— Flashback —
We were sitting inside a small café, sunlight spilling gently through the windows.
Outside, birds rested on electric wires, chirping endlessly.
I pressed my face against the glass, my breath fogging it up.
"Mom," I asked softly,
"why can birds fly so freely?"
She looked at me for a moment, then smiled—the kind of smile that felt safe.
"Because they trust the sky," she said.
"They're not afraid to fall."
I thought about it seriously.
"Then… what's the strongest bird?"
She chuckled.
"People say the eagle is the king of the skies."
My eyes widened.
"King…?"
Before I could ask more—
"Hey!! We're here!"
Kenji and Hana walked in with their moms.
It was my mom's first time meeting them after I was born.
Our moms had been best friends since high school.
"Hahaha—come, come," my mom said warmly.
"Sit here, you two."
That was the first day.
The first time I met them properly.
Kenji.
Hana.
Our moms instantly started chatting, laughing like time had never passed.
I dropped a sugar packet under the table.
As I struggled to reach it, my fingers barely brushing the floor—
Kenji picked it up before me.
He handed it over with a bright, innocent smile.
Hana watched quietly from her seat.
She didn't say anything.
She just observed.
She was always a silent kid.
— Later That Day —
We walked together, laughing.
Just the three of us.
Our moms decided to sit and talk at a nearby park.
The summer sun burned overhead.
A water fountain caught my eye.
I wandered closer.
"Uwah—this water's hot!"
My lips felt warm as I touched it.
"Huh…?"
Something fluttered past my vision.
"Is that a bird?"
— Memory Overlapping —
The eagle is the king of the skies…
Then… are birds the queens?
I stretched my hand toward it without thinking.
My foot slipped.
Splash.
Cold water swallowed me.
For a second, panic filled my chest.
I couldn't breathe.
I couldn't think.
Then—
A hand broke through the surface.
It was Hana.
"The fountain isn't deep," she said calmly.
"You just hit your head."
Tears burst out instantly.
"Ueahhh—uwahhh—uwahhhh!!"
Hana laughed.
Not mockingly—
But gently.
She grabbed my hand and pulled me up, smiling softly.
Another hand joined ours.
Kenji appeared beside us, smiling just as wide.
Three hands.
Three kids.
Safe again.
Days passed like that.
We played.
We laughed.
No worries.
No fear.
Just the three of us.
"Hahahahaha—!"
— Back to the Present —
"Yooo, Haruto," Kenji said.
"You okay? Feeling dizzy or something?"
"Yeah… what kind of drink was that?"
"It feels like we're drunk."
Kenji yawned.
"Same. I could fall asleep right here."
People chatted loudly around us.
Hana crossed her arms and glared at me.
"Hey—aren't you eating too much?"
"What?!" she snapped immediately.
"I can eat whatever I want! It's my birthday!"
She puffed her cheeks.
Like an angry cat.
Staff members entered the hall.
"Attention everyone," one of them announced.
"Starting tomorrow, all students will be shifting to the USA, heading to the main campus."
In my mind:
Wow… I didn't know top universities went this far.
Guess I'm really lucky…
Another voice followed.
"It's late. Everyone must leave now."
"…Wait. What time is it?"
I checked my phone.
11:46 PM.
"Hana, Kenji—come on. Let's go."
I somehow got Kenji into a car and made sure Hana reached her bus.
So this is college life…
Scene Shift — Kenji
Inside the car—
One eye opened.
Then the other.
Kenji's expression changed.
"Is everything ready for tomorrow?" he asked calmly.
The driver stiffened.
"Y-Yes, sir… everything is prepared."
Kenji looked out the window.
His eyes were sharp.
— Final Scene —
A black car moved smoothly down the road.
Haruto stood alone, gazing at the moon.
A quiet smile formed on his lips.
Hana sat by the bus window, staring at the same moon, excitement shining in her eyes.
Under the same sky—
"A new start."