Haru didn't go to the rooftop the next day.
He told himself it was pointless.
If Yuki only appeared on "unused days," then searching for her was meaningless.
So for once—
He tried to live properly.
He paid attention in class.
Answered questions.
Even joined his classmates during lunch.
It felt… strange.
Like wearing someone else's life.
"Hey, Haru."
A familiar voice called out.
He turned.
Miyamoto Sora stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've been acting weird."
"I have?"
"Yeah. You actually answered a question in class. That's suspicious."
Haru forced a small laugh. "Maybe I'm just changing."
"Overnight?"
"…People can change."
Sora stared at him for a moment.
Too long.
Like she was trying to see through him.
"…Who is she?"
Haru froze.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb," Sora said flatly. "You've been looking at that empty seat since yesterday."
His heart skipped.
"You noticed…?"
"Of course I did. I've known you since we were kids."
She stepped closer.
"So I'll ask again."
Her voice softened—but only slightly.
"Who is she?"
Haru hesitated.
Should he tell her?
No.
There was no way she'd believe him.
"…No one," he said.
Sora's expression didn't change.
But something in her eyes did.
"…You're a terrible liar."
That afternoon—
Haru found himself on the rooftop again.
He hadn't planned to go.
His feet just… brought him there.
The door opened.
The wind blew.
And—
"You're here."
He turned quickly.
Yuki.
Relief hit him harder than he expected.
"…Yeah."
She smiled. "You tried not to come today, didn't you?"
"…How did you know?"
"Because I almost didn't exist."
Haru's chest tightened.
"What?"
Yuki spun lightly, her hair catching the wind.
"Today was… faint," she said. "Like I was barely here."
"…Because I tried to use my day properly."
"Mm."
She nodded.
"Good job."
"…That's not a good thing."
Yuki didn't respond.
"Yuki," Haru said seriously. "There has to be another way."
"There isn't."
"There has to be!"
"There isn't."
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
Haru clenched his fists.
"…Then I'll find one."
Yuki blinked.
"Why?"
"Because—"
He stopped.
The words caught in his throat.
Because I don't want to lose you.
He couldn't say it.
Not yet.
"…Because it's unfair," he finished.
Yuki smiled faintly.
"You're kind."
"That's not kindness."
"Then what is it?"
Haru looked away.
"…I don't know."
The rooftop door suddenly slammed open.
Both of them turned.
Sora stood there.
Breathing slightly heavier than usual.
Her eyes scanned the rooftop—
And then—
They landed directly on Yuki.
Silence.
A sharp, heavy silence.
"…So," Sora said slowly.
Her gaze shifted between Haru and Yuki.
"You do exist."
Haru's blood ran cold.
"Wait—Sora, you can see her?!"
"Obviously."
Yuki, for the first time—
Looked shaken.
"…That's not supposed to happen."
Sora walked closer, her expression unreadable.
"Tachibana Yuki, right?"
Yuki stiffened.
"…How do you know my name?"
"You introduced yourself yesterday."
"I… did?"
"You did."
Sora stopped a few steps away.
Her eyes narrowed.
"But no one else reacted."
Haru felt the tension rising.
"Sora—this isn't what you think—"
"Then explain it."
Her voice was sharp now.
Demanding.
"Explain why she disappears. Why no one remembers her. And why—"
She looked straight at Yuki.
"—she feels like she doesn't belong here."
Yuki lowered her gaze.
"…Because I don't."
The wind howled across the rooftop.
For the first time—
Haru wasn't the only one who knew the truth.
Sora crossed her arms.
"…So she's not normal."
"That's one way to put it," Haru muttered.
Sora ignored him.
Her focus stayed on Yuki.
"…Are you dangerous?"
Haru blinked. "Dangerous?!"
Yuki shook her head quickly. "No, I'm not—"
"Then prove it."
"Hey, that's too much—" Haru started.
But Sora cut him off.
"You're hiding something," she said coldly. "And it's affecting him."
Yuki flinched slightly.
That didn't go unnoticed.
"…I'm not trying to hurt him," Yuki said softly.
"Intent doesn't matter," Sora replied.
"Then what does?"
Sora's eyes hardened.
"Whether he gets hurt anyway."
Haru stepped between them.
"Stop it."
Both girls fell silent.
"I don't care if it doesn't make sense," he said firmly. "Yuki isn't dangerous."
"…You trust her that much?" Sora asked.
Haru hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…Yeah."
Yuki's eyes widened slightly.
Sora noticed.
Of course she did.
"…I see," Sora murmured.
Something unreadable passed through her expression.
Then she turned away.
"Do what you want."
"Sora—"
"But don't come crying to me when this goes wrong."
She walked to the door.
Then stopped.
"…Haru."
He looked up.
"You don't even know how this ends."
Her voice softened.
Just a little.
"That's what scares me."
The door closed behind her.
Silence returned.
But it wasn't the same anymore.
"…She's sharp," Yuki said quietly.
"…Yeah."
"She sees things clearly."
"…Yeah."
Yuki looked at him.
A small, sad smile forming again.
"Unlike me."
Haru frowned. "What do you mean?"
Yuki stepped back slightly.
The wind began to pick up again.
"…I think…"
Her voice trembled.
"…I'm starting to disappear faster."
Haru's eyes widened.
"What?! Why?!"
Yuki shook her head.
"I don't know."
But deep down—
He had a feeling.
Because now—
There was someone else involved.
Someone who refused to ignore reality.
And maybe—
That was enough to break this fragile, impossible world.
End of Chapter 3.