A cold breeze was blowing.
Leaves were falling gently,
the river flowed quietly along its old path.
Birds chirped in the distance, but everything else... was silent.
And inside me — everything was far too loud.
My name?
Kaito.
This is my favorite place.
Everything here is calm.
Everything... except my feelings.
I slowly stood up.
Brushed the leaves off my clothes.
And started walking down my usual path.
I had to go to the bakery,
and then from there,
to wherever the day usually led me —
as if nothing ever really changes.
I pushed the door open
and said, "Same as always."
Like always, a small bag was handed over —
no words needed —
just to move forward.
I came back outside,
sat on the bench,
ate my bread, and did nothing else.
Didn't think, didn't feel.
Just like those moments
when everything stands still... and no words are needed.
Then I picked up my bag
and walked toward school.
Joso High School.
There was no one to ask me anything.
No one to stop me or call me back.
Maybe...
maybe that's exactly what I like.
Children's voices echoed all around.
Everyone was talking to each other,
smiling,
laughing —
some were giggling like life was made just for them.
And among them all…
was me.
Just silent.
Completely apart.
I lowered my head,
gripped my bag tightly,
and without making eye contact with anyone,
walked straight toward my classroom.
10-B.
That's my class.
I pushed the door open
and without saying a word,
walked straight to the last bench and sat down.
No one ever sits on that bench —
never.
Only me.
"There he is again."
"I feel sick just looking at him..."
"Seriously, how do people like him even show up at school?"
"My mom says he ate his own family alive."
"He's a devil... everyone stay away."
Words don't always need wind to travel —
but some voices don't reach your ears...
they go straight to your heart.
I stayed quiet.
Lowered my head and took out my notebook.
Like I hadn't heard anything.
Yeah… it doesn't affect me anymore.
I've gotten used to these voices.
School was over.
I was walking alone along the side of the road —
just like always.
Then, in one corner, I noticed something —
an injured cat.
A little blood, trembling legs.
I stopped.
Opened my bag.
And pulled out the small milk can I had bought from the bakery that morning.
Sat down beside it.
Placed the milk in front of it.
Its ears twitched.
A soft light returned to its eyes.
I gently placed my hand on its head.
"Maybe... you'll be okay,"
I whispered quietly.
Then I picked up my bag,
and walked away.
he didn't look back.
Because for her — that moment was already complete.
Kaito walked away.
Meow.
The cat let out a faint sound...
then lifted its head,
took one small step forward...
And right then —
"THUD!"
A speeding car raced past that spot.
The cat, who had just found a little peace —
now didn't move at all.
Blood slowly surrounded the milk can.
And the air returned to silence.
There was fire everywhere...
My parents burning… their screams,
and sweat covering my entire body...
In that burning night,
there was also a 2-year-old girl...
not someone else — she was my little sister.
I screamed at the top of my lungs —
"Aakiiiii!!"
"Hahhh… hahhh…!"
I woke up with a jolt.
Breathing heavily, shirt soaked in sweat.
It was just a dream… that same dream again.
But was it really a dream?
Or that night I could never forget?
The day I lost my entire family...
But me...
why did I survive?
I drank some water.
Tried to calm myself.
"Three days off from school... maybe I'll get some peace."
It was a rainy day.
I headed toward the bakery.
Opened the door.
The shopkeeper saw me,
and without saying a word, packed my usual order.
Same as always.
I never had to ask.
I stepped outside.
Walked over to the bench.
But—
For the first time… someone else was sitting there.
A girl.
I turned back.
Maybe I'd come back later...
"Hey... wait."
Her voice... wasn't filled with hate.
It was calm, with a gentle smile.
"You can sit too... I'm almost done anyway."
I hesitated for a second...
then slowly sat beside her.
For the first time, someone
treated me like a human being.
Her large black eyes were looking at me.
Her black hair shimmered a little in the damp rain.
She was beautiful...
but more than that,
her presence felt different.
I silently ate my bread.
After a while, she stood up to leave.
Then suddenly, she paused and said:
"You've got some cream on your face..."
She smiled slightly.
I panicked. Quickly wiped my face.
But by then...
she had already left.
Then the rain began to pour harder.
I was still standing there
when she came running back.
She didn't have an umbrella.
She didn't want to get wet.
I was confused.
But without thinking, I said:
"Here... take mine."
She stopped.
"But... what about you?"
"I live close by..."
She took the umbrella.
"Thanks... I'll return it here tomorrow."
And she walked away.
The rain was heavy.
But...
my heart felt a little lighter.
For the first time,
I felt like maybe...
I wasn't invisible.
The next day...
my eyes were searching just for her.
I kept looking around —
the bench, the corner of the bakery, the turn in the alley —
where was she?
Then suddenly, a voice called out —
"Hey, are you looking for someone?"
I jumped a little, startled.
"N-No, not really...!"
She smiled at me —
and held out her hand.
My umbrella.
"Thanks..."
I said softly, taking it from her.
Suddenly, I started coughing.
She looked a bit serious.
"Are you okay? Did you get soaked yesterday?"
"No, no, it's nothing..."
I avoided eye contact, feeling awkward.
She paused, thinking for a moment, then said:
"Alright, come on… let's go get some coffee."
"No, no... I'm fine..."
I didn't even know why, but I panicked.
And then...
she held my hand.
That hand...
was as soft as a rose petal.
Maybe...
for the first time in ten years,
someone had touched Kaito's hand.
We walked into the bakery together.
It was the first time...
I had ever sat inside.
"Two coffees please,"
she said in a soft voice.
The shopkeeper prepared the coffee,
and surprisingly...
for the first time,
he smiled at me.
As if to say —
"Well done, son. You made a friend."
The coffee arrived.
We both held the cups in our hands.
We didn't talk.
Just a quiet peace.
Kaito and her...
One table, two mugs — no words, but still,
something was shared.
She quietly paid for the coffee.
Then stood up.
"I'll get going now..."
And she left.
I remained seated.
The mug was still warm...
But for the first time,
Kaito's heart felt a little warm too.
Today again...
the bench was empty.
I walked up to the bakery door,
the soft bell chimed —
ching-ching
and my eyes...
froze in place.
She was there.
That same girl.
This time...
she had a white sheet of paper in her hands.
She was folding something —
calm, completely focused —
as if each fold carried a hidden emotion.
The moment she saw me...
she stood up.
And without a word,
walked straight toward me.
In her hands
was a paper rabbit.
A small origami,
with slightly tilted ears,
and a faint smile on her face.
She looked at me.
There was no curiosity in her eyes,
no judgment —
just a strange, gentle calm.
"You came again?"
she asked, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I could only nod slightly.
Words didn't seem to mean much in that moment.
She placed the paper rabbit
in my hand.
"This is for you. Another exchange."
No reason was given.
No explanation offered.
Then, just like that...
she walked away.
I sat down on the bench.
Kept turning the little origami in my hands.
There was no name,
no note,
not even a symbol on it.
Just a silent rabbit.
But…
Maybe that was the true meaning of it.
A quiet feeling...
given without words.
The ticking of the clock
echoed through the entire room.
I got up —
got ready for school.
My 3-day punishment was finally over.
It was time to return.
I walked toward the bakery,
my usual morning spot.
Just then…
the girl —
the one I'd met a few days ago —
was walking away from there.
Without thinking,
I ran after her.
"Hey, wait!"
She paused a little,
turned and asked:
"Me? What happened?"
I pulled a chocolate from my pocket —
one I had bought for her yesterday,
but didn't have the courage to give.
My trembling hands reached out to her.
She looked at the chocolate,
took it...
and gave a small smile.
"Aren't you going to be late for school?"
Her voice was soft,
not teasing,
not overly concerned —
just casual… like we'd known each other for a while.
Then she left.
And I...
stood there.
I walked on toward school.
Same corridor, same voices,
same people, same whispers...
But somehow,
inside — there was a little calm.
The whole day passed quietly.
No trouble,
no drama.
Nothing unusual happened…
except...
I felt a little different.
That night, back home,
I lay on my bed.
On my desk
was the same paper rabbit.
I picked it up,
twirled it in my hands...
and gently smiled.
For the first time,
the night wasn't just darkness —
there was a little peace too.
The sound of the alarm rang — 7:00 AM.
"What?! It's 7 already?!"
I was getting late for school.
I quickly threw on my clothes
and rushed out of the house.
I had never been late to school before.
I had to hurry.
As I ran past the bakery,
I glanced around
I saw her on the bench.
The same spot...
where we'd talked before.
I walked up to her.
"H-Hi…"
Without saying anything else,
I pulled a small note from my pocket
something I had spent the whole night writing.
I couldn't speak the words out loud,
I was nervous… really nervous.
Still, I calmed myself,
and handed the note to her.
She smiled.
And I turned to leave.
"See you again,"
her voice passed not just through my ears
but straight into my heart.
I smiled…
Maybe, for the first time in ten years,
I was really smiling.
It felt like...
maybe I was starting to change.
"Yes… we'll meet again!"
I shouted back while running off.
The next day,
I was at the bakery again,
waiting for her…
But she didn't show up.
Not that day.
Not the next.
Not even after that.
I kept sitting at that same spot,
hoping I'd see her again.
Then I searched the whole town —
every corner I could think of.
But she… had disappeared.
I was exhausted.
It felt like she had truly left.
And once again,
I was alone.
Trying to return to the life I used to live…
But her memories —
they had rooted themselves deep in my mind.
It was so quiet, I could hear every footstep echoing in my ears.
A whole week had passed, but there was still no sign of her.
I had searched for her everywhere for three days — but she never appeared.
I opened the bakery door and sat down at a table.
The shopkeeper looked at me, like even he could feel the pain I was carrying.
I started sipping my coffee.
"Breaking news…"
The voice came from the television.
I wasn't really interested, but still… I looked.
"A girl has been found murdered.
First, some criminals raped her,
then they cut her into small pieces.
Her face was completely burned with acid.
A note was found in her hand:
'Hey, can you tell me your name?'"
As soon as I heard that —
the ground slipped away beneath me.
It felt like my soul had left my body.
I collapsed — thud!
The shopkeeper ran toward me to hold me up.
But I ran.
Out of the shop. As fast as I could.
One thought kept spinning in my head —
"Why do I go near people?
Everything around me… always ends."
I reached the bridge.
"First my family… now her…
everything is gone."
"No!
I won't let anyone else die because of me.
No one should live a cursed life like mine."
I screamed —
and jumped.
SPLOOSH!
Water rushed into my lungs.
Darkness closed in from every side.
I didn't try to fight it.
I didn't try to swim.
I simply… surrendered.
"I should've done this a long time ago.
And now... this is my end."
"Shika, if you're done writing your story, come downstairs. Dinner's ready!"
"Coming, Mom…"
Kaito.
"I wasn't the main character...
just a moment in someone else's story."
This was my first time writing a story.
If there were any mistakes — please forgive them.
I just wanted to share a small feeling,
and if you read all the way till here…
then from the bottom of my heart,
thank you