Kurai was in the sister's room, gently touching the sheets of her bed. The more he touched them, the more a thought came to his mind.
« I can't grieve anymore. I have to keep smiling. That's what she would have wanted »
Finally, he left the room, turning one last time to look at it from afar. Then he went to his own room and lay down on his bed, deep in thought. He decided that the children he had played with before would become his friends.
Days passed like that. Kurai watched them from afar, hiding. Even though he had already played with them once, that time it was thanks to the sister. He still didn't dare to take the first step. And so the days passed, spent in solitude, though he never lost his motivation.
After preparing himself mentally, he gathered his courage and went to talk to the group of children. He approached them shyly, with his head lowered, and said in a trembling voice:
— Hi… I-I'm Kurai. C-can I p-play with you?
The others looked at him with surprise. He clenched his hands, ready in case they said something bad. Then the oldest boy gently touched his shoulder and smiled.
— We're all children from the orphanage, so we're like a family. Don't you think, Kurai?
Kurai raised his head and said enthusiastically,
— Of course we're family.
Then the older boy introduced everyone.
— My name is Masato. The one with brown hair is Sota, the one who looks scared is Riku, and the short girl over there is Hana.
— What do you mean short?! Hana shouted. My height is average for my age!
— Yeah, sure, Masato replied sarcastically.
That was how Kurai joined Masato's group. The others liked sneaking out of the orphanage to have fun in the village and cause mischief. One day, Masato suggested going out again—this time to show Kurai the village, since he had never left the orphanage.
Sota looked at him with a teasing tone and said,
— Seriously, Kurai? I thought you liked going outside a lot.
Kurai and the others laughed.
— Alright, let's go so we can spend more time outside, Masato said.
They all ran to the village. There, they saw ordinary things, but to Kurai they were amazing. After finishing the tour of the village, they went to the river near the town.
— Why don't we get in? Masato said.
— But where do we leave our clothes? Riku exclaimed.
— Don't worry, Hana replied.
— We can leave them there, Kurai said, pointing to a large rock by the riverbank.
— Yes! Riku and Hana exclaimed excitedly.
The five of them got into the river, and they were surprised to see that Kurai's wet hair revealed small horns. Hana approached him and, messing up his hair, said,
— Kurai, your hair is really soft, and that gray color is amazing. And especially those little horns you have.
— I think I'm from the dragon race or something like that. I don't really know, Kurai replied.
Everyone came closer to touch his horns. Masato watched with a bit of envy as he approached.
— Your horns are weird. Maybe you're cursed, Sota said jokingly.
— Yeah, maybe that's it, Kurai replied, laughing.
— They're kind of ugly if your hair doesn't cover them, don't you think? Masato added.
— Yeah, I think so too, Kurai said with a laugh, though he felt a little embarrassed by the comment.
After that, they kept playing until sunset.
— We should head back! Masato shouted.
— Yes! everyone replied.
They returned to the orphanage and went to the room they shared, so Kurai said goodbye and went to his own room. He opened the door and lay on his bed, excited for the next day so he could play again.
Days passed, and Kurai grew more confident with the group. One day, when they didn't go out to the village, Kurai secretly overheard Masato talking with the father.
— Masato, my son, listen. You're a good boy for staying close to Kurai. He's a cursed child.
Masato interrupted,
— No, Father. I think Kurai is good and very kind to all of us.
Happy, Kurai left so he wouldn't keep listening to a conversation that didn't concern him. But Masato continued speaking.
— But I don't like how he steals my friends' attention. I was the one who created the group. They should pay more attention to me.
— Yes, I agree, the father replied.
Then the phone rang.
— Masato, go play with the others. We'll talk later.
Masato nodded and left.
After that, they kept causing mischief in the village as part of their daily routine. Kurai had become a cheerful and funny boy. He was already eleven years old, and he believed that the most important thing in his life was his friends.
But just as Kurai changed, so did the way Masato saw him. He no longer saw Kurai as a kind friend, but as someone who was stealing what belonged to him—his friends. These thoughts weren't entirely his own; the father often talked to Masato and filled his head with bad ideas about Kurai.
One day, Masato and the others went to the village as usual, but Masato had a plan to punish Kurai. They went to the fruit shop, where the seller was a very kind woman with a serious expression. Near the apples, Masato lightly kicked them, knocking them over. Everyone ran away, but Masato told the woman that Kurai had been the one who knocked the apples down.
Later, Masato returned to the group, speaking in a tired voice from running.
— I took so long because I fell.
— Wow, luckily the lady didn't catch you, Kurai replied jokingly.
— Yeah, it was close, Masato said.
After that, they played in the fields, rolling down hills.
— Guys, it's still early, but we should go back. Today it's our turn to sweep, Hana exclaimed.
— That's right, I forgot, Sota said.
— Then let's race to see who gets there first! Kurai said.
They all ran back to the orphanage. At nightfall, the apple seller knocked on the door angrily. The father opened it.
— Ma'am, what brings you here?
— One of your children knocked over my apples. His name was Kurai, she said, frowning.
— Oh, really? Then he'll receive a severe punishment, the father said, feeling somewhat pleased at the idea of giving Kurai more work.
— But I also deserve a proper apology for being disturbed during my work, the woman added.
— Yes, you're absolutely right. I'll go with him to your shop so he can apologize, the father replied.
— Alright, Father. I'll be waiting for that apology, she said before leaving.
The next day, Kurai left his room and saw the father approaching him. He was surprised—it was the first time the father had come to speak with him alone.
— Good morning, Father. Did something happen?
— Yes. Something very serious. The apple shop owner came last night and said you knocked over her apples. Is that true?
Kurai remembered how Masato had kicked the apples, but to protect him from getting scolded, he replied,
— Yes, Father. I did it. I'm very sorry.
— As punishment, you won't be allowed to go to the village to play for a week.
In his thoughts, Kurai said to himself,
One week is fine… but how will I explain to my friends that I can't go out to play?
— Also, you'll have to sweep for that entire week.
— Isn't that a bit too much, Father?
— How dare you speak to me like that? After giving you food and shelter, I can see how the sister spoiled you.
Angrily, Kurai exclaimed,
— Father, the sister has nothing to do with this. I'll go apologize to the apple lady.
Masato happened to be passing by—it was his turn to sweep. He looked at the father and, placing a hand on Kurai's shoulder, said,
— Don't worry, Father. I'll go with him to the village to apologize.
— Thank you, Masato, Kurai replied.
As Kurai turned around, Masato looked at the father and winked, smiling behind Kurai's back.
What are the father and Masato plotting?