Introduction
On a bright, sunlit afternoon, Harold and Tria sat together on a park bench. Harold, who had always cherished Tria as if she were his own little sister, was now fully aware that his feelings had deepened into something much more profound. Quincy's words, "Isn't that love already?" had struck a chord in his heart.
As cherry blossoms danced in the air around them, Harold resolved himself. He thought back on the memories he shared with Tria—how she had always listened intently to him, stood by his side, and encouraged him through difficult times. Harold knew it was time to reveal his true feelings.
1.Harold's Confession
On a bright afternoon, Harold sat quietly on a park bench, gazing at Tria's profile. Cherry blossoms danced on the breeze, occasionally catching in her long hair, prompting a gentle smile from her. Though he'd known that face since they were children, he found it impossible to look away from her lately.
"Remember, Harold?" Tria asked, her voice soft with nostalgia. "This is where you first showed me one of your inventions. I was so moved by it."
Her words brought a smile to Harold's face as memories flooded back. Through all those days at the orphanage, as he poured himself into building machines, Tria had been there—watching, encouraging, believing in him. Each memory only made the beat of his heart grow stronger.
Quincy's words echoed in his mind like a breeze: "When are you going to admit it? She's more than a sister to you—it's love."
He'd tried to deny it, but his feelings had taken on a life of their own. The girl he'd protected as if she were family had become someone much more.
"Harold?" Tria's voice broke his thoughts, her face turning toward him in concern. "Are you all right? You look like you're lost in thought…"
Her worried gaze brought him back to the moment. Meeting her eyes, Harold knew he couldn't hide the truth any longer.
"Tria…" He took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. "Do you remember the first time I built something in the workshop?"
"Of course," Tria replied, her smile tender. "You came back covered in soot, and Maximus gave you such a scolding."
"But you," he said, voice trembling slightly, "you were the only one who listened to me. Even when I rambled on about things no one else could understand, you looked at me with that sparkle in your eyes."
Tria nodded gently, kindness and warmth radiating from her as always. It was the same tenderness he'd known since childhood.
"For so long… I thought of you as family. Someone I wanted to protect." Harold looked deeply into her eyes. "But that wasn't it. I want to be with you. I want to walk beside you, not just as family but as someone who belongs by your side."
Cherry blossoms floated between them, and Tria's cheeks flushed deeper than the blossoms themselves.
"Tria, I… I love you. Not as a sister, but as someone irreplaceable to me. Will you be that person?"
Silence hung between them, almost as if time itself had paused. In Tria's eyes, Harold saw tears begin to well up.
"Since we were children," Tria said, her voice trembling, "I always watched you, trying to keep up… but you always seemed so far away, like I could never reach you…"
"But I'm here now," he said, taking her hand gently in his. The warmth of her hand, familiar since childhood, now carried a new significance.
"I… I love you too, Harold," she whispered as a tear traced her cheek. "I've loved you for so long… so deeply."
Harold slowly pulled Tria into an embrace. Her familiar scent filled his senses, but now it felt different. She was no longer the sisterly figure he had always protected—she was the woman he loved.
"From now on, let's face everything together," he murmured, "and we'll get through anything."
Nodding, Tria nestled her face against his chest, her hand clutching his shirt as if grounding herself in the moment. Cherry blossoms swirled around them, almost as if to bless the two.
Harold lifted her chin gently and leaned in. As their lips met, he felt their hearts unite, filling their world with light. Their first kiss felt like magic, igniting a new beginning for them both.
2.Time Together
As dusk fell over the park, Harold and Tria walked side by side, close enough for their fingers to occasionally brush against each other, making their hearts race each time. Cherry blossoms floated on the breeze, wrapping them in a gentle, magical cocoon.
"It feels like a dream," Tria murmured softly, a mix of wonder and happiness in her voice. "You and I, here together like this…"
Harold felt the same. To go from "sister" to "someone special" felt sudden, yet natural, as if he'd finally found the answer he'd been seeking for so long.
"Yeah… it feels like a dream to me too," he replied, his voice tinged with a shy smile. "But holding your hand like this makes me realize—it's real."
They sat down on a bench, their hands resting together naturally. A warmth and a gentle tension flowed between them, something they'd never shared before.
"Remember," Harold said, a little embarrassed, "that first invention I ever made by myself? The little music box?"
"Of course!" Tria's eyes lit up. "You made it for my birthday. I still have it—I listen to it every night before bed."
Harold's heart warmed at her words. "To be honest… I think that's when it all started." He looked up at the sky. "I was always making things just to see your smile. I didn't realize it back then, but maybe even then…"
He trailed off as Tria gently leaned her head on his shoulder. Even without words, her gesture said it all.
"Everything you create has kindness in it," she said softly. "And I've always loved that about you."
Overcome, Harold wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The scent of cherry blossoms and familiar memories filled the air.
The golden evening light surrounded them, and their shadows merged as one. Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang, carried by the breeze.
"It's getting late…" Tria murmured with a trace of reluctance. "Maximus and Cassidy will start worrying if we're not back soon."
"Yeah," Harold agreed, standing up beside her. "It's almost dinnertime anyway."
They began walking back to the orphanage, shoulders almost touching. It was the same path they'd taken countless times, but today it felt new, filled with a special kind of warmth. Every time their hands brushed, their faces flushed.
"It's funny," Tria smiled. "We walk this way home together every day…"
"Yeah," Harold replied, looking shy but happy. "But now it's different. We're… a couple."
At those words, Tria's face flushed a deep red, and she looked down. Gathering his courage, Harold reached out and took her hand. The warmth in her touch made this new bond feel real.
As the gates of the orphanage came into view, Harold paused. "Tria," he said, his voice sincere. "From now on, let's always be together like this."
"Okay," she nodded, her face lighting up with a joyful smile. "It's a promise."
They linked pinkies, sealing their promise with a gentle smile. Harold then leaned in and gently kissed her cheek. It was a fleeting touch, but it sent both their hearts racing.
"We're home!"
As they opened the door, the comforting scent of dinner welcomed them back. It was an ordinary evening, but from that moment on, everyday life held a new glow. Harold smiled to himself, knowing that the days they would spend together under the same roof would feel even more precious.
3.The Truth Behind His Parents' Death
In the quiet of the orphanage at midnight, Harold lay in bed, replaying the happy memories from his day. Just as a soft smile spread across his face, recalling moments with Tria, he heard a faint knock on his door.
"Harold, I need to talk to you," came Quincy's voice, devoid of his usual cheer.
"Quincy? What's going on, showing up at this hour?"
When Harold opened the door, he saw Quincy standing in the moonlight, his face etched with shadows and concern.
"Sorry to come so late," Quincy murmured, his voice low. "But there's something I have to tell you tonight."
Without a word, Harold nodded and stepped back to let him in. Silence hung between them. Quincy, typically so talkative, seemed hesitant, as though carefully choosing his words.
"Congratulations," Quincy said quietly. "It looks like things went well with Tria."
"Yeah…" Harold replied, a bit embarrassed. "I owe a lot of it to you."
"Is that so…" Quincy's voice trailed off, his tone heavy.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating the torment on Quincy's face.
"It's about your parents, Harold."
Harold felt his heart stop momentarily. The truth he had wanted to know his entire life, finally on the verge of being revealed, and from Quincy's lips.
"Your parents… they died because they got caught up in a crime orchestrated by Shadowbane."
Those words rocked Harold to his core. The death he had always thought was an accident had, in fact, been shadowed by the darkness of that organization.
"But why…" Harold's voice trembled. "Why tell me this now?"
"Because I couldn't keep it in anymore," Quincy said, clenching his fists. "Now that I've chosen to fight by your side, I can't stay silent. You're my partner, Harold. Just as you told Tria how you really feel, I knew I had to tell you the truth."
Harold looked out the window, memories of his parents' smiles flickering in his mind. Now, knowing the truth behind their deaths, he felt a storm of emotions swirling within him.
"Thank you for telling me, Quincy," he said, turning to face his friend, his eyes now filled with determination.
"Now I have a clear goal."
Harold continued quietly, "I'm going to avenge my parents. But it's more than that," he added with resolve.
"I'll protect Tria, and I'll restore peace to this world. To do that, I'll destroy Shadowbane."
Quincy placed a hand on Harold's shoulder.
"You're not alone. I'll fight by your side. This is my way of atoning."
In the gentle moonlight, the two friends sealed their determination. Holding the memory of his parents close, Harold nodded to Quincy.
"We'll see it through, no matter what."
His words seemed to point toward the hope lying beyond the darkness. Outside the window, the moon glowed softly, as if watching over their vow.