The morning air felt fresh as Haru walked through the school gates, the sound of laughter and chatter all around. For a moment, he let himself breathe in the peaceful scene—a scene he'd never experienced as a child in his past life. Children with backpacks nearly his size were running around, excitedly greeting each other and comparing summer adventures.
For a second, it felt normal. Almost too normal.
Haru swallowed, clutching the straps of his own small bag a bit tighter as he scanned the playground, trying to orient himself. His new school was bright, welcoming, and surrounded by trees. Nothing like the dingy apartment complexes and shadowed corners he remembered from before. I really am a kid again, he thought, a bit incredulous.
"Haru!"
A cheerful voice broke through his thoughts, and Haru turned to see a boy with tousled dark brown hair and bright blue eyes waving at him. A small mole dotted the tip of his nose, giving him a distinctive, almost charming look that made him memorable. He was bounding over with a grin plastered on his face, radiating the energy of someone who was probably popular without even trying. Haru recognized him instantly, though he knew it was impossible.
"Julian…" Haru murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Julian had been a friend in his old world too. He was the one person who'd ever shown him kindness, even when Haru hadn't had the strength or courage to ask for it. Haru could still recall a memory of Julian standing in front of him, shielding him from a bully. The bruises Julian had taken that day had haunted Haru since. I'll repay you, he promised silently. This time, I'll protect you.
"Hey, earth to Haru!" Julian said, snapping his fingers in front of Haru's face. "You okay? You're acting kinda spacey. You sure you're good?"
"Yeah…" Haru cleared his throat, giving a small nod. "I'm just, uh, kinda sleepy."
Julian didn't seem to notice his awkwardness and just grinned wider. "Stayed late, huh? Anyway, let's check the track team later. You promised that you'd join this year! Anyway, you're the fastest runner in third grade! I'm sure you'd do well even against the fifth graders."
Haru blinked in surprise. Fastest runner? He was confused; in his old world, he was never athletic—he hadn't even tried to explore anything remotely physical. He'd always kept his head down, avoiding attention, and physical exertion had been a luxury he couldn't afford. To think that, in this world, he might be known for something as simple as running fast seemed surreal.
"Come on! You've got to see where the third-graders hang out!" Julian grabbed Haru's arm, tugging him across the playground with an enthusiasm that was hard to resist.
But just as they turned a corner, Haru's foot caught on a raised edge of the walkway. His hand slipped from Julian's grasp, and he stumbled, dropping his bag and sprawling onto the ground with a thud.
"Whoa! Haru, you okay?" Julian knelt beside him, worry flickering in his blue eyes.
Haru winced, looking down at his scraped palms. He wasn't in any real pain, but the sight of his skin, red and raw, triggered something deep within. Memories swirled unbidden, memories of when pain was his constant, of when every misstep was punished.
"You worthless little brat!"
His mother's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and accusing. Her hands, rough and unyielding, pushing him to the ground, her scathing words slicing through him. "If you're going to act like trash, you'll be treated like it!"
Haru's breathing quickened, his vision blurring. No, no, it's not real. I'm not there anymore. But the memories didn't stop. He curled his hands into fists, trying to ground himself, to stay in the present, but the echoes of his past kept pulling him under.
"Hey, Haru!" Julian's voice broke through, but his mind was elsewhere, back in the apartment where he'd learned to fear every sound.
Julian tapped his shoulder, and Haru flinched, glancing up with wide eyes, startled to see Julian looking at him, his expression worried but steady. He held up a bandaid with a bright red dinosaur on it. "Look! I've got the best bandages ever!" he said with a grin, as if this were some universal truth.
Haru blinked, momentarily pulled from his daze. "Huh?"
Julian unwrapped the bandage, sticking it over Haru's scrape without hesitation. "All better now!" He patted the spot with an air of authority. "See? Even my dad says no one can cry after they get a dino bandage."
Haru managed a small laugh, something he hadn't realized he needed. Right. He's just a kid. I'm a kid too, he reminded himself, almost as if repeating it enough times would make it easier to believe.
"So much for being the fastest, huh?" Haru said, forcing a weak smile.
Julian's eyes widened with mock indignation, and he waved a finger at Haru. "Fastest doesn't mean you can't be clumsy, silly! Besides, everyone falls sometimes!"
The innocence of Julian's words hit Haru harder than he expected. Julian was right—he was just a kid, and kids stumbled and scraped their knees without fear of harsh words or punishment.
"Thanks, Julian," he murmured, his voice soft.
Julian puffed up, nodding proudly. "No problem! No matter what, I've got your back, okay?" He gave Haru a thumbs-up, his face shining with the pure confidence that only a kid could have.
As they walked to their classroom together, Haru couldn't help but glance down at his hand where the bandage covered his scrape. It seemed ridiculous, a bright dinosaur smiling up at him, yet there was something oddly comforting about it.
As if he just started learning what it meant to be a child.