The couch was comfortable enough and she felt a million times safer here than in Kryptrium but she still couldn't sleep. Harumi lay on the couch, staring at the wooden beams of the monastery ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't quite name. She was safe now—safer than she had been in a long time—but safety didn't bring peace. The memories of her time in Kryptarium Prison, the constant dread of danger, and the suffocating weight of isolation clung to her like shadows she couldn't escape.
The quiet of the monastery, normally so serene, only amplified the noise in her head. She shifted uncomfortably, the blanket Lloyd had draped over her slipping slightly as she turned. The thought of sleeping in this place—Lloyd's sanctuary, a place where she was a stranger at best and a threat at worst—seemed impossible.
Footsteps echoed softly in the hall, pulling her from her thoughts. She sat up slightly, her heart skipping a beat. If it was Lloyd she could easily say she couldn't sleep and he wouldn't think twice about it. If it was anyone else they would immediately think she was planning something, and they would have every right to believe that. Harumi held her breath, her ears straining to catch the rhythm of the steps. They were slow and deliberate, not the hurried march of someone on patrol or the casual shuffle of a sleepless wanderer. Her hands gripped the edge of the blanket as she waited for the figure to reveal itself.
The faint glow of moonlight spilling through the windows illuminated the figure stepping into the room. It was Jay, and from the looks of it, he hadn't yet noticed she was awake and watching him. Jay ran a hand through his already tousled hair, yawning quietly as he made his way to the kitchen. He wore a loose hoodie and pajama pants that made him look far less like the boisterous, lightning-wielding ninja Harumi was used to and more like a tired, regular guy. There was something disarming about seeing him like this—unguarded, almost human in his weariness.
Harumi considered saying nothing, letting him pass and leave her alone in the heavy silence. But a part of her, the part desperate to escape her own thoughts, couldn't resist the urge to speak.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked softly, her voice cutting through the quiet like a whisper of wind.
Jay froze mid-step, his head snapping in her direction. His eyes widened in surprise, making him look like a kid who got caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. "Oh! Uh, no. I mean, yeah, I guess," Jay stammered, his voice low but still managing to carry a spark of nervous energy. "Didn't mean to wake you or anything."
"You didn't," Harumi replied, sitting up fully and wrapping the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "I wasn't really asleep to begin with."
Jay hesitated, as if unsure whether to keep walking or engage in the conversation. Finally, he took a few cautious steps toward her, leaning slightly against the back of a chair. "Yeah, same here. Figured I'd grab some water or something. You, uh… you okay?"
Harumi's first instinct was to deflect, to say something vague and noncommittal. But she was so tired and couldn't muster up the energy to lie. "Not really. Everything's been so… I don't know, exhausting. Stupid Lloyd, don't get me wrong I appreciate everything he's done for me but it would have been better for everyone if he had just forgotten me."
"Yeah, hate to break it to you but if he learned anything from the rest of us it's how to be stubborn as a rock," Jay said, offering a lopsided smile. "You could tell Lloyd the sky's green, and he'd spend the rest of his life trying to prove it's blue just because he knows you're wrong. Trust me, there's no getting him to let go once he's decided something matters to him."
Harumi gave a soft, humorless laugh, shaking her head. "I don't know why he thinks I matter. After everything I've done… to him, to all of you… I wouldn't blame any of you for hating me."
Jay shifted uncomfortably, his expression growing more serious. "Look, I'm not gonna lie and say it's been easy. You… you hurt Lloyd a lot. And yeah, we were all pretty mad about that. Still kinda are, if I'm honest. But…" He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck as he searched for the right words. "Lloyd's always been good at seeing things in people that the rest of us miss. If he thinks you deserve a second chance, then maybe you do."
Harumi pulled the blanket tighter around herself, her gaze dropping to her hands. "Maybe he's wrong."
"Or maybe you're just not ready to believe him yet," Jay countered, his voice softer now. "But hey, if you wanna prove him wrong, I'm not stopping you. Just… don't expect him to stop being Lloyd. He's gonna keep believing in you, whether you like it or not."
The room fell into silence again, the only sounds the faint creaks of the monastery settling and the quiet hum of the night outside. Harumi let Jay's words sink in, a strange mix of frustration and something almost like hope stirring in her chest.
"Why are you even being nice to me?" she asked finally, looking up at him with a guarded expression.
Jay shrugged, offering a small, self-deprecating grin. "I don't know, maybe because it's late, and I'm tired, and I don't feel like being mad right now. Or maybe because I know what it's like to feel like you don't belong somewhere. Whatever the reason, it's not like being a jerk is gonna help either of us sleep better."
Harumi blinked, caught off guard by his honesty. She hadn't expected that answer—hadn't expected him to even acknowledge the idea that he might understand her, let alone admit it so freely.
"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Jay gave her a small nod, pushing himself off the chair. "Try to get some sleep, okay? Lloyd's gonna lose his mind if you're still this tired in the morning. And trust me, you do not wanna deal with Lloyd when he's worried. It's exhausting."
A faint smile tugged at Harumi's lips as she watched him head toward the kitchen, his steps lighter now. It was nice having people to talk to who actually listened and maybe even seemed to understand. Harumi lay back down on the couch, the blanket still snug around her shoulders. For the first time since coming to the monastery, her chest felt just a little lighter, as if some of the tension she'd been carrying had finally loosened. Jay's words stayed with her, echoing in her mind as she stared up at the ceiling.
Maybe you're just not ready to believe him yet.
She wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep but when she awoke the next morning it was to the sound of Cole and Kai fighting over the jar of syrup and Lloyd scolding them on 'being too loud, you're gonna wake up Rumi.'
The morning light streamed through the windows, casting warm beams across the room. Harumi blinked groggily, momentarily disoriented as the echoes of Cole and Kai's bickering brought her fully to consciousness. Her body felt heavy but rested in a way it hadn't in a long time. The faint scent of breakfast—something sweet—lingered in the air.
She sat up, the blanket Lloyd had given her pooling around her waist, and glanced toward the kitchen. Lloyd was standing between Cole and Kai, his arms crossed and an exasperated look on his face. Cole had a firm grip on the syrup jar, while Kai was attempting to wrestle it away with dramatic flair.
"You two are worse than toddlers," Lloyd grumbled, his voice just loud enough to carry over their squabbling.
"You know, you could just share," Zane chimed in from the stove, flipping what looked like pancakes with a calm, almost robotic efficiency. "There's no need for conflict this early in the morning."
"But this syrup is the good syrup," Kai argued, shooting Cole a glare. "You can't just hoard it all for yourself!"
"It's not hoarding, it's strategic possession," Cole shot back, tightening his grip. "I got to it first."
Lloyd groaned, rubbing his temples. "Guys, seriously. Can you not—"
"Lloyd," Harumi interrupted softly, her voice cutting through the noise like a ripple in still water. The room went still as all eyes turned to her. She suddenly felt very self-conscious, the warmth of their attention making her cheeks flush.
"Oh, hey," Lloyd said, his expression softening instantly. "Did we wake you up? Sorry about that."
Harumi shook her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "No, it's fine. I was already awake."
"See, not my fault," Cole muttered, only to receive a sharp elbow from Lloyd.
Harumi couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as the scene unfolded. For all their quirks, the dynamic between the ninja was oddly comforting, like a glimpse into a world she'd never been part of but quietly longed for.
"Good morning, Harumi," Zane greeted with a nod, his calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the chaos. "Would you care for some breakfast? I'm making pancakes, and there should be plenty for everyone."
The offer surprised her, though she tried not to show it. "Um… sure. Thank you."
Kai, now successfully clutching the syrup jar, shot her a wary glance. "You actually like pancakes? Didn't peg you for the type."
"Kai," Lloyd said sharply, his tone carrying a warning.
"What?" Kai raised his hands defensively. "I'm just asking!"
Harumi tilted her head slightly, considering her response. "They were my favorite breakfast as a kid. If I'm being honest I haven't had any since my parents died, the Emperor and Empress insisted that I eat only the finest of foods. It wasn't as amazing as you might think." The words spilled out before Harumi could stop them, and for a brief moment, the room fell silent. Her admission hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. The playful bickering around the syrup jar faded, and the others exchanged uncertain glances.
"Sorry," she murmured, instantly regretting her honesty. "I didn't mean to—"
"No, it's okay," Lloyd interrupted, his voice soft but firm. He stepped toward her, his expression serious now. "You don't ever have to apologize for opening up like that." Harumi swallowed, feeling a sudden tightness in her throat. She wasn't used to this kind of response. The apology was already forming on her lips, but Lloyd's gentle insistence kept it at bay. The weight of her past—the cold, rigid expectations of her adopted parents, the isolation, and the walls she'd built to protect herself—seemed to lift just a little in this moment. His acceptance, so easy and without judgment, was almost overwhelming.
Clearing her throat she looked away from Lloyd not ready to be this vulnerable with all of them. "So about these pancakes, what kind are they?"
Zane, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, quickly jumped in to steer the conversation back to lighter ground. "These are my special pancakes. They're not just ordinary pancakes. I've added a touch of vanilla and cinnamon, with a dash of nutmeg," he said, placing a steaming stack of pancakes on the table. "They're perfect for a morning like this."
Lloyd smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at Harumi. "Sounds good, right?"
Harumi nodded, though her mind was still buzzing from the unexpected vulnerability. The pancakes seemed like a small comfort, but in that moment, they felt like a lifeline—something simple, something normal, something that didn't come with strings attached.
After breakfast, Harumi awkwardly stood in Nya's room as the water ninja dug through her closet trying to find an outfit for her. "Here, try this one," Nya said, tossing a dark blue shirt with a simple white design onto the bed. "It's comfy, and you won't have to worry about it being too tight or anything."
Harumi glanced at the shirt, still feeling somewhat out of place. "I don't want to be a burden, Nya. I'm sure you have enough to do without—"
"Stop," Nya interrupted, holding up a hand. "I may not like that you're staying here but that doesn't mean I'm not going to help you out. You can wear this today and we'll go buy you some clothes after lunch, just you, Pix, and I. An awkward 'let's try to get along' girl's day out."
Harumi blinked, taken aback by Nya's bluntness, but there was something unexpectedly reassuring in the offer. Nya didn't sugarcoat her feelings, but she didn't seem to want to make Harumi's life harder, either. "Okay, thanks," Harumi said quietly, reaching for the shirt and holding it up in front of her. It looked comfortable, and though it wasn't the kind of clothing she'd worn before, she could see herself slipping into it without feeling completely out of place.
As she changed into the shirt, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a delicate line. She wasn't sure what to expect from the rest of the day. Nya had been direct with her, and though the words stung a little, Harumi couldn't help but appreciate the honesty. Maybe, in a way, it was what she needed—someone who wasn't afraid to call her out and push her to confront things she'd rather avoid. Harumi finished changing into the shirt, standing in front of the mirror for a moment as she adjusted the fit. It wasn't something she would have picked out for herself, but there was something oddly comforting about it. It was simple, nothing fancy, and for the first time in a long while, it made her feel like maybe she could belong somewhere. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. She didn't know exactly what it would hold, but she could at least try to make it through without completely unraveling.
As she left Nya's room, she found the others already gathered in the common area, finishing up breakfast. The air was light, filled with laughter and chatter, but she still felt like an outsider, a ghost in the corner of their vibrant world. Standing in a corner she watched as they all talked and joked together. This wasn't her world and she wasn't sure if it ever would be—but as the conversation flowed around her, Harumi found herself drawn into the warmth of it. The way Lloyd and the others joked, the way they cared for each other, even if it wasn't perfect—it felt real. It wasn't something she could easily replicate, not yet, but maybe, just maybe, it was something she could learn to be a part of.