"Would You Stand by Me?

     This is Sakura News! It has just come to our information… the world is ending… Please stay calm everyone but this is no drill. Scientists have told us the world is estimated to end in one year from today. Hold onto your family and call your friends because you won’t have much longer to see them. I am so sorry to inform you of this global emergency… Thank you dear viewers for everything. Over the end of this year we will try and keep hold of news on this, but for now, thank you…

     The world today would start to come into shambles. People running and calling their friends and family, trying to enjoy what they could before they died, before they never saw the people they wanted ever again. The sun began to set as shows resumed their scheduled programs and the world slowly got quieter as people held their loved ones near and found joy in the small things they did. The world took their first rest without expensive things and more than love. They had each other and each other was all they needed.

     The day Emi heard the news, she never felt so rushed. The world would be coming to an end faster than she ever thought, her own life would be coming to an end soon. She wanted to end her story on a high note, with her name on books and posters, but now she might never be able to achieve the dreams she worked so hard for. Looking at the book she was writing she sighed as she looked at the book of someone she looked up to. She was always able to recognize the author's handwriting, but besides that she knew next to nothing about this author she aspired to be…or she had thought.

     Her hands began to shake as she looked down at the book she was writing, a story she may never finish because she took too long to write, because she procrastinated. This was something she may never be able to live up to her own dreams and expectations. Emi felt like now, she would stay a ghost but a flicker of hope lingered in her as she looked down at the purple and gold book beside her on the couch.

     Looking at the book she knew she didn’t get it just because she liked it, it was like she was drawn to it. She didn’t buy it just for a superficial reason but because she remembered the name. She was willing to give it a try, not only because she heard it was a good book, but also because the author who wrote it was her highschool crush.

     Months ago she bought the book and came home thinking she would be getting it just to look at and see how well he’s made a name for himself. As she read the book, something happened that she never felt before, it was like a spell was put on her as she read the whole book in seconds. It was almost like the book had a mind of its own, making her flip page after page looking at his work. His writing felt enticing and something she was never able to feel when she read books before. By the end of the month she had collected and read all his books and attempted herself to become a writer, to aspire like he did.

      Now the world was coming to an end, they didn’t know how long it would end, but it was estimated humans only had a year left to become someone more. Emi couldn’t help but think about the children who had dreams, the babies who were just brought into the world who would die soon. The thought made chills run down her spine as she took a gulp and turned off the TV. She had no one left in her life, but she felt like she needed to impress the world. The world would end soon and she felt like – no she needed- – to become someone more than who she was.

     Sitting up she looked at her computer, then to the book, and back to her computer. Taking in a deep sigh she typed and typed. She had to start now if she wanted to become someone, if she wanted to become known she would have to work harder than she ever would. The world wouldn’t ever know who she is if she stopped writing for even a second, she can’t come so close just to stop now.

      She had seemed to fall in love with the books, each one seemed meticulously written with the most beautiful writing she had ever seen. The covers were all professional and the stories each one told became more and more beautiful and thrilling as they went on. It didn’t help her infatuation of the books when she learnt who the writer was back then, with each book she read she felt as if she needed to meet him. She wanted to be like him, have people look up to her as much as she looked up at him.

     Back in highschool they were seatmates, they never talked besides when the teacher had the class do turn and talks. Kyo was always a handsome guy in her eyes – even when he was nerdy – he was the best seatmate she could have. Emi loved reminiscing about the days as she read the books, thinking about how some of the characters could be him and her, even when she knew silly things like that could never happen she had a small amount of hope keeping her going for that one day they see eachother again.

***

Everyone is freaking out so much…

Emi sighed as she put her coat on. She was on the way to the bookstore, apparently the author –Kyo Suzuki– would be signing books and announcing news of what he’ll be doing for the rest of the year. When she heard the news it was almost like a firework exploded in her, anxiousness took over her body. She was going to finally be able to see him again, the boy , no, the man of her dreams who never noticed her but maybe - just maybe - will notice her now. She hopped onto a bus and overheard the conversation of two women who seemed her age.

“Kyo’s a hottie now, huh?”. One of them chucked. “I know, right? He was such a nerd before but now he looks even better than before. The two women went on and on about him talking about his improvement and status. One girl smirked “I heard he has a mansion and is still single, we’re pretty enough to trick him, don’t you think?”, the other girl nodded, “oh my gosh! We should try and make him fall for us so we can get that money!”.

Shut up! Just stop talking about him!

Emi stormed off the train once the doors opened and sighed. How could they talk about someone so freely like that?! She huffed as she thought about what they wanted from him, just a bunch of gold diggers who wanted his money, she bet they didn’t even care about him. They even went on and on about his looks, yea he was an absolute nerd but that’s why she liked him in the first place, how could anyone fall in love with money? She found it just absurd to think about.

She was deep in thought until she looked up and saw the library in front of her, still closed. She had come early in case there was traffic, but since so many people started staying home and freaking out, there was almost no one there. She took a seat on the grand stairs and leaned against one of the large quartz pillars. The library was old, but the most gorgeous thing in all of town. It was all made of beautiful quartz and had gorgeous stained glass windows that she could look at forever. The window on the left was a stained glass image of a cardinal, a bird representing good luck. The window to her right was a stained glass image of a woman she didn’t seem to recognize.

Emi sighed as she waited for the library to open, but soon she noticed an expensive looking black car stopping in front of the library. She watches intently as the door opens and a man comes out, the one she already known for years, Kyo Suzuki. He looked a bit cocky, an expression she’d never seen on her face before. His dark brown hair blew in the wind as he fixed his suit, it was a nice grey suit that fit his figure very well. Kyo finally noticed Emi and smirked as he walked up to her.

“Emi, I haven’t seen you in a long time…”

“You know me?”

“Of course I do… I could never forget you, especially with how nice you are”

“I… I never realized”, she smiled softly and looked back up at him, “well, i’m here for your book signing”. Kyo’s eyes flickered with a small light before they went back to his normal smirk, “alright, let's open the library yea?”, he said as he got a ring of keys out and opened the large library doors. They were old and wooden with beautiful gold trimming.

“Did you like my books?

“Liked? Oh no, no… I loved your books”

“Love? That’s a strong wording, I’m glad you enjoyed them so much”

“Yea, the stories are so interesting, how did you come up with them?”

“I just think back about what I like and my experience, I mix them in”

“That makes a bit more sense…”

“This may be embarrassing to say but I made a book about you once, or… not about you but based around you, if that makes sense”

“About me? Which one was it? I’m sure i probably read it before”

“The one about the girl and the alchemist” he muttered softly, “I made the girl as nice as I remembered you to be”. Kyo started to set up the signing table, setting down a beautiful red and gold table cloth onto the table. He set down a few of his good books and smiled, “Emi, I need your opinion, are these books good on display?”Emi took a nice look at the display. She nods, “mhm, but it feels like there should be a book standing here”, she pointed in front of the stack of books, “maybe put your favorite that you wrote there”. Kyo nodded and put a book there.

The book he placed down was called ‘Haruka and alchemist rei’. It had a beautiful purple cover with gold and silver accents lining the book's edges. The title was in a big gold font and the characters on the cover were beautifully drawn. He smiled as he placed it down then looked back at Emi, “just a year left, Emi…” he sighed and took a seat. Looking at the light shining through the stained glass windows he looked away from them and back up to Emi

“Would you stand by me?”

Emi’s eyes widened in shock, “s-stand by you?”, she muttered in surprise. Kyo looked away, “you don’t have to, It was just a que-” suddenly he got cut off by Emi, “OF COURSE I’LL STAND BY YOU!”, she huffed out as her cheeks turned a slight pink. She looks over at him, “but… I want to know what you mean by it… what does it mean to stand by you?”. Kyo opens his mouth to speak but before he can speak people start coming in happily and eager to get in line first, “... I’ll tell you later, how about you sit with me for now”, he smiled at her as he patted the empty chair beside him.

***

Emi – at the end of the signing – helped Kyo clean up the signing booth. It was the last she could do since he let her sit by him like old times. Looking at him now – the first good time in years – she took in everything that changed about him. He stood taller giving him a more confident stance and his eyes weren’t as dull, they felt more confident. With the lights shining perfectly on his eyes, they shone like a golden jewel. She felt like she would never be able to look away in all her life. Emi used to be able to describe this boy as a cute nerdy guy, but now he’s grown into more than just that.

“So… when did you start writing?”

“Huh? Oh… well it was actually sometime near graduation”

Kyo looked away a little embarrassed as he put the extra book copies in his bag and looked away from Emi once more. He stuttered a but before he finally put his words together and spat out what he wanted to say

“I actually overheard you liked writing… so i started to write”

“Because of me? I… I never knew that”

“Yea, i made sure you didn’t, but I guess you know now”

“It’s sweet… I-I mean like it's sweet that I inspired you. I guess we just inspire each other, huh?”

Kyo froze for a second before he looked up, “I inspire you?”, he muttered out, never hearing something so nice before, how could someone like her, a beautiful girl, someone so nice, be inspired by him? He smiled as he put his bag over his shoulder, “well i guess i am great” he said with a somewhat cocky demeanor, with a smirk he looked down at her and chuckled. “Is there something on my face?”, Emi chucked along, “nothing, just your beautiful eyes,” he said almost a little too smoothly, Emi giggled and looked up with a slight pink on her cheeks, “thank you.”. Kyo sighs as a more serious look faded onto his face, “emi i hope you know something…” he paused