Haru reached his truck as the snow continued to fall in thick, silent flakes. The vehicle was almost buried under a white blanket: the windshield, the roof, and especially the rear seemed to be part of the frozen landscape.
He sighed wearily. The cold seeped through his coat as he opened the side door and rummaged through the tools until he found a metal spatula.
The harsh sound of metal scraping snow broke the stillness of the forest.
He worked with steady movements, even though the cold was beginning to numb his arms. Snow fell on his shoulders as he cleared white piles from the vehicle.
Near him, Rain and Iris sniffed among the trees, leaving small footprints on the virgin surface. Kwan, on the other hand, remained quieter, attentive to everything, as always.
When Haru finished clearing almost the entire tailgate, something caught his attention.
A flash of gold.
He frowned and bent down. With his gloved hand, he carefully removed the remaining snow. A necklace appeared underneath.
He picked it up slowly, puzzled
— How did this get here...?
Rain barked behind him.
Haru turned his head.
—Did you find it?
The husky barked again, wagging its tail energetically.
Haru looked more closely at the collar. The metal was cold, but its design was delicate, carefully crafted. On the small engraved plate, a name stood out in the gray daylight.
Arika.
The man remained silent for a few seconds.
The wind blew through the trees, stirring up small swirls of snow.
—Arika... — he murmured softly.
He looked at Rain again.
—Did you find it where the girl was?
Another bark.
Haru nodded slowly.
—Then... maybe this is her name.
He carefully placed the collar in the inside pocket of his coat, as if holding something fragile, something important.
Then he opened the back doors of the truck.
—Come on, guys.
The dogs jumped in. Haru walked around the vehicle, settled into the driver's seat, and started the engine. The soft roar broke the silence of the forest as he set off for Rane's house.
When Haru arrived at Rane's house, the sky was already beginning to darken. The snow continued to fall with the same endless patience of winter, covering the road and trees with an increasingly thick layer.
He stopped the truck in front of the house and turned off the engine.
For a moment, he sat behind the wheel, watching the flakes hit the windshield. Then he took the collar from inside his coat and squeezed it lightly between his fingers.
—Maybe... this is important —he murmured.
He opened the door and got out of the vehicle. The freezing air hit him immediately.
He walked around the truck and opened the tailgate.
—Get out, guys.
Rain jumped out first, followed by Iris. Kwan got out with his usual calm, lightly shaking the snow off his back.
At that moment, Soleia appeared on the porch of the house, wrapped in a thick coat.
—Haru? —she asked in surprise.
Haru barely looked at her.
—Can you stay with them for a moment?
Without waiting for an answer, he gently took Rain by the collar and handed him over. Iris and Kwan followed obediently.
Soleia frowned slightly.
—Is something wrong?
But Haru didn't answer.
His attention was fixed on the object he was carrying in his coat.
He walked quickly to the front door and knocked with restrained urgency.
The door opened almost immediately.
Rane appeared in the doorway.
—Haru?
The man took out the necklace and held it up slightly.
—I found something that belongs to the little girl. Maybe it can help us.
Rane watched him silently, studying the object in his hand and looking concerned for his friend.
Haru took a deep breath.
—I know you care about me... and believe me, I appreciate it —he said firmly—. But I've made a decision. I'll take responsibility for it, no matter the outcome.
The doctor held his gaze for a few seconds. Something in Haru's expression reminded him of an old determination... one he hadn't seen in many years.
Rane sighed softly.
—Haru… first of all... I must apologize.
The man frowned slightly.
—I shouldn't have spoken to you that way at the time —Rane continued—. I spoke out of concern... but I wasn't fair to you, I'm sorry.
He lowered his gaze slightly.
—I know it's not an easy decision... and I also know you didn't take it lightly.
He looked back at him seriously.
—If this is the decision you've made... then I respect it.
He paused briefly.
—And I'll help you in any way I can.
Haru let out a small, tired smile.
—I knew you'd end up saying something like that.
Rane chuckled softly.
—I've known you too long to try to convince you otherwise.
They looked at each other for a few seconds... and finally embraced.
It was a brief but sincere hug. The kind of hug that only two friends who have shared so much in life give each other.
Rane patted him on the back.
—You're not alone in this, okay?
Haru nodded.
—I know... thank you.
They separated and began walking together down the hallway of the house.
—How's the little one? —Haru asked as they walked.
Rane crossed his arms, thoughtful.
—No change.
Their footsteps echoed softly on the wooden floor.
—She still doesn't remember anything, and emotionally... she's distant. As if she were observing the world from afar.
They arrived at a closed door.
Rane looked at the necklace Haru was still holding.
—But your discovery could trigger something. Sometimes a familiar object can awaken memories... or at least a reaction.
He took the doorknob and opened the door gently.
Then he stepped aside and pointed to the inside of the room.
—Go ahead, talk to her. Maybe you'll have better luck than we did.
Haru nodded.
—I hope so.
Inside, the room was quiet. The girl remained seated on the stretcher, watching the snowfall through the window. Her eyes were still so calm, so expressionless, that it was impossible to guess what was going on inside her.
Haru approached slowly and sat down beside her.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Finally, he broke the silence.
—I know you don't know me, but I... I was the one who found you.
The girl turned her face slightly toward him.
—You were alone, in the middle of the forest. Lost and unconscious in the snow.
Haru looked down slightly, as if searching for the right words.
—And the truth is... I don't know who you are.
He took a deep breath.
—I don't know your name... or where you come from... or what happened to you.
He reached inside his coat.
—But there was something with you when I found you.
He took out the necklace.
The golden metal faintly reflected the light in the room.
—Maybe this will help you remember something.
He gently took the little girl's small hand and placed the necklace in her palm.
She looked at it intently. Her fingers traced the outline of the metal calmly, as if trying to awaken a dormant memory.
Her lips moved softly.
—Arika...
The name came out as a whisper.
Then she looked up at Haru.
—Is that... my name?
Haru shook his head slowly.
—I don't know.
He looked at the necklace with a certain sadness.
—But I'm sure it belongs to your story.
Silence returned.
The snow continued to fall outside.
Haru rested his forearms on his knees before speaking again.
—Right now... we don't know anything about you.
He paused for a moment.
—The right thing to do would be to take you to the authorities.
Arika listened silently.
—But since you don't remember anything and don't have any identification... it will be difficult to find your family.
Haru lowered his voice.
—They'll probably send you to an orphanage while they investigate.
His eyes darkened a little.
—You could stay there for a long time... or even grow up there if no one shows up.
Silence spread once more.
Then Haru looked up at her.
—But... there is another option.
Arika watched him.
—If you want... I can help you.
His words were simple, but sincere.
—I can try to find your family. Take you to specialists who will try to help you recover your memory.
He paused briefly before continuing.
—In the meantime... I can also offer you something else.
His eyes softened.
—A place to sleep. Food. A roof over your head where you'll be safe.
He looked at her calmly.
—You could stay with me until we find your family... or until you remember who you are.
Haru lowered his voice slightly.
—In a way... I could become your family.
Then he added softly:
—At least... temporarily.
The girl remained still.
Her face was as serene as before, almost unperturbed.
After a few seconds of silence, she asked:
—Why would you do that... when you barely know me?
The question hung between them.
Haru remained silent.
And for a moment, his expression changed... as if that simple question had awakened a memory he would rather not face.