"Chirp... chirp... tweet... tweet..."
Bright sunlight streamed in through the window, spreading across the tiny bedding and illuminating the neat, clean room. The warmth of the cool autumn air gradually filled the room.
"Mm..."
The chirping birds outside woke the little one sleeping beneath the small blanket.
With that nasal sound of waking, a pair of dark, round eyes slowly opened.
"Ha ha ha! Rock, paper, scissors! Rock, paper, scissors!"
"You lost! You're it!"
"Why is it me again..."
At that moment, the birds outside suddenly fell silent, replaced by the clear, bell-like laughter unique to children.
Hearing it, the little one slowly sat up in bed. His dark, round eyes blinked, still hazy with sleep, as he slowly turned toward the window.
"Are we playing ninja today?"
"Huh? Again?"
"Yes, yes! This time, it's my turn to be the ninja!"
"I'm the ninja!"
"Huh? Didn't you say you didn't want to play just now?"
"W-what do you mean I didn't want to play? I... I never said that!"
As he turned his head, another burst of bell-like children's laughter came from outside the window. It was probably another group of children, different from the ones playing hide-and-seek earlier.
Hearing the new sounds, the little one could not help climbing out of bed. Gripping the windowsill with both hands, he stood on tiptoe as hard as he could and craned his neck, desperately lowering his large dark eyes in an attempt to see what was happening below the high sill.
But he was only a little over three years old. No matter how much he had grown, there was a limit. Even standing on tiptoe with all his strength, craning his neck, and looking down as hard as he could, he could only barely rest his chin on the windowsill.