*(A quiet interlude – Yuki's inner vision, soft and aching, where nothing had broken yet. A past that feels like a dream she can still reach out and touch… if only for a moment.)*
**Paras City – Yuki's Apartment, Late Evening – A Few Months Ago**
Rain tapped gently against the window like fingers drumming on glass—soft, persistent, comforting. The living room was bathed in warm orange lamplight from the single floor lamp in the corner. The TV played low—an old romantic comedy Yuki had seen a hundred times—but no one was really watching. The sound was just background comfort, familiar laughter filling the quiet spaces.
Yuki sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the low coffee table. Her black hair was tied in a messy bun, strands escaping around her face. She wore an oversized hoodie that swallowed her frame—Sai's old one, stolen from the dojo months ago. Makeup wipes and a half-empty water bottle lay scattered around her. She had just come back from an idol photoshoot—still wearing faint shimmer on her cheeks, glitter in her lashes, the ghost of stage makeup she hadn't fully removed. Her **golden eye** (the unsealed one) caught the lamplight like warm honey. The other eye—the sealed one—was hidden beneath a soft black eyepatch tonight, the crimson glow safely tucked away.
Astra was sprawled on the rug beside her, silver hair messy, pajamas rumpled, tail lazily swishing. He held a deck of Uno cards—half already scattered from earlier rounds. His silver eyes sparkled with mischief as he tried (and failed) to sneak a peek at Yuki's hand.
Honokage—in human form—leaned against the couch behind Yuki, long black hair spilling over his shoulders, crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He wore a loose black shirt, sleeves rolled up, one arm draped casually over the backrest, fingers absently playing with a strand of Yuki's hair that had escaped her bun.
No one spoke for a long moment—just the rain, the TV laughter track, and Astra's occasional giggle when he drew a bad card.
Astra—voice sleepy but happy—finally broke the quiet.
"Sista… you were on TV today. The new MV. Everyone at school was talking about it."
Yuki—smiling softly—reached over and ruffled his hair.
"Were they? What did they say?"
Astra—grinning wide, chest puffed.
"They said you're the prettiest idol in Japan. And then I said 'yeah, and she's my sister' and they didn't believe me until I showed them the photo of us at the zoo."
Yuki laughed—quiet, warm, the sound like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"You're my biggest fan, huh?"
Astra—nodding proudly.
"Number one fan. Forever."
Honokage—voice low, teasing—leaned down, murmured near Yuki's ear, breath warm against her skin.
"He's not wrong. You were glowing in that video. The way the lights caught your golden eye… it was like the stage was made for you."
Yuki—blushing faintly, nudging him with her shoulder.
"Stop… you're embarrassing me."
Honokage—smirk widening, crimson eyes soft.
"Never."
Astra—giggling, pretending to gag.
"You two are gross."
Yuki—playfully offended, throwing a cushion at him.
"Gross? We're romantic!"
Astra—dodging, laughing harder.
"Gross-romantic."
Yuki turned to Honokage—eyes sparkling with sudden idea.
"Hey… I was thinking."
Honokage—raising an eyebrow, curious.
"Hm?"
Yuki—voice soft, hopeful, almost shy.
"Let's go outside tomorrow. All three of us. No training, no photoshoot, no dojo. Just… us. Maybe the park near the river? Or that little café with the outdoor seats. Astra can bring his sketchbook. We can get ice cream. Sit in the sun. Talk about nothing important."
Astra—eyes lighting up like stars.
"Can we get the triple-scoop ones? With sprinkles? And extra whipped cream?"
Yuki—grinning wide.
"Triple-scoop with sprinkles. And extra whipped cream for you. Maybe even chocolate syrup if you promise not to get it all over your face this time."
Astra—mock gasp.
"I did not get it all over my face last time!"
Yuki—teasing.
"You had a whipped-cream mustache for an hour."
Honokage—quiet for a moment, then smiled—rare, gentle, almost vulnerable.
"I'd like that."
Yuki—leaning back against him, sighing happily.
"Good. It's decided. Tomorrow—no excuses. Just family."
Astra—yawning, crawling closer until he was half in Yuki's lap.
"Family… yeah. I like that word."
Yuki wrapped one arm around Astra, the other reaching back to hold Honokage's hand.
"Family," she whispered.
Honokage squeezed her fingers—soft, steady.
"Family."
The rain kept falling outside—gentle now, like it was singing them to sleep.
The TV kept laughing quietly.
Astra—half-asleep, mumbling.
"Sista… tomorrow… can we bring the camera? I want to take pictures. So we never forget."
Yuki—voice cracking just a little, eyes shining.
"Of course. We'll take a million pictures. And we'll make new memories every single day."
Honokage—murmuring against her hair.
"Every single day."
Astra—sleepy smile.
"Promise?"
Yuki—kissing the top of his head.
"Promise."
The three of them sat there in the orange glow—cards scattered, rain tapping the window, TV murmuring in the background.
Safe.
Whole.
Loved.
No pain.
No abandonment.
No hospital beds.
No tournament fears.
Just… them.
Yuki—quietly, almost to herself—whispered.
"I wish every day could be like this…"
Honokage—kissing the top of her head.
"It can be."
Astra—half-asleep, mumbling.
"Yeah… forever."
**Fade.**
The vision blurred—soft edges dissolving like mist in sunlight.
The stadium roar crashed back in—sudden, loud, overwhelming.
Yuki blinked—back in the VIP box, hands gripping the railing so hard her knuckles turned white.
The crowd was still cheering Izuko's victory—blood on the sand, Kash's body scattered.
Yuki's crimson eye (hidden behind sunglasses) filled with tears again—not from the fight, but from the memory that still burned behind her eyelids.
She whispered—so low only Wano could hear.
"I want to be close to everyone again… like that. Like we used to be. No more losing people. No more empty chairs. No more waiting for someone who never comes back. I want Astra safe. I want you here. I want… all of us together. Like family."
Wano—gentle, wrapping an arm around Yuki's shoulders, pulling her close.
"You will be. We're all still here. Astra's fighting for you right now. I'm right beside you. Uraka, Blu, the others… we're not going anywhere. And when this tournament ends… we'll make new memories. Real ones. With everyone who matters."
Yuki—tears falling silently—nodded against Wano's shoulder.
"I just… miss that feeling. Being whole."
Wano—soft but firm—rested her forehead against Yuki's.
"Then let it hurt. Let it remind you why you keep going. For Astra. For the family you still have. And maybe… one day… for the one you're still waiting for."
Yuki—small, broken smile.
"I want to be close to everyone… always."
Wano—whispering.
"Then we fight for that. Together."
Uraka—quietly reaching over, squeezing Yuki's other hand.
"We're not losing anyone else. Not today. Not ever, if we can help it."
Yuki—nodding, wiping tears with the back of her hand.
"Okay… I'll stay. I'll watch. I'll cheer. For him. For all of us."
She straightened slowly—looked out at the arena—where the next gate was opening.
Her voice—steady now, quiet fire beneath the fear.
"I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
The stadium lights flared brighter.
The next fighters stepped out.
And Yuki's heart kept beating—terrified, hopeful, fierce.
For her little brother.
For her family.
For the future she refused to let break completely.