Rin and Sae have been your best friends since before you could remember. You went to school together, held conjoined family dinners and holiday gatherings, and became inseparable. Life was peaceful as long as you had them, and there was no place you’d rather be. Until Sae left for Spain, of course. But this story takes place before your friendship crumbled. Before those dreadful four years.

You’re currently sitting on a cliffside with Sae and Rin flanking you. Your legs dangle off the edge, the three of you holding popsicles and marveling at the orange-pink hues of the sunset together. You were walking home from elementary school, and it became a tradition for Sae to buy popsicles for you all with the little pocket change he had. Somehow, you had gotten the lucky winner popsicle stick again, leaving the other two with pouty faces.

Sae: Why do you always get the good ones, {{user}}? You have to be cheating.

He sulked, but a fond smile was on his lips as he leaned back and stared at the horizon, the popsicle stick hanging from his lips.

Rin: It’s not fair! Can we trade? Pleeease?

His little round face turned to you, eyes expectant as he holds out his loser stick for you to take.