It was a cold afternoon mid-autumn.

Orange and somewhat dry leaves fell from trees that already showed more branches than the gradient foliage. Green was gradually replaced by orange, yellow, and brown. Even the bushes played a part in the color scheme of the seasons. That day, the previously warm winds began to blow more humid and icy notes despite the weather forecast saying it would not get cold in the coming days. The park, the scene of long games played by the until then inseparable duo, took on the air of true autumn, and even people started to dress appropriately for the season. A few months have passed since the first meeting of the pair of friends who, more and more, didn't want to say goodbye when the sun was setting over the horizon. However, banquets must come to an end, as they say.

Addai was excitedly waiting for his bestie to come that afternoon. He was an expert in escaping the Orphanage's vigilant nuns to sneak out to the park. Also, he had been behaving quite decently so he wouldn't be grounded. 

The boy, playing with a leaf, tried to shield a few ants from the harsh wind. He was so absorbed in the play he barely felt a wrinkled hand gently touching his shoulder.

"Hi, dear," the park's granny smiled, her gentle grin dusting her peachy, pale cheeks. "Are you sure your friend will come today? His sister told me they were going back to their town," she asked innocently.

Addai's eyes lost focus, and his limbs tensed. "W-what?"

"Oh, darling… didn't he tell you?" The granny crouched with difficulty. "They live in a city far away from here. They were visiting their grandmother, my dear friend," she explained, and the boy's eyes lost even more brightness.

Addai's chest tensed as if wrapped with a tight rope. "Did he… leave me here this way?" He feebly asked, starting to build up some tears.

"Oh dear…" The granny offered him a hug, and Addai slowly approached her. "He wouldn't leave you without a talk. Remember how much he cares about you?" She wiped the tears rolling down the boy's cheeks.

"But… He said-"

"ADDAI!" A voice shouted.

That familiar voice made Addai naturally turn his head to the source of the sound. His friend, Mine, came running as if he had escaped something. Even his cheeks were peach-colored, and his clothing was as messy as his loose hair.

Addai looked at him devastated and then… avoided eye contact.

"You… were you planning on leaving without saying goodbye…? Like everyone else?" Addai asked, still not looking at him.

"NO! That's why I am here!" Mine cupped his friend's cheeks. "I… didn't know we were going away… I just knew because my mom packed my bag…" He sniffled more and buried his face on his friend's chest.

The granny sighed and patted both boy's heads. "Sweeties, why don't we go to my house? So, you can have a proper talk and- oh! My husband baked cookies," she smiled.

The granny's house was just next to the park. It was small and very simple but had its charm, especially the door and the main decoration: the local Goddess shrine. Her husband was in the kitchen, fighting the fire monster inside their oven who loved wasting gas – their oven had an issue with the button, so sometimes it spent more gas than usual. He bowed at the boys and offered them some freshly baked cinnamon cookies, a recipe he loved so much. Addai glanced at the grandpa's old recipe notebook, and his eyes brightened at the impeccable handwriting and how detailed the recipes were. Mine had to drag the boy away from the kitchen – and the notebook – so they could proceed to do what they needed to do.

The granny guided them to the small backyard, where a tabby cat lazily slept on the garden chair. She gave them a cup of hot tea and more Grandpa's cookies before giving them space to talk.

Addai was a bit uncomfortable in a stranger's house, and Mine noticed how tense his body became. So, he reached a hand and took one of the clammy and cold hands of Addai.

"Sorry for surprising you," Mine apologized.

Addai looked at his friend and sighed. "You couldn't have guessed it… that's okay," he said, looking down. "I… I'll never forget you, but… I'll miss you," he confessed.

"You are very special to me," Mine lifted Addai's chin. "Don't make this face! You're pretty when you smile," he grinned, trying to cheer up his gloomy friend.

Addai chuckled a joyful and shy laugh. "I'll try smiling more," he smiles, his dimples showing on his face with two moles. "Ah, I need to give you something."

Mine looked at his friend, confused. "What?"

Addai patted his pockets and took a small rainbow bracelet from it. It was handmade, probably crocheted with care by that boy to his dearest friend. Addai handed the item, ignoring his burning cheeks.

"I-It's to you," Addai stammered, his eyes losing focus while his head was a burning mess.

Mine's eyes were super sparkling. He looked at the item, then to his friend, then to the bracelet. A wide beaming spread on his face, and he couldn't help but giggle with excitement at the unexpected and beautiful gift. He took the bracelet and felt its texture with his thumb. It was pleasant to touch and very well crafted, almost perfectly. No gaps, no loose lines… his friend had many hidden talents.

"I loved it!" Mine giggled, his hair glowing like that day when he danced.

Addai couldn't get tired of such an interesting and beautiful glow. So, he smiled without noticing. "Hehe," he chuckled.

"What? You- YOU CHUCKLED SO CUTELY!!" Mine gasped, his eyes bright and his hair glowing even more.

Oh, dear… Addai turned into a tomato! He tried to hide his flushed face, but all he could do was hide it with his hands while his friend complimented him more and more. The granny, peeking the boys from the kitchen window, faintly chuckled and patted her husband's shoulder, a sign that those messy ones would be fine.

The granny looked at the tabby cat on the chair, who stretched and yawned. She chuckled, and the cat hopped off from the chair.

In lazy steps, the cat passed through two individuals standing in the garden, watching the kids having their moment of flusters. The tabby cat looked at the taller person and meowed, demanding a pat. So, the person patted the cat's head and stroked its neck and back until it became satisfied. The tabby cat climbed the taller person, its fur changing colors until reaching a pitch-black color. Its eyes were yellow like golden, and she nuzzled her nose and face on the man's cheeks.

The other individual had an otherworldly appearance. Their skin, lavender-colored, was full of scripts and patterns, mostly diamonds and curved, glowing lines. Despite his looks, his gaze was human-like, painted with warm colors as they watched the boys.

The taller individual looked at the otherworldly being by his side and faintly smiled. "What, Mine?" he asked.

"So… were we really them, Addai?" Mine asked, his eyes looking at Addai's.

Addai, who once was that boy with bandages on his face and dark circles around his eyes, was now the one with shaved sides and a more mature face. His heterochromatic eyes hadn't changed, nor did his gaze. A faint smile sketched on his lips, contouring the dimples faintly.

"Yes," Addai nodded.

Mine turned pensive, looking at the boys. "May I have a copy of your memory?" He asked, a mana orb forming on one of his hands.

Addai placed a hand on the orb and took Mine's hand. "No," he nodded negatively. "These are my memories. Your memories will come back, and I might help if you'd like to."

"Oh…" Mine looked down. "So, what's the point of showing me these memories if I can't have them?"

"To buy some time and… for you to feel me," Addai simply smiled. "Feelings are hard to forget, but you can't have my memories. They're from my perspective. You need to see how you saw and feel how you felt. I've helped you with the second part because I needed to have you here to make you remember at least one important thing."

"And what's it?" Mine looked at Addai, confused.

"My name," Addai said, stroking Mine's floating hair. "Now you remember how you feel towards my name. This will help you to remember about us later."

Mine glanced at his hands. "Humans are complicated…"

"Maybe," Addai shrugged leisurely. "Shall we come back?" He offered a hand, and Mine looked at him.

"How can we be like them?" Mine pointed at the boys.

"We can't," Addai chuckled.

"Why?" Mine asked, confused.

"Because we are this now," Addai pinched Mine's cheeks. "Maybe it's better, maybe it's not… who knows?"

Mine looked at Addai and frowned. "You are the most complicated human."

"I'm not human," Addai chortled. "Let's go," he took Mine's hand and placed it on his face.

Mine grumbled and closed his eyes.

All the patterns on his body glowed, and a mist surrounded the duo. The cloak on his back relaxed, covering his shoulders and acting more like a blanket.

When he opened his eyes, he gasped. He was at Eden's Garden, but it was way more… destroyed?

Mine looked around, and the colors on him faltered. Many things weren't how he remembered. Someone was gravely wounded; two individuals were fighting, and- what had happened?!

A hand holding Mine's caught his attention after a startle. "What is my name?" The man asked, looking at Mine. His eyes were full of hope, a tender but desperate feeling.

Mine looked at the man and blinked. He blinked some more as if his eyes itched. The once bright void returned to the two pink marbles, a bit reddish from the itchiness, but they were the same.

"A-Addai…? W-what's happening?" Mine asked, his voice wavering as his hands trembled.

Addai wrapped his arms around Mine and held him close in a tight embrace. Mine barely had time and opportunity to protest, but he sure squirmed, confused and flustered at the sudden action.

"You... remember my name," Addai whispered, a soothing relief taking his heart and brain.