Naoki Shirakawa met Kurosawa Kou when they were both just eleven years old.
It was during Naoki's first year living in Hokkaido.
He had moved there to stay with his grandfather, Shirakawa Genzo—a quiet, aging man who lived alone in a house that echoed with loneliness.
Naoki, wanting to keep him company, had offered to move in.
His grandfather had refused at first, insisting he didn't want to be a burden—that Naoki deserved to enjoy his youthful days.
But after a few arguments. Genzo finally relented.
One afternoon, while wandering through the neighborhood, Naoki stumbled upon a quiet, forgotten temple—long abandoned, but talked about in town for its old legend:
If you pray beneath its roof, your wishes will come true.
Few believed in it. But to those who knew of it, it remained a place of strange comfort.
Naoki stepped beneath the eaves of the temple, hoping for shade, a moment to catch his breath.
He was easily exhausted.
His chest often felt too tight. His lungs too small.
As a sickly boy and a self-proclaimed weakling. Naoki had grown used to sitting down more than standing.
That's when he saw him.
Another boy, around his age, but smaller.
He was curled beneath the shade of the temple, as if trying to disappear.
Naoki paused.
The boy looked like he was hiding.
And more than that.
He was hurt.
Bruises patterned his skin like shadows.
Naoki didn't think he was a delinquent—not for a second.
His first instinct was worry.
Was he okay? Had someone done this to him? He thought as he walked up to him.
Naoki knelt down.
"Are you okay?" he asked, voice soft.
The boy didn't answer.
His eyes stared past him. Vacant. Hollow.
Naoki leaned in a little closer, careful not to startle him.
He gently nudged the boy's shoulder—and the boy flinched, recoiling like he'd been struck.
Naoki's heart sank.
"I'm sorry!" he blurted, pulling his hands back in surrender.
"It's okay,I didn't mean to scare you. I was just trying to… never mind. I'm sorry."
The boy didn't speak.
But his shoulders slowly, slowly relaxed.
Naoki hesitated.
Maybe he should leave him alone,to not intrude, to not cause more confusion or fear.
He turned to find another corner of shade, but the temple was too far gone,no other spot offered the same quiet, protective cover.
And more than that…
Naoki's legs weren't cooperating.
They trembled beneath him.
He needed to sit.
The boy noticed everything going on with Naoki.
The way his legs trembled. The way his chest rose and fell a little faster than normal.
But still,he made no effort to acknowledge him.
Not out of malice.
Just… disinterest.
As though nothing in the world had ever truly held his attention.
Naoki, unsure of what to do, weighed his options.
There was only one shaded spot in the old temple, right here, beside the boy and his legs were already trembling beneath him.
He swallowed his hesitation.
"Sorry… can I sit here? I'm really exhausted. But if you don't want me around, I'll manage… somehow," Naoki said gently.
No response.
"He's not answering me," Naoki thought, disheartened. "Maybe I really am unwelcome—"
But just then, the boy shifted.
He moved, wordlessly, giving Naoki more than enough space.
Naoki's chest warmed.
"Thank you," he said quietly, and lowered himself beside him.
He didn't say a word again. He let the silence settle between them like an invisible mist.
An hour passed.
Still not a word shared.
But Naoki couldn't help it, he wanted to speak.
There was something about this boy. Something fragile and far away. Something that made Naoki want to reach out.
"I'll be kind… maybe he'll respond," Naoki thought.
So he tried.
"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.
Still, the boy said nothing.
He turned his face even farther away, retreating deeper into his shell.
Naoki's heart sank.
"He's ignoring me…"
But he tried again.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk… can I at least know your name?"
No reply.
Naoki bit the inside of his cheek.
"Silent treatment. Got it…"
He could've left. His legs were better now, and clearly the boy didn't want company.
But something about him, his stillness, the sadness carved into his posture, told Naoki otherwise.
"He probably might need some company," Naoki thought. "Even if he won't say it.
So he stayed.
In silence.
Two strangers under the same quiet sky. Not sharing words.
Only presence.
Time slipped by.
Eventually, Naoki looked up. The sky was fading into dusk.
"Ahh it's getting late…"
He stood slowly, brushing off his trousers.
"My grandfather's probably up now," he said, smiling gently. "I need to go and you should probably go home too." he added but the boy didn't reply. He sighed and turned to leave.
Then looked at the boy one last time.
"I hope I see you again."
Still no reply.
The boy remained still,unmoving and unreadable.
Lost in a world Naoki couldn't yet reach.
The next day, Naoki returned to the temple to clear his mind, while secretly hoping the boy would be there.
And he was,sitting in the same spot, beneath the same shade, but with fresh bruises this time.
Naoki's concern deepened. He walked over and greeted him,
"Hey I'm back.... again". He said hoping to get a response.
but the boy remained silent, lost in that same empty daze.
"I wonder if he's always like this". Naoki thought and then shrugged it off. He took his seat beside him. They didn't share anywords. The boy didn't move. But Naoki didn't mind because he somehow likes it "Sitting down beside the boy under the temple shades".
When the sun began to dip low in the sky, Naoki stood. "I have to go look after my grandfather now," he said gently. "Bye."
Still, the boy said nothing as Naoki walked away.
Naoki didn't return for several days, his grandfather had twisted his ankle and could barely walk, so Naoki stayed home to care for him.
But the temple and the boy, remained in his mind the whole time.
Once his grandfather legs were perfectly healed, on his way back from school, Naoki decided to take the path past the temple, not because he expected to see the boy again, but because he hoped. In truth, he thought Kou might not be there yet since it was still early, or maybe he was just telling himself that to avoid disappointment.
But there he was.
Kou sat in the exact same spot, the same posture as always. He hadn't moved at all. Fresh bruises darkened his skin again.
Naoki ran up the steps, startled, saddened and also happy to see him again. Without hesitation, he sat down beside Kou and began to speak—explaining why he hadn't come the past few weeks. That his grandfather had twisted his ankle, and he had to care for him. That he didn't forget about him. That he still wanted to come.
But Kou said nothing. Just like always, he stared forward, locked in a silent daze but paying attention to every words Naoki was saying.
They sat together for a while.
When the sun began to dip behind the trees, Naoki stood. "I have to go now," he said softly. "My grandfather's waiting."
He paused for a moment, then added, "But I'll come back, tomorrow I promise."
After naoki left the boy glanced at the direction Naoki took, a little smile escaped his lips. Then he got up and went his way.
From that day forward, Naoki made a quiet promise to himself: he would visit the boy with the bruises every day.
And he did.
Every day, Naoki Shirakawa walked to the temple and sat beside the silent boy. They didn't exchange words. They didn't look at each other. They just sat, watching the sky, listening to the wind, surrounded by the peaceful stillness of the temple and sometimes share a drink with each other.
It became a quiet routine. On Saturdays, he noticed Kou came even earlier than usual. Naoki started coming earlier too, just to make sure he was there first. It was never discussed. Never questioned. They simply sat side by side, like two shadows under the same tree.
Not for days.
Not for weeks.
But for months.
---
The Day It Changed.
One afternoon, Naoki's cheerful world cracked.
On his way home from school, he was cornered by a few boys from his class. They accused him of being fake, of pretending to be kind just to get attention from the girls.
Naoki, confused and shaken, tried to deny it. "That's not true," he said quietly.
But they didn't listen.
One of them punched him, hard, sending him crashing to the ground. Pain surged through his weak frame. Naoki had always been frail, a child who was often sick and struggled to keep up physically. He could barely lift himself.
Another boy stepped forward, ready to kick him where he lay—
But before the blow could land, something sharp and sudden struck the attacker instead.
The boy fell back, clutching his nose, blood pouring from it.
Everyone froze.
There, standing in the fading afternoon light, was Kou.
Bruised. Disheveled. Silent.
But standing like a shadow cast in steel.
The boys panicked and ran, every last one of them, including the bleeding one.
Naoki, still on the ground, stared in disbelief.
"You..." he whispered, blinking up at the boy who had never said a word.
Kou walked over and gently helped him to his feet. But Naoki, weak and hurting, couldn't stand on his own. Without hesitation, Kou bent down and, with one smooth motion, lifted Naoki onto his back.
As Kou carried him through familiar streets, Naoki finally asked, "You know where I live?"
Kou didn't answer. (Truth is, Kou always sees Naoki off till he gets home since he had noticed naoki is a frail child but go out of his way to come to the temple to seat with him and keep him company over the past few months and so it became his duty to make sure Naoki gets home safely as a thank you for spending time with me.)
Kou just kept walking, proud of himself.
And Naoki, smiling through the pain as well, accepted that maybe kou was a Nonverbal.
By the time they reached Naoki's house, his grandfather was outside walking around the yard. The moment he looked up and spotted them in the distance, his eyes widened in shock. Without hesitation, he began walking toward them. With a much faster pace.
Naoki, still being carried, groaned. "Grandpa, stop moving too much—you'll hurt yourself," he nagged gently.
But the old man didn't listen. He reached them quickly and looked at Kou with a startled expression. "What happened?" he asked, concern heavy in his voice, as they all walked toward the house.
Kou said nothing. He didn't even glance at the old man. He simply kept walking, silent as ever.
Naoki glanced at his grandfather and murmured quietly, "I don't think he can speak."
His grandfather paused, nodded in understanding, and without pushing further, politely guided Kou into the house. Naoki was placed gently on the sofa while his grandfather hurried off to get his medicine and some water.
Kou remained standing. He didn't even attempt to sit.
Seeing this, the grandfather gestured kindly. "You can sit down, you know," he offered.
But Kou didn't go to the sofa. Instead, he crouched to the ground as usual, resting quietly like he didn't believe he had the right to anything more. The grandfather didn't notice at first; he was too focused on Naoki, repeatedly asking if he was okay.
Naoki, overwhelmed by the fussing, kept repeating himself. "I'm okay… I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay…"
The grandfather seemed satisfied with his grandson reassurance and turned to look around—only to spot Kou crouched low on the floor.
His expression shifted from worry to surprise as he walked over to him. "Hey now, what are you doing down there?" he asked gently and reached out to help him up.
But the moment his hand touched Kou's shoulder, Kou flinched and instantly pulled away, stumbling back as if he'd been struck. His eyes were wide, dazed—his body instinctively recoiling from the unexpected contact.
The old man froze, not expecting the reaction.
"When I said you could sit," he said calmly, "I didn't mean on the floor. You can use the sofa. That's what it's there for."
Still, Kou said nothing.
After a few seconds, he slowly walked over and sat at the edge of the sofa, his body tense. Even though he'd pushed the old man off instinctively, guilt lingered in his eyes. He hadn't meant to react that way, he'd just been startled.
You couldn't blame him.
His entire mind had been wired into survival mode for so long that even a gentle touch felt dangerous. Kou flinched not out of disrespect, but because deep down, he was always bracing for pain.
Kou was about to leave after sitting for only a few minutes, but Naoki's grandfather stopped him gently. "You should at least stay for dinner," the old man said with a kind smile.
Kou didn't really want to stay—but perhaps out of guilt for how he'd reacted earlier, or maybe just because it felt wrong to walk out—he gave a small nod and agreed.
Naoki immediately stood up. "I'll go make dinner," he offered, trying to move before anyone could stop him.
His grandfather turned to him with concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I can handle it," Naoki replied, brushing it off.
But instead, Genzo turned to Kou. "Mister," he said warmly, "could you go along with my grandson to the kitchen? It'll be boring if you stay here with me, and I know my grandson will be happy to have you around."
Naoki's face turned bright red. "Grandpa! Wh-what are you saying?!" he stammered, flustered.
Then he turned to Kou, waving his hands slightly. "You don't have to, honestly! I-I'm okay," he said, his ears red and eyes slightly wide.
Genzo chuckled, clearly amused. "You say your words like you mean them," he teased, "but you wear your heart right on your face."
Naoki groaned, quickly covering his face. "Maah! That's enough!" he whined.
The two of them fell into playful bickering—Naoki red-faced and dramatic, his grandfather calm and amused.
Kou sat quietly, observing the scene unfold in front of him. Their back-and-forth banter was strange, loud, and oddly comforting. And without realizing it… he smiled. Just a little.
Naoki, caught mid-sentence, stopped talking immediately. He stared, stunned. That unknown boy, the one who never said a word, who barely moved—was smiling.
His grandfather, noticing where Naoki was looking, followed his gaze and saw it too. A soft, knowing smile touched his lips. Without saying anything, Genzo stood and quietly left the room, leaving them alone.
Kou, realizing he was being stared at, quickly stopped smiling. Confused.
Naoki tilted his head and spoke mischievously, his voice playful. "Amazing… I thought you were a stone turned human. Who knew you could actually smile like that?"
Kou's eyes widened in surprise. He quickly turned away, almost as if embarrassed.
Naoki burst into laughter, falling onto the floor, unable to hold it in. Kou watched him, bewildered, unsure what to make of this boy who laughed like that—as if joy was something that came easily to him.
When Naoki finally calmed down and caught his breath, he wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling between words. "Come on," he said with a grin. "Let's go make dinner."
Kou didn't stand up at first. He just stayed seated, unmoving. But Naoki looked back at him with a soft smile and said gently, "Let's go."
That was enough.
Kou stood and followed him quietly into the kitchen, taking the seat Naoki pointed out. He sat silently, watching as Naoki moved around with practiced ease—measuring, stirring, slicing. There was a strange kind of calm in it. Kou couldn't help but marvel a little. He hadn't expected Naoki to be this good at cooking.
When the food was finally ready, Naoki carefully plated everything and set the table. Then he disappeared to call his grandfather. Kou, unsure what to do, crouched down near the wall, waiting. It was all he knew.
When Naoki returned with Genzo, the three of them sat down to eat. Well—two of them did. Kou remained crouched where he was, uncertain.
Genzo noticed immediately.
"Hey," he said, his tone calm but warm. "What are you waiting for? Come join us."
Kou blinked, startled. That wasn't how it worked. He was used to eating last—after his older brother was done, or he eats alone in his isolated room, That was the way it has always been.
But this… these people were different.
Hesitantly, he stood and moved toward the table, sitting down slowly. He stared at the food for a long moment, unsure if he should really touch it.
He has never eaten such food in his entire life. (Mostly Westerner dishes)
He took a bite of the curry.
The flavor hit him instantly, warm, rich, comforting. He hadn't expected it to taste this good.
Without realizing it, he started eating faster, then faster still, until his bowl was completely empty.
He wanted more, but couldn't bring himself to ask.
Luckily, Genzo had already noticed. With a quiet smile, he turned to Naoki and said, "You should give him another serving."
Naoki happily obliged, scooping another portion for Kou without hesitation. Kou ate every last bite. Having eaten more than usual, he felt exhaustion caughting up with him.
He dozed off right there, head resting against the wall, breaths deep and peaceful.
Naoki stayed by his side, watching him quietly.
"He's finally resting," Genzo said gently. "Let him sleep. Don't wake him up." Naoki nodded.