Letters form the past

Haruto sat at the kitchen table, the sound of the rain softly pattering against the window. Yuki was in the other room, engrossed in his toys, blissfully unaware of the turmoil swirling inside his father. It was a typical afternoon, but the weight of the last few days pressed heavily on Haruto’s shoulders. He absentmindedly scrolled through the papers strewn across the table when his eyes landed on an envelope he didn't recognize.

The envelope was slightly crumpled, the edges worn as if it had been passed between many hands. The return address was familiar, but it took Haruto a moment to connect it to Kaito’s parents. His heart raced, a mix of anxiety and curiosity coursing through him as he carefully opened it.

Inside, he found a neatly folded letter on cream-colored paper. His hands trembled slightly as he unfolded it, his heart pounding in his chest.

---

**Dear Haruto,**

We hope this letter finds you well. It has been a long time since we last heard from you. We’ve been following the news about Kaito and what happened, and we are deeply sorry for your loss.

It has taken us some time to gather our thoughts, but we would like to meet you and Yuki. Kaito would have wanted us to be a part of his son’s life, even if he is no longer with us. We wish to get to know Yuki and share memories of his father.

Please let us know if you would be open to meeting us. We understand this may be difficult, but we believe it could be good for both Yuki and us.

With all our sympathy,

**Kazuki and Hana**

### Chapter 5: **"Letters from the Past"**

Haruto sat at the kitchen table, the sound of the rain softly pattering against the window. Yuki was in the other room, engrossed in his toys, blissfully unaware of the turmoil swirling inside his father. It was a typical afternoon, but the weight of the last few days pressed heavily on Haruto’s shoulders. He absentmindedly scrolled through the papers strewn across the table when his eyes landed on an envelope he didn't recognize.

The envelope was slightly crumpled, the edges worn as if it had been passed between many hands. The return address was familiar, but it took Haruto a moment to connect it to Kaito’s parents. His heart raced, a mix of anxiety and curiosity coursing through him as he carefully opened it.

Inside, he found a neatly folded letter on cream-colored paper. His hands trembled slightly as he unfolded it, his heart pounding in his chest.

---

**Dear Haruto,**

We hope this letter finds you well. It has been a long time since we last heard from you. We’ve been following the news about Kaito and what happened, and we are deeply sorry for your loss.

It has taken us some time to gather our thoughts, but we would like to meet you and Yuki. Kaito would have wanted us to be a part of his son’s life, even if he is no longer with us. We wish to get to know Yuki and share memories of his father.

Please let us know if you would be open to meeting us. We understand this may be difficult, but we believe it could be good for both Yuki and us.

With all our sympathy,

**Kazuki and Hana**

---

Haruto’s breath hitched in his throat, the world around him blurring as he processed the contents of the letter. The last few years had been a whirlwind of grief and denial; he had spent countless nights holding Yuki, whispering promises of love and protection, all while fighting the overwhelming shadows of his own loss.

Kaito’s death had left a gaping hole in his life, one that seemed impossible to fill. He remembered how Kaito’s absence had changed everything—the way the laughter had faded from their home, replaced by the haunting silence that echoed through the halls. Haruto had struggled to provide for Yuki while battling his own demons, the memories of Kaito dancing just beyond his reach.

He could still hear Kaito’s laughter, see his bright smile, feel his warm embrace. But now, it felt like Kaito was slipping further away, just as the rain outside obscured the view of the world.

**“Papa?”** Yuki’s small voice broke through the fog of Haruto’s thoughts as he entered the kitchen, holding a crayon drawing of an angel with a bright yellow sun and blue sky. **“Look! I made Kaito a picture!”**

Haruto forced a smile, his heart clenching at the innocence shining in Yuki’s eyes. He picked up the drawing, his throat tightening. **“It’s beautiful, Yuki. He would love it.”**

**“Can I show him?”** Yuki asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling. **“I want him to see my drawing.”**

Haruto felt the familiar pang of sorrow as he swallowed hard. **“Of course, buddy. Kaito is always watching over you,”** he reassured, though doubt crept in as he thought about the letter.

**“What’s wrong, Papa?”** Yuki tilted his head, sensing something was off.

**“Just... grown-up stuff,”** Haruto replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He placed the drawing on the table beside the letter, wishing he could be the rock Yuki needed without crumbling under the weight of his grief.

The letter felt heavy in his hands, a reminder that Kaito’s family was still out there, still grieving in their own way. Haruto thought about the possibility of facing them, of sharing Yuki, of sharing memories that felt too precious to part with.

**“Can we go see Daddy family?”** Yuki suddenly asked, eyes wide with curiosity. **“I want to meet them! Can I? Can we?”**

The innocent enthusiasm in Yuki's voice broke Haruto's heart all over again. He couldn’t deny his son anything, but the thought of facing Kaito’s parents, of recounting their loss, filled him with dread.

**“Maybe someday, Yuki,”** he said, his voice barely a whisper. **“Maybe someday.”**

The rain continued to fall outside, mirroring the storm brewing inside Haruto's heart. He needed time to think, to process what this meeting could mean—not just for him but for Yuki. Could he really allow Kaito’s family back into their lives? Could he trust them with the precious memories of the man he had loved?

As he gazed at Yuki’s drawing, Haruto felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps this was the opportunity to honor Kaito's memory and share the love they had built together, even in his absence. But it would take time, and a lot of courage.

With a heavy heart but a glimmer of determination, Haruto knew he had to make a decision—one that could change everything for him and Yuki.

---

Haruto’s breath hitched in his throat, the world around him blurring as he processed the contents of the letter. The last few years had been a whirlwind of grief and denial; he had spent countless nights holding Yuki, whispering promises of love and protection, all while fighting the overwhelming shadows of his own loss.

Kaito’s death had left a gaping hole in his life, one that seemed impossible to fill. He remembered how Kaito’s absence had changed everything—the way the laughter had faded from their home, replaced by the haunting silence that echoed through the halls. Haruto had struggled to provide for Yuki while battling his own demons, the memories of Kaito dancing just beyond his reach.

He could still hear Kaito’s laughter, see his bright smile, feel his warm embrace. But now, it felt like Kaito was slipping further away, just as the rain outside obscured the view of the world.

**“Papa?”** Yuki’s small voice broke through the fog of Haruto’s thoughts as he entered the kitchen, holding a crayon drawing of an angel with a bright yellow sun and blue sky. **“Look! I made Kaito a picture!”**

Haruto forced a smile, his heart clenching at the innocence shining in Yuki’s eyes. He picked up the drawing, his throat tightening. **“It’s beautiful, Yuki. He would love it.”**

**“Can I show him?”** Yuki asked eagerly, his eyes sparkling. **“I want him to see my drawing.”**

Haruto felt the familiar pang of sorrow as he swallowed hard. **“Of course, buddy. Kaito is always watching over you,”** he reassured, though doubt crept in as he thought about the letter.

**“What’s wrong, Papa?”** Yuki tilted his head, sensing something was off.

**“Just... grown-up stuff,”** Haruto replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He placed the drawing on the table beside the letter, wishing he could be the rock Yuki needed without crumbling under the weight of his grief.

The letter felt heavy in his hands, a reminder that Kaito’s family was still out there, still grieving in their own way. Haruto thought about the possibility of facing them, of sharing Yuki, of sharing memories that felt too precious to part with.

**“Can we go see Kaito’s family?”** Yuki suddenly asked, eyes wide with curiosity. **“I want to meet them! Can I? Can we?”**

The innocent enthusiasm in Yuki's voice broke Haruto's heart all over again. He couldn’t deny his son anything, but the thought of facing Kaito’s parents, of recounting their loss, filled him with dread.

**“Maybe someday, Yuki,”** he said, his voice barely a whisper. **“Maybe someday.”**

The rain continued to fall outside, mirroring the storm brewing inside Haruto's heart. He needed time to think, to process what this meeting could mean—not just for him but for Yuki. Could he really allow Kaito’s family back into their lives? Could he trust them with the precious memories of the man he had loved?

As he gazed at Yuki’s drawing, Haruto felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps this was the opportunity to honor Kaito's memory and share the love they had built together, even in his absence. But it would take time, and a lot of courage.

With a heavy heart but a glimmer of determination, Haruto knew he had to make a decision—one that could change everything for him and Yuki

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