The sky above the rooftop was overcast, painted in pale greys and soft silvers, as if the world had taken a breath and paused mid-sigh. A weak winter sun peeked through the clouds, casting long, quiet shadows over the worn concrete.
Ren leaned against the metal railing, his breath a slow mist in the chilled air. Beside him, Hana sat cross-legged with her sketchbook open in her lap, pencil tracing gentle lines across the page. Naoki lay stretched out nearby, a warm hoodie zipped to his chin, Popcorn the kitten purring softly against his chest.
"Y'know," Naoki murmured, stroking the kitten's head lazily, "I think Popcorn is the only one here who truly appreciates my charm."
Ren chuckled. "She just wants your body heat."
"Ouch. Harsh." Naoki smirked. "She's using me for warmth. Just like the rest of you."
Hana looked up from her drawing. "We don't use you. We tolerate you."
Naoki clutched his chest in mock pain. "Brutal. I'm bleeding out here."
They all laughed—soft, real laughter that cut through the winter chill. Even Hana's quiet giggle carried a warmth that hadn't been there weeks ago. She had started to smile more. The rooftop had become her safe place.
Ren watched her from the corner of his eye. Her hair fluttered in the wind, strands occasionally falling into her eyes. She brushed them away with the back of her pencil-holding hand, a tiny habit he found oddly beautiful.
"Whatcha drawing?" he asked casually.
She hesitated. "Nothing special."
He stepped closer, peering over her shoulder. The page showed a sketch of the rooftop—complete with the railing, the distant mountains, and three vague silhouettes. One of them was lying down with what looked like a small cat curled on its chest.
Ren blinked. "Is that... us?"
"Maybe," she mumbled, her cheeks tinting pink.
Naoki sat up and grinned. "Aww, I'm a muse now. An inspiration to artists everywhere."
"Don't flatter yourself," Hana muttered, but she didn't close the sketchbook.
Ren crouched beside her, still gazing at the drawing. "You're really good, Hana."
Her voice was quieter when she replied, "Thanks."
Popcorn jumped from Naoki's chest and padded over to Hana, nudging her hand with her nose. Hana smiled and scratched her behind the ears.
Naoki stretched, cracking his knuckles. "Alright, I'm grabbing coffee. You two want anything?"
Ren waved him off. "We're good."
"Suit yourselves," Naoki said, heading toward the rooftop door. "But don't blame me if I come back with cookies and don't share."
As soon as he disappeared, silence returned—but it wasn't uncomfortable.
Ren leaned against the railing again, watching Hana as she tucked her pencil behind her ear. "You've been smiling more lately," he said.
She looked surprised, then shyly pleased. "I guess I feel… less alone now."
Ren's eyes softened. "That makes two of us."
She looked at him then, really looked—into the gentle steadiness of his gaze, the way his breath moved softly in the cold. Her heart gave a small, confused flutter.
"You've been kind to me," she said, voice almost a whisper.
He shrugged. "It's not hard to be kind to someone like you."
She looked down quickly, flustered. "You don't even know me that well."
"I know you like to draw but never show your art. I know you act like you're invisible because you're used to being treated that way." He paused. "And I know you're stronger than you think."
Her breath caught. The wind blew between them, but she felt warm all of a sudden.
"You're… weird," she muttered.
Ren grinned. "Takes one to know one."
— — —
Later that evening, Naoki stood at the hospital vending machine, thumbing through his coins. The lights above buzzed softly, the only sound in the quiet corridor. Room 407 was just down the hall.
He hadn't said much to Ren or Hana after coming back with coffee, but he'd noticed the way Hana's laugh lingered longer when Ren was around, or how Ren always instinctively turned toward her voice. A small part of Naoki felt a pang—a loneliness not quite jealousy, but close.
He grabbed a bottled tea and walked back to the room. Inside, his mother was sleeping. Her face looked more peaceful than it had in days.
He sat down beside her and whispered, "I got another A in biology."
The IV beeped softly in response.
"And I got a cat now. Ren gave her to me. Her name's Popcorn. You'd like her."
He stared out the window. A single snowflake drifted past the glass.
"I miss Dad. But I'm trying, Mom. I'm really trying."
— — —
The next morning, the trio gathered again at the rooftop. Hana had brought her sketchbook, Naoki his usual banter, and Ren a thermos of miso soup for them all.
They sipped from shared cups, huddled together against the cold.
"Feels like we're the only people up here in the whole world," Hana said quietly.
Ren smiled. "That's the idea."
Naoki glanced at them both, then leaned back. "Y'know… I think we should name this place."
Hana blinked. "Name the rooftop?"
"Yeah. Like… our sanctuary or something," Naoki said.
Ren tapped his chin. "What about… Sky Haven?"
Hana's eyes lit up. "That sounds nice."
Naoki nodded. "Sky Haven it is, then."
Popcorn meowed as if in agreement.
They clinked their soup cups together in a quiet toast—three hearts finding warmth in the cold, on the rooftop they now called home.
——————