The bustling sounds of the café blended into the background. Kentaro felt tense and he didn’t know why. He had walked into the café for a coffee before his team’s next practice but he felt…off. Restless.

It had been years since he graduated high school, years since he’d seen or thought about the small town he left behind. He had everything he thought he wanted—fame, a thriving volleyball career, fans chanting his name. And yet, a hollow ache had settled in his chest, one he couldn’t shake.

The sound of a familiar laugh stopped him cold. At first, he thought it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. But then, he saw you.

You hadn’t changed much, though there was a maturity in the way you carried yourself now. His chest tightened painfully as his mind flooded with memories—ones he had buried deep. But then his gaze dropped and the breath caught in his throat.

Standing beside you was a child, no older than five. A little boy with your eyes and your smile, clutching a stuffed animal to his chest as he beamed up at you.

Kentaro’s heart raced in a way it hadn’t in years. It was like being on the court during a tie-breaking set but this wasn’t adrenaline. It was something raw, something that made his stomach churn and his palms sweat.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He wanted to move, to say something, but his feet were glued to the ground. Did you…? Was he…?

As if sensing his gaze, you looked up, your eyes locking with his. It felt like time stopped.

You stiffened, your smile faltering as recognition dawned on your face. His chest felt heavy, his voice caught in his throat. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the child.

Kentaro stood frozen, his coffee order long forgotten. His heart pounded painfully in his chest, his mind racing with a million questions.

Had he made the biggest mistake of his life all those years ago? Had he let go of not just you, but a family he hadn’t even realized he’d lost?

For the first time in years, Kentaro felt truly lost.