A quiet breeze drifted through the paper windows. Outside, birds chirped in the garden, and the scent of warm rice and morning dew hung in the air.
Ryo sat in silence on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floor.
He hadn't moved since he woke up.
His heart was steady now. His face calm again.
But inside… he was still trembling.
"This is real."
He clenched his fists slowly. He had thought the worst had passed — that the shock of waking up young again was behind him. He had spent the last hour steadying his breathing, reminding himself not to act out of character. That he had to stay calm. Be patient. Move carefully.
Then came her voice.
Soft.
Gentle.
Glowing with love.
"Ryo~ sweetheart, are you still asleep? Breakfast is ready…"
It came from behind the door — and it shattered him.
His breath caught in his chest.
The moment he heard it, every memory from his past life came flooding back — all the years without that voice, all the times he reached for it in his nightmares and found only silence.
He barely had time to stand before the door slid open.
And there she was.
Scarlett.
His mother.
Her long, silken hair spilled down one shoulder, glowing in the soft morning light. A gentle smile played on her lips as she stepped into the room, dressed in a flowing pastel robe that smelled faintly of rose petals and warm bread.
She didn't even get a chance to say his name again.
Because he moved.
Not slowly. Not carefully.
He crossed the space between them in one step and pulled her into his arms — hard.
"Ryo?" she gasped softly, surprised by the sudden embrace.
But he didn't answer.
He buried his face against her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her tightly. Desperately. Like a drowning man clinging to the only thing keeping him afloat.
He inhaled deeply — her scent, the warmth of her skin, the way her fingers instinctively touched his back, startled.
She hadn't changed.
Not her scent.
Not her softness.
Not the way she held him.
And it broke him.
His eyes shut tight. His jaw clenched. He said nothing — only held her. Tighter. Longer. Beyond what a normal son should.
Because he missed her.
The way she called his name with that lilt in her voice.
The warmth in her touch.
The feeling of being loved — simply, quietly, unconditionally.
Her hands came up to stroke his back gently. "Ryo…? Are you alright, love?"
He said nothing.
Just another second.
Another moment in her arms.
Then another.
But finally… logic forced its way back into his mind. This is wrong. He had to be careful. Too much change, too suddenly, and they'd grow suspicious.
So — before he let go — he squeezed her just a bit tighter, grounding himself in that warmth one last time.
And then slowly… he pulled back.
A small, almost teasing smirk curved his lips as he met her gaze — eyes slightly misty, but calm again.
"Can't a son hug his gorgeous mother without getting interrogated?" he said smoothly.
Scarlett blinked… then let out a soft laugh — the kind he thought he'd never hear again.
"Oh? Flattering me already this early in the morning?" she smiled, reaching up to brush his hair away from his eyes. "You really must be hungry."
Ryo chuckled faintly, masking the way his chest still ached. "Starving."