Aoi woke up on a cold early spring morning.
A gentle breeze drifted through the slightly open window, causing the curtains to sway softly. The sky was still somewhat gray, as if winter was reluctant to leave.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the ceiling.
In silence.
Feeling that strange weight in her chest.
Then her gaze shifted toward the uniform carefully hanging beside her bed.
Her last uniform.
Aoi slowly got out of bed, slipped on her warm socks, and walked to the bathroom sink. The cold water touched her face as she looked at herself in the mirror.
For a brief moment...
it felt like any other ordinary morning.
But it wasn't.
As she adjusted her hair, a thought crossed her mind.
"The school year is already ending..."
She stood there quietly for a few seconds.
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
The kind that carries nostalgia even before the ending arrives.
Classroom 3-A.
The room was quieter than usual.
The constant noise of conversations seemed more distant that day. Some students were signing graduation albums, others were taking pictures, while a few simply sat quietly, as if trying to memorize every detail of the classroom.
The sound of pages turning echoed softly.
Hina leaned over Aoi's desk and rested her chin on her folded arms.
Hina:
—I still can't believe we're graduating...
Mio let out an overly dramatic sigh while spinning a pen between her fingers.
Mio:
—I'm still waiting for someone to walk in and tell us this whole thing is a prank.
Aoi looked out the window.
The cherry blossom trees in the courtyard were beginning to bloom.
Small pink petals danced in the wind.
She watched them for several moments.
Then she smiled.
Aoi:
—I guess that's just how it is...
She rested her cheek on her hand.
Aoi:
—Before you realize it... it's over.
The three girls fell silent.
Not an awkward silence.
But the kind of silence that only exists between people who have spent so much time together that they no longer need to fill every moment with words.
After classes ended.
Aoi entered the club room.
The familiar scent of books, paper, and instant coffee was exactly the same as always.
Her underclassmen were already there.
Kujo Haruto.
Tachibana Yui.
Minase Rina.
The moment they saw her, all three immediately stood up.
Haruto:
—Aoi-senpai!
Aoi placed her bag on the table.
Then she remained silent.
Looking around the room.
The same desks.
The same blackboard.
The same worn-out chairs.
The same corner near the window where they spent countless afternoons discussing game strategies while pretending to talk about club activities.
So many afternoons.
So many conversations.
So many memories.
She took a deep breath.
Then picked up the club notebook.
Walking over to Haruto, she stopped in front of him.
Aoi:
—Kujo...
He immediately became nervous.
Aoi held out the notebook.
Aoi:
—I'm passing the club leadership to you.
Haruto's eyes widened.
Haruto:
—B-But there are still second-years here.
Aoi smiled calmly.
Aoi:
—There are.
She gently tapped the notebook.
Aoi:
—But leadership isn't about age.
Haruto froze.
Aoi:
—You've always been the one who worked the hardest.
His fingers trembled slightly as he accepted the notebook with both hands.
Haruto:
—I... I'll do my best.
Yui immediately crossed her arms.
Yui:
—Then I'll be vice president.
Rina raised her hand with a serious expression.
Rina:
—And I'll make sure neither of you ruins everything.
Everyone laughed.
Aoi quietly watched the three of them.
And in that moment...
she realized something.
The club would be fine.
She didn't need to worry anymore.
Later.
The school hallways were nearly empty.
Aoi walked slowly.
Without rushing.
As if she were trying to make the day last as long as possible.
She passed the courtyard.
The library.
The gymnasium.
Every place seemed filled with invisible echoes.
Laughter.
Conversations.
Ordinary moments that now felt precious.
Eventually, she stopped in front of Classroom 3-A.
Slowly raising her hand.
She touched the door with her fingertips.
And whispered:
Aoi:
—Thank you.
The morning of graduation finally arrived.
The auditorium was completely full.
Rows of chairs stretched across the room.
The stage was decorated with flowers.
And hanging above it was a banner that read:
"Graduation Ceremony – Third-Year Class."
Parents spoke quietly among themselves while the students waited nervously.
Some tried to look calm.
Others were clearly holding back tears.
Backstage, Aoi was gripping her diploma so tightly that her fingers almost hurt.
Hina gently poked her shoulder.
Hina:
— Aoi... are you really going to speak in front of everyone?
Aoi let out a nervous laugh.
Aoi:
— I didn't even know they were going to choose me to represent the class...
Takeo chuckled.
Takeo:
— Probably because you're the only person who can lead a raid in Eternal Aegis and still get good grades.
Mio placed a hand on her shoulder.
Mio:
— Go get them, Captain.
Aoi took a deep breath.
But her heart was still racing.
The principal stepped up to the microphone.
Principal:
— And now, we'd like to invite one of our class representatives to share a few final words...
He glanced down at the paper in his hands.
Principal:
— Aoi Sakamoto.
The audience applauded.
Aoi slowly walked toward the stage.
The lights felt too bright.
The auditorium felt bigger than ever before.
She discreetly looked toward her friends sitting together.
Hina immediately gave her a thumbs-up.
That made Aoi smile.
She took hold of the microphone.
For a few seconds...
she remained silent.
The entire auditorium waited.
Then she smiled softly.
Aoi:
— When I first entered this school...
She took a deep breath.
Aoi:
— I thought high school would just be about studying, taking exams... and somehow surviving entrance tests.
A few laughs spread through the audience.
The tension eased slightly.
Aoi continued.
Aoi:
— But along the way... I met incredible people.
She looked toward her friends.
Aoi:
— Hina... Mio... Takeo... Shinohara... Souma... Misaki...
Several of them raised their hands from the crowd.
Takeo:
— We're famous now.
More laughter echoed through the auditorium.
Aoi smiled again.
But her eyes were beginning to glisten.
Aoi:
— I remember the times we argued...
She laughed softly.
Aoi:
— The times we played together... the nights we stayed awake discussing strategies...
Takeo whispered:
— She's talking about the game.
Hina struggled to hold back a laugh.
Aoi continued.
Aoi:
— And sometimes...
She pressed the diploma against her chest.
Aoi:
— A game can become more than just a game.
The auditorium grew quieter.
Aoi:
— Sometimes... it becomes a place where you meet people who change your life.
She glanced briefly toward Yukiko in the audience.
Then looked forward again.
Aoi:
— Eternal Aegis Online... was what brought us together.
Some students recognized the title and began whispering among themselves.
But Aoi continued.
Her voice had become softer now.
More genuine.
More sincere.
Aoi:
— I don't know exactly what the future will look like.
She took another breath.
Aoi:
— But I do know that... just like in any adventure...
A brief pause.
Aoi smiled.
Aoi:
— It's always better to face the next level...
Her eyes met those of her friends.
Aoi:
— ...with good teammates by your side.
The silence that followed was different.
Heavier.
More emotional.
As if everyone present understood exactly what she meant.
Aoi took one final breath.
Aoi:
— Thank you for these three years.
She raised her diploma.
Aoi:
— Let's keep playing...
Her smile trembled slightly.
Aoi:
— ...and keep living.
Then she finished.
Aoi:
— See you in the next chapter.
The entire auditorium erupted into applause.
The moment Aoi stepped off the stage, her friends immediately surrounded her.
Takeo:
— Captain... that speech was worthy of the ending of an RPG.
Hina discreetly wiped at her eyes.
Hina:
— You almost made me cry!
She quickly pointed at herself.
Hina:
— But I'm the captain of this group! So I didn't cry!
Mio laughed softly.
Misaki tilted her head.
Misaki:
— Are we really going back to gaming together?
She thought for a moment.
Misaki:
— When was the last time we even played something together?
Aoi:
— I honestly don't remember.
She pulled out her phone.
And smiled.
Aoi:
— Maybe we should look for a new online game.
Shinohara immediately raised his hand.
Shinohara:
— I'll help search, hehe.
Everyone cheered.
And for a few brief moments...
it felt as if nothing would ever change.
Outside the gymnasium.
After the ceremony.
Haruto held the club notebook tightly against his chest.
He stared at the school building in silence.
Haruto:
— Now...
He smiled slightly.
Haruto:
— It's our turn.
Yui smirked.
Yui:
— The responsibility will be yours once the president graduates too.
Rina crossed her arms while laughing.
Rina:
— We're not letting this club die.
Haruto took a deep breath.
Then tightened his grip on the notebook.
Haruto:
— We won't.
At the school gate.
Aoi, Mio, and Hina stood together.
All three were holding their diplomas.
And for some reason...
none of them seemed truly ready to leave.
Mio broke the silence first.
Mio:
— So... this is it.
Aoi looked at her.
Aoi:
— You're really going to that university far away?
Mio nodded.
Mio:
— The literature program, remember?
She smiled.
Mio:
— I want to try becoming a writer.
Hina immediately raised her hand.
Hina:
— And I'm going to study art!
She laughed.
Hina:
— But don't think you're getting rid of me.
Aoi tilted her head.
Aoi:
— Why?
Hina pulled out her phone.
Hina:
— Because we're going back to playing online games.
She pointed at both of them.
Hina:
— I'm going to force everyone to play.
Mio let out a dramatic sigh.
Mio:
— Does that include me?
Hina:
— Especially you.
Aoi burst out laughing.
Aoi was accepted into Toho Gakuen University.
Mio enrolled in a university focused on literature.
Hina entered an arts university.
Three different paths.
Three different dreams.
But before they parted ways...
the three of them took one last photo together.
At that moment...
none of them realized that photo would become one of the most important pictures of their lives.
Evening.
Aoi walked slowly along the street near the school.
She looked at the closed school gate.
Took a deep breath.
And smiled.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Hina:
"The game server is open."
Another message:
"Everyone log in right now."
Aoi started laughing to herself.
Then she replied:
"Okay."
She looked up at the darkening sky.
And thought:
"Maybe we're heading to different places..."
A brief pause.
"...but we're still connected."
Hina:
— Some goodbyes aren't the end...
Mio:
— ...they're just the beginning of a new story.
10 years later.
The sound of running water filled the kitchen.
Aoi, now twenty-eight years old, was washing dishes while wearing a large apron, absentmindedly stroking her already enormous belly.
She paused for a few seconds.
Her eyes fell on the wedding ring on her finger.
The kitchen light reflected off the ring.
A small shine.
But one filled with meaning.
She smiled softly.
Then she walked into the dining room.
The large table was already completely set.
Eleven plates.
Eleven pairs of chopsticks.
Everything carefully arranged.
Aoi:
— It's almost time...
She let out a relieved sigh.
Aoi:
— I'm glad I finished preparing dinner.
She slowly sat down on the sofa.
As soon as she rested her feet, she let out a small tired groan.
Aoi gently rubbed her belly.
Aoi:
— Ah... my feet are swollen...
She smiled.
Aoi:
— You haven't even been born yet... and I already love you so much.
Then she heard the front door open.
"I'm home."
Aoi immediately lifted her head.
Aoi:
— Welcome home.
Souma appeared, still wearing his tie.
Tired.
But smiling the moment he saw Aoi.
Souma:
— Hi, dear...
He looked at the table.
Then back at her.
Souma:
— You... prepared all of this by yourself?
Aoi gently rubbed her belly again.
Aoi:
— I wasn't alone.
She laughed softly.
Aoi:
— She helped me, hehe.
Souma smiled so warmly that his eyes almost disappeared.
Then he knelt in front of her.
Placed a hand on her belly.
Souma:
— Does that name... still feel right to you?
Aoi slowly nodded.
Aoi:
— I think so.
She closed her eyes for a moment.
Aoi:
— I've liked it since the beginning.
Souma let out a small laugh.
Souma:
— I still think it's strange that you saw her name in a dream, but it's very beautiful.
Aoi:
— Yeah... I thought it was strange too, but—
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
The two of them heard three knocks at the door.
Souma stood up.
Souma:
— I'll get it.
Aoi also started to rise.
Aoi:
— It must be them.
Souma opened the door.
And there stood Hina, Mio, and Yamada Riku.
All smiling.
Hina:
— Hellooo!
Souma blinked in surprise.
Souma:
— Wow... you got here early.
Hina:
— Not at all! We arrived right on time!
Yamada Riku smiled politely.
Riku:
— Hello, Souma.
Souma:
— Hello, Riku.
Mio walked past him while laughing.
Mio:
— Let's get inside already, Souma.
Souma:
— Of course, of course... hehe.
As soon as they entered the living room and saw Aoi...
Hina and Mio immediately rushed over to her.
Both of them touched her belly at the same time.
Hina:
— Aaaah! It's already this big!
Mio looked at Aoi curiously.
Mio:
— You already know her name, right?
Aoi smiled.
Aoi:
— Yes... but let's wait until everyone arrives.
Hina then looked down at Aoi's feet.
Her smile faded slightly.
She slowly stood up.
Hina:
— Aoi...
Aoi:
— Hm?
Hina:
— Do your feet hurt a lot?
Aoi smiled calmly.
Aoi:
— A little.
She looked down at her belly.
Aoi:
— But it's normal... at least that's what my mom and other women told me.
Hina remained silent for a few seconds.
Watching Aoi.
As if trying to imagine herself in that situation.
Mio noticed immediately.
Mio:
— Are you planning that too, Hina?
Hina:
— U-Uhm...
She looked away.
Hina:
— Maybe...
Riku discreetly cleared his throat.
Yamada Riku:
— Hello, Aoi.
Aoi:
— Hi, Riku.
Souma:
— Have a seat.
Everyone settled down.
Then everyone began taking gifts out of their bags.
Aoi and Souma widened their eyes in surprise.
Hina had brought a large set of handmade baby clothes, each one carefully embroidered with tiny stars.
Mio brought several illustrated children's books, along with an elegant journal for Aoi to record the first years of her daughter's life.
Riku handed over a beautifully crafted set of handmade wooden kitchen utensils.
For a moment, Aoi simply stared at everything.
Her chest tightened.
Aoi:
— You guys... really didn't have to go this far...
Hina immediately crossed her arms.
Hina:
— Yes, we did!
KNOCK KNOCK.
More knocks came from the front door.
Souma stood up and went to answer it.
When he opened the door, Takeo was standing there with Mai.
Beside them, three-year-old Fujimoto Yuto was hiding behind his father's leg.
And in Mai's arms was little Fujimoto Honoka, now six months old.
Takeo:
— Helloooo!
Everyone immediately stood up.
— Takeo!
— Mai!
Yuto instantly hid even further behind his father.
Takeo crouched slightly.
Takeo:
— It's okay, son.
He pointed toward the group.
Takeo:
— These are our friends.
The moment Hina saw Honoka, her eyes lit up.
Hina:
— Aaaah! This is the first time I've seen Honoka-chan!
Mio:
— Same here!
Aoi smiled warmly.
Aoi:
— She's so tiny...
Only a few minutes later, the entire living room was completely captivated by the baby.
Aoi, Mio, and Hina practically melted every time Honoka moved.
— Awww...
— She's adorable...
— Look at her little hand...
Meanwhile, on the other sofa, Souma, Riku, and Takeo were talking.
Souma scratched the back of his neck.
Souma:
— Is it difficult?
He hesitated for a moment.
Souma:
— You know... working and helping take care of everything?
Takeo let out a long, tired sigh.
Takeo:
— Ah... at first? Yeah.
He looked toward Honoka.
His expression immediately softened.
Takeo:
— Honoka was easier because I already had some experience.
Then he glanced at Yuto.
Takeo:
— But when it was him...
He laughed weakly.
Takeo:
— It was complete chaos.
Riku:
— What was the hardest part?
Takeo started counting on his fingers.
Takeo:
— The new routine.
— Feeding them at specific times.
— Changing diapers every few hours.
He sighed again.
Takeo:
— And sleep? Forget about it.
He looked directly at both of them.
Takeo:
— You don't sleep.
Riku and Souma visibly swallowed.
Takeo:
— There are days when you live entirely on dark circles under your eyes.
Riku:
— B-But Mai helped too, right?
Takeo immediately became serious.
Takeo:
— Listen carefully, both of you.
He pointed at them.
Takeo:
— During those first months... women go through a lot.
His voice became more mature.
More thoughtful.
Takeo:
— Their hormones are all over the place. One moment they're happy, then sad, then irritated.
He shook his head.
Takeo:
— It's a roller coaster.
He discreetly looked toward Mai.
Takeo:
— And emotionally, they're exhausted too.
Souma looked across the room.
Aoi was smiling while gently holding Honoka.
His gaze softened.
Souma:
— I understand...
A small smile appeared on his face.
Souma:
— Aoi really did become gentler after getting pregnant.
Takeo burst out laughing.
Takeo:
— That depends, Souma.
He pointed at him.
Takeo:
— But you'd better get ready. You're next.
Riku couldn't help laughing too.
Takeo then glanced toward Hina.
She was holding Honoka in her arms.
Their cheeks were almost touching.
Hina looked completely enchanted.
Takeo:
— And you too, Riku.
Souma smiled.
Souma:
— She already looks like a mother.
Riku's eyes widened.
Riku:
— A-Actually...
Takeo:
— Hm?
Riku took a deep breath.
Then slowly stood up.
Riku:
— There's something I'd like to tell everyone.
Immediately, every pair of eyes turned toward him.
Hina visibly panicked.
Hina:
— R-Riku-kun... wait until the others arrive...
Riku:
— Ah...
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
More knocks echoed through the house.
Souma went to answer the door once again.
This time it was Hanae and Takumi.
Both were smiling.
Everyone:
— Welcome!
Hanae walked in already speaking loudly.
Hanae:
— Aaaah! I've missed all of you so much!
Aoi laughed.
Aoi:
— We were at your house six months ago.
Hanae blinked.
Hanae:
— You're right, but it felt way longer than that!
Then she noticed Yuto.
Hanae:
— Look how big he's gotten!
A moment later, her eyes found Honoka.
Hanae:
— AAAAAH! Is this adorable little thing Honoka-chan?!
She practically raised both hands.
Hanae:
— Can I hold her?!
Everyone laughed softly.
Takumi rubbed his forehead.
Takumi:
— Easy there, dear...
Shinohara smiled.
Shinohara:
— It's okay. You can hold her.
Hanae carefully took Honoka into her arms.
Her eyes sparkled immediately.
Hanae:
— Aaaah... she's so precious...
Then everyone slowly turned toward Takumi.
For several seconds, he remained silent.
Finally, he sighed in defeat.
Takumi:
— Ah... alright.
He scratched his head.
Takumi:
— We've been thinking about it too.
Hanae handed Honoka back while laughing.
Hanae:
— Yep, yep. We've been talking about it already, hehe.
Mio smirked.
Mio:
— You're still shameless, Hanae.
Hanae:
— I only said what I wanted~
Riku:
— Just like always.
Hanae then looked at Aoi's belly.
Hanae:
— And what about this? How many months now?
Aoi:
— I just entered my seventh month.
Everyone reacted at once.
— Wow...
— That's getting close...
— Souma is really going to be a dad...
Aoi smiled shyly.
Aoi:
— Thank you, hehe.
Then Takumi spoke.
Takumi:
— The only ones missing are Kaito, Matsuda Ren, and Misaki Arai.
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
Takumi:
— Misaki asked me to let everyone know she's still in Italy.
He looked around the room.
Takumi:
— Ren is doing truck deliveries all across Japan... and Kaito, I don't know.
Takeo nodded.
Takeo:
— Kaito became a supermarket manager up north.
He sighed.
Takeo:
— I haven't seen him in almost a year.
Mio smiled faintly.
Mio:
— Misaki really became a model after all...
Her eyes softened.
Mio:
— She used to come to every gathering.
Riku lowered his gaze slightly.
Riku:
— Matsuda Ren... really feels like a completely different person now.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Riku:
— Do you all remember when he and Arai started dating?
Aoi smiled faintly.
Aoi:
— Of course I do.
Mio nodded.
Mio:
— It was after graduation...
Riku:
— Things started changing when Arai became a regional model...
He paused.
Riku:
— And Ren... after losing his parents and dropping out of college...
Mio's expression grew sad.
Mio:
— I can't even imagine what he must have gone through. He was still helping Touka finish school too, wasn't he?
Riku slowly nodded.
Riku:
— Yeah...
His eyes drifted downward.
Riku:
— But it feels like there was more than that.
He looked genuinely saddened.
Riku:
— They stayed together for three years.
A brief silence followed.
Riku:
— Until she chose to go to Italy.
Takeo let out a sigh.
Takeo:
— I just hope they managed to part ways without any lingering resentment.
He picked up his phone.
Takeo:
— But he never returned any of my calls either. It's been almost a year and a half.
Riku:
— Not mine either.
He glanced out the window.
Riku:
— I wonder where he is now...
Night had already taken over the highway.
The truck was moving along a nearly empty road, illuminated only by a few streetlights that cast a yellowish glow over the wet asphalt.
Inside the cabin, Matsuda Ren drove in silence, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
In one hand, he held a photograph that had become slightly worn with time.
In the picture, he and Misaki were smiling at the camera.
They looked happy.
Still wearing their school uniforms.
As if they truly believed that moment would last forever.
Ren slowly ran his thumb across the photograph.
His eyes remained fixed on her smile.
— I thought we loved each other...
His voice was low.
Almost a whisper.
— You changed after joining that new agency...
He lowered his gaze.
— You were always surrounded by strange people... people I didn't even know...
Silence filled the cabin once again.
Ren reached out and touched Misaki's face in the photograph.
As if he could somehow reach her through that piece of paper.
— Wasn't I enough for you...?
No answer came.
Only the distant sound of another truck passing along the highway.
With a tired sigh, he picked up his phone while driving down the long, wet stretch of road.
Maybe he was trying to escape his own thoughts.
But fate didn't seem willing to give him that chance.
Without realizing it, he opened the official channel of the talent agency.
And then he saw her.
Misaki.
Smiling in front of the cameras.
Standing beside a foreign man.
Tall.
Elegant.
Handsome.
Wedding rings gleamed clearly on both of their hands.
They looked happy.
Far too happy.
Misaki was saying something in Italian while laughing.
Ren couldn't understand a single word.
But he didn't need to.
Her smile already said everything.
His hands began to tremble.
Slowly, he turned off the screen.
The cabin fell dark once again.
— How am I supposed to face everyone like this...?
His voice broke at the end of the sentence.
No answer.
No comfort.
Only the silence of the late night.
The seconds passed slowly.
And then...
Ploc.
A single drop fell onto the truck's carpet.
Then another.
And another.
Ren remained motionless for a few moments.
Until he raised one hand to his face.
His shoulders began to shake.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
As if trying to keep the pain from escaping.
But it was already too late.
— Where did I go wrong...?
His voice cracked.
— Tell me...
— Where did I go wrong...? Was it my fault for grieving my parents for so long?
The night remained silent.
Indifferent.
And inside that cabin illuminated only by the moonlight, Ren remained alone.
Holding a photograph of a love that no longer existed.
Until—
Two headlights appeared in the distance, rapidly approaching.
Bright.
Blinding.
They were heading straight toward him.
The light struck his face.
Ren's eyes widened.
— Damn it!
His heart nearly stopped.
That was when he realized it.
The truck had drifted into the opposite lane.
His hands trembled as he gripped the steering wheel.
He jerked it sharply.
The tires screeched against the asphalt.
For a moment, the truck swayed dangerously before returning to its own lane.
Ren struggled to breathe.
His chest hurt.
His mind was still trapped in thoughts of Misaki.
The memories.
The pain.
Then a loud horn tore through the night.
BEEEEEEEEEEP!!
A car was right behind him.
The driver kept honking continuously.
Ren instinctively pressed the accelerator.
With one hand, he wiped away the tears still running down his face.
— I don't have time for this...
His voice came out hoarse.
Broken.
— I need to keep going with—
The words died before they could leave his mouth.
His eyes finally focused on the road ahead.
And his blood ran cold.
A sharp curve.
Dangerously close.
Far too close.
His eyes widened.
— What...?
The warning sign flashed past the corner of his vision.
Too late.
Much too late.
— How did I not see that...?
Panic seized his entire body.
— Was it when I closed my eyes...?
He slammed on the brakes with all his strength.
The entire truck shuddered violently.
The tires screamed.
The smell of burning rubber filled the cabin.
But it wasn't enough.
The vehicle was too heavy.
The speed was too high.
The curve was already right in front of him.
— No...!
The truck crossed the lane.
The roadside barrier appeared ahead.
And in that instant, Ren understood.
There was no more time.
There was no way to correct it.
There was no escape.
His eyes trembled.
And every voice that had filled his life surfaced all at once.
Touka.
His friends.
His classmates.
Their smiles.
The memories.
The people who cared about him.
— Touka...
His voice barely came out.
— Everyone...
CRAAAAASH!!
The guardrail exploded into pieces.
The truck plunged down the embankment.
The world turned upside down.
Twisted metal.
Shattering glass.
Violent impacts.
The truck rolled over again and again.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Each collision felt as if it were tearing away a piece of reality itself.
Until—
Everything became silent.
Up on the road, the car behind him slammed on its brakes.
The driver jumped out and began running.
His face had gone pale.
His heart was pounding.
— I was honking to warn you about the curve...!
He ran to the edge of the slope.
— Don't tell me...
The moment he looked down, a chill ran through his spine.
The truck was completely destroyed.
Twisted.
Almost unrecognizable.
Smoke slowly rose from the wreckage.
Then he saw it.
A hand.
Sticking out through the shattered cabin window.
Motionless.
Covered in blood.
Yet still holding something.
A photograph.
The photograph was crumpled.
Stained.
And yet those fingers continued gripping it with all their strength.
As if it were the last thing left in the world.
The man covered his mouth.
— My God...
His legs nearly gave out beneath him.
With trembling hands, he pulled out his phone.
— I need to call an ambulance... o-or the firefighters...
His voice faltered.
His eyes remained fixed on the destroyed truck.
— Hang in there, sir...
— Please... hang in there...
Back at Aoi and Souma's house,
The dining table was full.
The aroma of the food spread throughout the room as everyone chatted after so long without gathering like this.
Aoi watched her friends and smiled.
It felt strange.
It seemed like, even after all these years, nothing had changed.
And at the same time, everything had changed.
Riku cleared his throat.
— I'd like to say something to everyone...
Everyone turned their attention toward him.
— I just wanted to tell you that... we're planning to have children.
Hina immediately turned red.
— R-Riku-kun...
Riku scratched the back of his head.
— But it probably won't happen anytime soon. I've been completely buried in work at the company lately.
Mio grinned mischievously.
— Oh, great. Then you can start getting some advice from Aoi, Hina.
— M-Mio!
Everyone laughed.
At that moment, Takeo's phone vibrated.
— Hm?
He looked at the screen and smiled.
— Kaito sent a message.
— Kaito? — Hanae asked.
Takeo held up his phone for everyone to see.
— Listen to this.
He cleared his throat before reading aloud:
— "I'm busy at work organizing inventory orders for the supermarket, but tell Aoi and everyone else I said hello."
— Aaaah!
Several people reacted at once.
— That's nice!
— He's still the same.
— Kaito never disappoints. — Takeo laughed.
Mai rested her cheek on her hand.
— Speaking of work... how's yours going, Aoi?
Aoi smiled and gently rubbed her belly.
— Well... I've had to take some time off.
— That makes sense.
— With a belly this big, it's pretty hard to keep acting properly. — she replied with a soft laugh.
Souma smiled beside her.
— Thankfully I'm a public servant. I can support the household while she gets some rest.
— What a model husband. — Mio teased.
— I'm just trying to survive. — Souma replied.
Everyone laughed.
Then Takeo pointed at Aoi.
— By the way, what projects have you acted in recently?
— Hm?
— I might get some inspiration for a new movie.
Aoi blinked a few times.
— A new movie?
Takeo crossed his arms proudly.
— I'm a film director now.
— WHAT?!
Everyone looked shocked.
— Congratulations, Takeo!
— That's amazing!
— You actually did it!
Takeo smiled.
Mai immediately raised her hand.
— And as an actress, I'm his secret weapon.
— Did you just call yourself a secret weapon? — Hanae asked.
— Of course.
— You're so full of yourself.
The table erupted into laughter.
Hina then turned toward Mio.
— How's your salon doing?
— Much better now.
— Really?
— After moving to a bigger city, I started getting a lot more clients.
— That's great!
— The downside is that I've been writing my books a lot less.
Souma tilted his head.
— Salon?
— Yes.
— A beauty salon?
— No.
Mio answered naturally.
— I run a mimikaki salon.
Silence fell over the table.
Everyone stared at her for several seconds.
— ...
— ...
— ...
Hina pointed at her.
— I made that exact face when I first found out.
Aoi raised her hand.
— Me too.
More laughter followed.
Shinohara crossed his arms.
— But Mio...
— Hm?
— Isn't that job kind of... intimate?
— It is.
— And you like that?
— I discovered that I really do.
Mio smiled.
— I find it fascinating.
— Fascinating?
— Yes.
— Cleaning people's ears?
— Yes.
— ...
— ...
— I'm good at it, and besides, some of the conversations I have there give me inspiration for my books.
Hina sighed.
— If you say so...
Everyone laughed again.
Mio then pointed at Hina.
— And you?
— Me?
— How's your art going?
Hina rested her face in her hands.
— I'm working on a new manga.
— Oh!
— And I haven't slept properly for three days.
Mai widened her eyes.
— Three days?
— Almost.
— That sounds... incredibly exhausting.
Hina let out a small laugh.
— It is exhausting.
She looked at Riku.
— But it's rewarding too.
Riku nodded.
— I understand.
— How's the restaurant?
— Good.
— Still working there?
— Yep.
— And still helping out at home?
— That's one of the advantages of working with food.
— True.
Hanae sighed.
— I wish I could cook well.
— You?
— Yes.
— But you're a photographer.
— I know.
Hanae laughed.
— I love taking pictures of food.
— And cooking?
— I'm terrible at it.
Takumi pointed at her.
— I've told you before that I can teach you.
— And I've told you before that I'll probably set the kitchen on fire.
— You're exaggerating.
— I'm really not.
Everyone laughed again.
Then Takumi added:
— I got promoted recently.
— Really?
— Yep.
— To what?
— Manager at a motorsports company.
Silence returned.
— ...
— ...
— ...
— WHAT?!
The entire table was shocked.
Takumi raised both hands.
— I know.
— That doesn't suit you at all!
— That's exactly what I thought too.
The laughter returned once more.
At that moment, Souma emerged from the kitchen carrying the main dish.
— Alright!
He placed it on the table.
— Let's eat!
— Wait. — Takeo said.
Everyone looked at him.
— Before that...
Takeo smiled.
— Do you remember that online shooter we used to play after graduation?
— Of course!
— How could we forget?
— I was terrible at it.
— You're still terrible. — Mio replied.
— Hey!
Takeo raised one finger.
— My father retired.
— Ah...
— But before retiring, he released one final game.
— Really?
— Yep.
— And its name is...
Takeo grinned widely.
— Eternal Aegis: Revenge.
Everyone was left speechless.
— NO WAY!
— Seriously?!
— Eternal Aegis?!
Daigo nearly stood up from his chair.
— Your father?!
— Yep.
— We absolutely HAVE to play that.
— Definitely.
Aoi laughed.
— It might be a little difficult for me right now...
She placed a hand on her belly.
— But I can play for a little while.
— Deal. — Hanae said.
Takumi nodded.
— We can organize something on our days off.
— Sounds good.
The atmosphere became light again.
Then Aoi looked around at everyone.
For a moment,
she seemed a little nervous.
Then she smiled.
— Ah... there's one more thing.
Everyone immediately paid attention.
— We've already chosen our daughter's name.
Silence fell across the table.
— Her name will be...
Aoi looked at Souma.
Souma smiled back at her.
— Aiko.
Aoi nodded.
— Yamamoto Aiko.
For several seconds, nobody said a word.
Then Souma added:
— We chose it together.
Mio covered her mouth.
— It's beautiful...
— Really beautiful.
— It suits her perfectly.
Takeo raised his glass.
— Then...
— A toast to Aiko!
Everyone raised their glasses.
— Kampai!
Their glasses touched.
Their smiles did too.
And for the first time in a very long while, it felt like everyone was exactly where they were supposed to be.
Yamada thought to himself:
— Ren could at least send a message...
Six Months Later.
The car came to a stop in front of Aoi's old house.
Souma stepped out first and closed the door.
Then he looked at little Aiko in his wife's arms.
"Shall we go visit Grandma, Aiko?"
The baby answered only with a cheerful little sound.
Aoi smiled.
As she walked toward the front door of her old home, she glanced around the street.
"I remember all of this like it was yesterday..."
She looked toward the slope.
"I can't count how many times I ran down there trying not to miss the train..."
Then she pointed at a tree.
"Ah..."
A nostalgic smile appeared on her face.
"That tree is still there."
"Do you miss it?" Souma asked.
"Very much."
Aoi pressed the doorbell.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
Yukiko appeared.
There were now a few white strands mixed into her hair.
But her smile was exactly the same as ever.
"You're here!"
"Mom!"
Yukiko immediately opened her arms.
"My granddaughter!"
Aoi laughed.
"Easy there."
"Let me hold her!"
"Of course."
Yukiko took Aiko into her arms as if she were holding the greatest treasure in the world.
And perhaps she was.
After talking for quite a while, Aoi stood up.
"I'm going to show her something."
"Hm?"
"I want her to meet her grandfather's altar."
Yukiko smiled warmly.
"He would've liked that."
Aoi carried Aiko over to the family altar.
She pointed to the photograph.
"This is Grandpa, Aiko."
The baby simply stared at it.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Yukiko was talking with Souma.
"We should all go to the beach someday."
"Of course."
"When you have time."
Souma smiled.
"Once Aiko is a little older."
Suddenly, the television switched to a breaking news report.
The announcer appeared on screen.
"Scientists report that the Sun has become approximately one percent less intense. Experts are currently studying the possible global climate impacts."
Souma looked toward the television.
"So that's why."
"Hm?"
"It felt colder these past few weeks."
Yukiko nodded.
"That makes sense."
Aoi, hearing the conversation from the stairs, looked toward the TV.
"But..."
"Hm?"
"Why did that happen?"
Yukiko shrugged.
"No idea."
"I just hope it's nothing serious."
Then Aoi continued upstairs.
She reached the second floor.
And stopped in front of a door.
Her old bedroom.
She took a deep breath.
And opened it.
The room was almost empty.
Only a few boxes.
A few pieces of furniture pushed into a corner.
Nothing more.
And yet...
The memories were still there.
The smiles.
The tears.
The arguments.
The dreams.
Everything seemed to echo within those walls.
Aoi walked slowly inside.
"I used to stay here, Aiko."
The baby began to fuss softly.
Aoi gently rocked her.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
She smiled.
"You're restless today."
Aoi walked farther into the room.
She looked at the empty space.
Then she whispered:
"Dad..."
Her voice grew quieter.
"I came back."
She looked down at Aiko.
"I wanted you to meet Aiko."
Silence answered her.
But it wasn't a sad silence.
It was simply the silence of time.
Aoi slowly walked across the room.
"I bet you'd be holding her in your arms already..."
She laughed softly.
"Hehe..."
At that moment, Aiko looked up at her mother's face.
And let out a tiny giggle.
Aoi smiled.
"What are you laughing at?"
Her eyes became slightly moist.
She discreetly wiped them.
"I guess everything really does have its own cycle..."
Aoi took one last look around the room.
"No matter how difficult it is..."
She gently squeezed her daughter's tiny hand.
"We always have to keep moving forward."
Then she walked out of the room.
The door remained open.
Revealing the empty bedroom behind her.
While, in the distance, the voices of her family echoed throughout the house.
"Let me hold her again!"
"Okay, Mom. Hehe."
"What should I make for dinner?"
And so, surrounded by those voices, the house remained alive.
The End.