Stargazing and Secrets

The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn as Haruki made his way up the hill. The city lights stretched behind him, a sea of neon and movement, but up ahead, past the trees, the world felt quiet.

Aoi had picked this spot for their so-called bucket list adventure—a hill just outside the city, away from the noise. Renji had grumbled about the climb, but surprisingly, he still showed up.

As Haruki reached the top, he spotted the others already there. Aoi was lying on a blanket, staring up at the sky. Renji sat beside her, looking unimpressed. Natsuki stood off to the side, arms crossed, gaze distant.

“Took you long enough,” Aoi teased, tilting her head toward him.

Haruki shoved his hands into his pockets. “Not my fault you pick the most inconvenient places.”

Aoi patted the empty spot beside her. “Come on, sit. You don’t want to miss this.”

Haruki sighed but sat down anyway, leaning back on his elbows. He glanced up. The sky was clear, stars stretching endlessly above them.

Renji exhaled. “Haven’t actually looked at the stars in years. Feels weird.”

Aoi grinned. “Right? It’s like we’re looking at something that doesn’t care about all this.” She gestured vaguely. “The end of the world, I mean.”

Natsuki spoke up, her voice calm. “That’s because it doesn’t. The stars have been here for millions of years. Our existence doesn’t change them.”

Renji smirked. “Damn, that’s depressing.”

Aoi nudged her. “But kinda cool, too, right? Even if we’re gone, the stars will still be there. That’s kind of… beautiful.”

Haruki stared at the sky, listening. He had to admit, there was something comforting about it.

After a moment, Aoi turned to him. “What about you, Haruki? Ever think about stuff like this?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You mean existential crises? Can’t say it’s my hobby.”

She laughed. “No, I mean… doesn’t it make you wonder? If we’re so small in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter that the world is ending?”

Haruki was quiet for a moment before shrugging. “It matters to us. That’s enough.”

Aoi’s smile softened. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

They stayed there for hours, talking about nothing and everything.

Renji stretched out on the grass. “Alright, I’ll admit, this isn’t a bad way to waste time.”

Aoi huffed. “It’s not wasting time! It’s making memories.”

Haruki rolled his eyes. “Same thing.”

Natsuki sat down beside them, gazing up. “There’s something I don’t get,” she said.

Haruki glanced at her. “What?”

She hesitated before speaking. “If everyone knows the world is ending… why are people still pretending things are normal?”

The question hung in the air.

Aoi was the first to answer. “Because admitting it would be worse.”

Natsuki frowned. “Worse?”

Aoi nodded. “Think about it. If people really accepted it, if everyone stopped pretending… everything would fall apart.”

Renji smirked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Some people want the chaos.”

Haruki exhaled. “And some people are too scared to face it.”

Natsuki looked down. “...I don’t think I get it.”

Aoi nudged her. “It’s okay. No one really does.”

For a moment, the only sound was the wind rustling through the grass.

Then Aoi grinned. “Alright! Bucket List Item #3—stargazing—is officially complete!”

Haruki sighed. “Are we seriously checking these off like a shopping list?”

“Yup!”

Renji smirked. “What’s next? Skydiving?”

Aoi’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea!”

Haruki groaned. “You better be joking.”

She just laughed.

They walked back to the city together, the streets quieter than usual. A few shops were still open, people wandering like ghosts. Some looked determined, like they had things to accomplish before time ran out. Others looked lost, as if they had already given up.

As they reached the train station, Natsuki spoke. “I have a question.”

Haruki glanced at her. “What now?”

She looked at Aoi. “Why are you doing this? The bucket list?”

Aoi blinked, then smiled. “Because I want to live.”

Natsuki frowned. “But we’re all still alive.”

Aoi shook her head. “No, I mean really live. Not just exist. Not just wait for the end.”

Renji stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. “Guess that’s one way to deal with it.”

Haruki studied Aoi, noticing the way her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.

She was smiling, but… there was something else there. Something she wasn’t saying.

Before he could ask, the train arrived, and she turned to them. “Alright! See you guys tomorrow?”

Renji yawned. “Yeah, yeah.”

Natsuki nodded. “Sure.”

Haruki just sighed. “Fine.”

Aoi beamed. “Good! Sweet dreams, everyone!”

And just like that, she hopped onto the train, disappearing into the crowd.

Later that night, as Haruki lay in bed, his phone buzzed again.

[Aoi: Bucket List Item #4—Do something reckless!]

He stared at the message.

Then, without thinking, he typed back.

[Haruki: Define reckless.]

A reply came almost instantly.

[Aoi: I’ll tell you tomorrow. Be ready.]

Haruki exhaled.

“…This girl is going to kill me.”

Before he could put his phone down, that same whisper from before drifted through his room.

Soft. Almost familiar.

"Haruki..."

His breath caught.

He sat up sharply, scanning the dark corners of his room.

Nothing.

But he knew he wasn’t imagining it.

Something—or someone—was there.

And whatever it was, it wasn’t done with him yet.