he traffic light — still green — Tlink — Yuta crossed the street on his way home. He passed a small park and, weighed down by the day's pain, stopped in front of the swing. He sat down, taking a deep breath, trying to find a smile before reaching home.
The swing's chain creaked lightly.Yuta pressed his stomach and sighed.
Suddenly, a soft voice cut through the silence:
— "Does it hurt?"
Yuta lifted his eyes.In front of him stood a small girl, no older than five. Her appearance was almost unreal: skin as white as snow, silver hair reflecting the late afternoon light. An angelic aura, unlike anything Yuta had ever seen.
He replied in a weak, childish, tired voice:
— "Who are you? Are you lost?"
The girl tilted her head slightly, curious.
— "My name is Sofia. You're bleeding… does it hurt a lot?"
The innocence in her voice pierced Yuta more than any physical pain. He looked away, tense, trying to seem tougher than he really was.
— "Listen, kid… go home. You shouldn't be talking to someone like me."His voice came out stressed, almost threatening, but only as protection — for her and for him.
Sofia frowned, confused:
— "Why? Are you a bad person?"
Yuta trembled.Tears gathered in his eyes.
— "I'm a Scarcity, alright? Now you can go and… and despise me like everyone else."
Sofia looked at him, genuinely lost.
— "What's that?"
That question — so pure, so honest — made Yuta's heart falter. For the first time that day, he felt warmth. Something stronger than pain, exhaustion, humiliation.
He gave a weak smile, tears running down his face.
— "It's… snif… it's nothing."
After a deep breath, he wiped his face with his sleeve and asked:
— "Do you want to swing?"
— "Yes!" — Sofia answered, with a bright smile that seemed to light up the whole park.
Yuta carefully lifted her onto the swing, pushing gently.Her laughter… angelic.And for a moment, Yuta felt happy too.
They then played in the sandbox, where Yuta helped build a castle. Afterwards, they went down the slide and continued playing until the sun began to disappear behind the buildings.
Until…
The black car.
It slowly parked next to the park.The door opened.
A tall man stepped out — short hair, dark sunglasses, rigid posture, strong presence.
— "Miss, it's time to go home."
Yuta froze. He felt ashamed and took a step back. He accompanied Sofia to the man, trying to seem normal.
— "Hello… your daughter is very cute. I just helped because she couldn't reach the playground equipment, hehe…"He smiled awkwardly, half-heartedly.
— "Thank you for helping my daughter. Goodbye." — the man said firmly.
But something was off.
Sofia's expression changed.The brightness in her face vanished.She stepped back slightly.And Yuta noticed.
Even if adoption existed… they didn't look alike at all.But it wasn't just that — there was strangeness in how Sofia looked at the man, like she was afraid.
Yuta felt uneasy. He needed to be sure.
— "Excuse me… I don't think I got her name. What's her name again?"
The silence weighed heavily.Too long.
Finally, the man replied, in a thick, impatient voice:
— "Ana. Her name is Ana Clara."
Yuta felt his stomach freeze.
He looked at Sofia.He looked at the man.And he understood everything.
This was not her father.It was a kidnapping.A carefully planned one, because the kidnapper didn't even know the child's name — probably only got a description and the location.
Yuta lowered his head, clenching his fist, feeling his helplessness like a stone crushing his chest.He was weak.He had no power.He was a Scarcity — nothing to the world.
He thought about turning away.Thought about leaving.
— "It's not my problem… I can't do anything…" he thought.
But when he raised his eyes and saw Sofia…
Her gaze.
Silent desperation.A plea for help she couldn't even express.
Yuta imagined what they could do to her.He imagined that innocent child losing her smile.
And at that moment… something inside him broke.
He ran.
Jumped.
Grabbed the arm of the man holding Sofia — and bit with all his strength.
— "Run! Run, Sofia! RUUUUUN!"
Sofia immediately obeyed and dashed through the park.
The man screamed, his arm numb, and brutally threw Yuta aside.When he went to chase Sofia, Yuta — bloodied and still aching from the day's beatings — grabbed the man's leg.
— "I… won't… let you go anywhere…"His voice was weak, but full of courage.
But then…
The back car door opened.Another man stepped out — quick — and grabbed Sofia in his arms.
— "NOOO!" — Yuta shouted.
The first man lifted Yuta into the air with an unknown force, making him levitate, and slammed him to the ground hard. He entered the car angrily.
— "Can't even handle something as simple as grabbing a kid." — the driver complained.
— "Tsk… shut up."
The car drove off.
Sofia was gone.
Yuta lay on the ground, trembling, his whole body in pain, struggling to get up. He bit his lips until they bled and began running — staggering — toward home.
He could have gone to the police.To a firefighter.Anywhere closer.
But he was just a boy.Afraid.Desperate.And only trusting parents.
He ran through the streets as if the world was collapsing. His body barely obeyed, but guilt pushed him forward.
When he finally reached home, he slammed the door open.His mother turned, startled.
Yuta, with tears and blood on his face, shouted:
— "SOFIA! HELP SOFIA!"
And as the last of the adrenaline left his body…
He collapsed.