The children were walking home from school when they noticed smoke rising in the distance. A sense of dread filled them as they realized it was coming from their neighborhood.
"What's that?" Kori asked, worried.
Without a word, Takeshi ran ahead, faster than the others. Kori and Raiden hurried to catch up. When they reached the scene, a crowd had gathered. People stood silently, staring at the fire that engulfed their home.
Takeshi's heart dropped. His eyes widened, and his mouth hung open in shock. Their house was burning. Without thinking, he dashed toward the flames.
"Takeshi!" Kori shouted, but he didn't stop.
Kori grabbed Raiden's hand, and together they ran after him. The heat from the fire hit them as soon as they got close. The inside of the house was a disaster. Everything was on fire, the walls and ceiling crumbling. The three of them stood frozen, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, a large piece of wood fell from above, blocking the door. They were trapped.
"Father!" Raiden shouted, his voice shaking.
In the corner of the room, Aoiro was kneeling with Catherine in his arms. His clothes were covered in blood, and Catherine had a large piece of wood stuck through her stomach. She wasn't moving.
"Father, help us!" Raiden cried out again.
But Aoiro didn't respond. He sat there, staring at his wife's body, tears rolling down his face. He didn't seem to hear them.
The children stood helpless, shouting for their father, but nothing changed. The house was falling apart around them, and the fire was growing.
Suddenly, the blocked door burst open, and a large figure appeared. Kurata stepped inside, pushing the burning wood out of the way.
"Uncle Kurata!" Kori called out.
Kurata quickly assessed the situation. He looked at his brother, but knew he couldn't save both Aoiro and the children. He had to choose.
Aoiro turned his head slowly. "Take care of the children," he said, his voice barely audible.
Kurata's eyes filled with tears, but there was no time. He pulled the children out from under the fallen beam and lifted them up, running as fast as he could toward the door.
"No! We can't leave them!" Raiden yelled, trying to break free from Kurata's grip.
Takeshi struggled too, screaming, "I need to save them! Let me go!"
Kurata held on tight, tears streaming down his face. He ran until they were clear of the house. Just as they got a few meters away, the house exploded behind them. The blast knocked them to the ground, but Kurata held the children close.
As they lay there, the children sobbed, looking back at what was once their home. Kurata said nothing, only holding them tighter.