LICHT AND I were strolling through a grove of evergreen trees. They filtered the light, casting bolts of sunshine along our path, like fireflies in the daytime. After a full recovery, the two of us had started living together. It sounded crazy, but after getting my memories back, I knew Licht was a very special person, even now. After all, I'd promised to stick by him, hadn't I?

"Doesn't it feel nice to go outside once in a while?"

It hadn't been as sudden as it might have seemed. For two weeks after Licht awoke, he'd still needed urgent healthcare, which the government had eagerly supplied. Mom and Dad had expressed their reservations, of course, but after hearing about his condition and seeing how much I cared about him, they allowed me to stay with him for a while to help get him back on his feet so long as I still put effort in at school. To me, Licht was more than just the miraculous young man from the news who had mysteriously turned up after having been not only missing, but comatose for over a decade.

"Yeah," he smiled. The grocery bag hit my knee as we walked, and Licht shifted it over to his other side as he offered me his open palm. "Let's hold hands."

I gently laced my fingers with his, pleased as his warmth flowed into me. "I like holding your hand." We had agreed to remain friends, to see where things might go and allow them to develop naturally, but it was still comforting to do little things like hold hands from time to time, or lean on each other's shoulders.

"AND NOW, AN UPDATE FROM THE NEWSROOM." As we walked past a strip of several stores, a huge TV in one window caught our attention. "LOCAL POLICE HAVE ENDED THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATHS OF TWO YOUTHS THAT SHOCKED THE CITY. THE CAUSE OF BOTH DEATHS WAS A TRAUMATIC BLOW TO THE HEAD, BUT DUE TO LACK OF EVIDENCE AND A SUSPECT, THE CASES ARE NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED."

Licht stood frozen in place, eyes fixed on the television screen. That could have been us. After the government had found out about him, they immediately began secretly providing him with financial aid. We could expose them to the public. But at Licht's request, we'd decided to keep it to ourselves. Even still, I imagined he must've felt angry at the government's desperate attempts to cover up the truth.

I squeezed his hand encouragingly. "We know the truth. Besides, knowing Monica and Thoma can rest in peace is the most important thing."

"Yeah," Licht smiled at me, but then he glared back at the screen, seeming somewhat displeased.

"Are you okay?"

"It's just that... some thoughts came to mind. But anyway, it's nothing major." There was something in his eyes then, a sadness below the violet, threatening to seep out.

"I'd love for you to tell me what's on your mind. I mean, if you're comfortable with it."

He turned from the TV screen and nodded at me, but his self-assured expression swiftly melted back into doubt. "It's about my father. Looking back, my childhood was somewhat unconventional. I mean, we never really got that father and son thing down. It gets me thinking – was I born just so I could be a part of his schemes? I'm not sure whether he truly loved me or not."

Silas Ackerman... for thirteen years, he'd waited for Licht to wake up. That was his expression of love. "Licht, I don't remember much about your father, but I know one thing for sure. When we were living in the orphanage, his kindness and the way he smiled at you was genuine. Someone like him, who cared for helpless orphans, certainly loved you as well." Licht closed his eyes, as if to keep his sadness from the light. "The code to the records room is L0129. That's your birthday, isn't it? January 29th! That's even more proof!" Licht opened his eyes in near shock. "Besides, you only have good memories of him, right?"

"I suppose."

I hummed. "Did you read the journal Ray gave you?"

Licht shook his head. "I'm ashamed to say it, but I'm just too scared to read it..."

I kind of understand how he feels. I was afraid to find out the truth of my past, too. I still feel that way sometimes, but... "Then, let's read it together. It won't be so scary that way." I lightly tugged on his hand, and he smiled with the same joy and satisfaction as when he saw the sun for the first time in thirteen years.

"Yeah, you're right."

We slowly started making our way back home. As we approached the park near our house, our attention turned to the children happily playing on jungle gyms and giant rubber tires. I smiled at the sight; it wasn't hard to see our childhood selves in them. Some of the kids started rushing off in one direction. That was when we noticed an ice-cream truck nearby.

'I wish I could have some ice-cream with you, Ziya.' I remembered the simple wish Licht had made. Now that I thought about it, we hadn't had ice-cream since we'd returned to the real world.

"Hey, Licht, let's go get ice-cream!"

Before Licht even had the chance to respond, I pulled his hand and ran toward the park. Hmm... I contemplated which flavour to choose as we stood in line. Oooh, strawberry would be good. Ah, but it's been a while since I've had chocolate mint. Maybe I'll just go with good old-fashioned vanilla.

Suddenly, I felt someone poke my cheek, and I turned to see Licht smiling playfully. "Can't decide?"

"I'm torn between strawberry and chocolate mint," I admitted.

He nodded swiftly and ordered both flavours. That's one way to do it. A moment later, the ice-cream man gave Licht the ice-cream, and Licht turned to me.

"Here!" He handed me the strawberry cone. It looked so good it was practically sparkling.

"Thanks! Are you okay with choc mint?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I've always wanted to try chocolate mint!" I watched closely as Licht brought the ice-cream to his mouth, anticipating his verdict. "Ah, it's so cold!"

I chuckled hard. "You got your memories back, but you don't remember that ice-cream is cold?"

"No, I do, but was it always this cold?" Licht began to devour his ice-cream regardless. "It's really yummy, though. It tastes even better than it did when I was a kid. It must be because I'm enjoying it with you." I giggled girlishly at that, like I'd been brought back to my juvenescenceby Licht's words. "Hey, could I try some of yours?"

"Sure. Can I try some of your chocolate mint?"

I'd never thought I could be this happy just eating ice-cream. Maybe Licht had a point – just being with him made even the simplest things seem special. I'm so thankful to have Licht in my life. Ice-cream in hand, we continued our walk home.

"Oh, man, Licht. This is so good!"