The Awaited Tomorrow

The surroundings were so dark, it was as if light had never existed. The air was chilly, sending shivers down Akari’s spine.

“Huh… where am I? Who’s that person sitting there? Why does he look so alone?”

“I… want… to… protect… her…”

“Yami, listen to me!”

Akari reached out her hand toward Yami, but it never reached him—fading into the darkness.

She woke up, sweat covering her face.

“Yami… what a weird dream.”

The morning looked the same as any other day, but for Akari, something felt different. Something felt off. Something was missing.

“Why can’t I remember the dream I had last night? Who was he? Why did he feel like someone I’ve known for a long time?”

Lectures went on one after another, but someone was missing… and nobody noticed—or maybe nobody remembered him to begin with.

Akari kept glancing at Yami’s seat. But why was she looking there? That seat had never been occupied. Then why did she feel like someone was supposed to be there?

———

Earlier that same morning, Yuki was cheerful. His eyes searched for his friend Yami—but he was nowhere to be found.

“Yo, Sora, have you seen Yami?”

“Yami? What do you mean? Are you still half-asleep? Who’s that? Never heard of him.”

Yuki froze, as if trapped in a dream—or maybe a nightmare. He kept asking more and more classmates, but every reply was the same, making his face grow paler each time.

Is this some kind of huge prank? Yuki thought. He still couldn’t believe it. Even the teachers didn’t remember.

His last hope—Akari.

———

It was lunchtime. This was Yuki’s best chance to ask Akari. But of course, he couldn’t talk to her in front of everyone. He called her to the rooftop again.

For Yuki, it was the second time.

For Akari, it felt like the first.

“Akari, do you remember the conversation we had here yesterday?”

“What are you talking about? This is the first time we’re talking—”

“No, it isn’t!” Yuki shouted. “Try to remember! You can’t forget about Yami!”

The name Yami stirred Akari’s soul. Someone was reaching out—crying for help.

A piece of her heart felt missing.

But how? And why? Who was this person?

Akari couldn’t hear anything Yuki was saying anymore. She was lost somewhere deep in thought, drenched in sweat—until suddenly, someone jumped toward her, trying to save her.

“Akari, be careful—!”

Blood splattered.

She could see it—no, she could feel it. The warmth of blood. She was paralyzed—not from pain, but from shock, because she didn’t feel any wounds herself.

Then whose blood was this?

“Yuki—!” she screamed with all her remaining strength.

“Akari… run… from… here. You… have… to—”

Akari turned to see who had attacked them.

A person in a black hood? What kind of magic is he using? Why is he attacking us? I have to save Yuki.

Using her remaining strength, she created a barrier, hoping to buy some time to escape. A white cage rose from beneath her feet, surrounding them.

“You’ll have to pay for getting involved with the Hikensha. Everything was going smoothly until you appeared.”

A surprise attack shot upward toward him, but in that moment, Akari couldn’t maintain her barrier. To her shock, he used a barrier and attacked simultaneously.

He can use barrier magic and attack at the same time? I’ve never seen anyone do that before… and who’s the Hikensha?

Lost in thought, Akari didn’t notice Yuki, barely conscious, move his trembling hand. A purple thunderclap flashed between them, teleporting them to a house unknown to Akari.

“Huh… what is this… where am I?”

Her voice trembled as her vision blurred, and the world faded into darkness.