Volume 4 – Chapter 18: Seven Days Left

Date: September 24

Last 7 Days.

There was an edge to the wind that morning, as it blew in an air with the scent of storms approaching.

Once Kaito stepped outside, he immediately felt it-the ticking clock within his breast slowly increasing in volume.

Seven days.

Counted in months, then in weeks, then in days... and all of a sudden, it was here. Real. Almost piteously near.

Rika stepped out, her sweater tight against her shoulders. Silent beside him, the two faced the making of the gray sky that seemed ready to burst any moment.

Time passed without noise between them.

It was the usual blunty Kanna who broke the spell.

"What's the plan for the last week? Cry? Pretend nothing's happening?" she said without much thought while kicking a little stone across the dirt trail.

Kaito snorted a short, dry laugh.

"Neither," he responded. "We live."

Rika, shoulder nearly to shoulder with him, nodded stoutly and took a place closer.

"To be afraid in our last days would be to ruin the whole trip here."

Kanna rolled her eyes but said no more. Even she knew down deep that they were right.

Inside the house were strewn across the table — maps and notes: mementos of their plans so delicate. Places to see, people to bid farewell: promises unkept.

And at the center of it all, one simple truth stood:

"The end is not fought against,"

but run toward life, as transient as it might be.

As time flowed weightily and uncomfortably across this day of unspeakable emotion, every smile, word, and look was amplified under its pressure.

Seven days.

Not enough to change the world.

But enough to leave their mark on it.

At such a time when the sun descends behind, painting the clouds in desperate, bleeding colors, Kaito took Rika's hands in his.

"These days, we will make count," he whispered.

Rika gripped his hands tightly, voice tremblingly certain.

"We already are."

Above, the stars flickered into being, silent witnesses to a love that would not fade quietly away.