Marco Susago POV
When Sarah left the house, I walked toward the blue couch where Maria was sitting. She wasn't doing anything in particular, so I started a conversation.
"So… what do you think of him?"
She tilted her head slightly. "About who?"
"About Kiyokazu Lazar."
Maria brought a finger to her lower lip, thinking. She stayed quiet for a few seconds, as if trying to picture him in her mind. Then she finally spoke.
"Hm… the last time I saw him was when he came over with Sarah. He was so positive — there was this strange, warm energy around him. His smile felt completely sincere. He seemed like an ordinary boy, but… something about him stood out, though I can't quite place what it was. Having dinner with him surprised me. He was polite, calm, well-mannered… I expected him to be loud or restless, but he wasn't. Talking to him felt…"
She drifted off mid-sentence, staring absently to the side.
I looked at her. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"
Maria blinked, turned her eyes back to me, and smiled lightly.
"It's nothing. I'm just trying to find the right words to describe him, haha."
I leaned back on the couch with a quiet exhale. "Please don't drift off topic, Maria. You always forget what you're talking about."
She laughed under her breath. "Where did I stop?"
"You said that talking to him felt… something."
"Oh, right," she nodded. "Talking to him gives you a strange, positive feeling."
I turned my head slightly toward her, curious to hear more.
"When you talk, he listens carefully," she continued, now looking up at the ceiling. "He looks at you with those green-blue eyes and waits for you to finish. And when he's about to speak, you actually want to hear what he has to say. That's how I felt. He's cultured, polite… Maya and Keigo raised him incredibly well. Honestly, I've never met a boy like him. Being around him… it lifts you up. And if I could choose, I'd want to have a son like him."
I froze.
"Y–You want a son like him?!" I blurted out.
She looked at me strangely, probably because of my reaction. When she saw my expression, she covered her mouth and laughed.
"Maybe I exaggerated a little," she admitted playfully. "But you asked for my opinion, remember? I just answered honestly. And what's with that reaction of yours?"
I coughed lightly and tried to hide my embarrassment behind a calm tone.
"It's nothing… I just didn't expect you to say something like that."
She smiled at me knowingly.
"And what about you?" she asked. "What do you think of him?"
I leaned forward, rested my elbows on my knees, and answered:
"I agree with most of what you said. For someone his age, he's surprisingly intelligent and disciplined. I haven't seen him much myself, but I've heard plenty from the older villagers. They call him the 'prodigy of the Kiyokazu family.' I can only imagine Keigo's reaction to hearing that."
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
Maria stood up to answer it, while I remained on the couch.
Silence filled the room, but my thoughts wouldn't settle. My gaze drifted toward the window next to the door.
"Kiyokazu Lazar…" I murmured.
My mind wandered — back to the day I saw him at the lake.
Flashback
I remember that day clearly.
I had just finished working on the wooden table I'd been making for days. After eating the beans Maria had cooked, I cleaned the dishes, then sat on the blue couch, nearly falling asleep. But I didn't want to stay inside the house all day.
Maybe I should go for a walk, I thought.
I grabbed the house key, locked the door, placed the key in the vase beside the entrance — like we always do — and headed toward the forest path.
The village roofs were covered in snow, smoke rising from chimneys. Snowflakes drifted from the cloudy sky as I walked past the usual bench and the old lamp post. Soon I stood before the forest gate.
Inside the forest, the path was less clear — marked with footprints. Someone else had walked here before me.
I walked for a while, watching my steps sink into the snow. The wind grew colder, clouds gathering overhead.
I'll go see the lake, I decided.
I took the left path, the one that led directly to it. As I walked, a crow suddenly cawed above me, echoing through the trees.
When I lifted my head, I saw a figure standing in the distance.
A human silhouette.
Still. Motionless.
As I approached, details became clearer — white hair, a medium build, dark pants, a white sweater. Snow had piled on his shoulders and head.
He stood at the lake's edge, back turned to me, staring across the water.
How long has he been standing there without me noticing?
He must have been there for a long time… but his skin wasn't red or blue from the cold. He looked untouched by it.
The boy slowly turned around.
His green-blue eyes were empty — hollow — lifeless.
A chill ran through my entire body.
Then he spoke, in a calm monotone:
"I've been standing here for about an hour. Maybe more."
My heart skipped a beat.
D-Did he just… read my mind?
The boy stepped toward me. As he moved, the frightening aura faded. His expression softened — his eyes regained their light.
He leaned slightly forward and extended his hand.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Marco."
Still shaken, I shook his hand.
"Hello… you're Kiyokazu's son, right? Lazar?"
"Yes, sir. That's me."
"My god, you've grown so much," I said. "Last time I saw you, you were up to here." I gestured with my hand.
He rubbed the back of his neck and gave a shy smile.
"Yeah, I guess I've grown a little since then."
We both laughed.
Then I asked, "What are you doing out here alone? You know it's dangerous to wander into the forest like this — especially long enough for snow to pile on you."
He brushed the snow from his shoulders.
"Nothing special," he replied. "I just like watching the lake. The trees, the sky… the water. That's all. Doesn't the same question apply to you, Mr. Marco?"
I chuckled.
"Fair point. And you don't need to call me 'Mister.'"
He looked surprised.
"Hm? If you say so… Marco. But it might take me a while to get used to that."
He waved as he passed me.
"I should head home now. See you later, Marco."
"Take care, Lazar. Say hello to your father."
"I will."
I watched him walk away until he disappeared down the snowy path.
"What is wrong with that boy…?" I muttered. "He almost scared me to death. And he doesn't resemble Keigo at all."
But I couldn't shake the feeling.
Those eyes… something is different about him.
Present
I leaned back into the couch, staring blankly ahead.
Kiyokazu Lazar… When you were with Sarah and Maria, you left such a bright impression. And yet… those eyes at the lake… Who are you, really?
The front door closed. Maria walked in with her friend Misato. They chatted cheerfully as Misato sat beside me.
Misato glanced at my face.
"What's wrong, Marco? Why do you look like that?"
I shook my head.
"Ahh… it's nothing. I was just thinking about something. Don't worry about it."
"If you say so," she replied, and the two of them began a new conversation.