An expanse of blue stretched across the horizon.
Still.
Calm.
Then—
A figure joined the calmness.
A butterfly.
Its black wings moved in tranquility.
After a few minutes,
it slowed and began descending.
As it reached the ground, a group of kids gathered behind it.
Then it landed on a window.
Sunlight poured inside the room as tiny golden particles floated in the air.
The particles kept falling onto a bed lying in the corner.
Until the sun rose high enough for its light to fall directly onto the bed.
Several minutes passed before a hand reached out to block the incoming sunlight.
Soon after, a figure sat up on the bed,
clutching his head as if trying to process something.
The figure opened his eyes, trying to assess his surroundings.
Looking around the room, he climbed out of bed , his gaze settling on a large mirror in the corner.
The boy walked up to the mirror and stared at his reflection.
A pair of black eyes stared back at him from the reflection.
The image had a youthful appearance, messy hair .
As he gazed at his reflection , a hand slowly reached out and touched the corner of the boy’s reflection .
“Who?”
Silence followed as the word left his mouth.
Then his gaze drifted to the window.
The butterfly, which had been still until now under his gaze, began flapping.
Then—
it flew back.
He kept staring at the window.
Not because of the scenery.
Nor was it for the butterfly.
He gazed because it was the first memory he could remember.
Knock.
Knock.
A knock brought him out of his thoughts.
As he opened the door, a little girl stood in front of him.
“Good morning, Big Brother,” the girl greeted enthusiastically.
Glancing at the girl in front of him,
he paused.
He tried to retrieve a memory of the girl.
Even her name would help.
But he got none.
As he was immersed in thought, the girl stepped forward and tapped his leg.
“Wash up and head for breakfast,” she pouted.
“What’s with that tone?” he thought.
After getting no particular response from him,
she said, “I have to inform others too,” then she turned to leave.
He watched as she stomped her foot in annoyance.
Just as she was about to leave—
“Hey—”
“WHAT?!”
She turned around to see that he was now walking towards her.
He stopped at arm’s length.
Then—
with a thud, he knelt and patted her head.
After a brief patting,
he spoke.
“Morning.”
The girl’s shoulders relaxed at the words.
So…
she was angry.
The thought lingered for a moment.
Then he stood and returned to his room.
As the door closed, the little one finally reached her hand up to touch the spot he had patted.
Then she turned and left.
This time, her steps were light as she walked through the corridor.
Then she knocked on another door.
Inside the room—
“This should avoid suspicion for now.”
Glancing around the room, he sighed.
With that,
he began rummaging .
After a few searches, he finally
found an ID in a drawer.
It read:
Name: Ren Kanzaki
Age: 14
Status: Orphan
“…So I’m Ren?”
An orphan…
Gurgle~ Gurgle~
Ren looked at the ID in his hand, then at his stomach.
A much bigger question formed in his mind.
“Where is the breakfast room?”
As the thought settled,
his gaze drifted back to the mirror.
Messy hair, dark bangs covering his eyes, and a mark at the corner of his mouth from drooling.
Sigh.
…
…
Guess…
I’ll wash up first.
A few minutes later.
Click~
A figure emerged from the bathroom.
Clean.
Styled.
Water droplets still hung on his hair.
After adjusting his hair,
Click~
with that,
Ren stepped out into the corridor.
Glancing around, he spotted stairs leading down.
Step~ Step~
“Ren?”
Ren turned and spotted a boy around his age approaching him.
Creak~
His gaze locked onto Ren’s face.
Then it settled on his hands.
“…You’re still here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
With that, Ren continued walking.
The boy quickly caught up to him.
“No.
I meant—
you’re late.”
A pause.
Step~ Step~ Step~ Step~
“Wait up, buddy!”