"Hm.hm.hm…
A young woman walked calmly along the path toward a small shop that stood not far from her house.
Hana was the woman's name. She had long black hair and clear black eyes that gazed straight ahead. At her age in her early twenties, precisely twenty-three years old, she had chosen to live a simple life.
[Chocolate Shop] was the name written in simple letters on the wooden sign hanging above the small building. True to its name, this shop was a small establishment for chocolate lovers in the surrounding area. Its location was very strategic, directly facing a spacious playground with shady trees that often served as a gathering place for local children to play.
The menu offered at the Chocolate Shop was indeed simple but loved by many children and adults: hot or cold chocolate drinks, chocolate ice cream with various toppings, various handmade chocolate cakes and cookies, and soft chocolate-filled bread that could be topped with vanilla ice cream if desired.
However, that morning there was something different from usual. When Hana was about to open her shop, which was usually still empty of visitors at seven in the morning, her eyes accidentally caught something unusual in the park area across the street. A small silhouette could be seen lying motionless on one of the long park benches made of old teak wood.
A sense of curiosity mixed with worry began to gnaw at her heart. With careful and cautious steps, Hana decided to leave her shop and approach the object that had caught her attention. Each step made the figure lying there clearer.
"Eh...?"
Words seemed to get stuck in her throat when she could finally see clearly what, or rather who, was in front of her. What she saw was a small child who appeared to be around seven years old lying unconscious on the cold wooden park bench. The clothes the child wore looked like a white kimono that appeared very clean and neat. Strangely,
"A small child...? How could he be here alone at a time like this?" Hana muttered to herself, her voice mixing deep worry and confusion that couldn't be hidden on her face.
"Uhh…
With very gentle and careful movements, Hana tried to wake the child. Her warm hand touched the child's small shoulder gently.
"Hey, wake up. You can't sleep in a place like this," she said with a voice that was gentle yet firm.
"The morning air is very cold. You could get sick if you keep sleeping here."
"Uhh...
The child slowly opened his eyes, blinking several times. With somewhat stiff movements, he sat up straight and looked at Hana with a face that was so innocent and flat.
"Who is... this big sister?"
"Hah?!"
Hana reflexively stepped back, unable to hide her deep shock. Not because of the question the child asked,
But something else. The child's eyes, both eyeballs were white like a full moon on a dark night.
During her twenty-three years of living in this world, Hana had never once seen eyes like that on a real human. Eyes like that she had only seen in fantasy films or on antique porcelain dolls displayed in museums. But this time, those eyes were truly real and looking at her with such a living gaze.
Trying to overcome her shock by taking a deep breath and counting to ten in her heart, Hana tried to regain her consciousness and think rationally.
"I should be the one asking you," she replied while crouching so her position was level with the child's eyes, trying not to look intimidating.
"Why are you here? Especially alone like this? Where are your parents?"
"Parents?"
The child tilted his head to the side with a movement very similar to a small kitten that was confused. The expression on his face was so innocent and pure.
"What is that?"
"Eh?" This time it was Hana's turn to feel confused and disbelieving about what she had just heard.
"Parents are... those who gave birth to you into this world, who raised you with love, who took care of you from when you were still a baby until you became this big. Those who gave you food, shelter, and taught you various things about life."
The child shook his head slowly with the same innocent expression.
"I wasn't raised by anyone," he said with a flat and emotionless tone.
"I don't have what Big Sister calls... parents."
""--""
*How strange,* thought Hana, *How could a child not know what parents are? Even children raised in orphanages would surely know this concept. Is he experiencing very severe amnesia? Or is there something more complex here?*
*But this child called me big sister, that means there are things he knows and things he doesn't know*
"Alright," Hana changed her approach, trying to ask something simpler and more basic.
"Then, where do you come from? And what's your name?"
"Come from? Name?"
Once again, the exact same confused expression appeared on the child's face. His white eyes looked at Hana with an empty gaze.
"I don't have a name and I don't know where I come from," he answered.
*Oh my, He doesn't even have a name and doesn't know where he comes from? This is really beyond reason. At least he can speak in the same language as me very fluently, so most likely he does come from this city or at least from the same country. Alright, let's calm down first*
*Grumble~*
"Are you hungry?" asked Hana with a small smile that appeared unconsciously.
The child nodded while holding his stomach with both small hands.
"Maybe... yes."
"Then, come with me," Hana invited while extending her hand with a gentle and non-forcing gesture.
"I'll give you something to eat."
The child looked at Hana's hand for a moment with a hesitant expression, as if considering whether this offer was safe or not. After a few seconds, he finally took the extended hand with his small hand. What surprised Hana was how cold the child's hand was—cold like ice cubes just taken out of the freezer.
The two of them walked together toward the shop and entered the shop, with Hana occasionally glancing at the mysterious child beside her. After arriving inside the warm and comfortable shop, the child sat on the long wooden bench that was soft with light brown cushions.
"Wait a moment, okay. I'll make something delicious for you," said Hana before disappearing into the small kitchen at the back of the shop.
The child looked around the shop with his innocent face.
A few minutes later, a sweet aroma began to waft from the small kitchen and fill the entire shop room. Hana returned carrying a simple carved wooden tray containing food and drinks that were still warm.
"Hm… What is this?" asked the child while observing carefully and with full curiosity the dish placed in front of him.
"This is my homemade chocolate cake," answered Hana while placing a small plate containing pieces of chocolate cake that were still warm. Beside it, she placed a cup of hot chocolate that was still steaming with mini white marshmallows.
"Since the morning air is still quite cold and your body feels very cold, I made you hot chocolate so your body will quickly warm up and be comfortable."
The child took the small spoon provided with somewhat awkward movements, as if using eating utensils for the first time. He began to taste the cake with strange and unnatural movements.
"Wow!"
Suddenly his white eyes sparkled in a way Hana had never seen before.
"This is so delicious! It tastes... strange but very delicious!"
A warm and genuine smile spread across Hana's face seeing the child's innocent and honest reaction. The worry and tension that had been hanging in her heart since earlier lessened a bit seeing this child finally showing positive emotions and looking happy.
"Really? Thank goodness if you like it. Eat as much as you want, don't be shy. If it's still not enough, I can make more."
Hana was a kind woman, she always treated people around her well, especially if they were children.
While watching the child eat heartily with his strange and unusual way of eating as if this was truly the first time he had experienced the sensation of taste in his life, Hana tried to dig for more information with a more careful approach.
"Do you really not know your own name?"
The child shook his head while continuing to chew his cake with an enjoying expression.
"I don't know. I really don't know," he answered.
Hana sighed.
"Hmm, how should I call you if you don't even know your own name?" She paused for a moment, tapping her chin with her finger while thinking hard.
"Ah! How about I give you a name? Do you want that?"
"Give a name?" "I guess that's fine."
"Alright! From now on, your name is Nova. What do you think?"
*The name Nova does sound a bit strange but that name, if I'm not mistaken, has its own meaning* thought Hana.
*If I'm not mistaken, the meaning of the name Nova is 'new'. He doesn't know his own name, doesn't know who his parents are. Is he experiencing very severe total amnesia? Or is there something more complex and supernatural here? What's clear is that leaving this child alone out there feels very inhumane. And coincidentally, there's only me at my house, so maybe I can help him.*
"Nova?"
The child repeated his new name several times with different intonations.
"It sounds strange... but not bad either. It actually sounds quite good. Alright, from now on I am Nova."
"Nice to meet you, Nova. My name is Hana," said Hana with a warm smile. "From now on, we know each other."
"Hana…" Nova repeated that name carefully. "A beautiful name. Thank you for giving me a name and this delicious food."
Hana smiled seeing the child's behavior, the child was truly innocent.
And so began this unusual story, a story about a mysterious child named Nova who appeared suddenly in the morning like a star falling from the sky. No one knew who he was and where he came from.