Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

The siblings exchanged a glance. The tension between them eased slightly. At least it wasn't what Haruto had feared.

"Well," Haruka said, her tone lighter, "I understand. Hospitals can feel scary sometimes."

Minami shook her head, her voice trembling as she clarified, "It's not the hospital. It's my mother..."

Haruto blinked with confusion. "Your mother?"

But Haruka's expression shifted, her features hardening. She stood abruptly, brushing the dust from her skirt.

"We're going to the hospital," she said firmly.

"You need to meet your mother, Minami."

"But... but I don't want to go! Can't I just stay with you?" Minami clung tightly to Haruto's arm, her small voice trembling.

Haruto frowned, unsure of how to handle her fear.

Haruka, however, seemed to understand more than she let on. Her voice rose sharply.

"No! You can't! You need to see your mom!"

Minami flinched, her tears welling up as she whispered, "B-but my aunt said Mommy's going to die..."

Haruto's heart sank, but before he could speak, Haruka pressed on, her tone unwavering.

"That's why you have to see her! You'll regret it if you don't!"

Haruto glanced at his sister, catching the sadness in her eyes. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Haruka, calm down," he said softly. "We'll take her together, okay?"

Haruka's resolve faltered, and for a moment, her sorrow showed through. She leaned into Haruto, and he hugged her tightly.

"You always get this way around this time," he murmured, but she didn't respond, just nodding silently against his chest.

The night crept in, and with it, an air of urgency. Despite Haruto's gentle attempts, Minami still refused to go to the hospital.

Frustrated but unwilling to give up, Haruka finally resorted to using a fabricated folklore tale to frighten the child into compliance.

It worked, albeit reluctantly, and soon the three of them were on their way.

Haruto carried Minami, her small arms draped around his neck as sleep tugged at her eyelids.

She yawned occasionally, her head nodding against his shoulder as they approached the hospital.

Once they arrived, Minami stirred awake, her resistance rekindled as they stood in the brightly lit hospital lounge.

"Minami, you need to see your mother," Haruto said, kneeling in front of her as she sat on a waiting room chair. His voice was gentle, coaxing.

But Minami only shook her head, tears welling up. "I'm scared. I don't know what to do!" she cried, her small frame trembling.

Haruto sighed, running a hand through his hair as frustration and worry gnawed at him.

Haruka knelt beside him, placing her hands on Minami's. Her voice was soft.

"Minami," she began, her ruby eyes steady and warm, "if you don't go now, you'll carry that pain with you for the rest of your life."

Minami's tear-filled gaze met Haruka's, hesitant yet curious.

"In the past, I was scared too," Haruka continued, her voice faltering slightly.

"When my mother was sick... her thin body, her bald head, her sunken eyes... she didn't look like the mother I remembered. I couldn't bear to face her. So I ran. As far as my little legs could carry me."

Her voice cracked as her hands tightened over Minami's. "By the time I realized what I'd done... it was too late. She was gone. And I've carried that regret ever since."

She smiled faintly, but her eyes betrayed her grief. "You still have a chance, Minami. To see her, to talk to her. Don't let fear take that away from you."

Minami hesitated, then flung her arms around Haruka, sobbing. "But what if it is the last time? I don't want to lose her!"

Haruka gently stroked the child's back, her voice soothing. "Then be her anchor. Be the reason she holds on."

"Anchor?"

Minami asked, pulling back slightly, her tear-streaked face searching Haruka's for understanding.

Haruka smiled, wiping Minami's tears with the edge of her sleeve. "Just by being you—a beautiful, smart, and adorable little girl—you're already her anchor. You give her hope just by being there."

Minami stared at Haruka, her hazel eyes reflecting the hospital's soft glow.

Slowly, she nodded. "I want to see my mom. I miss her."

"Brave girl," Haruka said, tucking a strand of hair behind Minami's ear. "She's been waiting for you."

Guided by Minami's directions, they made their way to the ward. At the door, Haruto knocked, and it was answered by a man whose face lit up the moment he saw Minami.

"Minami!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to envelop her in a hug. "Where have you been? I was so worried!"

Minami clung to him, tears flowing as she recounted everything that had happened. Her father, Mr. Adachi, turned to Haruto and Haruka, bowing deeply.

"Thank you for bringing her back. I'm so sorry for the trouble she caused."

Haruto shook his head with a warm smile. "She wasn't any trouble at all."

The family retreated into the room, where Minami finally reunited with her mother.

Their reunion was bittersweet, the room heavy with emotion but also filled with a renewed sense of determination.

Haruka watched from the doorway, her chest tightening.

The sight of Minami and her mother together, sharing a moment of love and hope, was a scene she could never have for herself.

But at the same time, it felt like a small redemption—saving the girl from walking down the same lonely path she once had.

For that, she was grateful.

After a while, Haruto and Haruka quietly excused themselves, leaving the Adachi family to their reunion.

The siblings walked side by side under the darkening sky, the stars beginning to twinkle faintly above.

The silence was broken by Haruka's voice, soft and hesitant. "Brother... I've never said this before, but... I'm sorry."

Haruto stopped, turning to her in surprise. "What are you apologizing for?"

Haruka came to a halt, bowing deeply. Her voice trembled. "When Mom was dying, you spent her last moments searching for me instead of being with her."

"Because of my selfishness, you didn't get to say goodbye." Her tears spilled over as her voice cracked.

"I'm so sorry, Brother."

"Haruka..." Haruto's voice was gentle as he stepped forward, pulling her into a hug. "Do you know who asked me to look for you?"

She shook her head, her sobs muffled against his chest.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It was Mom," he said. Experience more on empire

"Her last words to me were to take care of you. To love you as much as she did. And that's what I've tried to do every day since."

He remembered that rainy day vividly—the weight of his mother's final embrace as she whispered her goodbye, urging him to find his sister.

The memory burned deeply, a reminder of the promise he made and the guilt he carried for failing to protect Haruka in their first life.

Haruka broke down completely, her small frame trembling in his arms as sobs wracked her body.

"Mom loved you, Haruka," he continued, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"She didn't hate you for running. She only wanted you to be happy."

"But... I was so selfish..." she choked out between sobs.

"And you were just a child," Haruto said firmly.

"Don't cry anymore, Haruka. Don't carry this guilt. Mom wouldn't want that."

Her cries grew quieter, though tears continued to stream down her face. "I'm sorry, Brother. I'm so sorry..."

Haruto held her tightly under the starlit sky, his voice steady and full of love.

"It's okay. It's time to forgive yourself. Mom's watching over us, and she's smiling."

The two stood there, embraced under the stars, as if their mother's spirit was wrapping them in her warmth, assuring them that all was forgiven.