Chapter 3: A Morning in the Kitchen
ETERNAL ECLIPSE
Season 1, Episode 1: The Boy With No Power
Chapter 3: A Morning in the Kitchen
When Ren entered the kitchen, he found Haru crawling under the table, searching for something. His eight-year-old head kept bumping against the edge of the table, and each time, he would let out an "Oof!" before resuming his search.
"My sock! Someone stole my sock!"
"Nobody steals socks, Haru." Rina sat at the corner of the dining table, holding a mirror in one hand as she fixed her hair, her eyes focused on her reflection. The fourteen-year-old wore an expression that suggested she believed herself to be the only intelligent person in the family. "You left it in the bathroom yesterday."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know everything."
"You don't know anything!"
"Then I'm not helping you find your sock."
Haru fell silent for a second. Then, lowering his voice, he asked, "...The bathroom?"
Rina smiled without taking her eyes off the mirror.
Ayame stood in front of the stove, doing three things at once. With one hand, she was frying eggs in a pan. With the other, she was zipping up Haru's schoolbag. Meanwhile, she held her phone between her shoulder and ear, talking to someone.
"Yes, yes, I'll send it today. Don't worry."
When she noticed Ren, she gestured toward a seat with her eyes.
Ren sat down.
Eggs and toast were served. He began eating, but out of habit, he left the last piece untouched and moved it to one side of his plate.
Just then, Haru emerged from beneath the table. One sock was on his foot, while he held the other one aloft in his hand like a trophy.
"Found it! Rina, didn't I tell you?"
"You didn't tell me anything. I was the one who told you."
Without saying a word, Ren picked up the last piece of food from his plate and placed it on Haru's. Without even looking at him, Haru popped it into his mouth.
Neither of them showed any particular expression. It was as if they had a daily agreement that neither of them ever needed to talk about.
Only Rina caught the scene through the gap in her mirror. A faint smile touched her lips, but she said nothing.
Kaito sat across the table.
He was nearly fifty. Tired eyes, a calm face, and lines of time etched across his forehead. He wasn't speaking. He simply watched the commotion around him, as if it were a song he might never get to hear again.
A jar of jam sat in front of him. He gripped the lid and twisted it. It wouldn't budge. He tried again.
An old, curved mark resembling a ring became visible on the back of his right hand, like a circle left by a burn. Still, the lid wouldn't move.
He tried one more time. Then, without saying anything, he lowered his hand.
Ayame turned around, still holding the phone to her ear. She picked up the jar, twisted the lid open in one effortless motion, and set it back down. She didn't say a word or interrupt her conversation.
Kaito looked at her and smiled. It was a small, tired, grateful smile.
Ren saw everything. He said nothing.
Then Kaito looked up at the sky. Beyond the window lay the pale morning sky, with a thin sliver of the moon still hanging in it. He gazed at it for a long time amid the noise and chatter, as though he weren't really inside the house at all.
Then he turned toward Ren. He opened his mouth, as if he were about to say something.
But he stopped.
"What?" Ren asked.
"Nothing." Kaito shook his head. "Go on. You'll be late."
Ren looked at him for a moment. Then he picked up his bag and got to his feet.
