Angel in the sky

Yuki's day at school was always an adventure—full of his wild imagination, messy drawings, and the kinds of innocent, funny moments only a four-year-old could create. Today was no exception.

As Haruto dropped Yuki off at the classroom door, he knelt down to give his son a hug, smiling as Yuki immediately began babbling about the day ahead. "Papa, today we get to draw our families! And then Sensei said we’re learning how to write kenji."

"Kanji," Haruto corrected gently, chuckling. "Have fun, buddy. I'll see you after school."

"Bye, Papa!" Yuki waved enthusiastically, running inside to join his classmates.

The day moved quickly for Yuki, who adored drawing time. He loved grabbing the biggest crayons and coloring outside the lines—sometimes way outside. When the teacher gave them their assignment to draw a picture of their families, Yuki’s eyes lit up, and he immediately grabbed the brightest colors he could find.

Within minutes, Yuki had drawn two stick figures: one tall and one small, both with smiling faces. He proudly scribbled a blue sky, green grass, and a bright yellow sun. Then, his small hand reached for the white crayon, and above the two figures, he drew a third—a smaller figure with wings, floating above them.

“Done!” Yuki announced proudly, standing up and holding his paper for his teacher to see.

The teacher, a kind woman with round glasses and a soft voice, came over to inspect his work. “Oh, Yuki, what a lovely drawing! Can you tell me who’s in your picture?”

Yuki grinned, pointing to the tallest figure first. “That’s Papa! And that’s me!” He pointed to the smaller one beside it. Then his hand moved to the angelic figure hovering in the sky. “And that’s Kaito. He’s an angel now.”

The teacher’s smile faltered slightly. “Kaito? Who is Kaito, Yuki?”

Yuki looked up with wide eyes, innocent and full of truth. “Kaito’s my other papa. But he’s not here anymore. He went to the sky.”

The teacher blinked, a little surprised by Yuki’s candid response. “I see. Is that why you drew him with wings?”

Yuki nodded seriously, his face full of conviction. “Yeah, because Papa said he’s watching us from up there. Like a superhero!”

The teacher smiled, though her heart ached at the innocence of his words. “That’s a beautiful drawing, Yuki. Thank you for sharing.”

Later, during kanji practice, the kids were learning how to write the character for "family" (家族). Yuki struggled a little, his small hands making the lines a bit wobbly, but he was determined to get it right. His teacher gently corrected his strokes, and Yuki, with all the focus of a young boy on a mission, kept trying until he got it.

By lunchtime, Yuki had forgotten all about his drawing. But his teacher hadn’t. She couldn’t help but think about the sweet boy who had drawn his family, with one member always out of reach.

---

The afternoon dragged on, and one of Yuki’s substitute teachers—Mr. Watanabe—was going over their kanji when he noticed the drawing taped up on the wall. Curious, he approached Yuki later during recess.

“Yuki-kun, I saw your drawing of your family,” he said, crouching down to Yuki’s level. “That’s a lovely picture. Who is Kaito?”

Yuki beamed, excited to talk about him again. “Kaito’s my other papa! But he’s an angel now. He died when I was born.”

Mr. Watanabe paused, his eyes flickering with surprise. “Oh... I see. And how did he die?”

Yuki’s expression dimmed slightly, his brow furrowing. “I dunno. Papa doesn’t like talking about it.”

The substitute teacher frowned but didn’t stop asking questions. “Doesn’t it make you sad, Yuki? That Kaito isn’t here?”

Yuki shrugged, a small pout forming on his lips. “Sometimes. But Papa says Kaito’s always watching me. I think that’s cool.”

Noticing the growing discomfort on Yuki’s face, another teacher nearby stepped in and gently guided Mr. Watanabe away, leaving Yuki to play with his friends. But the conversation stuck with Yuki for the rest of the day, a small cloud hanging over him as he quietly drew during free time.

He wondered if Kaito was really watching. And if he was, could Kaito see that sometimes, even though he didn’t know him, Yuki missed him?

---

By the time school ended, Yuki was ready to go home. He ran out of the classroom when the final bell rang, his backpack bouncing on his back as he saw Haruto waiting for him.

“Papa!” Yuki shouted, rushing into his father’s arms.

Haruto smiled, lifting Yuki up into a big hug. “How was school today, bud?”

Yuki hesitated, glancing back at his classroom door for a moment before looking up at Haruto. “We drew pictures of our families, Papa. I drew Kaito with wings. Do you think he’s really watching us?”

Haruto’s heart clenched, his throat tightening with emotion. He stroked Yuki’s hair softly, pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I think so, buddy. I think he’s always with us.”

Yuki smiled, resting his head on Haruto’s shoulder as they walked home. But even as the day ended, the questions from school lingered, the small cracks in Yuki’s understanding of loss beginning to show.

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