The first day of summer vacation arrived with a warm, golden glow. The sky stretched out in an endless, bright blue, and the early morning sun bathed the town in a gentle light. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, bringing with it the earthy scent of freshly cut grass and the distant hum of cicadas. Everything seemed peaceful and still, as if the whole town was taking a collective deep breath, savouring the start of the lazy summer days ahead.

The calmness of the town, usually undisturbed in the early morning, was suddenly broken by the sound of running footsteps. John sprinted down the dirt path, his heart racing with excitement. The tall trees cast long shadows over him as he made his way through the forest, jumping over fallen logs and dodging low-hanging branches. The distant sound of a radio playing beckoned him towards the Shinohara house. He quickened his pace, as he couldn't wait to spend the day with his best friend, Haru.

John skidded to a stop in front of the Shinohara house, an old wooden structure that creaked with every breeze. He took a moment to catch his breath before bouncing on the balls of his feet, barely containing his enthusiasm, as he reached up and rang the doorbell. The chime echoed inside the house, and he could hear hurried footsteps approaching.

The door swung open, revealing Mrs. Shinohara, a kind-faced woman with a warm smile. She wiped her hands on her apron, a sure sign she had been busy in the kitchen.

"Good morning, John," she greeted, her voice cheerful. "Haru will be right out. He's just finishing his breakfast."

"Thank you, Mrs. Shinohara" John replied, still trying to catch his breath.

Mrs. Shinohara turned and called over her shoulder, "Shino! John is here! Hurry up, dear!"

Inside, Haru gulped down the last of his breakfast, barely able to sit still. He jumped up from the table and dashed to the living room, where his father sat on the couch, hidden behind a morning newspaper.

"I'm going out with John, Dad," Haru called out.

His father lowered the newspaper just enough to reveal his eyes, glancing at Haru. "Be careful," he mumbled, before returning to his reading.

Haru then ran to his mother, who stood by the door. She bent down and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek. "Have fun, Shino," she said softly.

Haru grinned up at her, then burst out of the house, nearly tripping over the threshold in his dash.

"John!" Haru exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Let's go! I've been waiting all morning!"

"Come on, slowpoke!" John teased, already turning to run back down the path.

The two boys took off, their laughter echoing through the town as they sprinted toward the river. They spent the morning racing each other, climbing trees, and exploring every nook and cranny they could find. By noon, they were sprawled on the riverbank, catching their breath.

"Did you see the size of that frog?" John asked, eyes wide with excitement.

Haru laughed, his voice light and carefree. "Yeah! I thought it was going to jump right on your face!" The boys dissolved into giggles, the sound mingling with the chirping of birds and the gentle rush of the river.

As the day wore on, they continued their adventures, finding joy in the simple pleasures of nature. They picked wildflowers to give to their mums, skipped stones across the water, and even managed to catch a couple of frogs, which they released back into the river after a good laugh.

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As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the landscape, Haru stood and stretched. "I guess we should head back," he said reluctantly. "Mum will be worried if I'm late for dinner."

"Yeah, me too," John agreed, though he wished the day didn't have to end.

They walked back to the town, their steps now slower, savouring the last moments of their perfect day. When they reached John's house, which was on the way, they saw John's mom arriving home as well, wearing a straw hat and sunglasses. She smiled warmly at Haru.

"Hello, Haru! Did you boys have fun today?" she asked with an American accent, still struggling to speak Japanese fully.

"Hi, Mrs. Wilson! Yeah, we had a great time!" Haru replied with a grin.

"That's wonderful to hear. Come on, John, it's time to come inside," she said, ushering John towards the house.

"See you tomorrow, Haru!" John called out, waving as he headed inside.

"Bye, John!" Haru waved back and then continued on his way home. But as he approached, a sense of unease settled in his stomach. There was an acrid smell in the air, something that didn't belong in their peaceful town.

Smoke!

Haru's heart pounded in his chest as he broke into a run. His house was in flames, thick black smoke billowing into the sky. He screamed, "Mom! Dad!" and tried to rush inside, but the heat was too intense.

Through the flames, he saw a horrifying sight: his mum's body on the ground, covered in blood that shined with the light of flames. A muscular body of flames gently removed a knife that was stuck in her lifeless body. What was that fire body? A monster? A demon?

"Dad?" Haru asked, looking in horror at his father completely engulfed in flames, gripping the knife still dripping with blood. "No! No! Mum!" Haru cried, tears streaming down his face as he was forced to watch his world burn to the ground.

"Haru," his father said, his voice strangely calm despite the flames, as he walked slowly towards him, unphased by the fire.

"No! No! Don't come any closer, you monster!" Haru screamed, moving away from the scene. He stumbled, tripping over his own feet as he tried to escape the fire demon chasing him. He scrambled to his feet and ran, tears blurring his vision, his heart pounding in his ears.

Haru ran as fast as his legs could carry him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He didn't dare look back, but the light of the flames followed him relentlessly, casting eerie shadows that danced on the ground around him. The town blurred past him, and he soon found himself at a nearby construction site. The skeletons of half-finished buildings loomed in the darkness, offering a potential hiding place.

His legs burned with exhaustion, and he stumbled to a halt, frantically looking around. Spotting a crawler crane, Haru sprinted towards it, his heart pounding louder than ever. He climbed into the cab of the crane, slamming the door shut behind him. Inside, it was dark and claustrophobic, but at least he was hidden. He crouched down, trying to make himself as small as possible, and peered out the window. All he could see was the starry night sky, serene and indifferent to his plight.

A light started to appear from his right window, growing brighter and brighter. Haru's breath caught in his throat. He tried to calm his racing heart, to make himself invisible. He closed his eyes, hoping that the light would pass by.

The footsteps approached, slow and deliberate, then suddenly stopped. All Haru could hear were the cricket chirps, the stillness of the night pressing in on him. The silence was deafening, stretching time into an eternity. He held his breath, waiting, every second a torment.

Without warning, the door of the crane cab was ripped open, the metal screeching in protest. Haru's eyes flew open to see his father, completely engulfed in flames, standing in the doorway. The fiery figure stepped closer, extending a hand wreathed in flames towards him.

"No! Nooooooo!" Haru screamed, a tear slipping down his cheek. In his terror, a small electric discharge sparked from his hand. It was so tiny, almost imperceptible, but his father paused, looking at the flicker of electricity with a mixture of amazement and confusion.

Before his father could react, the crane roared to life. The machinery shuddered, and the metal rods it had been holding suddenly released, cascading down with a deafening crash, falling with deadly precision, impaling Haru's father.

The flaming figure let out a guttural growl, the flames flickering wildly before finally extinguishing. Haru stared in shock, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. The crane's engine rumbled to a stop, and silence reclaimed the night, save for the distant chirping of crickets.

Haru's breaths came in short, panicked bursts. He looked down at his hands, trembling uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face as he slid down to the floor of the cab, hugging his knees to his chest. The world outside continued to turn, the stars indifferent to the nightmare that had just unfolded. Haru was alone, his world irrevocably changed in the span of a single night.