It all began in middle school.
Summer had just started. My mother and I were visiting my grandparents in a quiet countryside village called Gaokao. The sun was hot, the breeze was lazy, and time moved slower than usual.
Two days into our stay, I was outside, playing alone in the backyard. The old swing creaked gently behind me, and I traced circles in the dirt with a stick.
Then suddenly—
"Wanna play with me?"
I looked up.
A boy stood a few steps away. He had short, messy hair, bright eyes, and a warm smile. Something about him felt... familiar, even though I had never seen him before.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Shinbou Ryusei," he said. "What about you?"
"Kuroyuki Kenyu," I replied quietly.
That was all it took.
We started playing together, laughing, running, talking like we had always been friends. It was simple, but somehow it felt special.
But after only a few minutes, I heard a woman's voice call out from a distance.
"Shinbou! Time to go!"
He turned to me, breathless.
"See you later, Kenyu!"
And just like that, he was gone.
I stood there, unable to speak, watching as he ran toward the road. I didn't even get to say goodbye.
I remember thinking that day:
Will I ever see him again?
---
Two Years Later...
Time passed. I returned home, went back to school, and tried to move on. But that brief moment from summer that boy never left my mind.
One day, I was chatting with my friend Hinata Shoyo during lunch break.
"Hey," she whispered, leaning close. "I heard there's a new transfer student today. People say he's really popular at his old school."
"Really?" I asked. "Do you know his name?"
Hinata opened her mouth to reply. "His name is Shin—"
Before she could finish, the classroom door slid open.
Our homeroom teacher walked in, followed by a tall, sharp-looking boy.
"Everyone, settle down," the teacher said. "We have a new student joining us today."
My heart skipped a beat.
"This is Shinbou Ryusei. He's transferring from Kotagiri High School. Introduce yourself."
I stared at him.
No...
It couldn't be.
Could it?
I suddenly stood up from my seat without realizing.
"Kuroyuki?" the teacher asked. "Is there a problem?"
I quickly sat down. "N-No, teacher."
The boy stepped forward. His voice was calm, clear.
"Hello, my name is Shinbou Ryusei. I'm excited to be here at Nagoya High. I hope we get along."
He bowed politely.
The teacher nodded. "You can sit next to Kuroyuki Kenyu."
He walked toward me without a second glance and sat down.
I couldn't stop staring. He looked exactly the same just older. Taller. But his eyes…
He didn't recognize me.
---
When class ended, I turned to him.
"Excuse me," I said hesitantly. "Do you remember me?"
He looked at me, confused. "Sorry? Should I?"
"I'm Kuroyuki Kenyu. We met in Gaokao Village… two years ago. We played together."
His eyebrows furrowed.
"I think you're mistaken. I've never been to Gaokao Village."
I blinked. "But… you're Shinbou Ryusei, right?"
"Yes," he said, getting up. "But I've never met you before. Sorry."
And then he walked out, leaving me sitting there alone in the empty classroom, heart twisting.
---
Later That Day...
When I got home, Mom greeted me with a smile.
"A new family moved in next door today," she said. "I heard the boy lost his parents in an accident. He's living with his uncle now."
She handed me a basket of fruit.
"Will you take this to them?"
I nodded, still lost in my thoughts, and walked next door.
The house looked quiet. I rang the bell.
A small boy answered, his eyes wide and uncertain.
"What do you want?" he asked softly.
"My mom sent this for your family," I said, offering the basket. "Welcome to the neighborhood."
Before he could say anything, I turned and walked away.
I didn't know why I felt so heavy inside.
Maybe it was that boy's sad eyes.
Maybe it was Shinbou's blank stare.
Or maybe… it was the feeling that something I once held so close was slipping away — and I couldn't stop it.