After a tense pause, Tim exhaled and said, "Well... guess I have to introduce myself, huh? The name's Tim."
Rei didn't even look at him. "But I didn't ask your name."
Tim chuckled, unfazed. "Still, it's the first step to introducing ourselves. That's how people start talking, right?"
Rei's brows furrowed. "I didn't give you permission to have a conversation with me."
Tim grinned. "But conversations are natural. They just happen. Like breathing. Or... falling off a bench."
Rei narrowed her eyes, unimpressed, but he pressed on.
"Anyway - what's your name?"
That question made Rei freeze.
She wasn't used to people asking that - not without mockery, not without a snide tone or some cruel nickname right after.
In the orphanage, no one really wanted to know her. They just wanted to label her: weird girl, spiral freak, cursed hair. No one ever asked with actual interest.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Then, after a breath:
"...Rei."
She said it so softly, it was as if she was unsure she was allowed to.
Tim's eyes lit up. "You've got such a cool name! Short and strong. Like a superhero's code name or something."
Rei's heart thudded a little faster, but she quickly looked away, folding her arms again to hide her reaction.
No one had ever said her name like that. Like it meant something. Like she meant something.
Tim leaned back, swinging his feet again. "So, Rei... let's know each other better."
Rei turned to him sharply, her voice snappish again - but there was no real anger behind it this time.
"I only told you because you told me. That's it. Now leave."
But even as she said it, something faltered in her tone. She was expecting him to get up and leave - like everyone else eventually did.
But Tim didn't move.
He sat there beside her, gazing at the sky again.
"I don't think I'm done," he said after a moment. "I think... I'm just getting started."
Rei didn't answer, but she didn't tell him to shut up either.
And for Tim, that was good enough.
For a few minutes, they just sat in silence.
Then, with a surprising flicker of courage, Rei murmured under her breath, "You... sort of resemble the Sun."
The words slipped out before she could stop them. Her eyes widened, and she clamped her mouth shut, instantly regretting it. Her face flushed with panic.
Tim's eyes glowed brightly in surprise - then flashed that usual easy grin.
"Oh?" he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Guess my boldness and liveliness fits that, huh?"
Rei didn't respond.
Tim leaned forward a little, his eyes shining like he'd just solved a riddle. "You know... the Moon needs the Sun to shine. Don't you think?"
Rei frowned, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
He smiled, tilting his head. "You are the Moon."
That caught her completely off guard. Her mouth opened slightly, but no words came. Her thoughts, however, were racing.
"The Moon... needs the Sun to shine?"
she thought bitterly.
"But the Sun's light is meaningless without the Moon to reflect it."
And then, without realizing, she muttered under her breath,
"It's thanks to the Moon that the Sun's shine spreads farther... Without someone to reflect it, no one notices it's there."
Tim stared at her in shock.
"Well..." he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Guess I can't ever beat you in words, huh?"
He stood up, brushing off his pants.
Tim then wandered off down the path, hands in his pockets, white hair catching the wind. Rei watched him go, her arms crossed.
Good riddance, she thought.
But the words rang hollow - almost like a reflex, not a feeling. Deep inside, she felt something odd: a sense of satisfaction... maybe even warmth.
Meanwhile, far above Earth...
A spaceship was heading towards Earth. A figure looking at Earth smirked. "The children from the prophecy, we will be meeting them soon."