His voice failed him, his throat burning from the lack of air, but he couldn't stop laughing. It came out shaky, broken, almost delirious, but he didn't care. He tilted his head back against Kenji's shoulder, absolutely breathless.

Kenji's mouth opened like he wanted to scold Nagi, but all that came out was a very, very long sigh. Reika just stood there, anger now diminished, not knowing what to do.

Nagi, chewing, glanced down at Rei. His expression was as flat as ever. "...What?" He gestured vaguely with the knife. "You weren't eating it."

Reika stood stiffly by the table, arms crossed, mouth pressed into a thin line. She was still, watching, her earlier anger faded into something far quieter—far more restrained. The tension in her shoulders hadn't eased, but there was a hesitation in her stance now, like she wasn't quite sure how to proceed.

Kenji, kneeling beside Rei, rubbed slow circles into his son's back. His concern hadn't lessened, but his voice was lighter now, casual in a way meant to ease the weight of the moment. "I think you should stay home today," he said, still watching Rei carefully.

Rei, who was still slightly pale, still catching his breath, immediately bristled.

"I'm fine," he said, sitting up with an exaggerated stretch. His movements were still sluggish, but his expression had regained some of its usual sharpness. His gaze darted briefly toward his schoolbag, his fingers twitching.

Kenji narrowed his eyes. Suspicious.

"Are you really?" Kenji asked, tilting his head. "You were just on the floor, struggling to breathe a minute ago, and now you suddenly want to go?"

"I said I'm fine," Rei repeated, voice a little too quick, a little too pointed.

Kenji exchanged a glance with Reika. Reika, who had been quiet, too quiet, finally inhaled.

She shifted, adjusting her posture, straightening her back even further—if that was possible. Her hands clasped in front of her, but Kenji could tell by the way she curled her fingers inward that she was struggling.

And then, stiffly, like it physically hurt to say it—

"…I was harsh."

Silence.

Rei, who had been too busy plotting whatever reckless nonsense was in his head, froze.

Arato blinked.

Nagi, still chewing, finally looked up.

Kenji raised an eyebrow. Well, that was something.

Reika cleared her throat. Her expression remained smooth, but there was an awkwardness in her tone, a brittle tension that suggested she was trying very, very hard to not come off as… whatever it was she feared. Weak? Regretful?

She exhaled slowly. Refined. Composed. Practiced.

"…I shouldn't have been so—" She paused, like searching for the exact word. Her lips pressed together. Then, with the air of someone physically forcing it out—

"Unkind."

Nagi snorted. "That's as close to an apology as you're ever gonna get," he muttered, spearing another piece of egg onto the knife.

Rei squinted. "Mom?"

Reika's nose twitched, but she did not take back her words.

Kenji, wisely, did not comment. Instead, he turned back to Rei. "You're staying home today."

Rei immediately opened his mouth, but Kenji cut him off with a look. "I know you're planning something," he said bluntly. "You might not be saying it, but I can see it. You're thinking way too hard about school for someone who just almost passed out."

Rei scowled. His fingers twitched. Yeah. Kenji was not letting him go anywhere today.

Rei immediately latched onto Kenji's sleeve, shaking it like a toddler about to throw a tantrum in the middle of a department store.

"But I have to!" he whined, voice tilting high with exaggerated distress. "It's—it's important!"

Kenji stared at him, unimpressed. "What's important?"

Rei floundered. "Uh—school?"

"Try again."

Rei's mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again. He blinked rapidly, as if trying to summon an excuse from thin air. "…I—I have a test!"

Kenji didn't even blink. "You hate school.."

Rei visibly deflated, his bottom lip pushing into a pout. Then, without missing a beat, he tilted his head back against Kenji's shoulder, slumping like his entire body had lost its bones. Reika looked disgusted.

Kenji sighed through his nose. Here we go, he thought. Rei's entire weight now rested against him, his arms hanging limp, his head lolling dramatically as he exhaled a long, miserable groan. "Dad," he drawled, voice practically melting into the syllable. "Dad, please."

Kenji simply adjusted his hold to keep him from sliding onto the floor. "No." 

"Pleeease."

"No."

Rei's fingers curled weakly into Kenji's sleeve. He blinked up at him, eyes round and pleading, his lower lip pushing out in the most pathetic pout Kenji had ever seen. If Kenji had zero parental instincts, he might've actually believed it.

Instead, he only stared.

Rei sniffled dramatically. "You—you're so mean."

Arato, sitting nearby, looked exhausted just watching this. Nagi, still eating his stolen eggs, sighed.

"Just let him go," Nagi muttered. "He's clearly not gonna stop."

Kenji pinched the bridge of his nose. He inhaled slowly, deeply, and exhaled. "Fine."

Rei immediately perked up. Kenji grabbed his face before he could celebrate. "But if you feel funny at school, make sure to call." he warned, firm. "And if you can't call, skip school and come home. Understand?"

Rei, still grinning like an idiot, gave a thumbs up. "Crystal clear." Kenji felt something in his chest loosen a little. The worst of it was over. Rei was okay. That was what mattered.

Arato was the first to grab his bag, slinging it over his shoulder in a single, deliberate motion. Nagi, on the other hand, took his sweet time. He stretched like a cat, rolling his shoulders – and putting the chef knife in his bag– before making a lazy beeline for the front door. His tie was half-done, his uniform slightly wrinkled—he looked bored. 

As Rei also gathered his things, Kenji subtly caught Rei's sleeve in a quick, smooth motion.before he could leave. He slipped a credit card into Rei's hand.

Rei blinked. "Oh?"

Kenji's voice dropped to a low mutter. "Buy yourself something." Then, firmer: "Return it in the evening."

Rei's entire face lit up, grinning like a little devil. He snapped a salute, stuffing the card into his pocket.