Chapter One: In Search of Nothingness

It was a moonless night. The stars in the vast sky illuminated the otherwise dark pathway. Nature remained at a standstill. Sora followed the trail of light left by the stars, pulling his body forward with much effort. It took a lot just to keep walking, and so, he chose not to think at all.

As he walked, he soon came near the park that was close to his apartment. A single lamppost remained illuminated not too far from him. Sora glanced at the lamppost. A number of moths were circling around the light. It was as if the moths were beings lost in the stream of time, and that lamppost was the only guiding light they could have. Their one and only ray of hope.

Sora immediately looked away from those moths, realizing that his brain had started to think nonsense.

“It's not like I could have a guiding light anymore,” he muttered to himself self-deprecatingly and started walking off. There were countless memories he had of this park - memories of himself and with her. But it hurt too much to even try to remember. However, he couldn't forget them either. So, he chose to walk off, away from the park, wherever the night would take him.

With each step, Sora's footsteps grew faster. Just as he'd turned away from the park, his body knew exactly where to go. As a light breeze started to blow, Sora kept on walking, determined not to think about anything, not to remember anything.

On the way to his next destination, Sora now came to the main intersection road of the city. The roads which would always remain busy and crowded were completely empty now. There was no sign of life, nor any sign of any activity here at all.

Sora stood in the middle of the intersection road, doing simply nothing. As the city stood still, the stars in the vast night sky shone brighter. That, coupled with the blowing breeze, gave the city an aura of complete loneliness. 

It felt like a ghost city. There was no one around to keep the place going, yet it never seemed to stop. No matter what condition it remained in, the city kept going on. With nobody to rely on, the lonely city kept going on, on and on for eternity...

“Just like me," Sora said in a whisper. The wind carried away his voice, away from the ears of any living soul. Right after saying that, Sora started walking again - to the place he had initially planned to go.

A short while later, Sora reached his destination- an old apartment building. It was the tallest building in the vicinity. Without a second’s hesitation, Sora climbed up the stairs up to the very top. Reaching the end of the stairs, he opened up the latch and stepped on to the roof.

Slowly, Sora walked over to the ledge of the roof. As the breeze continued to blow, Sora leaned forward on to the ledge and looked around blithely. From that height, he could almost see the outline of the whole city. The sea to the far west, the vivid nightlife district to the far north, and the now silent school district to the east - he could see it all.

There was something mystical about each part of the city and how they looked from up there. Both the east and the west were dark and quiet, while the north still held some semblance of liveliness. All of that coupled with the slightly cloudy night sky and cool weather made for a very pleasing sight. Yet, it did nothing to change Sora’s clouded mind.

Time seemed to have become inconsequential to him now. With nothing else to do, he lay down on the floor of the roof, facing the sky. The sky seemed to reflect the exact opposite of how Sora had been feeling all this time. Even so, he did not look away. With a blank gaze, he stared back at the sky as it stared back at him.

Sora closed his eyes for a few seconds. As his eyes remained shut, memories of old started to resurface in his mind.

A young boy and girl running around happily on a rooftop…

A short while later, they set up a telescope...

They happily observe the stars and keep chatting enthusiastically with each other…

The boy and girl then start running around. The scenery starts to fade. The boy keeps running farther away, but the girl suddenly comes to a stop.

The girl then turns around, her face and eyes obscured. She takes a breath, and right before the whole scenery fades to blank, she says,

"Sora-kun!”

Sora snapped his eyes open with a jolt. He sat up, gasping for air. It hadn't even been a full minute since he had closed his eyes, yet he had ended up seeing something he didn't want to. As he struggled to catch his breath, a single teardrop slipped down his cheek.

The breeze had already died. Everything around Sora now felt odd to him. He didn’t stay long. Trembling slightly, Sora stood up and quietly made his way down from the rooftop.

The scenes that Sora had just witnessed were fragments of his own childhood. No matter how much he tried to forget them, they always came back to him. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see each and every one of those memories vividly in his mind. Every time he tried to sleep, these memories would haunt him endlessly. Even so, he could not bring himself to forget them. He had to remember. It was all he could do now—cling to the memories and remind himself that she was already —

"No, no, no, no, NO!" Sora cried out as he violently shook his head. No matter how much time had passed, he still couldn’t face the truth.

He had walked quite a distance, trying to clear his mind and shake off the rooftop’s lingering presence. Now, he wasn’t even sure where he’d ended up. But he didn’t flinch. He simply kept walking, letting the night guide him.

“I can’t keep doing this. I…can’t accept this…” Sora muttered in a low voice, having regained a fragile semblance of calm. He chose not to think back to the memories that had just resurfaced, instead focusing on his walk and the silence of the night. 

Having no clear destination in mind, Sora kept walking on. Eventually, he came to a stop and looked around. He was in the south part of the city. This was the part all the traditional houses and the shrines were. The landscape around Sora was quiet and desolate. Not much lighting remained, allowing the whole place to emanate an aura of mystery and intrigue. The stars shone brightly overhead, casting their light across the land, making it feel as though nature itself was woven into the scenery.

There was one shrine in this area that was central to the people of this city. It rested on top of a small hill not too far from where Sora stood, and was soaked in the ethereal visage of the night and nature. With nothing better to do, Sora decided to go to the shrine.

Sora slowly made his way to the small hill that housed the shrine. As he reached its base and looked up, he saw the pathway of stairs shaded by a veneer of trees. A single flickering lamp post stood at the bottom, but no lights illuminated the path beyond. Even so, the pathway and the trees were lit up by the nightly glow. The soft lighting and lonely atmosphere seemed to call upon Sora. Sora took one more look at the path of stairs unfolding before him and started walking forward.

The sound of his footsteps echoed with each step he took. As the echo of footsteps created a rhythm, Sora's mind slipped into thought.

What should I pray for?

Should I even pray for anything?

If I pray, will my wish ever come true?

Will I be able to reach her?

Could I…ever understand…?

Doubts and fear began to run rampant in his mind the closer he got to the shrine. He tried his hardest to silence the chaos in his mind and keep moving. All he wanted in that moment was to empty himself - to let the world revolve while he, and only he stood still.

Or…did he?

Right then, Sora heard a series of bells ring from the top of the hill. Reasoning to himself that it was just the wind, Sora continued his upward journey. It was then that he felt something odd - a person's presence.

Instinctively, Sora glanced upwards to see if anyone was there or not. And sure enough, there was. Just a few steps ahead of him stood a girl with her back to him. A girl wearing a blue dress that resonated deeply with the color of the sky, her beautiful white hair flowing freely. Her hands were clasped behind her, her gaze fixed on something in the distance. Something about that girl just made Sora unable to look away.

"Oh?"

Realizing that there was someone behind her, the girl slowly turned around to face Sora. Her shining purple eyes met his, and after a brief glance, she let out a smile. Then, in a bubbly voice, she said,

"Are you also a traveller of the night like me?"

Sora didn't know what to say, or what to do. He just stared at the girl, unsure of what the question even meant.

The girl stepped down from where she stood and walked closer to Sora. In the same radiant tone as before, she asked, “Hey, what are you doing here? Are you here to explore?”

"I... I'm just....walking,” Sora said in a low voice. It had been so long since he’d spoken to anyone, his voice cracked as the words left his mouth. He then immediately looked down, not meeting the girl's eyes, while the girl leaned in closer to his face.

Not knowing what else to do, Sora asked the girl, "Who are you?"

Still retaining her smile, the girl straightened up and said, “Me? I’m Hoshimiya Saki. What about you?”

“Hoshi…nomiya…?”

Sora's mind suddenly went blank. That name - it felt too familiar. Why wouldn't it? After all, it was her name. He felt his face grow pale. His heart skipped a beat. His breathing grew shallow. It was too much to take in all at once.

The girl - no, Saki, however, didn't really notice Sora starting to hyperventilate. As she heard her name being mispronounced, she casually shook her head and said, "Not Hoshinomiya. Ho-shi-mi-ya! Okay?”

Hearing her name again helped Sora snap out of delirium. He heaved a small sigh of relief.

“Oh, sorry. I, uh, got your name wrong.”

“It's okay!", Saki replied cheerfully, without missing a beat. "More importantly, who are you?”

“I... uh, I'm Kanashino Sora.”

“Oh! Then I'll call you Sora-kun! Nice to meet you, Sora-kun!" Saki flashed a dazzling smile at him.

Sora’s eyes widened. Something about how Saki said his name - it tugged at something deep within him. He closely eyed this mysterious girl, questions swirling in his mind. But none of them made it out. He just…stared at her.

A short silence fell between them. Noticing Sora’s quietness, Saki leaned in close to him again and said, "Hey, wanna go up there and pray?"

“I…don't really know," Sora replied. "I don't know why I even came here in the first place.”

Not being taken aback by his reply, Saki said, "Since you haven’t thought about it... hmm... how about we go up there and pray together?"

"Eh?" It was a simple suggestion, but something Sora hadn’t really expected.

Saki then leaned in even closer to Sora. Grabbing both of his hands, she excitedly said, "Hey, Sora-kun, let's go pray to the shrine gods together!”

She flashed another smile at him. Looking into her earnest eyes, Sora found himself struggling to respond.. It had clearly been a long time since he had truly interacted with a person, and the loneliness had taken its toll. On one hand, he wanted to wander alone, and on the other, he found himself drawn to Saki. Every time she looked at him, an uncanny sense of familiarity washed over him.

As he glanced back at Saki's curious, sparkling eyes, he softly replied, "All right.”

“Yay! let's go, then!" Saki turned around and started climbing the remaining stairs at a quick pace. Sora followed her slowly. Reaching the top, she turned back to face Sora and waved at him, beckoning him to hurry.

With each step he took Sora tried to make sense of why he felt so much at ease around Saki. He didn't know her, not at all. He had never seen her before. And yet…it felt like he did. As if she was someone very close to him.

It’s the first time…, Sora thought. But why? Why does she feel so familiar? Why does it feel like I’ve known her for so long…?

A cool breeze started blowing again. Accompanied by the wind and Saki's voice, Sora climbed up to the top of the stairs to the gate of the shrine. As he reached the top, he saw Saki waiting for him - her eyes lighting up the moment he appeared.

Sora opened his mouth to ask Saki a question, but quickly closed it, deciding not to ask her.

In her bubbly tone, Saki said, "Let's go pray, Sora-kun."

As Sora nodded, Saki grabbed hold of his hand and started to gently guide him towards the shrine. For some reason, Sora couldn’t resist. He simply went along with it.

Approaching the shrine, Saki slowly let go of Sora’s hand. She rang the hanging bell twice before clapping her hands as a gesture of prayer. She then looked over to Sora with a soft smile, urging him to do the same.

Sora stepped up beside her. Like Saki, he also clapped his hands and pressed them together. Closing his eyes, he tried to think of something he could wish for. But nothing came to mind.

After trying for a whole minute to find something to wish for, Sora quickly opened his eyes, afraid of slipping back into his old memories. Saki was no longer beside him. She had already finished her prayer and was sitting at the base of the stairs, humming a melody.

Sora walked over to her and quietly listened to the song. The song wasn’t familiar to him, but it was soothing - like a hymn of nostalgia, gently pulling at him in a way he hadn’t expected.

It feels…liberating, Sora thought to himself, appreciating the wistful tune.

Soon, the humming stopped. Feeling Sora’s presence, Saki looked back at him with a smile.

"Are you done?" she cheerfully asked.

Sora nodded, and Saki ushered him to take a seat beside her. Sora obliged, and sat down not too far from her.

“What did you pray for, Sora-kun?" she asked, still smiling.

As she waited for an answer, Sora tried to come up with something convincing. He opened his mouth, ready to say the first thing that came to mind, but quickly shut it again.

"Uh... nothing," he replied finally, deciding to be honest. “What... about you?"

"Me, huh?" Saki tapped her chin, thinking for a moment. Then, she slowly said, "Before I answer that, can I tell you a story?”

It seemed like Saki's wish was tied to something from her past. Whatever the reason, Sora felt a desire to know. He nodded, prompting Saki to start her story.

“You see,” Saki started, looking down towards the stairs leading down and hugging her knees, "not too long ago, I knew this one person. We used to live in the same neighborhood, so we became friends very quickly. We started to depend on each other, keep each other company, and support each other whenever things got rough. And before I knew it, I realized that I had feelings for that person.

But instead of confessing, I kept my feelings to myself and continued our friendship. I promised myself that someday, I would definitely tell them. It was scary knowing that confessing might ruin what we already had, but I had hope that my feelings would be returned. But then," she stopped to catch her breath, then continued, "... something happened, that took away everything.”

As her voice trailed off, Saki gazed down at the stairway with a sad expression. Sora quickly asked, "What happened?"

"Well, how do I put this...? Um, that person... uh, went somewhere far away. Somewhere I wouldn't be able to reach. At first, it hurt a lot. I didn't know whether I would ever get the chance to meet that person again. But slowly, I started to believe that one day, I would definitely get another chance. So, um, what I wished for was to see that person one more time."

As the conversation came to a pause, Sora leaned back to think, reflecting on everything Saki said. He started to feel like he knew why Saki seemed to be so close to him. He organized his thoughts. As the night breeze rushed past him, messing with his already disheveled hair, Sora came to a realization.

This girl... She's so much like me.

Sora understood everything Saki had said. Her story resonated deeply with him. After all, this was something he himself had also experienced.

But still, something about her story kept nagging at him - something was amiss. As he thought back on it, he realized what set their experiences apart.

It was Saki's beliefs and actions that were completely different from his. Even though Saki had experienced loss, she had learnt to move past it and turn her sorrow into strength. She had the courage to…accept the truth of what truly happened. But could Sora say the same?

Sora knew very well that he couldn’t. If he had, if he could - he wouldn't have been suffering like this. If he could understand what had happened, he wouldn't have been idling away like that, stuck in perpetual limbo. In fact, everything he’s done had been the complete opposite of what Saki would’ve done.

So doesn't that mean I'm still pathetic?, Sora asked himself, as despair crept in. Doesn't that mean that I… that she's still —

"Sorry about that, Sora-kun," Saki's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "I didn't mean to upset you.” She flashed him an apologetic smile as she scratched her cheek.

Having snapped out of his thoughts, Sora shook his head and replied, "No. It's... okay. I... understand what you've been through."

“Thank you,” Saki said in a genuine and heartfelt tone, smiling brightly.

Another pause settled between them. Saki and Sora took the moment to calm their minds, letting the cool breeze wash over them as they got pulled into the beauty of the night.

After a while, Saki turned to Sora, and asked, "What about you, Sora-kun? Don't you have a story to tell?"

"A... story?" Sora said, perplexed.

Saki nodded. "Yes, your story. Didn't anything happen to you? You can tell me what happened."

"Uh… okay," Sora replied. Just like Saki had shared her past with him, she now wanted him to share his past - his pain. He hesitated, unsure of where he should begin, what he should say.

What should I say?

Sora took a breath. Even if he didn’t have the right words, he wanted to say something - anything.

“So, I…uh, had a... um, friend,” he started. That was all he could muster for now. However, Saki nodded supportively, urging him to carry on.

“So, my friend and I… we've been together since childhood. At first, we didn't really know each other that well. I was the problem child of the school, while she was the ideal student. However, where all the other students ignored me, she was the only one who didn’t. She came up to me, and we started talking.

We became friends after that. Whenever I caused any trouble, she'd always stick out her neck for me. She's always, always been like that. And that's what... uh, I mean, that's when she, she —”

Sora felt his heart pound violently inside his chest. It felt like invisible chains were binding him, holding back the words he desperately wanted to say. No matter how hard he tried, nothing would come out. Feeling like his heart might burst, he clutched his chest and struggled to breathe.

"I'm — I'm sorry,” he blurted out, as his eyes became watery. "I just... can't do this. I can't!"

“It's okay, Sora-kun," Saki said gently, trying to calm him down. "You don't need to push yourself. I'm sorry for making you do this.”

"You… shouldn't apologize," Sora said forcefully, slowly bringing his breathing under control. "Just… don't apologize. Let’s just…forget about this.”

Saki nodded, albeit rather hesitantly. For a split second, Sora saw an indescribable emotion painted on her face - a mix of grief and longing.

She then took a deep breath, stood up, and put on a smile. "Let's go somewhere else, Sora-kun.”

"Sure," Sora replied, and quietly followed her. They climbed down the stairway, and then started heading towards the city’s east district.

There was something oddly unique about just blindly following someone. As he followed Saki, Sora silenced his thoughts and simply moved forward. Like a speck of dust drifting down a river, he let himself go - with Saki leading the way.

As they neared the school district, Saki suddenly asked, "Sora-kun, do you believe in ghosts?"

"Ghosts...?" Sora repeated, thrown off by the unexpected question.

Saki nodded, reaffirming her question.

"I don't know. I haven't really... thought about it," Sora replied. "But if they were real, then... maybe, my wish would come true."

It was a strange thing to say, but Saki did not press for details. Instead, she asked him with a mischievous smile, "Then, What if I were a ghost? Would you run away?”

“If you were a ghost ? I... no, I wouldn't, really. Even if you were a ghost, you’d still be here, right? Then...”

Sora’s voice trailed off. With no idea what he wanted to say, he looked down.

“I see,” Saki softly said. After thinking about something for a while, she asked, “Hey, Sora-kun, would you like to go on an adventure with me?"

Sora stared blankly at her. “An… adventure?”

“Think of it as a way to take your mind off things,” she said with a smile. “You need that, don’t you?”

“How did you —?"

"We're the same, aren't we?" Saki said. “We’ve both been through something really painful. That’s how I know.”

Sora finally understood the weight behind her question. They were both carrying the burden of a past that still hurt. And now, Saki was offering him a way to let go and be free — a chance to breathe again, even just for a while.

“Okay," he said quietly.

Saki's eyes lit up. Leaning in close to him, she said, "Let's go then!" 

For the first time in a long while, Sora felt something stir in his chest - something beyond grief or emptiness. What he felt was a spark - a flicker of curiosity. And it was all thanks to Saki. As he followed her, that spark began to glow, and a faint light returned to his tired eyes.

They were nearly at the school district now, and Saki seemed more fired up than ever. Her steps were light, almost bouncing.

"Sora-kun,” she called out to him. “Have you ever been inside your school late at night?"

"No… Have you?"

With a mischievous smile and a finger to her lips, she said, “Well, that’s a secret. But more importantly, this is gonna be your first ever late night school visit! Are you ready?"

Sora nodded. He wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic as Saki, but... part of him was curious.

Saki slowed to a stop in front of a tall, looming structure. Her eyes rested on it for a moment before she glanced back at Sora. He followed her gaze - and froze.

It was his own school building.

The one he so desperately tried to avoid.

The one tied to everything he tried not to remember.

Saki took one look at Sora's face and realized that Sora's expression had darkened. Realizing her mistake, she quickly attempted to change the subject.

"This isn't the place, Sora-kun!" she said with a nervous smile, trying to stop Sora from souring up completely. "The place we're going to is right ahead of us."

Saki quickly turned on her heel and beckoned Sora to follow her.

Once they were far enough from the school, Sora heaved a deep sigh, and asked her, "Saki, did you... ever go to that school?"

She paused mid-step and turned to face him. With a hint of nervousness still present in her voice, she said, "No, not at all! I go to a different school from you, Sora-kun! And that’s where we’re going right now."

"I see. Alright then," Sora replied flatly.

As they continued walking, Sora glanced up at the sky. This part of the city was quieter, darker, and the cool breeze set a somewhat eerie tone. However, above them, stars peeked through gaps in the clouds, offering a soft, fleeting light.

They drifted through the sleeping city like shadows - forever present, yet unnoticed. The world around them lay fast asleep, and the silence gave the illusion that time itself had paused. In this slumbering city, the two of them moved unseen, as if they only existed for the night, disappearing as soon as dawn approached.

“Ever wonder what we’re like, compared to the rest of the city?” Sora asked out loud.

"Hmm," Saki said, tilting her head to the side, "I think we're like passing ghosts, or maybe more like a gust of wind flowing by?”

“A gust of wind..."

It was a pretty image - weightless and free. But Sora himself never felt that way. The pain that he held deep within made him more of a lamenting ghost than the wind.

“Maybe we’re all just ghosts,” he murmured in a wistful tone. “Drifting through life with nothing but regrets.”

"Maybe you're right," Saki replied. "Everyone has regrets. But that’s not always a bad thing, you know.”

“What do you mean?"

“Someone once told me this: regret never really disappears. You could live in poverty and regret being poor. You could be an old man who chased his dreams and still regret not starting sooner. Regret can weigh you down... but that same regret can also push you forward. Sometimes, it’s regret that opens the door to the next chapter of your life."

New chapter..., Sora toyed with these words in his mind as Saki continued,

“You and I both carry regrets, Sora-kun. In my case, I tried to change that regret into belief, into hope. What will you do with yours?”

“I...” Faced with the big question, Sora struggled to find an answer.

What Saki just said echoed deep inside him. He'd always been chained by his regret - sleepless nights, days that blurred together. But if regret really held the key to moving on, did that mean Sora could go back to his old life, back to how things always used to be?

No, of course not.

There was no way he could. Not after that day.

"Sora-kun? We're here!”

Once again, Saki's voice brought Sora back from his thoughts. He looked up to find them standing near the back gate of the local middle school.

We're here?" he asked.

Saki nodded. "We'll jump over the fence. Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Most people doing what Sora and Saki were about to do would naturally feel a rush of excitement. Maybe Saki did. However, Sora felt almost nothing.

"Ready, set... and go!"

Saki jumped over the fence with ease. Sora followed, landing beside her on the school grounds.

"The guard’s sleeping at his station," Saki said knowingly. "We’ve got the whole place to ourselves!"

"How do you even know that?"

"It's a secret," Saki replied mischievously. "Come on, Sora-kun! Let's go!"

“H-hey… Saki, wait—!”

She grabbed his hand and took off across the field, pulling him along.

As they ran, her laughter rang through the night like a bell. For a moment, Sora forgot everything else.

But then—

A flash of blonde hair.

A different hand pulling him along through a sunlit field.

Another girl’s voice echoed in his memory: “Hurry, Sora-kun!”

He stumbled—just like now.

More images followed. Laughter. Running. Memories of joy.

And then, one last image.

A car crashed into a tree.

A girl lying motionless on the ground, her blonde hair spread across the pavement.

NO!, Sora's mind screamed, as he collapsed, dragging Saki down with him.

"Sora-kun!" Saki cried out to him. "Sora-kun! Are you okay?!"

She rushed over to his side. He sat up slowly, clutching his forehead.

“Sorry about that, Saki," he said in a raspy voice. "I'm okay. I just… tripped.”

“Are you sure?” Saki said, concerned. "Should we get out of here?"

“No, no. I'm okay. Let's do this.”

"Are you really, really sure?"

"Yeah. You said that this would get my mind off things, right? Let's do this then.”

Sora had an earnest desire to be free from his pain, even if just for a minute. That's why, he wanted to see this through. Saki understood.

She stood up, and offered a hand to Sora. Smiling radiantly, she said, "I understand. Let me guide you. I’ll take away all your pain. So, take my hand.”

Sora obliged. Taking her hand, he rose to his feet and followed quietly as Saki’s gentle hand guided him up from the grass, across the building, and onto the rooftop.

Opening the door of the rooftop, Saki softly said. “We’re here.”

As Sora stepped through, a strong gust of wind rushed past him. The air felt different up here - cooler, quieter. Unlike the shrine or the streets, the rooftop had a strange stillness to it.

"There's not much of a view,” Saki said, "but the stars are clearer. Come on, take a look!”

Sora walked to the center of the roof where she stood and looked up. True, the sky did feel closer now. Though more clouds had gathered, they only added to the dreamlike feel of the night.

"Don't you think the stars here feel a bit... lonely?” Saki said, eyes fixed on the sky.

"Lonely? What do you mean?" Sora asked, puzzled by her remark.

“I mean, whenever you look at the stars from anywhere else, it always feels like they're shining for us, to watch over us as we sleep. But here, where there's neither people nor the gods, the stars don't feel like they’re shining for anybody. They just feel... sad, don't you think?"

Sora felt as if he completely understood what Saki meant. It was scary how well he could relate to her words.

Saki then took a few steps forward, each step lighter and more graceful than the last. Then she turned, smiling brightly, and held out her hand.

"Don't you think that this world - this sad, lonely world - where the stars shine for nobody, is where we belong, Sora-kun?"

"Where we belong…?”

The silent, sombre night.

The epitome of loneliness and quiet.

The innumerable stars stretched out across the vast sky, shining like lonely diamonds - their reflection on the world a quiet canvas of light.

There were no people here. Only the soft whisper of the wind.

This was the world Sora and Saki were in. A world where everything stood still, just like them.

Was this the place Sora belonged at? A place where he could let go... and be free? He still didn’t know.

As Sora searched for an answer, he saw Saki spin on her feet.

Once... Twice... then a leap forward. She had started to dance.

The night seemed to breathe with her. The clouds slowly vanished, and the stars sparkled, brighter than ever. The wind seemed to carry her aloft, as she stepped and tossed and twirled. The floor glimmered beneath her feet, reflecting the sky like water, even though it hadn't rained.

Sora watched everything in silence. It was like a scene from another world. With each step Saki took, Sora felt relief wash over him. Something about her dancing took Sora away from all his worries - from all his problems.

And then, with soft, graceful steps, Saki slowed to a stop. With her back turned to Sora, she said, "Did that take your mind off things?"

"Huh? Uh… yeah. Thank you.”

"It's okay!" she said cheerfully, turning to face Sora. There wasn’t a trace of exhaustion in her voice. Her purple eyes sparkled like amethysts. That same radiant smile stayed with her, untiring.

Sora found himself seated at the edge of the roof, leaning against the tall wired fence as he hugged his knees. Saki settled down beside him.

"Hey, Sora-kun," Saki called out to him. "What do you think the stars in the sky represent?"

"The stars?" Sora echoed. "I'm… not sure. What do you think?"

"I believe that the stars in the sky represent hope," Saki started. "Every star in the sky mirrors the grief people carry. Just like there are countless stars, there are countless reasons to hurt. But even so, the stars still shine. For me, that is hope. Hope helps us to move forward, to push through and wish for a better tomorrow.”

Grief, and hope. For Saki - the stars embodied both. No matter how paradoxical it sounded, Saki believed that stars were a sign of human struggle itself. She'd said something similar before too.

“…it’s regret that opens the door to the next chapter of your life."

But how?, Sora thought. How could something so paradoxical even make sense?

His mind tried to refute Saki's belief. However, the strange connection he seemed to feel with her resisted. This strange girl, her strange words - they stayed with him.

If this really is true, then could my life change?

Is there a way to accept the ‘truth’ without breaking myself?

Maybe there was.

The night wasn't over yet. Dawn was still far away. Maybe, by the time dawn had rolled around, Sora would have his answer. 

A whirlpool of thoughts swirling in his mind, he raised a hand toward the sky, as if he could lift off and escape into it. Saki noticed him and said, "Wouldn't it be so cool if we could just leave everything behind and fly off into the sky?”

"Yeah," Sora replied, casting a rueful gaze towards the sky. “I wish we could."

"Well, I can't really promise that, but I do know a really good spot. Wanna come along?”

"Yes," Sora replied quickly. He felt like Saki could guide him to an answer - towards the answer he’d been chasing all along.

"Let's go then, Sora-kun!" Smiling, Saki pulled Sora up to his feet. “We’ve got one more adventure left!”

As they quietly descended the stairs, a question popped up in Sora's head, "Hey, Saki. That person you mentioned… what were they like?"

"Hmm.... I suppose I haven't told you yet," Saki said. "Well, if I had to say, they were kinda like you." She let out a little laugh.

"Like me?"

“Hmm, like you! They were a great listener, you know! Just like you. I mean, You’ve been listening to me this whole time, haven’t you?”

“I guess so, yeah.”

Maybe that’s why they felt so familiar to each other—like they’d known each other for a long, long time.

They reached the ground floor, stepping into the open schoolyard.

“Ready to run, Sora-kun?”

"Yeah."

"Alright then, let's go. Ready, set... go!"

Together, they sprinted across the field, jumping over the back gate with ease.

"Let's catch our breath," Saki said, their breaths rising in sync.

Soon after, they were walking again - headed to yet another place only Saki seemed to know.

"Hey, Saki,” Sora called out to her. "How long have you been out wandering at night? How come I never ran into you before?”

"Um... well, it hasn't really been that long. I think the reason you kept missing me is because I always stay put in one place. Actually, this is the first time I've been running around the whole city like this. It's actually quite fun, you know. We should... well, do this more often!"

It felt strange to Sora. She hadn’t known him for more than a few hours. Still, she was inviting him along -to share the night. She didn't even have this contact info. But that didn’t seem to matter. Something unspoken had passed between them—a quiet promise, proof of the strange connection that felt with each other.

“Sure," Sora replied. Saki’s eyes lit up.

Looking around, Sora realized they were now nearing the eastern edge of the city.

"There's a cliff towering over the entire city here," Saki explained. "The view of the city from there is so beautiful ! You have to see it!"

"Okay.”

Saki took Sora through winding paths and a dense forest-like terrain. The walk was rough—no concrete stairs, no lampposts. Still, Sora followed in silence, letting Saki guide him.

"And... here we are!" Saki announced as they finally reached the cliff overlooking the city. "Look, Sora-kun! The city looks amazing!"

Sora neared the edge of the cliff, trying to catch a glimpse of the city. It did look amazing. The sleeping city below stretched out like a dreamscape, like a fantastical painting brought to life. The entire city seemed frozen in time.

Sora’s eyes drifted upwards. Innumerable stars dotted the sky, some of which he knew quite well. One star, in particular, seemed to draw Sora to itself.

"Sirius...,” Sora blurted out unknowingly.

"Sora-kun, you know astrology? I'm surprised,” Saki said, eyes wide.

"Oh... uh, yeah.” Sora fidgeted a little. "I, uh, used to be a big fan.”

"What happened?"

“I don’t know… I just can’t look at them the same way anymore.”

A lot of things had changed for Sora after that day. This was one of those instances.

"I see." Saki quietly said.

“But there's always been this one star that felt... different. It didn't hurt to look at it. It didn't hurt to talk about it," Sora continued.

He paused, then added in his mind: Especially tonight.

Sora looked over to the strange girl accompanying him, and tried to think. Who was this girl? Why did she make him feel so... normal? How did she?

She felt like a fleeting shooting star - she couldn't make his wish come true, but the words she spoke felt like maybe they could. Why? Sora didn't know, he didn't understand. He didn't feel any special emotion towards her, just an unshakeable sense of... Wait. What was it, really?

Attachment? Sympathy? Or maybe Friendship?

He had closed off all his emotions a long time ago. Yet there was something that he felt now. He needed to know what it was. He had to. He turned towards Saki, ready to ask her a question.

It was then that he saw it - Saki with her hands clasped behind her back, with a sad, forlorn gaze towards the sky. Any other person would say that she was just enjoying the view, but Sora understood that melancholy expression.

It was an expression of pure regret, of having to leave behind something precious despite not wanting to.

"Saki...?" Sora called out to her, not knowing what she could’ve been thinking.

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing," Saki quickly replied, "I was just enjoying the view.”

Sona wasn't convinced, however, he didn't pry. It wasn't his business, after all.

They didn't talk much. Each of them were lost in their own worlds, as they tried to forget everything and flow with nature. The calming atmosphere shared their pain, letting them join in the silence. Sora found himself wanting to stay in that moment for as long as possible.

"Hey, Sora-kun. Do you know what that star is?" Saki suddenly said, pointing to the same one Sora mentioned a while ago.

Sora hesitantly replied, “Yeah. I… do"

He wasn’t sure whether to explain. He looked over at Saki. Her beautiful, shining eyes, brimming with curiosity, became his answer.

"That one, that's Sirius. It's used to express someone leading you out of the darkness, or someone watching over you from afar. You can see it near the east, but only for a short time.”

"For a short time, huh?" Saki echoed, slowly getting lost in thought. As Sora stared at her, she let out in a voice no louder than a whisper,"Then I'm just like it, aren't I?”

"W-what?"

Realizing that she had voiced her thoughts a bit too loud, Saki fidgeted. “It’s nothing, Sora-kun! I was just, um, talking to myself!”

“Oh.”

As Sora tried to make sense of what she had meant by that, Saki turned her back on him and walked a few steps away.

There it was again—that strange distance. Ever since their meeting at the shrine, he’d noticed it. A subtle sorrow in the way she moved, the way she spoke. Even so, she had guided him throughout the whole night. As he thought back to his time with her, realization suddenly hit him.

Did she mean—

"Sora-kun, do you remember what we talked about near the school?" Saki cut in, her back still turned on him. "About regret?”

"Yeah, I do."

“Did you figure out what to do with yours?”

"…What I’ll do?”

Sora hesitated. Saki pressed on. "Didn't I say that your regret can take you to a new chapter in life?”

“Yeah. Yeah, you did, but—“

“—So?” She turned around to face him, her eyes firm, filled with something unwavering. “Did you decide?”

Even though Sora didn't yet know what to do, he still had a lot to say. The look in Saki’s eyes pushed him to talk.

"How, Saki? How can regret of all things push you forward? I… For so long, I’ve been suffering. It hurts. It hurts so, so much! All because of my regret! But I can’t even let it go! I can't forget any of this! I can’t! But I can’t accept it either! How…how can I go on? I… I don’t know what to do!”

Sora's face scrunched up in pain, making a miserable expression. He wanted to cry, to get it all off his chest. Still, he just couldn't bring himself to do it, not at all.

"You can move forward, Sora-kun," Saki said, her eyes softening up, as she smiled forlornly. "You can accept it."

She slowly walked over to him, as his heart beat in his hands. Amidst the chaos of his pain pulling him down, she came in close and gently took his hands.

"You can cry, Sora-kun," she gently said. "It's okay to cry. You've been through enough. Crying won’t erase your past—but it’ll free you from being stuck in it. All you have to do is cry. Release it all. Even if no one hears you, even if no one comes to your help, it’ll still be okay.”

"Even if the truth breaks me?"

“Even if the truth breaks you," she asserted. "You can pick yourself up again. If you cry, you won't forget your past. But you won't be stuck anymore either. If you cry, you can push through it all, Sora-kun. So just… cry.”

As her words stirred in his heart, Sora looked up at her kind, reassuring eyes. His hands shaking in hers, he finally started to understand.

Aah, it was just so simple.

A teardrop slid down his cheek.

The answer was always here.

Ever since that day, he had shut himself away from the entire world. He had shut his emotions down, pushed away anything that might’ve helped him heal. And the first thing he abandoned was the one thing he needed most—his tears.

As more teardrops followed, Sora’s knees gave way and he stumbled on the ground.

All this time… I should’ve just…

The night had started to come to an end. As the sun started to rise, Sora felt the memories of that day surface. But this time, he didn’t stop them. He could no longer turn himself away from what had happened. He could no longer deny.

That day, was when he had forever lost his best friend - Hoshinomiya Yuzuki. She had died in a traffic accident a year ago, right in front of him. She was gone. And even though the truth shattered him, he didn’t run away. He didn't deny it any more.

As he screamed and cried, the chaos inside his heart started to unravel. Memories of Yuzuki flashed one after the other in his mind.

But even as he cried his heart out, the memories didn’t fade. They didn’t disappear. They stayed—warm, vivid, and real.

He cried uncontrollably. His heart burst open. Yet the memories he had with Yuzuki stayed and kept him company. As the shell of his loneliness broke, the light and warmth of the sun reached him.

He cried.

He cried, cried, and cried even more.

He kept crying until the truth became visible in his eyes, ingrained in his very soul.

When he finally wiped his eyes, it wasn’t to hide this time. It was to see clearly. To understand. To accept.

The breeze calmed. The sky brightened. And when Sora looked up, he saw the empty space beside him.

Saki was gone.

But even in her absence, he didn’t feel alone.

Like a touch of warmth in the air, he felt Yuzuki’s presence there with him. As if to say, “It’s okay.”

As the sun enveloped the whole sky, Sora felt like he had been unchained from a heavy load - the load of his sorrow, that had been holding him back all this time.

He sat quietly on the cliff, letting the golden morning wrap around him.

He wasn’t the same as before.

He wasn’t whole. Not yet.

But he was healing.

The world had begun to move again.

And now, it was time to take a step forward…