Thinking of Going to University?

 "Mika, there's something I need to tell you. It's probably best to say it before we part."

"What happened?" Mika asked, still looking at the sky.

"When I went to Osaka to visit my aunt, it wasn't just for her."

Mika didn't understand.

"What else was it for?"

"It was to see the university I want to attend."

Mika was taken aback.

"The university?"

"Yes, I think I want to go to Osaka University of Arts."

"I see..." Mika respected Saya's thoughts, but they had never talked about it before.

"I sent them my digital and traditional art. Also, since I'm the head of the discipline committee and my grades are high, the principal mentioned that I have a high chance of being accepted. I think the further away I am from here, the better it will be," she said, her voice filled with pain.

"Uh-uh, well, I respect your decision. It's a really good university. I hope you get in," he said.

"You're still thinking about other people's welfare," Saya said calmly.

"W-what?"

"I didn't say anything important. I hope what I said suddenly didn't make you angry or confused. I mean..."

"No, it's okay..."

They sat in silence for a while. He still felt very uncomfortable. He didn't want it to end like this. Finally, he found himself talking without realizing it. He felt like he couldn't look at Saya while he spoke.

"Saya, listen... I'm not exactly sure what to say or how I feel, but I feel like I need to talk. There's no animosity or anger between us, at least not on my part. And um... Despite all this, there are still some things I don't understand them because I don't know them. It has thoughts and ideas; it can observe but not feel. That's what they thought I was, and I went on living without knowing what I was doing. Life wasn't difficult, but mentally it was so confusing that my world felt like a philosopher's world. Maybe it still is, I don't know, but then I met you," Mika swallowed. 

Even saying these things made him feel extremely strange, especially the last thing he said.

 He realized that he had unconsciously become attached to Saya. He didn't know what he would do when she was gone. His throat tightened and it hurt when he swallowed.

"It may sound strange, but the fact that you're in pain doesn't change whether I'm in pain or not. I mean, I don't know if I'm in pain or if I'm feeling something else..." Mika's head turned into a blur.

 He thought about everything that had happened with Saya. His hands started to tremble. He looked down at his hands in shock. His breathing accelerated. His body reacted in a strange way. Even though he couldn't feel it, his body was reacting. Mana's words came to mind,

 "Even if we can't understand it, our body is reacting. The whole system is interconnected, so they say... Even the thought of it was painful for him. He didn't know what he was feeling right now, his heart pounding excessively, his throat aching, his stomach clenching as if it didn't want tomorrow to come.

"I-I just want things to go on like they used to. At least the way they used to be..." he couldn't go on, his throat was tight. His eyes hurt. He didn't know what was happening, so he brought his hands to his eyes. 

Wet? Why, what's happening?

His throat moved involuntarily and his nose was running. Then he realized.

 I'm crying,

 Tears were streaming from his eyes. In the darkness, the drops falling from his face were illuminated by the moonlight. 

He was shocked.

Suddenly, his mind was filled with thoughts and feelings. His internal organs went on strike. His head hurt, his eyes hurt. He felt like someone was strangling his neck as he struggled to breathe.

"I-I don't want you to leave me." He said. He really didn't want her to leave. His throat burned with pain. He began to take deep breaths, still facing the sea. He thought about why Saya hadn't reacted earlier.

He turned his head and looked at Saya. She was still lying there.

"Saya?" Mika said, moving closer to her. Her eyes were closed. "Are you asleep?" he asked.

He was very close to her face. For the first time, he looked at Saya's face so closely and reached out to wake her up. Just as he was about to touch her, he hesitated. 

Maybe it's best if she doesn't hear these things." He quietly got up and found a blanket downstairs. By the time he got back upstairs, the power had come back on. He gently covered Saya and returned to his room.

"My head hurts so much, I want to sleep."

***

When morning came, Mika went upstairs. His headache had subsided. When he looked out onto the deck, he couldn't see Saya. The blanket was there, but she was not. His father had also gotten up by then.

"Good morning, Mika."

"Good morning, Dad. Have you seen Saya?"

"Ah, I drank a lot last night... Saya slept on the deck last night. I think Mom helped her wake up and go to her room."

"You think so?"

"Well, Saya might have helped us more," his father said.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't remember much, but I do remember her helping me down the stairs," his father said with a smile.

"I see," Mika said.

"Anyway, let's not be late today. Of course."

They lifted the anchor together, and the yacht began to move back toward the mainland.

Mika and his father prepared breakfast. The sounds of seagulls flying near the shore, the noises of other ships and yachts, and the gusts of wind all resembled a true ocean adventure.

The girls had also woken up, and they all ate breakfast together. Saya had become more accustomed to the atmosphere, and she began to join in the conversations. Meanwhile, Mika was lost in thought as he looked in the direction of the now familiar island.

Today is my last day with Saya...