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Hinako, yuto, and Aiko were seven years old and in the first grade of primary school. They often walked home on their own and would stop by their favourite playground to swing and go down the slide.
Today was no different: the kids quickly raced home, changed into comfortable clothes, grabbed a snack, and met at the predetermined spot— the park.
Yuto was late again. He rushed over to them and excused himself:
“Sorry, guys! Mommy made me finish the homework first.”
Hinako crossed her arms, looking away, pouting.
Aiko, who always acted as the pacemaker, spoke up: “Hinako, it's okay now. We're together. Let's go play!”
“Swing first!” Hinako yelled, her sweet smile back on her little chubby face as they ran to the empty ones.
Yuto helped the girls up the swing. Softly pushing them forward as the swing gained momentum.
After that, he climbed on a slide, playing by himself and the girls chit- chatted.
Aiko called over to Yuto and asked, “How about we play hide- and- seek?”
As the three agreed, Hinako spoke up, confused, “But how do we decide who'll be the seeker? I don't want to be.”
Yuto thought for a second and suggested, “How about rock, paper, scissors? The loser seeks while the rest hides.”
As the first round ended, it was yuto who was safe, and in the second round, Aiko won. Hinako begrudgingly dragged her feet, going to the nearby tree to count.
The two kids dispersed across the area, finding a spot to hide.
Aiko hid behind a tree, whilst Yuto tried to find a safer spot. His eyes fell upon the bathroom structure; it looked old, but his young mind focused only on winning.
As he entered the place, he saw a few stalls. He noticed the third one was unlocked, so he headed inside but gasped audibly as he saw a girl around his age already hiding there.
The girl grabbed his hand, pulling him next to her, putting her index digit over her compressed lips, and made a “Shh” sound.
Yuto thought she was playing with her friends and must be hiding. He decided to stay quiet, not wanting Hinako to find him first.
As he strained to hear for any sound, there was none— just a distant trickle of water.
His eyes shifted to the girl. She was in a uniform which didn't resemble his or any other kids; it looked old. Her hair in a ribbon, some soot smeared on her cheek.
Yuto couldn't resist the urge to ask, “What's your name?”
She looked around cautiously and glanced up at the ceiling. She leaned closer and whispered, “Sora.”
“I'm Yuto,” he replied.
Before Yuto could ask anything else, Sora silenced him abruptly with, “Don't speak loudly or they'll hear us.”
Yuto frowned, “Who?”
Sora: “Mommy and teacher said it's good to stay quiet and hide when there's an air raid.”
Yuto couldn't understand what she was talking about, but he managed to ask, “ How old are you?”
She held up six fingers.
Yuto thought maybe it was some game of role-playing or something like imagination.
Yuto retrieved his napkin from his pocket and gave it to her: “Go ahead, there's dirt on your face, clean it.”
Sora blinked in surprise but took the napkin and tried to rub off the dirt. It wasn't coming off …
Yuto didn't think much of it and said, “ It's okay, once the game is over you can rinse it off with water.”
Sora looked puzzled, “No! Water is precious. It can't be wasted for mere dirt; it's really hard to find water to drink.”
Yuto asked, “What do you mean? Just use the faucet in the sink outside.”
She just looked down, fiddling with the napkin. She suddenly flinched at the sound of a door opening. She hid her face in her knees, curling into a ball and mumbling:
“Please don't hurt me… hope it's not a soldier from the opposite side.”
Yuto looked concerned. He tried to calm her down despite his own bewilderment, but suddenly the door swung open. There stood Hinako with a triumphant smile, but it wavered.
When she saw Yuto appearing to comfort someone …or no one ?
Hinako asked, “Yuto, who are you talking to? drop the acting! I found you, loser. Now come join us, Aiko is waiting.”
Yuto froze. He turned to Hinako and stammered, “What do you mean, who am I talking to? Look, there's a girl here,”
but when he turned around to point where Sora was …
Sora vanished entirely.
“Yuto, let's go play tag and stop with this fake story!” she said as she dragged him out of the stall.
Yuto gazed back at his napkin, which lay on the floor— the same one he had offered to Sora.
FLASHBACK
Date: 11/11/1944
Sora: “Mother, may I not go to school today? Most of my friends are not attending classes anymore.”
“I know, but studies are important to remember," her mom answered as she combed her daughter's hair, tying it in a ribbon.
But doubts lingered in her mind regarding safety. She had heard upon the radio that things were improving, so they could return to their normal life right?
Sora’s mom waved as her daughter smiled brightly, her small hand waving good-bye.
A satchel was slung over her back; the white dress and the red vest coat kept her warm in these cold winter days.
Sora walked through the ravaged streets. She could not remember where she last saw lights and candy stalls adorning the sidewalk. Now, all that was there were slumped people with frown lines engraved upon their foreheads.
She finally arrived at the school where only a few children came nowadays. She took a seat by the window, missing her friends.
It was barely an hour before the teacher started writing upon the board. THE CHILLING ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AIR RAID WARNING WAS HEARD THROUGH SPEAKERS.
The teacher's face fell flat completely. She ran frantically, gathering the children to hide in the basement.
Sora stumbled and fell as she attempted to keep pace. By the time she regained her footing, the teacher and all the other students had disappeared into a hiding place. That is when she heard the planes moving, piercing through the air.
She ran to the nearby bathroom, seeking refuge. Her hands trying to block the noise of explosions, which shook the floor, the distant cries growing closer and closer.
She kept murmuring to herself,
“It is okay. Mommy said things are safe now; I will be okay.”
[SCENE CUT]
Sora’s mother was in the middle of preparing their meal when she heard the air raid echoing outside.
She dropped the glass, causing it to fall and shatter into pieces.
“No. No, Sora,” she spoke. She could only wish her daughter would be safe…
She knew that even if she ran to the school now, it would be too late to rescue.
She prayed, trembling. Time passed in a blur.
[KNOCK]
The loud banging on the door stirred her out of daze. She scampered to her feet, thinking it was Sora who had returned, and opened the door …
It was Sora’s teacher standing there, with her head held low.
She said, “I am sorry. We made an effort to hide all the children in the basement. Sora was separated, and she sought refuge in the bathroom…
That section of school collapsed after the bombing.
(After a year, the war ended. This school was demolished, and upon that site stood the playground.
Sora did not realize she was dead, or that the war had passed. She continues hiding in the stall, waiting for the air strike to pause).