It took a few moments before Kanro replied. "I just can't," he said softly.
"Why not?" Shiki asked again, curiosity in his voice.
"Do you know the idea that hair holds memories?" Kanro said.
Shiki looked at him, intrigued. "Hmmm? Then?" he urged.
Kanro took a deep breath. "I believe that our hair grows with us; it witnesses everything we go through. Every emotion, every experience, it's like a living record of our past. When you cut it, you're cutting away those memories."
Shiki's eyes widened in understanding. "So, you keep your hair long to hold onto your memories?"
Kanro nodded. "Exactly. If I cut it, it feels like I'm erasing parts of my past. The good and the bad. It's a way to remember who I am and where I've been."
Unknowingly, warm tears began to fall from Shiki's eyes, surprising both him and Kanro. "What?" Shiki exclaimed, brushing his tears away with the back of his hand.
"Wait, are you okay? What's happening to you, Shiki?!" Kanro asked, alarmed.
Shiki laughed softly, still wiping his tears. "It's nothing, I'm just touched," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. His eyes, now glistening with tears, reflected the sincerity and depth of his feelings.
Kanro's concern softened into a gentle smile. "I didn't mean to make you cry, Shiki."
Shiki shook his head, his smile returning. "No, it's fine. It's not your fault, I just have really shallow tears," he said with a laugh.
Kanro chuckled, relieved. "Shallow tears, huh?"
Shiki nodded, laughing along. "Yeah, and did you know that even small things make me cry? For example, that time I dropped my ice cream, I cried so much it felt like the sky and earth were collapsing on me, hahaha!"
Kanro joined in the laughter, the tension easing between them. "Well, at least it means you feel things deeply."
"Yeah," Shiki agreed, wiping the last of his tears. "And I really do appreciate what you shared with me, Kanro. It means a lot."
"No, it's actually my thanks," He said but only in his mind.
Their laughter continued, echoing through the quiet evening, as they found comfort in each other's company and the strength of their friendship.
As time passed, Kanro and Shiki's friendship grew even stronger. However, the orphanage was facing financial difficulties, and many children were being adopted. One evening, Kanro overheard a conversation that shook him to his core.
"We have a couple interested in adopting Kanro. He'll be leaving us soon," the caretaker said.
Kanro's heart sank. He couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Shiki. Determined to stay together, he quickly found Shiki to share the news.
"Shiki, I heard something tonight," Kanro began, his voice trembling.
Shiki looked up, concern etched on his face. "What is it, Kanro?"
"They're planning to adopt me. I'll be leaving the orphanage soon," Kanro said, tears welling up in his eyes. "I don't want to be separated from you, Shiki. You're the only family I have."
Shiki's eyes widened in shock. "No, Kanro. We can't let that happen. We promised we'd always stick together."
Kanro nodded, determination taking over. "Let's leave the orphanage together. We'll find a way to survive on our own."
Shiki hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright, Kanro. We'll do it. We'll leave tonight."
Before leaving, they decided to write a letter to the orphanage to explain their decision and express their gratitude.
**The Letter:**
Dear Caretaker and everyone at the orphanage,
We want to express our deepest gratitude for everything you have done for us. This place has been our home, and we will always cherish the memories we've made here. However, we cannot bear the thought of being separated. We have decided to leave the orphanage together to stay true to the promise we made to each other.
Please understand that this is not an easy decision, but it is one we must make to keep our bond intact. Thank you for all the love and care you have given us. We will always remember and appreciate everything.
With heartfelt thanks,
Kanro and Shiki
---
With their letter left behind, Kanro and Shiki sneaked out of the orphanage under the cover of night. They knew their journey would be challenging, but they were determined to face it together, side by side, as they had always promised.
Leaving the orphanage proved to be more difficult than they had imagined. One day, the hardships took their toll, and they found themselves in an argument.
"This is all your fault, Kanro! We should have just stayed at the orphanage," Shiki said, frustration evident in his voice.
Kanro, feeling overwhelmed, looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry, Shiki. I thought we wanted to stay together," he said softly, tears welling up in his eyes. "I didn't know it would be this hard."
"Yeah, but I didn't expect it to be this hard!" Shiki retorted. "I'm tired, Kanro. I'm scared."
Kanro's tears began to fall. "I know, Shiki. I'm scared too. But we have to remember why we did this."
Shiki sighed, the tension still palpable. "I just need some space, Kanro. Let's not talk for a while."
Kanro nodded, his heart heavy. "Okay, Shiki."
For the next few days, they avoided each other, the silence between them growing louder. Both boys felt the weight of their argument, but neither knew how to bridge the gap.
One evening, as Shiki was sitting alone, a sudden thought popped into his mind. He remembered the promise they had made. "Hey, Kanro," Shiki called out while they were eating by the roadside.
"Hmm, why?" Kanro responded, his voice subdued with emotion.
"I have a 'what if' question for you," Shiki said while taking a big bite of his food.
"What is it?" Kanro asked.
"What if we end up fighting because of the hardships we'll face, and we never make up? What will we do then?" Shiki's voice was serious, despite his casual demeanor.
Kanro looked up at Shiki, his eyes wide. "If that happens, I'll remind you why we did this," he said earnestly.
"Then I'll remind you of what you said, that together we'll be an unstoppable team and nothing will stand in our way," he added.
Several more days passed before Shiki finally decided to make amends.
"Hey," he started awkwardly. "Remember the promise we made? To always stick together, no matter what?"
Kanro looked at him. "Yeah, I remember."
Shiki sighed, relieved that Kanro hadn't forgotten. "I don't want to fight anymore. I'm sorry for everything." umupo siya sa kinauupuan ni kanro
Kanro nodded, his own tears welling up again. "Me too, Shiki. I'm sorry."
They hugged, the tension easing away. "We need to stick together, no matter what," Shiki said softly.
Kanro nodded. "Agreed. Let's face whatever comes our way, together."
"Yeah, because together we are unstoppable," they said simultaneously and then laughed.
As they continued their journey, Shiki found a job and with his confidence it helped him secure a position at the local market. "I got a job at the market," Shiki said one evening, excitement in his voice. "It's not much, but it'll help us get by."
"That's great, Shiki!" Kanro replied, a sense of relief washing over him.
A few days later, Kanro also managed to find a job at a nearby café. "I found a job too, Shiki. It's at the café."
"That's awesome, Kanro! We're going to be okay," Shiki said with a smile.
After securing their jobs, they decided to find a decent place to live so they wouldn't have to sleep just anywhere. "We can't keep sleeping on the streets. Let's find a proper place to stay," Shiki suggested.
Kanro agreed. "Yes, we need a safe place to call home."
They searched for a place they could afford with their combined earnings and eventually found a small apartment. It wasn't much, but it was a place they could call their own.
"We'll make this work," Kanro said with determination.
"Yes, we will," Shiki replied, feeling hopeful.
With a roof over their heads, they decided to enroll in school. The classes were fixed during the day, which fit well with their night shifts.
"We'll need to work at night and study during the day," Shiki said, understanding the challenge they were taking on.
Kanro nodded. "Yes, we can do this. We have to."
Despite starting their education later in life, Kanro's natural intelligence allowed him to skip grades, enabling him to finish his studies quickly. Shiki, on the other hand, struggled more with his studies but managed to graduate with Kanro's help.
One day, Kanro came home with exciting news. "I graduated, Shiki! Can you believe it?"
Shiki laughed, clapping his friend on the back. "You're amazing, Kanro. I'm so proud of you."
"Thanks, Shiki. But now it's your turn," Kanro said with a smile. "I'll help you every step of the way."
As Shiki worked hard to catch up, Kanro was always there to support him. Despite the challenges, Shiki finally graduated the following year.
"It's your turn now, Shiki. You did it!" Kanro cheered, pride evident in his voice.
Shiki beamed, tears of joy in his eyes. "I couldn't have done it without you, Kanro. Thank you."
They celebrated their achievements together, knowing that they had fulfilled the dreams they once shared at the orphanage.
Their journey had been difficult, but their unwavering bond had carried them through.
One night, as they were walking down a dark alley, an unexpected event occurred. A man suddenly appeared in front of them, pointing a knife menacingly.
"Hand over everything you've got!" the man demanded, his voice cold and threatening.