Episode 1

The cicadas sang loudly that summer, their cries echoing across the quiet neighborhood. In the old garden behind the Shimizu household, three boys sat huddled together under the shade of a persimmon tree.

Hajun and Haru, the golden-haired twins, were impossible to mistake for anyone else. Identical in nearly every way—their pale hair, sharp features, and mischievous smiles—they shone like the sun itself. Yet even the brightest light needed something to anchor it, and that anchor was the boy who sat between them.

Akihiro.

With soft black hair that glistened like midnight, Akihiro’s presence contrasted beautifully against the twins. He was quiet, thoughtful, and often hesitant to join in their wild adventures, but to Hajun and Haru, he was irreplaceable.

“Don’t forget,” Hajun whispered, leaning close, his golden eyes burning with determination. “We promised to stay together forever.”

“Forever,” Haru echoed, his voice softer but just as insistent. He clasped Akihiro’s hand tightly, as if to seal the vow.

Akihiro blinked at them, wide-eyed. “But… forever is a long time.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Hajun said, grinning. “When we grow up, we’ll always come back here. The three of us. No matter what happens.”

The afternoon breeze stirred the red curtain of flowers growing along the garden fence. Petals fell around them like blessings from the sky. Akihiro wanted to believe in their words, in the warmth of their hands holding his. He smiled shyly, the corners of his lips trembling.

“...Then promise me you won’t forget,” he said softly.

Two voices answered at once. “We promise.”

—

The summer days were filled with laughter and childish mischief. The twins taught Akihiro how to climb trees, even when he was afraid of heights. They ran barefoot through the fields, chasing fireflies until the moon rose. And at night, when the stars spread endlessly across the sky, they lay side by side, whispering dreams of the future.

But even happiness has its shadows.

One evening, as the three sat on the wooden porch eating slices of watermelon, Hajun suddenly grew quiet. His smile faded.

“We… might have to leave soon,” he admitted.

Akihiro’s small hands froze around his slice. “Leave? Where?”

“Korea,” Haru answered hesitantly, glancing at his twin. “Father says we have to go back. He has business there.”

Akihiro’s heart thudded painfully in his chest. The thought of waking up without them, of sitting alone under the persimmon tree, terrified him. He shook his head. “No… you can’t go. You promised we’d stay together!”

Hajun reached out and cupped his cheek gently, wiping the juice from his lips with his thumb. “We’ll come back. Even if it takes years, we’ll find you again.”

Haru, quieter and more hesitant, pressed his forehead against Akihiro’s shoulder. “Even if the world changes… we’ll always find our way back to you.”

Tears welled in Akihiro’s eyes, blurring the image of the two golden-haired boys before him. He wanted to shout, to beg them to stay, but his voice was trapped in his throat.

That night, the three of them sat in silence beneath the persimmon tree. Fireflies blinked softly in the air, like tiny stars trying to comfort them. And though they said nothing more, each of them carved the memory deep into their hearts.

The day of parting came too quickly.

As the twins boarded the car that would take them to the port, Akihiro chased after them, breathless. His small hands pressed against the window, his tear-streaked face desperate.

“Hajun! Haru! Don’t forget! You promised!”

Through the glass, Hajun smiled faintly, raising his hand in a vow. Haru’s eyes glistened, lips pressed tight as if he couldn’t bear to say goodbye.

The car pulled away. The sound of Akihiro’s cries faded into the distance.

And just like that, the golden light vanished from his world, leaving only the memory of a summer filled with promises.

— To be continued.

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