The Golden Shadow Frowned
The rain falls quietly, as if the sky is whispering its secrets to the earth, scattering its drops like transparent pearls dancing in the air before gently settling on surfaces, glass, and cold pavements. The scene begins with thick gray clouds creeping slowly, covering the blue sky and hiding the sun's glow, as if the universe is preparing for a moment of deep reflection. The scent of damp earth rises, rich with a blend of soil and plants pulsing with life under the first touch of water.
The air grows cooler, refreshing, filled with moist breezes that gently caress faces. People flee under umbrellas or seek shelter, while others surrender to the magic of the moment, lifting their faces toward the sky as if receiving a hidden blessing. The rhythm of the rain sometimes quickens, then suddenly calms, as if breathing in sync with the heartbeat of the earth.
The golden shadow stands in front of the palace, frowning as it gazes at its old prison.
The raindrops fall upon it without dulling its brilliance, breaking on its edges like small waves unable to erase its presence. Its golden light mingles with the sparkle of the scattered water around it, creating a scene that transcends the bounds of reality, like a painting crafted by an artist's fingertips, eager to immortalize a magical, fleeting moment. Shadows dance around it, yet the golden shadow remains still, quietly pulsing amidst the clamor of the rain.
The person turned and ran through the pouring rain, droplets falling on their face, soaking their hair and clothes swiftly. The sound of their footsteps echoed on the wet pavement, mingling with the continuous patter of rain. Water splashed underfoot with each step, while their soaked clothes clung tightly to their body. They breathed deeply, their chest rising and falling in rhythm with their quickened pace, droplets spraying around them with every movement. They didn't stop or slow down, continuing to run as if the rain was merely a backdrop to their race against time.
Meanwhile, a young man awoke on the bus, rubbing his eyes as if emerging from an endless dream.
He yawned before adjusting his sitting position.
It seemed he would arrive at the high school soon.
The young man with golden hair and sky-blue eyes looked at the students on the bus, sitting and laughing together, while he sat alone, before drifting into his usual boring thoughts:
"Sometimes, I wonder… what exactly makes a friend, a friend?
Is it enough for two people to be in the same class, occasionally exchanging words, to be called friends?
Can we really say they're friends just because they share the same table in the cafeteria day after day?
It's strange… as if we're inventing a definition for this thing called 'friendship.'
Maybe we think we know it because we spend time together. But is there something deeper than that?
Is a friend someone who's there only during easy times, or someone who stays even in the hard ones?
And if it's about sharing, is it enough to share meals and idle chatter? Or is there something else that can only be seen when you look deeper?"
He sighs, continuing to watch the students laughing and chatting with one another.
The bus stopped to let more students aboard.
This was the last stop before arriving at the high school.
A few students moved to the empty seats, but one girl walked toward the young man and sat next to him.
He looked at her as she chose to sit in front of him, despite there being many other seats available where girls were sitting. He stared at her for a few moments, thinking to himself.
"Why?"
Why did she choose to sit in front of me? There are seats next to her, next to anyone else on the bus. Why did she sit here, in front of me?
Could it be a coincidence? Or did she do it intentionally?
There could be dozens of reasons... maybe it's just a coincidence, maybe she doesn't even care who's sitting behind her. But... what if there's another reason?
He thought for a moment, raising his eyebrows as he continued observing her subtly.
Is there something in my behavior that made her choose to sit here?
He sighed quietly.
Maybe this is just a strange thought in my head... just thinking about something that doesn't deserve attention. But, at this moment, I can't stop wondering.
The girl's voice, soft and clear, broke him out of his thoughts.
Clearly, she was trying to start a conversation.
"Sorry to bother you, I'm Yuna Kubo, nice to meet you, what's your name?"
The young man was a little surprised that she had already started a conversation with him, but he quickly dismissed his random thoughts and answered.
"I'm Kurosawa Beato, nice to meet you, Kubo."
The girl smiled slightly before speaking again.
"Oh, nice to meet you, Kurozawa-san."
After that, the two fell into a deep silence.
Beato didn't try to say anything, while the girl couldn't think of what to say next.
Perhaps it was just a passing moment between two strangers.
The bus arrived at the huge high school, probably larger than international stadiums.
Yuna waved Beato off and went on her way, while Beato stood there, looking at the school with a slightly amazed gaze.
Many students were getting to know each other.
Clearly, they were all wealthy. This was ridiculous; Beato didn't even need to say it. It was an elite school—how could an ordinary person get in?
He dismissed his inner thoughts again and started walking.
But as he walked, he accidentally bumped into a small female figure.
"Ouch, my butt!" A surprised shout came from the person he bumped into, making Beato quickly turn around. In an instant, his eyes fell on a small girl in front of him.
The girl had long pink hair that cascaded softly down her back, and violet eyes that gleamed like gemstones, reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the leaves of the trees. Her build was slim and small, and though she wore the school uniform, she appeared less neat than the other students, as if her clothes had been played with by the wind. Her face had youthful features, with a touch of sadness that made her stand out among the crowd.
Beato tried to remain as calm as possible, though the situation was somewhat strange. In a low voice, he calmly said, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."
The girl paused for a moment, then looked at him with a gentle but slightly sharp gaze, as if she was trying to analyze the situation before responding. Beato felt uneasy at that moment, but his cold nature kept him composed, and he showed no emotion.
"It's okay, just be more careful next time..." she said softly, then picked up her bag that had fallen from the impact.
Beato looked at the girl for a brief moment. There was something strange in her eyes, as though she was hiding a story behind her gaze, which made him feel something unfamiliar. However, he decided not to dwell on it too much.
"Sorry again," he whispered to himself before continuing his walk, moving away from her.