Sora no Kiseki

The soft winter sunlight gently illuminated the white walls of the hospital room. Lying in bed, Sora's silver hair held a deep radiance that seemed to tell the story of her life. Though her face at eighty years old was etched with countless wrinkles, the beauty mark beneath her eye remained unchanged from her youth.

By the window sat Ten, whose appearance mysteriously never aged. His gray fur maintained the same luster it had decades ago. Ten kept his eyes closed, his ears twitching slightly as if waiting for something.

"Mom, would you like some water?"

Yuka, her eldest daughter, gently held Sora's hand. Around them, the three children born to Sora and Yuta, along with their grandchildren, watched over her with concern.

Sora smiled peacefully and answered in a hoarse voice, "Thank you... but I'm alright."

In the corner of the room hung photographs from younger days. Their wedding, the birth of their children, family vacations—fragments of everyday happiness captured in each picture. Looking at them, Sora murmured softly.

"How strange... I never imagined I could have such a happy life..."

At these words, Yuka smiled through tears.

"It's because you worked so hard, Mom. Our family is so close because of you."

Sora gently squeezed Yuka's hand back. Her hands bore the weight of many years.

"I didn't do anything special... I made it this far because everyone was here with me."

Suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through Sora's body.

"Mom!"

Yuka stood up in alarm, but Sora quietly waved her hand to calm her.

"It's alright... I think it's almost time."

Ten quietly approached the bed and nuzzled Sora's hand. She smiled softly at the gesture.

"Ten... thank you for always being by my side. Thank you... truly."

Sora looked around at her family, slowly choosing her words.

"Everyone... thank you so much. My life has been pure happiness."

Outside the window, snow had begun to fall silently. The white crystals sparkled in the winter sunlight. Sora continued, gazing at the scene.

"Yuka, Misaki, Shota... I was truly blessed to have all of you."

She turned her gaze to her grandchildren, calling each by name.

"Satoshi, Megumi, Kenta, Miku... I was so happy to be your grandmother."

As her family tearfully watched, her expression suddenly brightened.

"Ah... I can see the light..."

Her family looked out the window in surprise, but saw only the unchanging winter landscape. Yet in Sora's eyes, there was definitely a light visible.

"How nostalgic... such... warm light..."

At that moment, something began to awaken in Sora's consciousness. A gentle yet powerful sensation. Like a frozen lake melting in spring, memories that had been sleeping deep in her heart began to quietly but surely return.

...

...

...

"Ah... I remember now."

In that instant, memories that had long been dormant in Sora's consciousness suddenly awakened all at once. The high school classroom, carefree days spent with friends, the bustle of the cultural festival, and the final moment when she disappeared into the light—

And for the first time in her life, tears rolled down Sora's cheeks.

It was the moment when the emotions of Sora the angel merged with human emotions.

"I was... an angel, wasn't I?"

With those words, new sensations flooded in. Like a clouded glass suddenly becoming clear, all the emotions she had never been able to understand before vividly entered her heart.

With a trembling voice, Sora put words to her returning memories.

"When Ume tried so hard to get me to teach her... that was her desperate desire to be friends. I was truly happy to touch that warm heart hidden behind her tough exterior..."

Fresh tears welled up.

"Takashi taking photos every day... the Guard Squad always following me... it wasn't just admiration. It was their irreplaceable feelings of caring deeply for me. To think I was surrounded by such pure emotions, such happiness..."

Sora caught her breath for a moment before continuing.

"Ren always wore that proud face, but had the kindest heart of all. Back then, he gathered his courage to confess... but I couldn't understand the depth of those feelings. Now I understand, Ren. The warmth of cherishing someone special..."

Then, quietly, she spoke a name.

"And... Yuta."

Her voice trembled as she spoke the name.

"While you were caring for your sister... you still worried about me. The weight of your words when you finally told me you 'loved me'..."

Her voice broke.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't understand the depth of those words then. But now, this pain and warmth squeezing my chest... so this is what it means to care for someone."

Sora's tears flowed endlessly, but they were tears of gratitude rather than sadness.

"I'm so glad I could be reborn as a human. Rather than living eternally as an angel, being able to cry from my heart like this within a finite human life... that was the answer I was seeking."

Outside the window, snow continued to fall quietly. Each flake caught the light like angel's wings, sparkling. Sora turned her gaze to Ten beside her.

"I see... Ten, you knew all along, didn't you?"

Ten mewed softly and nuzzled Sora's hand.

"From our first meeting... that rainy day... and until this very moment. You were always watching over me."

Gentle memories spread through her heart.

"When I was an angel, and after I was reborn as a human... Ten, you were always by my side..."

Outside the window, snow danced and particles of light sparkled. To Sora's eyes, they appeared as a familiar light.

Gently touching Ten's fur, she felt in her hand the warmth where memories of her time as an angel and as a human overlapped.

"From the moment I wished 'once more, as a human' in that light... Ten, you were always... always..."

"Everyone is... waiting. Ume, Takashi, Ren... and Yuta."

The light in her eyes was the same light she had seen as an angel. And gazing at that light, Sora smiled quietly.

"So this... was the answer I chose."

"Just one last thing..."

Sora smiled, mustering her final strength. Her expression showed a mixture of angelic compassion and deep satisfaction as a human being.

"I'm truly glad... I could live as a human. This was... my chosen path."

Ten gently pressed his face against Sora's hand. At that moment, the light filling the room seemed to grow warmer.

"Thank you... everyone. And... goodbye."

Those were Sora's final words.

The light streaming through the window flashed brilliantly for just a moment. In that light, Sora's expression transformed into an otherworldly beautiful smile that perfectly harmonized the innocence of her high school days with the warm compassion gained through long years—a testament to accepting and cherishing both personalities, both lives.

Ten watched Sora's peaceful face for a while. As if reluctant to say a final farewell, he pressed his small body close, gently rubbing his face against her hand. After this gesture, he quietly descended from the bed and walked to the windowsill. Looking up at the winter sky, he meowed softly as if conversing with someone. The snow continued to fall silently, each flake sparkling in the sunlight.

---

Days later, as the family sorted through Sora's belongings, they found an old photograph. A class picture from high school. Sora smiling innocently in the center, Yuta beside her with a shy smile. The young smiling faces of Ume, Ren, Takashi, and the others.

And in the corner of the photo, as if having slipped in from somewhere, was Ten's figure. On the back of the photograph was a two-line message in Sora's gentle handwriting. The slightly trembling letters seemed to reflect her deep emotions.

"This miracle called life, more precious than eternity—"

"And to the dear ones who gave me this miracle."

Ten still lounges in the sunlight by that house's window. Occasionally, he looks up at the sky and meows softly. His eyes show a strange harmony between otherworldly understanding and the innocence of an ordinary cat. Just like Sora's final smile.

【Fin】