The monument stood on the hill, two figures frozen in eternal friendship. Below, the city hummed with life—children playing, former enemies' descendants building together.
A young girl named Yuki asked her grandmother, "Who were they?"
Grandmother Sato smiled sadly. "They were the first. The ones who chose peace when everyone expected war."
"Did it hurt? Choosing?"
"Probably. But they chose anyway. And because they did, we have this." She gestured at the city, the peace, the life they all shared.
Yuki looked up at the monument, at the two figures standing together forever.
"