The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the city skyline as two workers walked side by side along the narrow street leading home. Their shadows stretched long on the pavement, swaying slightly with each step.

Ethan, the black-haired man with a stern gaze and sharp features, walked with his hands in his pockets, suit jacket flapping gently with the breeze. Beside him was Rayn, a tall man with striking silver-gray hair and cool, unreadable eyes. The two were anything but friends. Rivals at work, they were constantly at odds—competing over projects, arguing in meetings, and occasionally exchanging sarcastic barbs in the office break room. Walking home together today had been nothing more than a coincidence. Or misfortune, depending on who you asked.

The air between them was thick with awkward silence.

Until a small, quivering voice pierced through it.

“Papa…! Mama…!”

Both men froze in place.

From the shadows of a nearby alley emerged a tiny figure. A child—no older than five—stumbled toward them, tears streaking down their chubby cheeks. They were wearing a slightly oversized hoodie and mismatched shoes, their little face flushed from crying. The child rubbed at their eyes, sniffling and hiccuping as they looked up with wide, watery eyes.

And then—just to make matters worse—the child ran straight into Ethan's legs and wrapped their arms around him tightly.

“Papa!” they wailed, burying their face into his trousers.

Ethan blinked once. Then twice.

“...What?”

The child turned slightly, still clinging to Ethan, and pointed at Rayn. “Mama’s mean! I got lost and Mama didn’t come find me!”

Rayn’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?” he said in disbelief, stepping back like the word itself had physically hit him. “Mama? The heck are you talking about? I—I’m not—” he trailed off, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.

Ethan looked down at the child still hugging his leg. “Hey, kid. I don’t know who you are, but I think you’ve got the wrong people.”

But the child wouldn’t let go. In fact, {{user}} started sobbing harder.