Year 1951
Rural Village, Near Berlin
A young boy, no older than five, walked quietly along a dirt road that wound through the countryside. His jet-black hair swayed gently with each step, while his pale complexion and dark eyes made him stand out against the warm colors of the fading afternoon. There was no destination in his stride—only quiet curiosity leading him forward.
High above him, a hawk circled patiently through the sky.
The boy stopped walking and looked up.
His eyes followed the bird as it drifted through the air, waiting.
Then, without warning, the hawk folded its wings and descended.
Its target was a sparrow perched on the branch of a nearby tree, pecking absentmindedly at scattered seeds. The attack was swift enough to leave no room for resistance. Before the smaller bird could react, the hawk had already seized it.
The struggle lasted only a moment.
Then it was over.
The boy watched the scene in complete silence. There was neither fear nor pity on his face—only fascination. His gaze remained fixed on the predator as it disappeared into the evening sky, carrying its prey with it.
After a while, he continued walking.
Not far ahead stood a small neighborhood park.
Children ran across the grass, their laughter filling the cool evening air while a handful of parents watched from nearby benches, occasionally calling out to them. It was an ordinary scene—one that should have felt familiar.
Yet the moment the boy noticed it, an uneasy feeling settled inside him.
He slowed his pace.
For reasons he couldn't explain, anxiety crept into his chest.
Taking a slow breath, he stepped through the entrance.
He expected someone to notice him.
Perhaps one of the children would wave.
Perhaps an adult would smile.
Perhaps…
Nothing happened.
The conversations continued.
The laughter remained unchanged.
The games carried on as though he had never entered.
He opened his mouth, intending to greet someone.
No words came.
Quietly, he walked toward a weathered wooden bench tucked away in the corner of the park and sat down.
From there, he simply watched.
The children chased one another across the field.
Parents laughed among themselves.
Life continued naturally.
Not a single pair of eyes ever met his.
It was almost as though he wasn't there.
As though he didn't exist.
Slowly, he leaned back and lifted his gaze toward the sky.
Clouds drifted lazily across the horizon.
He continued staring.
Seconds slipped by.
Those seconds became minutes.
The minutes quietly turned into hours.
By the time the sun had begun disappearing beneath the horizon, the park had emptied completely. One family after another returned home until the laughter faded into silence.
Soon, only the boy remained.
Alone.
Sitting quietly on the old wooden bench beneath the evening sky.
Then—
A timid voice broke the silence behind him.
"H-Hey…"
The boy blinked.
"Y-You shouldn't s-stay out here… It's getting d-dark."
The voice was gentle.
Warm.
Soft enough to almost disappear beneath the whisper of the evening breeze.
"Y-You might catch a cold…"
The boy slowly turned around.
Standing several steps behind the bench was a girl, perhaps a year or two older than him.
She had long black hair that rested neatly over her shoulders, and skin so fair it almost seemed to glow beneath the fading sunlight. There was something distinctly Asian about her features, giving her an appearance unlike most of the children in the village.
She clutched a small brown teddy bear tightly against her chest with both arms, almost as though it gave her courage.
Even from a distance, her nervousness was unmistakable.
Her shoulders were tense.
Her fingers gripped the teddy bear tightly.
She avoided meeting his eyes for more than a second at a time.
The boy studied her quietly.
Then he understood.
She was just as anxious as he was.
A gentle smile slowly spread across his face—not forced, not playful, but warm enough to put someone at ease.
The change was immediate.
The girl's tense expression softened ever so slightly, and the fear in her eyes began to fade.
In a quiet, comforting voice, the boy finally spoke.
"It's alright."
He glanced toward the sunset before looking back at her.
"But… you might catch a cold yourself."
A brief silence followed.
"I'm planning to stay here for a few more minutes."
He shifted slightly on the bench, leaving enough space beside him.
"Would you like to join me?"
The girl stood frozen for several seconds.
Then, slowly, a tiny smile appeared on her face.
Without saying a word…
She nodded.
3 August 1959
Ballyhilin, Ireland
Ai slowly opened her eyes.
For a brief moment, she simply stared at the unfamiliar wooden ceiling above her. The aged planks stretched across the room in uneven patterns, their faded color reminding her of lifeless branches scattered through a forgotten forest.
She blinked.
Then her memories returned.
It had already been three days since she and Anna had arrived in Ballyhilin alongside Anna's grandfather.
When she had first met him, Ai had mistaken him for a stern and intimidating man. His broad build, weathered face, and commanding presence had given that impression almost instantly. Yet the longer she stayed under his roof, the more she realized how misleading first impressions could be. Beneath that rugged exterior was a man who was remarkably kind, responsible, and quietly caring.
The journey itself had been far less enjoyable.
Although traveling by airplane had fascinated Ai at first, the excitement quickly faded when Anna's grandfather became airsick for nearly the entire flight. By the time they landed, all three of them were simply relieved to have solid ground beneath their feet again.
Ballyhilin, however, had exceeded every expectation.
The town was far from modern. Its roads were quiet, its buildings simple, and life moved at an unhurried pace. Yet that was precisely what Ai liked about it. The isolation gave the town a peaceful charm she had never experienced before. Rolling green hills surrounded the coastline, while the beaches stretched endlessly beneath the open sky. It was easy to understand why people admired the scenery.
Ironically, despite spending three days there, Ai had barely explored any of it.
Anna had been asking her to go sightseeing since the day they arrived, but Ai had somehow managed to postpone it every single time.
Not today.
Today she had finally run out of excuses.
With that thought, Ai climbed out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. After washing her face with the cold morning water, she tied back her hair and made her way downstairs.
The house welcomed her with the familiar scent of wood and breakfast.
Anna's grandfather's home was modest in size—large enough for a small family, yet cozy enough to feel intimate. Almost every part of it had been built from wood. Though the furniture was old-fashioned, Ai found the entire house strangely charming. Every floorboard creaked softly beneath her feet, each sound adding to the home's quiet character.
She followed the aroma into the kitchen.
Anna's grandfather was standing by the stove, preparing breakfast, while Anna sat impatiently at the dining table, already waiting.
The moment she noticed Ai entering, Anna waved enthusiastically.
"Morning!"
Ai smiled and waved back.
Anna's grandfather glanced over his shoulder.
"Looks like someone finally got a good night's sleep."
Ai scratched the back of her head with an embarrassed smile.
"Yeah… I guess I did."
Before she could even sit down, Anna leaned forward eagerly.
"So… when are we leaving?"
Ai blinked.
"At least let me sit first," she replied with a laugh. "I literally just woke up."
Anna immediately covered her mouth.
"Oops. Sorry."
A warm laugh escaped Anna's grandfather.
Ai pulled out a chair and sat beside Anna.
"So," she asked, "what's for breakfast?"
"We've got fresh bread," the old man replied, "and mushroom soup."
Anna suddenly looked around the kitchen.
"Don't we have any more ice cream?"
Ai raised an eyebrow.
"You finished it last night."
Anna frowned.
"…Wait, I did?"
"You certainly did," her grandfather answered without missing a beat.
Anna looked genuinely offended.
"I refuse to believe that."
Ai couldn't help laughing.
"No worries," Anna declared proudly, brushing off the accusation with dramatic confidence. "When we come back, me and Ai will buy more."
Her grandfather simply shook his head with an amused smile before carrying the food over to the table.
He placed two plates and bowls in front of the girls before carefully setting down a large pot filled with steaming mushroom soup.
The rich aroma immediately filled the room.
"It smells amazing," Ai admitted.
Before anyone else could begin, Anna had already picked up her spoon.
Within seconds she was eating with astonishing speed, as though she hadn't seen food in days.
Ai paused halfway through lifting her own spoon.
She exchanged a glance with Anna's grandfather.
Neither of them said a word.
Both quietly smiled.
By the time breakfast was over, Anna leaned back in her chair with complete satisfaction before suddenly springing to her feet.
"Alright!" she announced. "Let's go, Ai!"
Ai sighed dramatically as she stood up.
"Fine, fine. I'm coming."
Anna turned toward her grandfather.
"We're heading out, Gramps."
The old soldier nodded.
"Be back before evening."
His voice grew a little firmer.
"And be careful."
The two girls nodded together.
After saying their goodbyes, they stepped outside, leaving the warm wooden house behind as the quiet streets of Ballyhilin awaited them.
Chapter ends
To be Continued