Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, casting dappled patterns across the blanket. The alarm hadn’t gone off yet, but Hiro slowly opened his eyes. Turning his head, he looked to the side—Zero Two was still asleep, her long lashes gently trembling, her breathing calm and steady. He didn’t want to wake her, so he simply watched for a while, until she let out a soft hum and slowly opened her eyes.
“Morning, Darling…” Her voice was husky with sleep, her eyes still slightly dazed.
“Morning, Zero Two,” Hiro replied softly, a gentle smile on his face.
After breakfast, the two of them moved to the living room to begin the day’s rehabilitation. Hiro sat on the carpet, starting with a few basic stretches, while Zero Two assisted by adjusting his posture and keeping time.
“How’s that set feeling? Still sore?” she asked, leaning down, her gaze focused on the movements of his legs.
“It’s alright, not as tight as when I first started.” As he spoke, Hiro pushed himself up into another round of strength training.
Zero Two watched him intently, offering encouragement from time to time. “Just one more—Darling, you’ve got this. You’re recovering faster than I expected.”
Though sweat began to bead on his forehead, Hiro refused to stop. Zero Two, torn between concern and pride, didn’t interfere with his pace. She simply handed him a towel and a water bottle when he needed them.
During their break, they opened a notebook and began discussing their upcoming life plans. Hiro wanted to gradually increase his rehab time and also catch up on his schoolwork before returning to class. Zero Two jotted down each goal and decorated every page with cute doodles.
“This way, we’ll have a clear plan for every day,” she said proudly, turning the page toward Hiro. “And look—I drew a little dinosaur watching over you!”
Hiro chuckled. “You’re surprisingly good at drawing dinosaurs. Remember when you taught me that trick in the hospital?”
“Of course! I’ve got talent, after all~” Zero Two lifted her chin in playful confidence.
These small routines and shared laughter brought rhythm to their lives. For Hiro, they made the challenges of rehab bearable. He knew the road to recovery would be long, but with Zero Two by his side, even the most ordinary mornings seemed to shine.
After lunch, the sunlight was warm and inviting. They went out together, walking along familiar streets to the riverside. Hiro’s steps were much steadier now—he still used a cane, but his face showed less fatigue and more confidence.
Seated on a bench by the embankment, a light breeze carried the scent of early spring. Zero Two pulled out her sketchbook and pencil from her bag, sitting beside Hiro and beginning to draw. She squinted slightly at the river and distant bridge, her pencil gliding across the paper.
Hiro didn’t interrupt her, just quietly watched. Sunlight fell across her face, her expression focused, fingers nimble—every stroke of her pencil seemed to bring the image to life. It was his first time seeing her draw this closely, and he felt a strange, deep stirring in his chest.
“Darling, once I finish this, I want to use my drawings to record all our memories,” she said, without looking up, her voice full of conviction.
“Then I’ll stay by your side, helping create memories worth recording,” Hiro answered, his tone low but warm.
The setting sun stretched their shadows across the ground, and the landscape on her sketchpad gradually took shape. In that peaceful afternoon, they didn’t need many words—their presence alone was the most reassuring comfort.
That evening, Misaki and Kenta dropped by as usual, bringing the day’s math and science assignments. The moment they stepped inside, they joked, “The teacher gave us a mountain of problems today, Hiro, don’t slack off!”
Kenta pulled out his notebook, pointing to a question. “I’m stuck on this one. Help me out?”
Hiro took it with a grin, looking it over and explaining as he went. Meanwhile, Zero Two served snacks and drinks, inviting everyone to sit. The room filled with laughter as they huddled around the table, the house lively with the warmth of friendship.
Later that night, after seeing their friends off, Hiro and Zero Two sat side by side on the couch, watching a comedy show on TV. Zero Two leaned against Hiro’s shoulder, occasionally pointing at the screen and laughing at something silly. Hiro would glance down at her and smile quietly, unable to hide the joy on his face.
When the show ended and the room dimmed, a calm silence settled in. Hiro turned toward Zero Two and said softly, “Thank you… for staying with me through all of this.”
“Dummy, of course I’m here—I’m your partner, aren’t I?” she replied with a raised brow, though her eyes were unbelievably gentle.
They gazed at each other, no more words needed—just the sound of their breathing, and the shared rhythm of their hearts. In that moment, time seemed to stop, leaving only the two of them in their own quiet world.
Later that night, lying in bed, Zero Two curled into Hiro’s embrace and whispered, “Tomorrow’s another day—we’ll keep moving forward, Darling.”
“Yeah,” Hiro whispered back, holding her tighter. “Together.”
To be continued…
達人
