Title: Children
Day #5: Shun can't quite forgive Reiji for sending Reira to war.
Surprisingly it was Shun that managed to calm Reira down as the boy shook from his own memories. After all, Shun was the only one who understood. Sweet words and encouragement wouldn't stop flashbacks of a time when death trailed behind your footsteps. All you could do, can do is endure, move on, and keep on living.
Reira, who even flinched away from Reiji, lets his head rest on Shun's shoulder as the older boy tell stories with the expertise of a practiced older brother. Shun's words are soft and gentle as he told tales about days that will be brighter, happier than today. Yuuya, emotionally drained and tired, listens attentively before falling asleep next to Reira.
It was when Reira finally falls asleep soon after with Shun's coat draped over him and Yuuya that Shun finally addresses Reiji.
"Why are they fighting, Akaba?"
"They are my soldiers. They chose to fight in this war."
"Chose? Like I chose to fight when my home was burned to the ground?"
Shun lets out a humorless laugh, bitter and ice cold, "And you, manipulating children into fighting your battles?"
Shun's eyes bared into Reiji's own.
"You really are just like your father."
Can be read as a continuation of the previous chapter.