When worlds pull us apart

The glittering chandeliers cast a warm glow across the hall, reflecting off the polished marble floors. Amidst the swirl of music and polite laughter, princess Miyu appeared, her silk gown shimmering like liquid starlight. She moved gracefully, a smile of perfect composure on her lips.

“Happy birthday, prince Akihiko,” she said softly, bowing with the elegance expected of royalty. Her words were polite, measured, and careful—not overstepping, not lingering.

Akihiko nodded, his tone reserved yet kind.

“Thank you, princess Miyu.”

She exchanged a few more formal words, compliments and thanks flowing effortlessly, and then gracefully stepped aside. To anyone watching, it was a simple interaction. But for one hidden in the shadows…

Aiko.

She pressed herself against a marble pillar at the edge of the dance hall, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress. Through the crowd, she caught only fragments of the conversation—princess Miyu’s radiant smile, the subtle tilt of Akihiko’s head responding, a polite laugh.

And her heart…

“It aches,” she thought, clutching her chest. “Why does it ache like this?”

Her thoughts spiraled.

Of course… what did I expect? Princess Miyu. She’s perfect. Beauty, grace, wisdom… everything I could never be. And I’m… just a guest. A mistake in the midst of all this perfection.

The soft strains of music around her blurred into nothingness, the sounds dissolving as tears pricked at her eyes.

Mika noticed her too late.

“Aiko…?” she called, concern lacing her voice.

But Aiko was already moving, steps decisive, almost desperate. She pushed open the doors, letting the cool night air wash over her. The garden greeted her in muted shadows, the scent of night-blooming flowers mixing with the faint metallic tinge of the palace. She barely noticed it. She barely noticed anything.

"Don’t be weak… don’t let him see you hurt…" she told herself, though her knees felt as if they would buckle. Why did I let myself feel anything for him? He’s a prince… a world apart from me…

Her gaze fell to the ground, and for the first time that night, she allowed herself to feel broken.

A stone bench beckoned, and she collapsed onto it, hiding among tall, swaying plants. She pressed her hands to her face, letting the tears come freely, silently.

Why am I so weak? Why did I even hope?

Footsteps approached, soft but deliberate. Akihiko.

Mika was standing there, but Aiko was not beside her. She nodded subtly toward the prince.

“She went to the garden,” she said without a word of warning.

He didn’t respond. His eyes were locked on the figure hunched on the bench, and he moved forward, careful not to disturb the night air, careful not to startle her.

When he saw her properly, he froze. She hadn’t heard him; she was too wrapped in her own world of hurt and confusion.

“Aiko…” His voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it carried across the empty garden.

She flinched, hastily wiping her tears, but the red rimmed eyes betrayed her. She lowered her head further, voice trembling.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to ruin your evening.”

Akihiko stepped closer, his presence gentle yet insistent. He positioned himself before her, no longer as a prince bound by formality, but as Akihiko—the boy who saw her. Truly saw her.

“You haven’t ruined anything,” he said softly. “Tell me… what’s troubling you?”

Her gaze remained fixed on the ground.

“You saw princess Miyu… she… she wished you a happy birthday. She was… perfect. So… fitting.”

A deep breath escaped him, quiet and deliberate, releasing something he had kept bottled inside.

“During the dance… I didn’t manage to tell you that you look absolutely wonderful.”

Her tears continued, but now they mingled with something warm, something that made her chest flutter.

“Th-thank you… Akihiko,” she whispered, her voice trembling with both shame and relief. “I’m fine… really.”

Akihiko sank to one knee before her, not in ceremony, but in humility. His gaze bore into hers, full of concern and tenderness.

“You’re not fine,” he said quietly. “If you were, you wouldn’t be crying.”

They remained silent, their eyes locked in a conversation far deeper than words could reach.

Slowly, Aiko rose, trembling, and moved toward the fountain. The soft reflections of two moons on the water danced against her face. Her hand brushed the cold stone as if grounding herself. Akihiko remained behind, a silent sentinel, worry etched into every line of his body.

A sudden intrusion—a courtier emerged from the shadows.

“Your Highness, in a few minutes, a great announcement must be made, you must choose your consort,” he said.

Akihiko simply nodded, his eyes never leaving Aiko’s.

Aiko heard the words, and they pressed on her chest like a physical weight. She flinched, heart hammering with dread. Akihiko extended a hand toward hers, gentle, almost pleading. She shook her head lightly.

“Go… the guests are waiting for your decision,” she murmured, almost firmly.

But before she could finish, he wrapped her in a gentle, firm embrace, his chest pressed against hers.

“Please…” His voice cracked, tender and pained. “I can’t watch you like this.”

Her heart stuttered, caught in the warmth of his embrace. Time seemed to freeze, breaths mingling.

“I… I feel like going home now… I think the time has come.” she whispered, voice quivering like fragile glass.

Akihiko’s chest tightened, his face tensing. After a moment of silence.

“The teleport has been repaired… Would you like to go home now?”

Her answer was quiet, almost inaudible.

“I… I want to go home. My life… it’s on Earth. I want… my mom… my dad…”

Akihiko’s eyes softened, understanding her completely. But inside him, he feel, everything is falling apart. He stepped closer, taking her hand gently in his. His grip was firm, warm, and full of silent pain.

“Then come,” he said simply.

They walked through the silent corridors, side by side. Every step was heavy with unspoken words. When they arrived at the teleport chamber, the doors opened automatically, bathing them in soft blue light.

Akihiko guided her to the glowing circle in the center.

“Stand here. The system is ready. Destination… your hometown, Earth.”

Aiko hesitated, heart hammering, lips sealed. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words froze.

"Should I hug him…? Would it be too much… or already too late?"

Instinctively, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, pressing close. Her hands trembled against his back.

“Thank you… for everything,” she whispered near his ear.

Akihiko returned her embrace, fighting to keep himself from breaking. His mind was clouded, every thought tangled and blocked, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

Aiko pulled back, then removed her StarCom and gently laid it in his hand. She stepped into the circle, not meeting his gaze. The light beneath her feet brightened. Akihiko stood a step away, eyes fixed on her, every movement memorized, every detail seared into memory.

Just before the glow fully enveloped her, she turned one last time.

“I will never forget you… never. Not Mika. Not Naoru and Ren. All of you who welcomed me… as if I were one of you.”

Their eyes met—briefly, eternally—and then the light consumed her, leaving only silence in its wake.