Haru couldn't focus.
Not in class.
Not at lunch.
Not even when Sora sat across from him, unusually quiet.
Everything felt off.
Like time itself had become fragile.
"…You're thinking about her."
Sora's voice cut through his thoughts.
Haru didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
"She's fading, isn't she?"
His head snapped up.
"…How do you know that?"
Sora stirred her drink slowly, eyes lowered.
"Because things like that don't last."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're going to get."
Haru clenched his jaw.
"…I'm going to save her."
Sora stopped moving.
For a second—
Just a second—
Her hand trembled.
"…You really believe that?"
"I have to."
"That's not belief," she said quietly. "That's desperation."
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable. P
"…Why do you care so much?" Sora asked.
Haru hesitated.
Because she smiles like she's hiding something.
Because she disappears like she was never there.
Because when she's gone—
Everything feels empty.
"…I don't know," he said.
Sora looked at him.
Long.
Carefully.
"…You're already in too deep."
That afternoon—
Haru ran to the rooftop.
He didn't walk.
Didn't think.
Just ran.
The door slammed open.
The wind rushed in.
And there she was.
But—
Something was wrong.
Yuki stood by the fence like always.
But her figure—
It flickered.
Like a weak signal.
Like a fading memory.
"…Yuki."
She turned.
And smiled.
Like nothing was wrong.
"You came early today."
Haru stepped closer, panic rising.
"Why do you look like that?"
"Like what?"
"You're—"
He reached out.
His hand—
Passed through her arm.
Haru froze.
"…Oh."
Yuki looked down at where his hand should've touched her.
"…It's gotten this bad already."
"What do you mean 'already'?!" Haru's voice cracked. "This wasn't happening before!"
"I told you," she said softly. "I'm disappearing faster."
"But why?!"
She didn't answer.
"…Is it because of Sora?" he asked.
Yuki's eyes widened slightly.
That was enough.
"…Because she knows," Haru continued. "Because she sees you—this is changing things, isn't it?!"
Yuki looked away.
"…Maybe."
"That's not fair!" Haru snapped. "She didn't do anything wrong!"
"I know."
"Then why—?!"
"Because this world wasn't made to be understood."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
"The more people see me… the less stable I become."
Haru felt something sink in his chest.
"So what—you're supposed to just exist alone? No one knowing? No one remembering?!"
"…That's how it's always been."
"No."
His voice shook.
But it didn't waver.
"I won't accept that."
Yuki blinked.
"I don't care how this works," Haru said, stepping closer again. "I don't care about the rules. I'll break them if I have to."
"…Haru."
"I'll find a way to make you stay."
Yuki smiled.
Soft.
Sad.
"That's exactly why I'm disappearing."
Haru froze.
"…What?"
"You're trying too hard to keep me," she said gently. "You're using your days now. Living them properly."
Her eyes met his.
"And that means… there's less of me."
"…Then I'll stop."
The words came out instantly.
Without hesitation.
Yuki's expression broke.
For the first time—
Truly broke.
"No."
Her voice trembled.
"Don't say that."
"I mean it."
"Haru, don't."
"I'll go back to how I was before. I won't care about anything. I'll waste my time if that's what it takes—"
"Stop!"
Her voice echoed across the rooftop.
Sharp.
Painful.
"…Don't throw your life away for me."
Haru stood still.
"You don't belong in my world," she said, quieter now. "You belong in yours."
"But you're in it now!"
"Only temporarily."
"I don't care!"
Silence.
"I do."
The wind slowed.
The world felt still.
Yuki stepped closer.
This time—
Her hand almost touched his chest.
Almost.
"I don't want to be the reason you lose your future."
Haru's voice dropped.
"…Then what am I supposed to do?"
Yuki smiled again.
But now—
There were tears in her eyes.
"…Just spend today with me."
Haru clenched his fists.
"…That's it?"
"Yeah."
"No solution? No way to fix this?"
She shook her head.
"Just today."
The simplicity of it—
Hurt more than anything else.
"…Okay."
They didn't talk much after that.
They just stayed.
On the rooftop.
Watching the sky change colors.
Like time wasn't running out.
Even though it was.
"…Haru."
"…Yeah?"
"If I disappear…"
His chest tightened.
"Will you forget me too?"
He didn't hesitate this time.
"No."
Yuki smiled.
Relieved.
"Good."
The light around her began to fade again.
Faster than before.
"Haru…"
"…I'm here."
"Thank you…"
Her voice grew faint.
Her figure—
Transparent.
"For finding me."
"…Yuki—"
And then—
She was gone.
Haru stood alone.
Again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Because now—
He understood something.
This wasn't just about saving her.
It was about choosing—
Between loving her…
Or
letting her go.
End of Chapter 4