Yuri – POV
All of us victims were brought to a place
A beautiful place
It was filled with countless flowers, each one different, their fragrances blending softly in the air
Children ran outside, laughing freely
Not only children — women, boys, girls… everyone was there
Some were painting
Some were playing hide and seek
Some sat together playing instruments
Some danced
Some simply talked
The entire place overflowed with warmth
Yuri's vision blurred
"It's so beautiful..." he whispered
From inside the building, a man stepped out
He looked around forty-four — not too old, not too young. Perfectly in between
His hair was glossy white, and the edges faded into a soft violet
The children immediately ran toward him
"Yuzuru!"
He laughed warmly, lifting them one by one and patting their heads
Yuri and the other rescued victims slowly approached
Aeth stepped forward
"Uncle Yuzuru… we destroyed that place and rescued the victims"
But one little child… died before we could reach them And a boy named Z went missing during the rescue."
Yuzuru's eyes looked painful
Yuzuru:
"The little child's body?"
Aeth:
"It wasn't there when I returned after evacuating the others," Aeth replied quietly
"I've sent some of our men to search the boy named z ."
"I see," Yuzuru said softly
Yuri stepped forward, his hands trembling
"Will you find Brother Z… please?"
The other victims nodded
"He protected us in that living hell… even though he was just a child himself."
Aeth spoke again
"There was a dead customer in another room. When I arrived… I saw Z walking out of that room."
Aeth's voice and eyes lowered
"His eyes were empty."
Silence lingered in the air
Yuzuru:
"I hope nothing has happened to that boy… We will find him."
"Yes," Aeth replied
After a moment, Yuzuru looked at the new arrivals
"This place is called Shadow."
He smiled softly
"You might wonder why."
"In the light, we can clearly see shadows. But in darkness, people believe shadows disappear."
He paused
"The truth is… they never leave. We just cannot see them without light."
"Shadows stay with us forever."
His voice softened
"In this place, you may stay as long as you wish. Forever, if you want to. And when you are ready —
when you can stand on your own — you can leave and live your own life."
Present
The night was cold
Yuri stood beneath the quiet sky
He had grown up in that beautiful place
When he turned seventeen, he started working part-time jobs, saving every coin he could
And eventually—
He opened a flower shop
Yuri walked toward it slowly
Inside the Flower Shop
The faint scent of flowers filled the air, but tonight it brought him no comfort
Yuri muttered
I don't know where he is…
Why hasn't he come back yet?
His chest tightened
Slowly, Yuri pressed a hand against his heart
The ache refused to fade
He layed on the floor
Turning to his side, he hugged his knees tightly
"Aeris…" he whispered in the silence
In a Dark Alley
Not far away, inside a narrow alley swallowed by shadows—
Aeris lay unconscious on the cold ground
The blood on his head had dried slightly, he was breathing but it was faint
Footsteps echoed softly
A figure stepped into the dim light
A boy
His black hair fell over his eyes, hiding them
He knelt beside Aeris and checked his breathing carefully
"He's alive," the boy murmured
Without hesitation, he lifted Aeris onto his back
Adjusting his hold, he stood up
Then—
He walked away, disappearing into the darkness
Later
Aeris slowly opened his eyes
He was inside a small apartment
A boy sat on a chair nearby, quietly watching him
Aeris touched his head and winced
"My head… hurts."
The boy was sitting on the chair without looking aeris he said
"You were hit on the head and was laying on an alley," the boy said calmly
"I took you to the hospital. The doctor treated you and said your injury wasn't serious, but…"
He paused
"He also said you might not remember anything when you wake up."
Aeris blinked slowly
"He said your memory might return if something — or someone — triggers it."
The boy looked at aeris and said
"I guess it depends on fate."
Aeris remained silent
"You can stay here," the boy added
"Until you figure out who you are."
Aeris finally spoke
"Why would you help someone you don't even know?"
"And why take responsibility for someone like that?"
The boy looked at him for a moment
"Does everything always need a reason?"
The boy looked away
"I don't have one. I just do what I feel like doing."
Aeris said nothing
Yuri walked slowly through the streets at night
His eyes drifted to the left
A church stood there
His steps stopped
His eyes lingered on the church
Yuri pov
I was once raped by a priest
The memory passed through his mind like cold wind
I never believed in God
But I never hated God either
I simply felt… nothing
He stared at the church doors
Then slowly walked inside
If this God truly exists…
There is something I want to ask
Yuri knelt down inside the church
His hands trembled
"Please…"
"I beg you…"
"Please keep him away from everything that could
harm him."
His voice cracked
"Please…"
"I want him."
Later That Night
The streets were crowded with people
Ash walked quietly among them
Suddenly his eyes caught sight of someone
A boy
"Aizel…"
The boy turned
It was the same boy who had saved Aeris
The wind brushed his hair aside
Golden eyes appeared beneath the dark strands
Ash froze
Ash's eyes eyes lingered in pain
Ash looked down
Why… do you look like him?
Why do you look like Aeth?
Aizel smiled
It was a beautiful smile
But it carried pain
"You've grown up well, Ash."
Ash's eyes blurred
Why…
Why do you look like my big brother Aeth…?
" Aizel "