Silence at Home

Thunder Blade — Episode 4:Silence at Home

The sound of wind moves softly through a quiet village.

The sky is beginning to dim, the light fading into evening.

Inside a small house—

Everything is still.

A man sits at a low table.

Daichi.

A cup of tea rests in front of him, untouched.

Across from him, an empty seat.

His eyes linger on it for a moment longer than they should.

---

The door slides open.

A small figure steps in.

Hakuji.

He looks tired, holding a small bag in his hands.

Hakuji: I’m back.

No response.

Daichi doesn’t look up.

Hakuji slowly takes off his shoes and steps inside, placing the bag down.

He glances toward the empty seat.

Then back at his father.

Hakuji: …Is mom not home yet?

Silence.

Daichi’s hand tightens slightly around the cup.

But he still doesn’t speak.

Hakuji waits.

A few seconds pass.

Hakuji: She said she’d be back before sunset.

Still nothing.

The room feels heavier.

Hakuji walks over and sits down across from him.

Hakuji: Did something happen?

Daichi finally speaks.

Daichi: …Eat.

Hakuji blinks.

Hakuji: Huh?

Daichi: The food is on the counter.

His voice is low. Distant.

Hakuji hesitates.

Hakuji: But—

Daichi: Just eat.

Silence again.

Hakuji slowly stands up and walks to the kitchen area.

He looks at the food left out.

It’s already cold.

He doesn’t touch it right away.

Instead, he looks back at his father.

Daichi hasn’t moved.

---

Time passes.

The sky outside darkens.

The house grows quieter.

Hakuji sits again, now eating slowly.

He keeps glancing at the door.

Waiting.

---

Later that night—

Hakuji is half-asleep, sitting against the wall.

The door never opened.

A faint sound breaks the silence.

Daichi stands up.

He walks toward the door.

Hakuji looks up.

Hakuji: …Dad?

Daichi pauses for a moment.

But doesn’t turn around.

He opens the door slightly.

The night air flows in.

Cold.

Quiet.

Daichi steps outside.

The door closes behind him.

---

Outside—

Daichi stands alone.

The moonlight barely reaches him.

His expression is blank.

But his eyes…

They aren’t.

Fragments of memory flash in his mind.

Ameira.

Her smile.

Her determination.

Then—

Nothing.

Silence.

---

Daichi clenches his fist.

Daichi: …They did it.

His voice is barely above a whisper.

Daichi: The clan…

He exhales slowly, but it shakes slightly.

Daichi: I knew this would happen.

He looks down at his hand.

It trembles.

Daichi: I should’ve stopped it…

A pause.

Daichi: I should’ve been there…

The wind blows past him.

He closes his eyes.

Daichi: …

When he opens them again—

They’re empty.

Cold.

---

Inside the house—

Hakuji has fallen asleep.

Still sitting where he was.

Still waiting.

---

The door slides open again.

Daichi steps back inside.

He looks at Hakuji.

For a long moment—

He just stands there.

Watching him.

---

Daichi walks closer.

He kneels slightly in front of him.

Hakuji shifts a little in his sleep.

Hakuji: …Mom…

Daichi freezes.

His expression cracks—

just for a second.

Then it disappears again.

---

Daichi looks away.

Daichi: …

He stands back up slowly.

He turns toward the other room.

---

The night continues.

Silent.

Heavy.

---

Morning light begins to creep in through the windows.

Hakuji slowly wakes up.

He looks around.

Still sitting in the same place.

He rubs his eyes.

Hakuji: …Mom?

No answer.

He stands up.

The house feels… off.

Too quiet.

---

He walks toward his father.

Daichi is sitting again.

Same position.

Same cup.

Still untouched.

---

Hakuji: …Did she come back?

Daichi doesn’t respond immediately.

A long pause.

Then—

Daichi: …No.

Hakuji’s expression falls slightly.

Hakuji: Oh…

He looks toward the door again.

Hakuji: Maybe she’s just training longer than usual.

Daichi doesn’t react.

Hakuji: She does that sometimes.

Silence.

---

Hakuji walks over to the door and slides it open.

He looks outside.

Nothing.

Just the empty path.

---

He steps back inside.

Hakuji: …She’ll be back.

He says it more to himself than anyone else.

---

Daichi finally looks at him.

For a brief moment.

Then looks away again.

---

Daichi: …Go train.

Hakuji blinks.

Hakuji: Right now?

Daichi: Yes.

Hakuji: But what about—

Daichi: Go.

His tone is sharper this time.

Hakuji flinches slightly.

Hakuji: …Okay.

---

Hakuji grabs a wooden practice sword and heads outside.

He looks back once.

Daichi isn’t looking at him anymore.

---

Outside—

Hakuji stands alone.

He lifts the practice sword.

Swings.

Again.

Again.

Each movement slightly off.

Distracted.

---

Inside—

Daichi sits in silence.

His hand slowly tightens into a fist again.

---

Daichi: …I can’t stay here.

A long pause.

Daichi: If they found her…

He closes his eyes.

Daichi: They’ll come for me next.

---

The room feels colder.

He looks toward the doorway where Hakuji left.

---

Daichi: …

His voice is quieter now.

Almost uncertain.

Daichi: …What do I do…

---

Outside—

Hakuji continues training.

But his eyes keep drifting back toward the house.

Toward the door.

Waiting.

---

The wind blows again.

Carrying nothing with it.

---

Fade to black.

END OF EPISODE 4

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