'This is where we Part'

Chapter 4 - crack in the spotlight

Soon, the room was alive with movement—the siblings and members bustling around together, all for Riku. Overwhelmed, Riku's eyes softened, his voice faint but touched with gratitude. "Everyone's fussing too much. I'm really fine...really..."

"Riku," Mitsuhana interrupted gently smoothing his bangs. "let yourself be spoiled once in while. It's okay."

The dorm quickly transform into a warm, bustling mess. Sougo came back with a cool towel gently pressed it against Riku's forehead. "Your temperature is still high, just relax, Riku-kun."

Meanwhile, Mitsuki proudly carried out a steaming bowl of porridge, the scent filling the room. "ta da! Fresh, easy-to-eat porridge! No excuses, Riku you'll eat at least half."

"Ehh...but if Rikkun doesn't want it, I'll eat it!" Tamaki teased, holding out his spoon dramatically.

Riku gave a weak laugh, shaking his head. "no, no, I'll eat... mitsuki niii-san worked hard on it." He let them help him sit up and with Sougo's cateful hand guiding the spoon, Riku obediently took bite after bite.

"That's good," Yamato said, leaning against the wall with crossed arms but a fond smile. "See? He eating properly. Stop worrying so much you two," he said to Mitsuhana and Natsuki.

But his siblings only exchanged knowing looks, both refusing to lower their guard. Mitsuhana adjusted the blanket again, while Natsuki brushed Riku's bangs aside and muttered, "still too warm..."

Little by little, Riku's eyelids grew heavy. Surrounded by gentle voices, soft laughter and the sound of Mitsuki and Tamaki bickering quietly in the background, he finally drifted into sleep. The room gradually settled. One by one, the other members excused themselves, slipping back to their rooms to give space. Only Iori remained behind, leaning silently against the wall.

Natsuki straightened, brushing invisible dust off his coat. His eyes lingered on his youngest brother's face for a long moment before finally said, "I'll go find Takanashi-san, there are things we need to discuss." His tone was calm but the heaviness in it carried unspoken concern. With a brief nod to Mitsuhana and Iori, he stepped quietly out into the hall.

Mitsuhana stayed by Riku's bedside, gently smoothing the blanket over him again, almost obsessively checking that we was warm enough. She tucked a stray strand of hair away from his face, her touch trembling despite her composed expression.

Iori, watching from across the room, spoke at last—his voice low and careful. "you..seem very used to this."

Mitsuhana's hand paused as she tucked the blanket closer around her brother. For a moment, her expression softened, but then a shadow passed over it. "Well as you already heard from Riku himself, we've been through this since he was little. There were so many times we almost lost him." Her voice grew tight, as though forcing the words out cost her strength. "None of us ever knew what to do. His condition...it's cruel. Every time he wake up from sleep, he risks falling into another panic attack, choking on breath he can't control—sometimes just because of nightmare dream." Her hand trembled as she brushed a strand of hair from Riku's forehead. "and yet, when he open his eyes, he smiles. He smiles so we won't worry. But I can't stop worrying."

Iori's eyes darkened, his usual composure cracking. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, unable to argue—not when the truth was laid bare like that. Iori gaze lingered on Riku's sleeping face, the faint rise and fall of his chest beneath the blanket. His voice, when it came, was steady but heavy with weight.

"...I've noticed." He tightened his grip on the book still in his hand, knuckles pale. "ever since I joined idolish7, I've seen the way Nanase-san pushes himself. The way he hides his pain behind that smile. I've watched him faint, I've seen him shake, and every time...he pretends nothing happenes, just so the rest of us won't worry." He drew in a slow breath, his eyes narrowing with a quiet resolve.