The room felt colder.
Not physically—
But in the way silence presses against your chest.
Haru stared at the letter in his hands.
"…That date…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"It's wrong."
Sora stepped closer, her expression serious.
"Let me see."
She leaned over his shoulder, eyes scanning the page.
Final Letter (Date)
April 17 — 7 years ago
"…That's after she died," Sora said quietly.
Haru nodded.
"…Yeah."
The Impossible Pattern
They quickly spread the letters across the bed.
One by one.
Carefully.
Like fragile pieces of something bigger.
"…Look at this," Sora pointed.
Haru followed her finger.
Letter dates:
March 28
April 2
April 9
April 17
April 25
His eyes widened.
"…They're not random."
Sora nodded.
"They're spaced out."
"Like… appearances," Haru muttered.
Silence.
"…You mean," Sora said slowly, "the days she shows up?"
Haru's grip tightened.
"…Yeah."
A Chilling Realization
Haru flipped through more letters.
Faster now.
More desperate.
"…There are more."
He pulled out a stack from the back.
Dates continued.
Not just weeks.
Not just months.
Years.
"…She's been writing this whole time?" Sora whispered.
Haru shook his head.
"No…"
His voice dropped.
"…She's been existing."
The Rule Hidden in Time
He grabbed a notebook from the desk and started writing.
Dates.
Spacing.
Patterns.
"…It's every few days," he said.
"Not fixed… but consistent."
Sora leaned in.
"…What does that mean?"
Haru looked at the letters.
Then at the sakura tree outside.
"…It means she doesn't exist every day."
"…We already knew that."
"No," Haru said.
His eyes sharpened.
"…We know when she exists now."
The First Plan
Sora blinked.
"…Wait."
"You're saying—"
Haru nodded.
"If we follow these dates…"
"…we can predict when she'll appear."
Silence.
Then—
"That's insane," Sora said.
"…But possible," Haru replied.
A Date That Matters
Haru scanned the final letter again.
His heartbeat rising.
"…April 17."
Sora frowned.
"…That's today."
Silence hit like a shockwave.
"…No way," she whispered.
Haru stood up suddenly.
Chair scraping against the floor.
"…She's here."
Running Against Time
They ran.
Out of the room.
Down the hallway.
Past confused nurses and echoing footsteps.
"Haru—where are we going?!" Sora called.
"The rooftop," he said without slowing down.
"Why?!"
"…Because that's where she always finds me."
The Rooftop — Again
The door slammed open.
Wind rushed in.
Cherry blossoms scattered into the sky.
Haru stepped forward—
Breathing hard.
Heart racing.
"…Yuki."
Silence.
Sora caught up behind him.
"…Is she—"
Then—
A voice.
Soft.
Familiar.
"You figured it out."
Haru froze.
Slowly—
He turned.
And there she was.
Tachibana Yuki.
Standing by the fence.
More clear than before.
More real.
"…You're here," he whispered.
She smiled.
Gentle.
Proud.
"Of course I am."
The Truth She Can't Hide
Sora stepped forward cautiously.
"…So the dates are real."
Yuki looked at her.
"…You noticed too."
Haru clenched his fists.
"Yuki… these letters—"
She tilted her head.
"…You found them?"
"They're dated after you died."
Silence.
For a moment—
Yuki didn't smile.
"…Yeah," she said softly.
"…Why?" Haru asked.
Her eyes met his.
Clear.
Honest.
Sad.
"Because I never stopped trying to reach you."
Haru's chest tightened.
"…Even after…?"
She nodded.
"Even after I disappeared."
A More Terrifying Truth
The wind grew stronger.
Petals swirling wildly around them.
"…Haru," Yuki said quietly.
"There's something you need to understand."
His breath caught.
"…What?"
She took a small step back.
Her figure flickering slightly.
"I'm not just living in your unused days anymore."
Silence.
"…What do you mean?"
Her voice dropped.
Almost fragile.
"…I'm running out of them."
Sora's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Haru felt his stomach drop.
"…Explain."
Yuki looked down.
"The more you live properly…"
She looked back up.
Eyes trembling.
"…the less I exist."
The Clock Is Breaking
Haru froze.
"…So if I keep moving forward—"
"I disappear," she finished.
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Sora clenched her fists.
"…That's not fair."
Yuki smiled faintly.
"…I know."
The Next Countdown
Haru stepped forward.
Determined.
"…Then tell me the next date."
Yuki blinked.
"…What?"
"The next time you appear."
Sora looked at him.
"…Haru—"
"I'm not letting this end like before," he said.
His eyes locked onto Yuki's.
"If time is the problem—"
"…then I'll chase you through it."
Yuki's expression broke—
Just a little.
"…You really don't give up, do you?"
He shook his head.
"Not anymore."
The Next Day
Yuki hesitated.
Then quietly said:
"…Three days from now."
Haru nodded.
"Then I'll be here."
She smiled.
Soft.
Sad.
"I know."
Her figure began to fade.
"…Haru."
"…Yeah?"
"Don't run too fast."
He frowned.
"…Why?"
Her voice became a whisper.
"…You might leave me behind."
And then—
She was gone.
End of Chapter 14