Where the Sunlight Shines

" I sometimes wonder if Mom and Dad are looking at us from above the sky, Ken...", Deko-chan says, looking out the window a little longer than usual with a small sigh,"You say they should be, right? Eh?".

With an effortlessly catlike grace, little Deko-chan slid off of the sofa and tiptoed up to Kenji - her older brother - who was currently too focused on a book to notice his little sister’s voice and booed him from the back.

“BOOOOO~!”

Deko loves playing tricks on Kenji, especially when he least expects it. Actually, she loves it so much that she literally can’t live a single day without sneaking up on him to give him a poke on his belly. As for Kenji, well, he completely approves of Deko’s behaviour! Why? It just makes him feel less lonely and much more optimistic with his charming little sister. Or maybe it is a way of getting through the past. The past of what, you may ask? It’s a past that Kenji has always wanted to forget. It’s a past that naive little Deko-chan doesn’t even know about. It’s a past that Kenji fears will shatter Deko’s fragile heart and change their lives forever.

10 YEARS AGO...

It was this night. The night that the life of the siblings would change forever.

Every child deserves a normal life. At least that’s how every childhood should begin. Unfortunately, fate seems to take a dim view of what ” happiness ” means and what ” trauma ” really is, because on that exact, life-changing night, Kenji realized that he would have to take responsibility for more than just himself. He would have Deko to protect, too.

Hiding in the closet, Kenji shivered and trembled uncontrollably while he kept trying to push himself to the deepest corner of the cramped space. For the first time in his life, he was so terrified to the point that he was afraid even the slightest creak would expose his vulnerable hiding spot. So many tormenting thoughts raced through his mind, including one where he would just give up and accept what awaits him. But no, his heart wouldn’t let him back down, not even a single bit. Scared as he was, he still had his two-year-old Deko lying in his arms, sleeping soundly as if nothing ever happened. The only thought left in Kenji’s mind was to get out of that place as soon as possible without getting caught while making sure Deko remained safe in his arms.

Downstairs, their father’s voice boomed:

"DO YOU THINK HIDING WOULD HELP? COME OUT HERE, YOU LITTLE PESTS!!!"

Among the “good” mothers and fathers out there, the “bad” ones co-exist, too. Kenji and Deko’s father is an example, though in this case the word “father” also seems to be absurd. He was a man consumed by alcohol, gambling, and reckless indulgence. His debts had grown beyond his control, and now he was willing to sacrifice anything—including his own family—to escape them. Now, you might be wondering where Deko and Kenji’s mom is. Sadly, their father had given her up to his creditors to pay off his debts. She couldn’t have fought back at that time upon hearing her own husband threatening to sell the kids instead if she didn’t go herself. And away she went, never coming back to have a moment to cradle her son and daughter again. Meanwhile, the father was still rummaging through the house looking for his kids to pay off the massive debt he’d accumulated.

Kenji needed to act fast, he needed to.Staying in this closet for long surely isn’t a good idea. He will come up here at any moment,Kenji thought. Without wasting another second, Kenji bolted out of the closet, Deko still in his arms. He threw himself through the second-floor window, shattering the glass as he clutched his little sister as they landed on some old mattresses next to a dumpster. Good news? They’d escaped from the abusive and neglectful father. Bad news? They wouldn’t be safe here for long if they didn’t get moving. And then he ran away, as far as he could with Deko. Minutes of continuous running wore him out. Then minutes became hours, which eventually forced him to halt. At this rate, he had no idea where he was running whatsoever, the only thing he knew at that moment was that he could never turn back. Before Kenji could realize, exhaustion got the better of him, so he carried Deko with him to a corner in the alley. Soon, his vision blurred and everything went pitch black...

Upon waking up, an unfamiliar sight greeted Kenji. It wasn’t the cold and loneliness of the alleys. It wasn’t the suffocating room where he had to be wary of his father’s footsteps every night. To his surprise, it was a warm and cozy room filled with the aroma of lavender flowers. The bed was soft and comfortable, and it felt as if it had been made especially for him. To his left was a small wooden nightstand with a white lamp on top, and to his right was a desk - neatly organized with bookshelves right beside the door. There was even a light yellow bean bag sitting next to the shelves - probably for comfy reading. The warm sunlight pouring in the room from the window across Kenji’s bed seemed to bring him a feeling of safety that he never knew existed. The sunlight danced across the room, chasing away all the fears and shadows of the past. But something feels missing here, despite all the welcoming features of this room. Deko. Where’s Deko? Kenji instantly realized that she wasn’t beside him. Not even bothered to check on himself first, he hurried out of the bedroom and into the hallway, barely taking a step before he noticed something. Utter silence. Not the kind of silence that gives chills, but the kind of peaceful silence that makes a person want to abandon all the struggles of life and just sit back and relax. Then he saw it. A nice and small wooden sign hanging on the door in front of him that read:“Deko’s room”.His heart thumping in his chest, he opened the door slightly, and through the small crack, Kenji saw his little sister sleeping soundly on the bed under a warm pink wool blanket. The sight was enough for all of his worries and doubts to go away, and without any more hesitation he silently closed the door, letting out a sigh of relief.

Now that he had calmed down, curiosity and confusion began to creep into his mind, and his first question to this pleasant yet unexplained situation was :“How did I even get here...?“.

Kenji carefully tiptoed down the hallway - still afraid that this might be an illusion - and entered the living room, which was merged with the dining room and kitchen. The living room section had a vibrant blue couch , a modern TV, a coffee table and two plant pots. Behind the couch was another window that cast soft sunlight and right next to the couch was the main door, but none of those things mattered right now, as the thing capturing most of Kenji’s attention at the moment was the piece of paper on the dark brown coffee table. He approached the letter and picked it up. It read:

” To Kenji and Deko,

I know you will be surprised at your surroundings. I know you will think this is some kind of strange, torturous dream, but trust me - it is not.

From now on, consider this your home, your new and private home. Abandon your past, kids, you’ve suffered enough. I believe now it’s time you both get a better life , just like any other child should. Your father has been taken good care of, so there’s no need for you to worry about him anymore.

If you are worrying about anything relating to things such as food, drinks or rental fees, then put those worries aside, because I will be responsible for it, not you. Every day, a package containing ¥3,000 will be delivered to your home. It should be more than enough to cover your ordinary living expenses.

You might be wondering who I am. Just simply think of me as a generous man who wishes to help disadvantaged children out. I have no intention of hurting, disturbing, or interfering with your lives, as you’ve already been through enough. Take your time and familiarize yourselves with your new home, there’s no need to rush. If you have any questions, write a letter to me, I’ll try to respond as soon as possible.

- Yours sincerely,

Mr. Hiroshi- ”

Upon finishing the letter, Kenji’s mind was boggled with questions revolving around this strange man:How did he find us in that dark alley? Why did he even help us? Does he really have good intentions? Is he using us for his own good? Is he-...Suddenly, he stopped asking. Of course Mr. Hiroshi was suspicious. Of course he isn’t fully trustworthy right now, but the important thing was... he had given both Kenji and Deko a little home. A home of their own where sunlight shines every day. Kenji felt a strange warmth blooming in his heart upon finishing the letter. His eyes welled up, then a single tear. Two. Then he couldn’t hold back anymore as he just let them flow freely out. No one had ever been this kind and caring to him before, and knowing that it came from a stranger made it even more heartwarming. For the first time in years, Kenji felt a spark of hope. Hope that he can live normally. Hope that he can finally enjoy life. Hope that he can finally feel full again. Hope that, at last, he and his little sister could have a life of their own.

CHAPTER 0 - END.

CHAPTER 1 - COMING NEXT WEEK ON FRIDAY - 16/10/2026

Stay tuned ! ☀️