After first grade, Kiyo still lived in the previous building but studied in another one.

Now, he was used to with numbers, and knew how to read and write. And the remarkable thing was that he learned quickly and absorbed better than ordinary children.

This was so shocking, because he was the same age as the others, yet he was able to respond so quickly.

Returning to Kiyo's daily life in the orphanage, he noticed something unusual.

Yuri looks different today.

She was holding a piece of paper with a pensive look on her face. Observing the faint lines across the back, it looks like a list?

What list made her worried so much? Kiyo also saw that this was not a good omen, so he approached her and asked her:

"Miss, what paper is that?"

At this moment, Yuri started to startle, panicking:

"No no, it's nothing. It's just a normal paper."

Kiyo was sure that it was no ordinary paper, so he asked again. And got no response.

But then Yuri patted Kiyo's shoulder and said:

"You'll be mentally prepared in a few years, too. When you finish sixth grade, you'll have a hard time making a living."

Struggling to survive? Won't Kiyo live here until he turns seventeen? What would happen when he finished high school? It was hard to imagine.

Everyone seems to be different these days, especially those kids who just finished fifth grade. They were taken away by tall, fierce people, they cried and begged to stay, and eventually, they had to leave the orphanage, since then Kiyo never saw them again.

What were they doing? What's up with those giants? A ghastly thought crossed Kiyo's mind, would they be safe, and more importantly, would they be able to live?

Kiyo didn't know what to do anymore. But if it was actually his turn, it wouldn't be a good thing. After all, what was going on with this place?

Should I go back to the neighborhood where I was born?

Immediately, Kiyo dismissed that thought.

If I go back to that area, no one will accept me. And no one will take me home.

Filled with anxiety, Kiyo just leaned against the wall helplessly. A child like me can't change anything, if God has caught me, then I have to accept it, but I don't know what to do.

With his face in the picture book, he couldn't think of anything better.

Probably best to avoid it now for life. There's no point in worrying about that. He didn't want this to happen, but somehow, fate had already arranged it.

What does this place want from him and the kids here?

***

Tomoyo's hobby was listening to piano music. Almost whenever she had free time, she opened the music disc to listen, and sometimes she also recited the melody.

Maybe it was because of the influence of her parents before they died or because someone taught her. Who knows..

But just like Kiyo, she felt strange these days. Feeling strange because of the screaming outside.

She didn't know what to do but just look out there, bewildered, not understanding what was going on. She only knew to avoid those noises.

Tomoyo glanced around, seeing if anyone felt the same way. Always like that, every time she feels something, she "detects" whether someone is the same or not.

And Kiyo fell within her sights.

The small figure approached and sat down beside Kiyo, trying to strike up a conversation.

Kiyo was too focused on the picture book, ignoring Tomoyo.

"Hey.."

Only now did Kiyo look up.

"What?"

"What's the book about?" - The girl asked innocently.

"About.. technology?"

Tomoyo stood up and asked:

"What is technology?"

At this point, Kiyo didn't know how to explain it, so he could only turn the first page open for her to read.

"Technology is the invention, change, use, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, skills, systems, and organizational methods, to solve a problem, improve an existing solution, achieve a goal, or perform a specific function that requires high levels of gray matter?"

"Understand?" - Kiyo asked.

"I don't get it. What book are you reading that is so difficult?" - Tomoyo said wistfully.

Kiyo sighed.

"In general, technology is the change to develop this world."

"Is that so." - The girl nodded.

Kiyo looked outside to see if the noise was still there.

"What's wrong?"

"The screams of the brothers and sisters with the shouts of those big guys." - Kiyo was a little scared.

So Tomoyo guessed right that someone was like her.

"I also heard.."

Then she held Kiyo's hand:

"But there's nothing to be afraid of, as long as we're here and so is Miss Yuri."

Hearing Tomoyo says that, Kiyo was also relieved.

Since then, the two had been like a figure and a shadow, almost always with each other.

If one of them felt sad because of something, the other person would quietly listen and say something to ease the sadness.