Chapter 1: Hunger
[Tap... Tap... Tap...]
Huh ! Huh ! Huh
Footsteps echo faintly through the empty streets. The cold wind hums under the dying glow of the streetlights.
It's 9:41 PM.
🌸The air is heavy, the roads are silent, and only one sound fills the night — the sound of a young boy's steps.
His name is Igurami.
A poor boy, thin and tired, walking through the dark streets of the city. Beside him, holding his hand tightly, walks his little sister, Kira.
At home, waiting for them, lies their sick mother — too weak to stand, too weak to smile.
Igurami and Kira had spent the entire day searching through garbage piles, hoping to find something — anything — they could eat tonight.
Igurami (thinking):
Why… why couldn't I find food again today? Kira hasn't eaten since morning… and mother's condition is getting worse every day…
Kira (crying softly):
"Igurami-chan... I'm... I'm hungry…"
Igurami stops walking. His hands tremble as he looks at her tear-streaked face.
He kneels down, gently wiping her tears with his sleeve.
Igurami (breathing heavily):
"Don't cry, Kira… please. I'll find something. Just wait a little longer, okay?"
He turns toward an old trash bin nearby, his eyes desperate. He reaches his hand inside, feeling through the cold, dirty scraps. His fingers touch plastic, paper, and dust... until—
Igurami (excitedly):
"Please... please let there be something... please…"
And then… he finds it.
A small piece of bread, half-eaten but still soft enough to chew.
Igurami (smiling in relief):
"Kiraaaa! Look! I found food!"
Kira's eyes widen with joy.
She runs to him, clapping her little hands.
Kira:
"Yaaay!"
Igurami lifts her up and spins her around once, laughing breathlessly.
He presses a kiss on her cheek — his lips trembling from both exhaustion and love.
Igurami:
"See this, Kira? One piece for you, one for mother… and one for me."
Kira nods happily, her small head bobbing up and down.
Kira: "Hmm!"
He breaks the bread carefully into three pieces — as if dividing treasure.
Then, holding Kira in his arms, he starts walking back home through the cold night.
The streetlights flicker.
Their shadows stretch long against the cracked walls of forgotten buildings.
Igurami (thinking):
Every day feels harder than the last. Mother can barely breathe… we don't even have proper blankets anymore. If this keeps going... will we all just disappear like this? Will we die... hungry?
The thought stings him.
He looks down at Kira — already half-asleep in his arms, crumbs still on her lips — and forces a smile.
He whispers softly, almost to himself,
Igurami:
"No... I won't let that happen. I'll protect you and mother... no matter what."
The night swallows his words.
Only the faint hum of the wind answers back.
As they disappear into the darkness, the broken streetlight flickers one last time — then fades out completely.
End of Chapter 1 —