The sky was soft and light blue. The wind moved gently through the trees. Haru Tamada walked quietly on the path to school. His headphones played soft music. His hands were deep in his pockets.
It was just a normal morning.
He passed by shops, small houses, and a park. People walked past him, talking and laughing. But Haru didn't talk to anyone. He liked silence.
Then something unusual happened.
A little girl stood near a street corner. She looked scared. Her eyes were full of worry, and she held a small bag tightly in her arms. People walked by her, but no one stopped to help.
She said something in a language most people didn't understand.
"Kann mir jemand helfen…?"
("Can someone help me…?")
People glanced at her, confused. No one replied.
But Haru understood.
He took off his headphones and walked slowly to the girl. He bent down a little and spoke softly.
„Brauchst du Hilfe?"
("Do you need help?")
The girl's face lit up. She was surprised—and so happy. She nodded quickly. She told him, in German, that she was lost. She had been with her older sister, but they got separated near a bakery.
Haru listened carefully and was about to help…
When another voice came from behind him.
"Entschuldigung… brauchst du Hilfe mit ihr?"
("Excuse me… do you need help with her?")
Haru turned.
A girl stood there. She looked about his age. She had brown hair tied neatly behind her head. Her eyes were calm and kind. She spoke German, too—very well.
She smiled at the little girl and asked more questions in German. The little girl answered quickly, pointing toward a nearby shop.
Together, Haru and the girl walked with the child back to the bakery. There, her older sister stood, looking worried. When she saw the girl, she ran and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you so much!" the sister said, bowing many times.
Haru just nodded.
The girl beside him smiled. "You speak German very well," she said kindly.
"…You too," Haru replied in a quiet voice.
She gave a small wave. "Bye," she said, and walked away in the other direction.
Haru stood there for a moment, then put his headphones back on and continued walking to school.
He did not know he would see her again—very soon.
The classroom was noisy, full of students talking. Haru sat near the window, reading a book. The sun was warm on his desk.
"Everyone, quiet down," the teacher said. "We have a new transfer student today."
The door opened.
Haru looked up and saw her.
The girl from this morning.
She stood at the front of the class. Her brown hair was tied neatly. Her smile was soft.
"Hello," she said in Japanese with a light accent. "My name is Alisha Yukino. Nice to meet you."
The class became quiet. Some students whispered:
"She's pretty."
"She must have lived overseas."
"She looks kind…"
Then she smiled and said something else, in another language:
„Ich hoffe, wir verstehen uns gut."
("I hope we get along well.")
Some students blinked. A few laughed gently.
"Did she just speak German?"
Haru sat up straight. His eyes met hers just for a second.
She tilted her head a little, as if she was trying to remember something.
But Haru looked away.
Alisha walked to an empty seat and sat down.
Class began.
And in that quiet space between memory and surprise something had already begun.
> "Sometimes, two people meet by accident. But maybe.. it's not really an accident at all."
— Kael Aozora