The front door clicked shut as Raito stepped back into the villa. The quiet hum of the late evening settled around him like a familiar cloak. He let out a breath, kicking off his shoes and stretching his neck as he wandered toward the living room.
The soft glow of the TV spilled across the floor, flickering across Raika's face as she lounged on the couch, blanket wrapped loosely around her shoulders. Emi lay in her crib nearby, already fast asleep, her tiny breaths steady and peaceful.
Raito glanced toward the wall calendar pinned neatly beside the kitchen. Something about it tugged at his attention, and he walked over, scanning the dates.
His eyes narrowed.
Tomorrow's date was circled in red.
He stood there for a moment, unmoving, the corners of his mouth tightening. The air around him shifted slightly, his usual relaxed posture giving way to something more rigid—more serious. Whatever that date meant, it wasn't something trivial.
But he didn't say anything. He turned from the calendar, rolling his neck once more, letting the moment pass.
"Alright," he said as he walked toward the living room. "Bedtime."
Raika groaned from the couch, burying herself deeper into the blanket. "Five more minutes! I'm watching something!"
"Nope," Raito replied flatly. "Do you want me to drop you off at school tomorrow or not?"
Raika immediately sat up, glaring at him with a mix of frustration and panic. "You have to drop me though."
Raito raised a brow. "Try me."
She pouted, clearly weighing the odds, before letting out a dramatic sigh and dragging herself off the couch. "You're the worst."
"Glad we're clear," Raito muttered, watching her shuffle off toward her room.
He glanced toward Emi, who let out a soft, sleepy whimper before turning in her crib.
With a final glance toward the now-dark living room, he made his way to his bedroom.
He shut the door behind him, the calm of the house returning once more.
Tomorrow was going to be important.
And Raito intended to be ready for it.
---
The morning light filtered through the curtains as Raito stirred awake. He sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair before glancing over at the calendar on his wall again. One date was circled in red—today's. His expression darkened slightly as he stared at it, unmoving for a moment.
He shook the thought away and got up, slipping into his usual clothes and heading to Raika's room. A soft knock followed by a slightly louder one roused her.
"I'm up," Raika mumbled, already stretching as she rolled out of bed, surprisingly ready for school. She looked at Raito as he stood at the door, arms crossed.
"I'll be out in five minutes," she said, brushing her hair. "Emi's bottle is in the fridge. If she gets fussy, try holding her over your shoulder, and bounce her a little. Oh, and don't let her chew on the curtains."
Raito nodded absently, his mind clearly somewhere else.
Raika squinted at him. "Are you even listening?"
He blinked. "Yeah. Bottle. Curtains. Got it."
She frowned but let it go, grabbing her backpack. On the way out, Raito kept one hand on the steering wheel while the other tapped against his leg in a rhythmic pattern, his eyes distant. She gave him the directions and he followed them.
As they pulled up near the school, Raika glanced at him again.
"Make sure Emi eats properly, okay?" she said softly. "And don't worry about picking me up today, I will just take the bus with my friends."
Raito finally looked at her and gave a small nod. "Got it."
She hesitated before stepping out of the car, her expression thoughtful. He's more distant than usual today but I suppose its fine since he is always like that… she thought to herself.
Raito watched her go, then shifted the car into gear and drove back home, Emi cooing softly in her car seat.
As he stepped back into the villa, the familiar silence wrapped around him again. He unbuckled Emi, gently cradling her against his chest. She giggled, tugging at his collar.
Then came Kurai's voice in his mind, casual and teasing.
"So... what's with the red circle on the calendar, Raito? Something important? A date with destiny? Or maybe an old ghost?"
Raito didn't answer at first. Instead, he carried Emi through the hallway until he reached a door at the far end of the villa—one that looked no different from the rest, but bore a lock that hadn't been touched in a long while.
With Emi resting calmly in his arm, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door. A quiet click echoed in the hallway.
Raito pushed the door open slowly, revealing stairs leading down into darkness.
"This room..." he thought to Kurai, "Only I know about it."
Kurai was even more intrigued now.
Raito flicked on the light switch, illuminating the first few steps. The air beyond the doorway felt heavier, older, like it had been waiting.
Without a word, he stepped inside as the door closed behind him.
The room smelled faintly of dust, an old, lingering scent that made it feel more like a forgotten memory than a space in a house. The walls were lined with shelves, each crammed with collectibles—dolls, action figures, plush toys—all centered around one thing: Kawai Kitty.
Bright, colorful figurines of the cartoon's iconic characters, the ones Raito had watched as a child, stared back at him with their exaggerated eyes and soft, smiling faces. Some were in pristine condition, carefully arranged in glass cases. Others were in less-than-perfect state, worn with age and handled with care, but still loved.
Kurai's laugh echoed in his mind, lighthearted and teasing. Seriously? This is where you've been hiding your… passion?
Raito didn't flinch at Kurai's laughter, his expression as serious as ever. His arms remained steady, holding Emi, who was obliviously cooing in his embrace. He had no time for frivolous reactions. This room—this space—was something he didn't need to explain. It was his.
"I've been watching Kawai Kitty since I was a kid," Raito said quietly, his tone controlled. "It was simple. It made sense. Everything else in my life—chaos, noise, trouble—never made sense. But Kawai Kitty… it was always clear. Straightforward."
Kurai's laughter softened into a low chuckle, still amused. I suppose everyone needs something to care about but you care more about a children's show of all things?
Raito remained unmoved, his gaze steady as he looked over the room. He wasn't going to justify his fandom, but the truth was, he'd spent so much time trying to suppress his likes and interests to maintain a quiet life that this was the only place where those things were allowed to breathe. He wasn't looking for approval or validation. He never had been.
"Anyway," he continued, his voice firm, "today's Kawai Kitty Con. I've been meaning to go for years, but I never did. I figured the attention would disrupt my life. People always look at you differently when you do something like that, but this time…" He glanced down at Emi, who smiled up at him with big eyes. "This time, I can take her. No one will care if I'm there with a baby."
Kurai remained silent for a moment, processing his words. That was very inspirational to me Raito.
Raito's expression didn't change, but his gaze sharpened slightly. "I don't care about how people see me. It's just… I don't need the noise. My life is barely quiet enough as it is."
Kurai hummed thoughtfully in his mind. I understand now. It's not about the show, or the fandom. It's about preserving your peace.
Raito nodded slightly, looking back at the shelves filled with his childhood memories. He wasn't ashamed of his interests. He simply knew the kind of life he wanted—quiet, undisturbed, and free of unwanted attention.
"I don't know why I'm even explaining this to you," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "But I'm going, and I don't care what anyone thinks."
He turned to the door, closing it softly behind him.
"Time to get ready for the Con," Raito said to himself, a trace of calm anticipation in his voice. There was no hesitation now. He was going to enjoy this moment, without the fear of losing his quiet life.
He glanced at Emi in his arms, her small giggles filling the space, and for a brief moment, Raito allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to be in that crowd.
He heads toward the living room, already planning his day. The world outside would stay where it was. For today, it was just him, Emi, and a day that had nothing to do with the chaos of his usual life.