Kineton, England
30 July, 1959
The room was immaculate.
Every object seemed to rest exactly where it belonged, untouched by chaos or carelessness. A bed stood against the wall, neatly made with lime-colored sheets stretched perfectly across the mattress. Several pillows were arranged at the head of the bed, while a collection of teddy bears occupied one corner like silent guardians of a childhood that had not completely disappeared.
A wooden closet stood nearby, its polished surface reflecting the afternoon sunlight that streamed through the window. In another corner sat a small television set, currently silent and dark.
Yet none of these things were the room's most remarkable feature.
That honor belonged to the bookshelf.
It towered over everything else.
Crafted from dark oak, the enormous structure stretched nearly three meters high, covering an entire wall from end to end. Shelf after shelf was packed with books of every size and age. Some appeared worn from repeated reading, while others looked almost untouched. Titles such as 1984, War and Peace, Moby-Dick, and Don Quixote stood among countless others, forming a miniature world of stories, philosophies, and ideas.
The room carried the pleasant fragrance of paper and wood, mixed with the faint scent of flowers drifting through the open window.
Seated beside the bookshelf was a girl.
Teufel's childhood friend.
Five years had changed her.
Not merely because she had grown older, but because she had become someone entirely different from the child she once was.
Her dark hair now flowed freely past her shoulders rather than being tied back as it often had been in childhood. At sixteen years old, she possessed a quiet elegance that emerged naturally rather than intentionally. Her posture remained relaxed as she sat in a chair with her legs resting on the edge of a nearby table, completely absorbed in the book she held.
Unlike most teenagers her age, she preferred the company of books to crowded gatherings. While others spent their summers outdoors with friends, she was content spending entire afternoons reading, watching television, or simply enjoying the silence of her own room.
Summer vacation had only recently begun, and with school closed until mid-September, she finally had the freedom to work through the ever-growing mountain of books in her library.
She was an excellent student, now attending high school and earning consistently high marks.
Life had changed.
Time had moved forward.
And yet…
It had already been eight years since the promise.
The thought drifted through her mind briefly before disappearing beneath the pages of her novel.
Then the doorbell rang.
The sudden sound shattered the silence of the house.
She looked up from her book with mild surprise.
Who could that be?
She was alone today. Her parents had gone out hours earlier, and she certainly wasn't expecting visitors.
The bell rang again.
"Coming!" she shouted.
Placing the book down, she hurried downstairs. Her footsteps echoed softly through the house as she approached the front door. Even so, she remained cautious enough not to open it immediately.
Stopping before the entrance, she called out:
"Who's there?"
A familiar voice answered from the other side.
"It's me."
Recognition came instantly.
Without hesitation, she unlocked the door and pulled it open.
"Anna."
Standing on the doorstep was her friend.
Anna had changed over the years as well. Her blonde hair was neatly tied behind her neck, and her brown eyes carried the lively energy she had always possessed. There was something bright and effortless about her presence, as though she naturally brought noise and movement wherever she went.
The moment the door opened, Anna grinned.
"Heyyy," she said. "Bet you weren't expecting me, huh?"
The girl folded her arms.
"Well, I figured you wouldn't let me enjoy my vacation in peace."
Anna laughed.
Then, instead of looking at her friend's face, her eyes drifted downward.
The girl immediately noticed.
"Can you stop staring?"
Anna looked back up, completely unapologetic.
"Uhmm…" she said thoughtfully. "Sorry. Can't help it."
She shrugged.
"I'm just a little jealous, you know."
The girl rolled her eyes.
Some things, apparently, never changed.
Sensing the incoming argument, Anna quickly changed the subject.
"So…" she said, smiling innocently. "Can I come in?"
The girl stepped aside and gestured toward the house.
"Please," she said. "Be my guest."
Anna stepped inside the house, and the familiar scent of polished wood mixed with a faint floral perfume immediately greeted her. It was a smell she associated with this place—a calm, comforting atmosphere that somehow reflected its owner perfectly.
The girl closed the door behind her.
"You want to come up to my room?" she asked.
"Definitely," Anna replied without hesitation.
The two of them headed upstairs together.
Anna had visited this house countless times over the years. She knew every hallway, every staircase, and every creaking floorboard. Yet today felt different. Unlike her previous visits, she had arrived with a specific purpose in mind.
When they entered the room, the girl gestured toward the bed.
"Have a seat. Also, would you like some juice?"
Anna quickly shook her head.
"No, no. Actually, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Just some water would be fine."
"Okay then."
The girl left the room and disappeared downstairs.
Left alone, Anna's eyes wandered around the room. The familiar bookshelf immediately caught her attention. It seemed even fuller than before.
A month ago, when she had last visited, there had already been an intimidating number of books.
Now there were more.
Anna couldn't help but smile.
Of course she bought more.
While waiting, she let her gaze drift across the titles, wondering if her friend would ever reach the end of her seemingly endless reading list.
A few moments later, the girl returned carrying a glass of water.
Anna accepted it gratefully and drank nearly half of it in one go.
The girl sat down beside her on the bed.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she broke the silence.
"So... what's the business?"
Anna lowered the glass and smiled.
"Well, nothing in particular." She paused. "Actually, there is something I wanted to ask."
"Which is?"
"What are your plans for the summer vacation?"
The girl shrugged.
"Nothing special. Stay home. Read books. Watch a few movies."
Anna laughed.
"Come on. You're sixteen now."
"Can't help it."
The answer came so naturally that Anna laughed even harder.
After a moment, she leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me something. How much do you know about Ireland?"
The question caught the girl off guard.
"Ireland?"
"Yeah."
She thought for a moment.
"Not much, I guess."
Anna nodded.
"Well, on the coast there's a small town called Ballyhilin."
The girl's curiosity immediately awakened.
"Okay..."
"My grandfather lives there."
For the first time, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
"Your grandfather?"
Anna nodded.
"You never told me you had a grandfather. I thought you lived with your aunt and uncle."
"I do," Anna said. "But my grandfather still lives in Ireland."
The room grew quiet.
Then Anna finally revealed what she had come to ask.
"The day after tomorrow, I'm going there. Grandpa's coming to pick me up."
The girl nodded slowly.
"And?"
"And I want you to come with me."
Silence.
"...Me?"
Anna smiled.
"Yes, you."
"Why me?"
"Oh, come on." Anna rolled her eyes dramatically. "We're sixteen, not ten. It's a vacation. We can travel together."
The girl remained unconvinced.
"It's not that simple."
"It is that simple."
"No, it isn't."
Anna sighed.
"Ballyhilin isn't on the other side of the world. It's close. It'll only be for a while."
The girl looked away, considering the idea.
The offer was tempting.
A new place.
A different environment.
Something other than spending the entire summer surrounded by books.
Still, there was one obvious obstacle.
"Even if I wanted to go, my parents would never allow it."
Anna immediately pointed a finger at her.
"That's exactly why you're impossible."
The girl raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't even asked them yet."
"I don't need to."
"Yes, you do."
The girl folded her arms.
"Fine. I'll ask them."
"Good."
"But I can already tell you the answer."
Anna smiled.
"And what would that be?"
"No."
Anna groaned dramatically.
"You are unbelievably pessimistic."
***
Several hours later, she found herself sitting across from her father in the living room.
The conversation had gone very differently than she had expected.
"I think you should go."
The words left her completely stunned.
She stared at him.
"W-What?"
Her father laughed.
"You heard me."
"But... you're actually okay with it?"
"Of course."
The surprise in her eyes only grew.
"You spend enough time locked away in your room already." He smiled warmly. "Traveling would be good for you. See new places. Meet new people."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Her father continued.
"Besides, it sounds like a good opportunity."
She looked down at the floor.
"So you're really saying yes?"
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
"Now stop looking so shocked and call your friend."
A reluctant smile appeared on her face.
"Fine."
She stood up and walked toward the landline telephone near the staircase.
Her father watched her go with an amused expression.
Reaching the phone, she picked up the receiver and dialed Anna's number.
The line rang once.
Then someone answered.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
There was a second of silence.
Then Anna practically exploded through the receiver.
"Ohhhh! So what's the verdict?"
The girl couldn't help smiling.
"Yes."
For a brief moment, absolute silence filled the line.
Then—
"YAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The scream was so loud she instinctively pulled the receiver away from her ear.
"ANNA!"
"I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!"
The girl laughed despite herself.
On the other side of the line, Anna sounded happier than if she had won the lottery.
And for the first time since summer vacation had begun, the girl found herself genuinely looking forward to what came next.
The next day, the girl lay quietly on her bed, staring at the ceiling above her.
The room was silent except for the occasional sound of birds outside the window. Usually she would have spent a morning like this reading, but today her thoughts refused to settle on any book.
Instead, they kept returning to the upcoming trip.
Ireland.
Ballyhilin.
The idea still felt strangely unreal.
What surprised her even more was how easily her father had agreed.
It wasn't as though they had a bad relationship. In fact, they got along quite well. Her parents had always been supportive of her, yet she had somehow convinced herself that they would never allow something like this. Looking back, she realized how foolish that assumption had been.
The truth was simple.
She had never asked.
Not once.
For years she had built an imaginary answer inside her head and accepted it as reality without ever testing it. The certainty she had felt was entirely theoretical. The moment she finally asked, reality turned out to be completely different.
The realization left her feeling both embarrassed and amused.
As she continued staring at the ceiling, another thought slowly drifted into her mind.
I wonder what he's doing right now...
The image appeared naturally.
Teufel.
By now he had probably started attending middle school.
The thought made her smile slightly.
Would he have friends there?
Would he actually talk to people?
She found that difficult to imagine.
Then another possibility crossed her mind.
Maybe there was a girl he liked.
The idea lingered for a few seconds before she quietly shook her head.
No.
Even if there was, she doubted he would break his promise.
For some reason, she believed that completely.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Then suddenly the telephone downstairs began ringing.
The sound instantly pulled her from her thoughts.
She sat upright.
Anna.
It had to be Anna.
Yesterday she had mentioned that she would call around this time.
The girl hurried downstairs and picked up the receiver.
"Hello? Anna?"
A familiar voice answered immediately.
"Of course it's me."
The girl sighed.
There was something oddly reassuring about Anna's inability to greet people normally.
"Anyway," Anna continued, "my grandpa is here."
"Oh?"
"He wants to see you."
The girl blinked.
"What?"
"Come to my house. Bye."
The line went dead.
For several seconds she simply stared at the receiver.
Anna had already hung up.
Her grandfather wanted to meet her?
The thought made her unexpectedly nervous.
Why?
She wasn't sure.
Maybe because she was about to travel with him. Maybe because she had never met him before.
Whatever the reason, she suddenly felt far less relaxed than she had a minute ago.
"I'm going out!" she shouted toward the house before putting on her shoes and leaving.
Fortunately, Anna lived only ten minutes away on foot.
The walk should have been easy.
Instead, her thoughts occupied her so thoroughly that she barely noticed where she was going.
By the time she regained awareness of her surroundings, she was already standing in front of Anna's house.
The realization surprised her.
That was quick.
The house itself was modest but beautiful. Two stories tall, painted in shades of white and blue, it sat behind a small yard filled with flowers and carefully maintained plants. The entire place felt warm and welcoming.
She stepped toward the front gate.
Before she could reach it, the front door opened.
Anna emerged first.
A bright smile instantly spread across her face.
"Oh! You're here!"
But before the girl could respond, another figure appeared behind her.
And immediately drew all of her attention.
The man was enormous.
Even standing still, he seemed imposing.
His broad shoulders and muscular frame suggested a lifetime of physical hardship. His silver hair was combed back neatly, though age had painted parts of it completely white. Judging by his appearance, he was likely somewhere in his mid-fifties.
Two scars marked his face.
One stretched from his left cheek toward the bridge of his nose, while another rested beneath his right eye.
And then there was the detail impossible to miss.
He had only one arm.
For a moment, the girl found herself staring.
Not because of fear.
Not even because of curiosity.
But because something about him radiated a deep sadness.
It wasn't his scars.
Nor was it his missing arm.
It was his eyes.
There was something within them that seemed heavy. The kind of weight that only years could create.
Suddenly Anna's voice broke her concentration.
"Oh, right! Sorry." Anna laughed awkwardly. "Meet my grandpa. He's a former soldier."
The girl immediately straightened her posture.
The sadness she had sensed remained, but now it was accompanied by a feeling of respect.
Anna turned toward her grandfather.
"Grandpa, this is the friend I told you about. She's coming with us."
The old soldier studied the girl carefully.
Then he took several slow steps forward.
His presence somehow felt larger up close.
Finally, in a deep, steady voice, he asked:
"What's your name, girl?"
The question caught her off guard.
She glanced toward Anna.
"Haven't you already told him?"
Anna scratched the back of her head.
"Sorry. I forgot."
The girl sighed.
Then she turned back toward the old man.
"My name is—"
***
Bonn, Germany
Thousands of kilometers away, two boys sat comfortably on a couch, watching a movie.
The room was quiet except for the sound coming from the television.
Empty plates and half-finished drinks cluttered the table in front of them, evidence of an afternoon spent doing absolutely nothing productive.
A remote control rested between the dishes.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Samuel suddenly broke the silence.
"Oh, yeah, James."
James glanced at him.
"What?"
"You remember that girl we talked about?"
James frowned.
"What girl?"
Samuel smirked.
"The one you said you loved."
For a brief moment, James froze.
It was subtle.
But noticeable.
Then he immediately looked away.
"I never said anything like that."
Samuel laughed.
"Sure you didn't."
James rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, what about her?"
Samuel leaned back against the couch.
"I just realized something."
"What?"
"You never told me her name."
James looked at him.
"The last time you were about to tell me, Amy interrupted us."
Samuel pointed accusingly.
"So now I want to know."
James sighed.
"You're really not letting this go, are you?"
"Nope."
A few seconds passed.
The movie continued playing in the background.
Finally, James spoke.
"Oh, yeah..."
His expression softened slightly.
"I guess I never told you."
Samuel immediately sat up straighter.
"Well?"
James looked toward the television screen.
Then he smiled.
Very faintly.
"Her name is..."
He paused.
"Ai Kurokawa."
Chapter ends.
To be continued.