The rooftop was empty.
Again.
Haru stood alone, his hand still reaching into the fading sunlight—as if Yuki's warmth might return if he waited long enough.
But it didn't.
The wind blew gently, scattering cherry blossom petals across the quiet sky. Their soft descent felt cruel, like time moving forward without permission.
"…You promised," he whispered.
But promises meant nothing to someone who existed between lost moments.
And just like that—
Another day ended without her.
The Day After
Haru didn't go to school.
He lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The ticking of the clock echoed in the silence, each second reminding him that time never stopped—no matter how badly he wanted it to.
He closed his eyes.
And saw her smile.
He opened them again.
And found nothing.
A sharp knock broke the stillness.
"Haru. Open the door."
He didn't respond.
Another knock—firmer this time.
"I know you're inside," Sora said. "And if you don't open this door, I will."
After a long pause, Haru dragged himself up and opened it.
Sora stood there, her expression calm but her eyes filled with concern.
"…You look terrible," she said softly.
"Thanks."
She stepped inside without waiting for permission.
"You skipped school."
"I know."
"You didn't answer your messages."
"I know."
Sora crossed her arms. "Are you planning to keep repeating that?"
Haru forced a bitter smile. "I know."
The Truth He Couldn't Hide
Sora sighed and sat on the edge of his desk.
"She disappeared again, didn't she?"
Haru looked away.
"…Yeah."
"Do you know when she'll come back?"
"No."
"Do you know how to save her?"
"No."
Her gaze softened.
"…Do you love her?"
The question struck deeper than anything else.
Haru hesitated.
"…I don't know."
Sora held his eyes.
"That's a lie."
Silence filled the room.
"…Maybe," he admitted quietly.
Sora walked toward the window, letting sunlight spill across the floor.
"You're hurting because she's leaving," she said. "But you're ignoring someone who's always been here."
Haru stiffened.
"Sora…"
She turned to face him.
"I remember her," she continued. "Even when she disappears. Do you know what that means?"
"…No."
"It means I'm tied to this too. So stop trying to carry it alone."
Her voice softened, almost trembling.
"I'm not asking you to forget her. I just don't want you to lose yourself chasing someone who may never stay."
Haru lowered his gaze.
"…I don't know what to do."
For the first time, Sora smiled gently.
"Then don't decide today."
She reached out and placed her hand over his.
Unlike Yuki's—
It was warm.
Real.
"I'll stay with you," she said.
Later that afternoon, Sora dragged Haru outside.
They walked along the river, bought taiyaki from a street vendor, and watched children play beneath blooming sakura trees.
At first, Haru felt guilty.
But slowly—
He began to breathe again.
"You're smiling," Sora teased.
"Am not."
"You are."
"…Don't make it weird."
She laughed softly. "Too late."
For a moment, everything felt normal.
And that scared him.
Because normal meant—
A world without Yuki.
As sunset painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson, Haru paused.
"…Sora."
"What is it?"
He stared ahead, his heart pounding.
"She's here."
Sora followed his gaze.
At the end of the path, standing beneath a shower of falling petals—
Was Tachibana Yuki.
Her figure shimmered faintly, like a dream struggling to remain real.
And yet—
She smiled.
"…Haru."
His breath caught.
"Yuki."
Sora stood silently beside him.
For the first time, the three of them shared the same moment.
The same fading twilight.
The same fragile miracle.
Yuki looked between them, her gentle smile tinged with sadness.
"…I see," she whispered. "So she's the one who stayed."
Sora met her gaze, unwavering.
"And you're the one who keeps leaving."
The wind carried cherry blossoms between them.
No hostility.
No hatred.
Only truth.
Haru stepped forward, his voice trembling.
"Yuki… I won't run anymore."
She blinked.
"I'll live my life," he continued. "But I won't forget you. And I won't stop searching for a way to save you."
Yuki's eyes glistened.
"…You're greedy."
"Maybe," he admitted. "But I want both."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
"That's so like you."
Her figure flickered in the fading light.
"But if you chase me… don't lose sight of what's right in front of you."
Her gaze drifted toward Sora.
"…She's real."
Sora didn't look away.
"So are you."
For a brief moment, Yuki seemed genuinely surprised.
As the last rays of sunlight vanished, Yuki's form began to dissolve into shimmering fragments.
"Haru," she whispered.
"Yes?"
"Thank you… for remembering me."
He clenched his fists.
"I always will."
She smiled one last time.
"Then I'll find my way back to you."
And with that—
She disappeared into the twilight.
Haru stood frozen, staring at the empty space she left behind.
Sora gently tugged at his sleeve.
"She'll return," she said quietly.
"…You think so?"
Sora gave a small, confident smile.
"After all, someone has to compete with me."
Haru let out a soft laugh.
For the first time since Yuki vanished—
It didn't hurt as much.
End of Chapter 5