Chapter Text
The sun dipped low over New York City, casting a golden hue that glinted off the towering skyscrapers like polished glass. The city hummed with life—cars honking, hurried footsteps echoing off the pavement, the distant wail of a siren threading through it all. For most, it was the rhythm of a place that never slept.
For Eijun and Eiko Sawamura, it was overwhelming.
Freshly uprooted from their quiet countryside home in Nagano, the twins clung to each other, their small hands clasped tightly. Back home, the only sounds at dusk were the chirping of cicadas and the rustling of wind through the fields. Here, everything was too loud, too fast, too unfamiliar.
“Ko-chan, look! They’re huge!” Eijun’s voice rang out, filled with awe and the slightest hint of nervous energy. His wide brown eyes darted between the looming buildings, taking in the steel and glass that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.
Eiko stayed close, his grip on his brother’s hand tightening. His gaze flickered warily between the towering structures and the sea of strangers brushing past them. “I wanna go home, Jun,” he murmured, barely audible over the city’s hum. “I miss the fields… and our house.”
A pang of longing settled in Eijun’s chest. He could still picture their old home—the creak of the engawa beneath their feet, the scent of ripening grapes hanging in the summer air. The vineyard had been their playground, stretching far beyond what their small legs could cover in a day. Here, everything felt cramped, unfamiliar, like they didn’t quite belong.
A few steps ahead, their mother, Kaede, glanced back as if sensing their unease. She turned, kneeling to their level, her expression soft in the fading light. The noise of the city faded into the background as she pulled them into a gentle embrace, her warmth a quiet reassurance.
“I know, sweetheart,” she murmured, smoothing a hand over Eiko’s hair. “I miss home too. But we’re together. That’s what matters.”
Eiko buried his face in her shoulder, his grip on Eijun never loosening. Eijun hesitated for a moment before leaning into her as well, allowing himself that small comfort.
A hearty laugh broke through the moment, shattering the quiet bubble around them.
“Kaede, this city’s incredible!” Their father, Takeshi, strode up to them, beaming as he took in the towering skyline. He moved with his usual enthusiasm, undeterred by the constant jostling of passersby.
Kaede sighed, standing and dusting off her knees. “If only you could walk without crashing into every street vendor,” she muttered, though the exasperation in her voice was softened by affection.
“I’m just immersing myself in the experience!” Takeshi declared proudly. “Besides, we have a new home to see! And we’d better hurry before I miss my chance to try one of those famous hot dogs.”
Eijun perked up immediately. “Otou-chan, what’s a hot dog?”
Takeshi grinned down at him, eyes twinkling. “Something delicious! You’ll like it.”
Eiko, however, was less convinced. “Doesn’t sound like onigiri,” he mumbled, his frown deepening.
Kaede chuckled, brushing a hand over his cheek. “You can try something else if you don’t like it, sweetheart,” she assured him. Then, her gaze turned serious as she looked between the twins. “But no matter what, you two always stick together, okay? Promise me that.”
“Yes, Okaa-chan,” they replied in unison, Eijun nodding while Eiko clung to his hand.
Kaede smiled, satisfied. “Good. Now, stay close. We wouldn’t want to get lost on our first day.”
The family continued walking toward the towering entrance of their new apartment complex, the glass façade reflecting the last rays of the setting sun. It was nothing like their home in Nagano. The apartment building loomed over them, stacked high with countless other lives, brimming with the city’s relentless energy.
As they stepped inside, Eijun’s eyes widened in wonder at the polished marble floors, the gleaming elevator doors, the way the overhead lights flickered just so. Everything felt bigger, brighter—almost too much.
Eiko hesitated at the threshold, hovering just behind his brother, his grip still firm.
The elevator doors slid open with a quiet chime. As they stepped inside, the warm breeze of Nagano felt like a distant dream—replaced by the cold hum of city air conditioning.
Minutes after stepping into their new apartment, the Sawamura family found themselves surrounded by a world that was sleek, modern, and vastly different from what they had left behind. The polished hardwood floors gleamed under warm overhead lighting, reflecting off minimalist furnishings accented with touches of understated luxury. A vast floor-to-ceiling window framed the dazzling New York City skyline, a glittering sea of lights stretching endlessly into the night.
It was a far cry from the sprawling estate they had once called home.
Eijun and Eiko stood just inside the doorway, their fingers loosely intertwined as they took it all in. The apartment was beautiful, no doubt, but it felt cold—sterile in a way their home in Nagano never had. There, the creak of old wooden beams, the scent of sun-warmed soil, and the ever-present buzzing sound of cicadas had filled their days. Here, everything was different.
The move had been dictated by the family business. Their father, Takeshi, had spent years overseeing their vineyards and agricultural ventures back in Japan, but with the company expanding overseas, it had become necessary for them to establish a presence in the U.S. This was supposed to be a new chapter—an opportunity. But for the twins, it only deepened the growing sense of displacement.
In the kitchen, their grandfather, Eitoku, was already at work unpacking boxes, handling delicate porcelain plates with the same steady hands that had once tended their vineyard. The familiar sight of him carefully arranging their belongings in this unfamiliar space was oddly comforting. Even here, in a foreign city, there were pieces of home.
A deep voice suddenly boomed from across the room, breaking the silence.
“There you are!”
Eijun and Eiko turned just in time to see a broad figure standing near the windows. Jorge Madison—Chris’s father—was already striding toward them, his stern face breaking into a wide grin.
“Eijun! Eiko! Welcome to New York!”
Before either twin could react, Jorge scooped them up into a bear hug, lifting them effortlessly off their feet. Their earlier anxieties melted away in an instant, replaced by a rush of warmth and familiarity.
“Uncle Jorge!” they giggled, their laughter echoing through the open space.
Jorge set them down with a grin, stepping aside with a dramatic flourish. “And look who else is here.”
Standing in the center of the living room was a boy just a few years older than them, his quiet presence instantly grounding. Nearly seven years old, Chris Takigawa-Madison had always carried himself with a kind of steady confidence that the twins admired. His warm brown eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled at them, an easy, familiar expression that made the apartment feel a little less foreign.
“Chris nii-chan!”
The twins barreled toward him, nearly knocking him over with their enthusiastic hugs.
Chris let out a small laugh, ruffling their hair. “Hey! It’s good to see you both.”
Even Eiko, who had been clinging to Eijun’s side since their arrival, seemed to relax under Chris’s reassuring presence. But as the initial excitement faded, he glanced around the apartment, his fingers curling slightly in his brother’s sleeve.
“…Where’s Kaori oba-chan?” he asked softly, peeking down the hall as if expecting her to appear at any moment.
Chris smiled. “Okaa-san’s still at home, but she’s bringing food over soon. She’ll be here in a little bit. After you guys get settled, I can show you around the neighborhood. There’s a park nearby—we can go tomorrow!”
Eijun’s eyes lit up at the mention of the park, but his excitement faltered just as quickly. “But… but what about the big people?” His voice was quieter now, his earlier bravado giving way to unease as he remembered the towering strangers on the streets, speaking in words he didn’t understand.
Chris blinked at the question, glancing briefly at Kaede before crouching down to the twins’ level. “What do you mean, ‘big people’?” he asked, tilting his head.
Eijun shuffled his feet, looking uncertain. “The people outside,” he mumbled. “They’re so tall. And they talk weird.”
“English,” Eiko corrected softly, though his own uncertainty was clear. “Everyone speaks English.”
Kaede, who had been listening, smiled and nudged Eijun’s side playfully. “You think they talk weird? What do you think they’d say if they heard you speaking Japanese?”
Eijun blinked at her, then gasped. “They’d think we talk weird?”
Chris giggled. “Probably!”
Eiko frowned, mulling that over. “But… what if they don’t like us?”
Chris rolled his eyes, as if the idea was ridiculous. “Why wouldn’t they like you? You guys are funny.”
Eijun perked up. “We are funny.”
“See?” Chris grinned. “And if they don’t get it at first, who cares? You’ll learn English soon, and in the meantime, you’ve got me. I’ll help.”
Eiko hesitated, but Chris nudged him lightly on the arm. “And anyway, if they don’t like you, they’re just boring.”
That got a laugh out of Eijun, and even Eiko cracked a small grin.
A sudden knock at the door startled them.
“I’ll get it!” Eijun shouted, already dashing down the hall. He fumbled with the handle before yanking the door open.
“Kaori oba-chan!” Eiko cried, his face brightening at the sight of their aunt standing there, baskets of food in hand.
“I can’t believe you’re finally here!” Kaori laughed, crouching down to hug the boys. “Look at you two—you’ve grown so much!”
Kaede let out a quiet breath of relief as her sister stepped inside, the rich aroma of homemade dishes instantly filling the apartment. It was a small thing, but it made the space feel warmer. More like home.
“Thank you for coming over,” Kaede murmured, casting a grateful glance at Kaori as she placed the baskets on the kitchen counter. “It’s been… a lot.”
Kaori nodded, understanding without needing further explanation. “Of course. I brought enough for everyone. It’s been too long since we’ve all been together.”
“Far too long,” Kaede agreed.
Kaori glanced at the three boys, who had huddled together, whispering excitedly. “Let’s take them to the park tomorrow,” she suggested. “It’s not Nagano, but it’s a good place for them to run around.”
Kaede nodded. “That sounds perfect. They should stick close to Chris for now, at least until they find their footing.”
Eitoku, who had been quietly unpacking in the kitchen, finally spoke, his voice carrying the wisdom of someone who had seen generations of their family grow. “Worrying won’t change anything, Kaede,” he said, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Let them explore. They’ve always had each other, and now they have Yuu-kun too. Kids are resilient. Before you know it, they’ll be causing just as much trouble here as they did back home.”
Kaede chuckled softly, knowing he was right.
The challenges of the move—the city, the language, the unfamiliarity—wouldn’t disappear overnight. But Eijun and Eiko were strong, and they weren’t alone.
She watched as the three boys laughed together, already plotting their next adventure.
‘Yes ,’ she thought, smiling to herself as their laughter filled the room.
‘They’d be causing trouble again in no time.’