After hearing the story, Arashi leaned back, exhaling slowly. "That was… really interesting. It honestly felt like the plot of some old legend or novel."
Grandpa chuckled, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. "Yes… it does sound like a story. But you know, listening to you two right now reminded me of someone from my own childhood—my cousin."
Ren tilted his head. "Your cousin?"
"Yes," Grandpa said softly, his eyes distant as if flipping through faded memories. "We were just like you two. Always together. We shared everything—our secrets, our laughter, even our fears. We liked the same things, argued about silly stuff, but always had each other's backs. People used to say we were like brothers born to different mothers. And just like you and Arashi, we thought we'd never drift apart."
For a brief moment, silence hung in the room. Grandpa's voice carried both warmth and a touch of sadness, the kind that comes only when remembering days long gone.
Arashi and Ren exchanged glances, both a little moved. Then Arashi cleared his throat and said gently, "Thank you, Grandpa. For everything. We really appreciate your time. Please rest now. Get well soon."
Ren added with a small bow, "Yeah, we'll let you sleep. Take care, Grandpa."
Grandpa gave them a smile and waved them off.
The two boys quietly slipped out of the room. Once they were outside, Ren stretched his arms wide, letting out a deep breath. "Phew! That was heavy. My brain's about to explode with all that talk about curses and kingdoms."
Arashi cracked a smile. "Same here. So… what now?"
Ren's grin widened. "Now? Now we go outside and actually enjoy summer break. Come on, let's do something fun."
Arashi hesitated. "Like what?"
"Anything!" Ren said, dragging him along. "We'll figure it out on the way."
Ren led the way to the nearby market street.
"First stop—snacks," Ren announced. The two grabbed ice creams from a roadside stall, joking about who could finish theirs faster. Ren tried to take huge bites and instantly froze, clutching his head. "Brain freeze!" he groaned, while Arashi laughed so hard he nearly dropped his cone.
After ice cream, they wandered aimlessly, stopping at an arcade. The flashing lights, the buzz of games, and the clatter of buttons pulled them in. They played racing games, competing to see who could drift better. Then they tried basketball hoops, Ren showing off but missing half his shots while Arashi quietly landed more than expected.
"Beginner's luck," Ren muttered, refusing to admit defeat.
Later, they bought a pack of fireworks from a small shop—sparklers, nothing too dangerous. Out in an open field nearby, they lit them one by one, laughing as the tiny flames sparkled in the twilight.
At one point, Ren spun around with a lit sparkler, shouting, "Behold, Ren the mighty sorcerer!" Arashi nearly doubled over laughing. For the first time in days, the weight on his chest felt lighter.
When the last spark fizzled out, the two lay on the grass, watching the stars slowly appear.
"You know," Ren said quietly, "life feels a little less scary when you're just… doing normal stuff like this."
Arashi nodded, his smile faint but real. "Yeah."
The night carried on, simple yet unforgettable—just two cousins, living in the moment, unaware of the darker truths still waiting ahead.
Ren glanced at his watch. "Come on, Arashi," he said, stretching his arms. "It's getting late. Let's head back."
The two cousins started walking down the quiet street, talking casually. But halfway through, Ren's eyes lit up. "Hey! Long time no see," he called out to someone ahead.
It was one of Ren's friends. They stopped to chat, and soon enough, Ren and his buddy were laughing, sharing quick updates, talking about school and random things.
Arashi stood beside them at first, nodding awkwardly, but with every passing moment, he felt more and more out of place. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to join in. Slowly, almost without realizing, he stepped back, drifting farther away until he was standing across the street, pretending to look at the passing cars.
After a few minutes, Ren's friend waved goodbye and walked off. Ren turned, expecting Arashi to be next to him—but the spot was empty.
Confused, he glanced around until he finally spotted Arashi standing across the road, hands shoved into his pockets. Ren shook his head with a grin, walked over, and gave Arashi a playful slap on the back of his head. "What's wrong with you? That guy wasn't going to eat you alive. You could've stayed for two minutes."
Arashi rubbed the back of his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You know how I am. I only talk easily with people close to me. With others… I just can't."
Ren sighed, but his grin grew wider. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Introvert. Come on now, before you wander off again."
The two cousins walked on together, their laughter echoing faintly in the streets.
After walking for a while, Arashi and Ren finally reached home. Arashi dropped himself onto the couch in the lounge, staring blankly at the ceiling.
A few minutes later, Ren's mom called him from the other room. Ren went, then came back with a grin on his face. "Arashi," he called, "come here. Someone's here."
The moment Arashi heard that tone, he understood right away. It must be her... The girl Ren studies with, the one he shares secrets with. The one he likes.
Arashi hesitated, his chest tightening. What am I supposed to do? How do I meet her without making it weird? He took a deep breath before stepping inside.
But Ren was ready because he knew his cousin better than anyone, as Arashi entered the room Ren jumped in.
Ren smiled and said, "Ayane, this is Arashi—the cousin I've told you about."
Hearing that, Arashi felt a little spark of happiness inside. Thanks, Ren, he thought. Alright, I can't let him down. I should at least say something polite.
Forcing himself to speak, Arashi smiled and said, "Hi, it's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
The moment the words left his mouth, he winced inside. That's it? I did it? I blew it already.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Ren smirking. It wasn't mocking—more like a playful well done. Arashi instantly understood the look, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Then came a brief, awkward silence, until Ayane finally spoke. Her voice shook nervously as she stammered, "H-hi… i-it's a p-pleasure t-to m-meet y-you."
Arashi blinked in surprise, fighting back a laugh. Wow… she's even more nervous than I am.
Ren suddenly brightened. "Okay, you two sit here — I just remembered something I need to do. Be right back." With that he slipped out of the room.
The instant the door closed, Arashi felt his stomach drop. Just what I was afraid of, he thought. Now what? He's gone and left me alone with the girl. I'm an introvert—he practically sat me next to the most introverted person alive. Ren is gonna pay for this.
Arashi cleared his throat, trying once more. "Ayane… do you and Ren study together every day?"
She hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Y-yes… daily."
"Oh. And… today too?" Arashi asked carefully.
"Y-yes," she replied. "W-we still h-have to f-fi-finish the summer v-vacation work."
"Alright then," Arashi said, a little braver this time. "I'll join you both today. Might as well start my homework too."
Ayane blinked, then nodded quickly. "O-okay."
Just then, the door opened and Ren strolled back in with a playful grin. "So… did anyone miss me?"
Arashi gave him a sharp death stare that made Ren chuckle. He sat on floor. "Alright, Arashi. Go grab your notebook — let's get started with our homework."
Arashi got up, fetched his notebook, and sat down beside them. Soon, the three of them were writing and working through assignments.
A few minutes later, Ayane frowned at her page. "Umm... there is a question… I don't get it." She turned to Ren.
Ren leaned over, squinting at the problem. Then he laughed lightly. "Honestly, you shouldn't ask an idiot like me. I barely study. Ask Arashi — he's way better at this."
Ayane's eyes shifted to Arashi, who studied the problem for a moment before quickly working it out step by step. Within minutes, he had the answer.
Ren's eyes widened. "Whoa, Arashi! That's amazing. Can you explain how you did that?"
Ayane leaned in too, curious. Arashi explained the steps clearly, breaking down the logic as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
When he finished, Ayane's expression lit up with genuine surprise. "Hmm… now everything makes sense. Just one small mistake and the whole question would've gone wrong. That's really impressive."
For a moment, Arashi just stared at her, shocked. It was the first time Ayane had spoken with such confidence — and he realized she had a deep interest in studying.
He gave a small smile. "If there's anything else, just let me know. I'll help."
Ayane glanced down at her notebook, then looked back up at him. "If I have more questions… I'll ask you."
Arashi blinked, then slowly turned to Ren with wide eyes. "What just happened? Where did she get that confidence from?"
Ren smirked knowingly. "That's just how she is. Quiet most of the time… but when it comes to studying, she's a completely different person. And when you both get along, you'll get to know her even better."